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 Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 11:43 am
Going to Japan? If so, when, where, blah blah blah... >.O
Yay. Um... Okay, this is stupid at the very moment.
Also, trying to go to Japan, but have a bit of an obstacle? Money? ...People? *eye twitches*
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 11:44 am
Look here to listen to [chimera] whine! Skip over if you aren't interested... ><
Okay, this is going to be just a BIT long...
I have a friend who we shall call Zap here. His mom teaches about anime at a university. They are considering paying for a trip to Japan for her and Zap, and are almost positive they are going to pay for it. The trip would be 2 to 6 months long; they aren't sure yet. The earliest they would be leaving is in 6 months. Zap was told he can bring one friend. He chose me.
Here begins my problem.
My mother is rather over-protective, and when I told her about this this morning, she immidiately said it wasn't going to happen. Her reasons? 14 is too young to be traveling overseas without one's parents (though at the rate things are going, I may be 15 by the time this trip happens, and I know that she really trusts Zap's mom and is good friends with her.) Also, she says that Americans are not viewed kindly right now, and so leaving the country isn't wise. She says that it just isn't something I can do, though I can look at foreign exchange student programs when I'm a sophmore in college. I know she said that just to placate me; she's done this enough by now for me to tell.
She didn't even consider this for more than three seconds.
So, I need help. I need lots of things about Japan that a mother would like; anything at all you can come up with that I may be able to use to alter her opinion on this... Help me? Please?
ALSO:
I want to learn how to speak Japanese. I can say:
Hello
Goodbye
Good morning
What
Why
You're wrong
Dragon
Shadow
Excuse me
Yes
No
Of
Teacher
I can count to six
I know the name suffixes chan and san. (I was told by a friend that chan is only for girls, and that kun is for guys. Is that true?)
So... Yeah... Help?
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 12:00 pm
sweatdrop Alright, um, first of, welcome to the Japanese Student guild. After starting a list of threads so that people can find the right thread for what they want to talk about, I can't help but feel like there are better places to talk about your situation rather than having a thread devoted to it. There's a Wanna Work/Study/Live In Japan? Thread where you could talk about taking the trip and ask for feedback for why your mom should let you go. There's The I think I'm learning Japanese, I really think so thread and the Quick Reference Dictionary thread for learning japanese. The Official Whatever Topic is also a good place to go. Also, keeping updates in your journal, then posting that link to the Shameless Promotion Thread or the whatever topic might be good.
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 12:07 pm
Oh, Eh, I'm sorry about that, I tried to load them, but my computer wouldn't, and being impatient as I am... Well, sorry to waste your time; you can delete this. ^^; Sorry.
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 12:26 pm
No, no, we dont have to delete it, we can kind of convert it to a "I plan on going to Japan . . ." or "I might be going to Japan" kind of thread, since I think most of use at least have an idea of when we're gonna go. You can change the topic heading to something like "When are you going to Japan? and then you can keep the post about your situation. Or something, I don't want you to feel bad nor do I really want to delete the topic. sweatdrop
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:20 pm
Hmm... Give me some time to stop being braindead and to think of a way to make it all interactive and still whine about my problems. *_*;
And to disconnect and reboot. *kicks computer*
CURSE YOU!
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 2:10 pm
Response to chimera:
I have no idea what kind of person you are, maybe you're really mature for your age, but your mom has a point about 14 (or 15) being too young to go overseas without family for that long. If it was going to be a realitively short stay, 2-3 weeks in the summer sometime, I could see it. But if you go for the full 6 months, i mean, you'll have to take time off of school and it's just a long time to be away at any age. Is it possible for them to take you for only a few weeks rather than months (then you fly back at some point)? Or will Zap find another friend if you can't go?
As for oversea's travel not being wise because "American aren't viewed kindly", that's just a really stupid excuse and you can tell her that. You're not going to the middle east or anything, or even Europe. Any foreign country that's mad at America is generally mad at the government, not at it's people (especially a teenager who can't even vote). I have lots of classmates who go to Japan for study abroad or on trips, and I've never heard a story of any Japanese person calling them names or treating them poorly, or anything. Being polite is so engrained into the Japanese Language, and in their culture and society than anyone who would come up to a a foreigner and said "stupid fat american" or something would be a exceptionally rude person. Behind your back, they may say something, but never to your face. biggrin
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 2:23 pm
[chimera]
I know the name suffixes chan and san. (I was told by a friend that chan is only for girls, and that kun is for guys. Is that true?)
"chan" isn't only for girls, but you can call a girl chan longer than a guy. You can call a little boy "chan" until he's 9-10, but you should probably have some kind of relationship with him. Kun however is only for boys, unless your teasing a tomboyish girl.
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 3:59 pm
Freakezette Response to chimera: I have no idea what kind of person you are, maybe you're really mature for your age, but your mom has a point about 14 (or 15) being too young to go overseas without family for that long. If it was going to be a realitively short stay, 2-3 weeks in the summer sometime, I could see it. But if you go for the full 6 months, i mean, you'll have to take time off of school and it's just a long time to be away at any age. Is it possible for them to take you for only a few weeks rather than months (then you fly back at some point)? Or will Zap find another friend if you can't go? As for oversea's travel not being wise because "American aren't viewed kindly", that's just a really stupid excuse and you can tell her that. You're not going to the middle east or anything, or even Europe. Any foreign country that's mad at America is generally mad at the government, not at it's people (especially a teenager who can't even vote). I have lots of classmates who go to Japan for study abroad or on trips, and I've never heard a story of any Japanese person calling them names or treating them poorly, or anything. Being polite is so engrained into the Japanese Language, and in their culture and society than anyone who would come up to a a foreigner and said "stupid fat american" or something would be a exceptionally rude person. Behind your back, they may say something, but never to your face. biggrin
This is the only real chance I have to go there and have every single thing payed for. I mean, a great deal is being offered, and she won't let me go.
Her main reason?
"Annie, I'm so sorry, but I'm just worried about you wanting to die. You reached such a low point last April; I just want to make sure that you're okay before I let you go!"
... My main problem was my SURROUNDINGS. This would be changing my SURROUNDINGS to something I've wanted to be my surroundings for a long time.
...I'd go further into this, but it's not really related to Japan, so yeah.
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 4:58 pm
Oh, I see, there are some personal factors going into that. Oh well, maybe in 3 years when you're allowed to go, you'll look back and say "Man, I sure wasn't ready for this when I was 14/15"
I plan to apply for the JET program this December so hopefully I'll get accepted and can go next summer right after I graduate. I'm already a little nervous, though, the prospect of being away from home for a whole year is scary since the longest I've ever been away is 2 weeks. I'm also worried I won't get accepted, but I've been pretty much assured that someone who has taken Japanese as long as I have will most likely be accepted. One of my classmates is already like "we'll get placed close to each other, and we'll have a great time!" biggrin
My sensei has set up a trip this summer and it's an incredible deal, 2 week traveling all around Japan (and it's way less expensive than my trip to Australia was) but I have no money and like no time for a job. I might have to hit up some relatives for an early graduation present "Hey, I'm not graduated until next spring but if you give me something now I'll love you forever"
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 6:10 pm
I'm sorry , but I'm very stubborn, and I'm not going to give up on it...
A question, which is more valuable, American money or the Yen?
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 6:46 pm
[chimera] I'm sorry , but I'm very stubborn, and I'm not going to give up on it...
A question, which is more valuable, American money or the Yen? Well, no, don't give up, but if it ends up your mom won't let you go, what can you do? The yen is more like a penny than a dollar, so comparing straight up, the dollar pretty much wins. The yen has grown stronger againt the dollar in the past few years. In 1998, $1US was 110yen, but right now $1US = 105yen. The cost of living is generally higher in Japan though, some people say a lot higher, but it depends on where you are and what you buy. Tokyo's pretty expensive, but so's New York City.
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 7:05 pm
Freakezette [chimera] I'm sorry , but I'm very stubborn, and I'm not going to give up on it...
A question, which is more valuable, American money or the Yen? Well, no, don't give up, but if it ends up your mom won't let you go, what can you do? The yen is more like a penny than a dollar, so comparing straight up, the dollar pretty much wins. The yen has grown stronger againt the dollar in the past few years. In 1998, $1US was 110yen, but right now $1US = 105yen. The cost of living is generally higher in Japan though, some people say a lot higher, but it depends on where you are and what you buy. Tokyo's pretty expensive, but so's New York City. Hmm, yeah...
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 8:56 pm
I have a friend who we shall call Zap here. His mom teaches about anime at a university. They are considering paying for a trip to Japan for her and Zap, and are almost positive they are going to pay for it. The trip would be 2 to 6 months long; they aren't sure yet. The earliest they would be leaving is in 6 months. Zap was told he can bring one friend. He chose me.
That's pretty awesome ^^
Here begins my problem.
My mother is rather over-protective, and when I told her about this this morning, she immidiately said it wasn't going to happen.
That sux xp
Her reasons? 14 is too young to be traveling overseas without one's parents
I can see her logic...but you will be going with and Adult wouldn't you?
Also, she says that Americans are not viewed kindly right now, and so leaving the country isn't wise.
That's not ture
Tho true in other counties The Japanese LOVE Americans. Japanses
youth think Americans are the coolest people in the world. and they'er
very nice and frendly. I know this from expreiance. also, Japan is one of
the closes countries relationship wise to America. Japan hevealy
depends on America for global support so politcaly Japan is in Good with
America.
She says that it just isn't something I can do, though I can look at foreign exchange student programs when I'm a sophmore in college. I know she said that just to placate me; she's done this enough by now for me to tell.
She didn't even consider this for more than three seconds.
That really suxs. i know what your going thur. my mom was the same way
and there's really not a whole lot you can do about the parent factor
I want to learn how to speak Japanese. I can say:
Hello : Konichiwa (ko nee chee wa)
Goodbye : sayonara (sai yo nah la)
Good morning : ohayoo (ohio)
What : Nani (na nee)
Why : Naze: ( na zeh)
You're wrong : Chigau (chee ga oo)
Dragon : ryu
Shadow: kage
Excuse me : sumimasen (sue me ma sen)
Yes : Hai
No : iie (ee eh)
Of ?
Teacher : sensei (sen say)
]
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 9:05 pm
Freakezette [chimera] I'm sorry , but I'm very stubborn, and I'm not going to give up on it...
A question, which is more valuable, American money or the Yen? Well, no, don't give up, but if it ends up your mom won't let you go, what can you do? The yen is more like a penny than a dollar, so comparing straight up, the dollar pretty much wins. The yen has grown stronger againt the dollar in the past few years. In 1998, $1US was 110yen, but right now $1US = 105yen. The cost of living is generally higher in Japan though, some people say a lot higher, but it depends on where you are and what you buy. Tokyo's pretty expensive, but so's New York City. 100 yen is more or less equvalant to the dollar. the when i went the dollar was really strong but now the dollar is worth jack xp and is barly more so the exchange rate dosen't help. it's way expensive to live in japan. the chepes apartment i could find around tokyo was like $1000 (US) a month. and thats with no funituer and just a tiny little studio like apaerment...just to move in is like $5000 cause of the deposit, key money, gift money to the landlord and the relitors comision... then travle can be expensive, paying for trains everyday and stuff... um ya...
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