I'm going to NGU in September

[steffi]

It'll be my first time in Japan. I'm going for a year to study at Nagoya Gakuin Daigaku. I'm a third year Japanese student (double majoring Japanese and International Studies), I was Japan Culture Club President this past year... I've been reading fucked gaijin, newsonjapan, took a Modern Japanese history class... I don't think I'm particularly illusioned or disillusioned either way.


Thought I'd ask for advice anyway. If anyone's studied there (not in Seto as it's not there anymore), or just knows the Nagoya area well... please tell me anything you think would be good for me to hear! I'm all ears.

[Greji]

or just knows the Nagoya area well... please tell me anything you think would be good for me to hear! I'm all ears.

Hey, congrats and good on you! However, you will get a lot of advice from our Nagoya FG reps, so just do the opposite of whatever they tell you and you will do well!

[Takechanpoo]

Hey steffi,
first of all your enemy is Japanese almond eyes.
Thousands of J-eyes will be always stealthily staring at you whenever you are walk, riding train, going shopping, travelling.
Remember that.

[kusai Jijii]

I don't think I'm particularly illusioned or disillusioned either way.

Dont worry, you'll be disillusioned in no time at all!
Well done on getting into school here anyway. I'm sure you will have a blast. Oh, and as the G-man says, do the opposite of what all us fuckwads tel you, and you will do fine!

[AssKissinger]

Nagoya sucks

[steffi]

haha. I'm not sure how I can do the opposite when no one has told me anything yet. I've heard some crazy gaijin in japan shit, and not just on this forum by any means.

I imagine once I create a dismal career for myself in japan in a few years, I'll be nagging just like the rest of you lugs. going to try to get into consulate work in japan sometime after graduating.

I'm not a big party person, and I plan on taking quiet strolls and picnics wherever I can in Nagoya. I'm from Memphis, which also sucks, so I hear it's about on par.

[kurohinge1]

. . . I plan on taking quiet strolls and picnics wherever I can in Nagoya . . .

I really like Nagoya Castle and the grounds, and the Toyota museum is good too.

The train system is very easy to understand and the general pace of the city sems much more laid-back than Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto, etc.

Good luck - I think you'll enjoy it.

[kusai Jijii]

I hate to rain on your matsuri, but
[SIZE="7"]

Nagoya is a total SHITHOLE

[/SIZE]

[AssKissinger]

I hate to rain on your matsuri, but
[SIZE="7"]

Nagoya is a total SHITHOLE

[/SIZE]

4sho

[Takechanpoo]

This is typical Nagoya thing.
[YT]xQjIIsLz64g[/YT]
Nagoya is perfectly controlled by Koudoukai which is most powerful Yakuza syndicate. Remember that.

[sillygirl]

I quite like Nagoya....specially the zoo and curry udon....

[steffi]

I'm not a big udon person. I like soba better, but I'll try just about anything. I'll keep in mind any places you guys mention.

I hate to rain on your matsuri, but
[SIZE="7"]

Nagoya is a total SHITHOLE

[/SIZE]

why is that?

[AssKissinger]

It has all the drawbacks to big city J-Life but very few of the plusses. And the people are fucking assholes, even the foreigners. The transit sucks and the whole place is ugly as hell. And it's just plain unlucky, nothing good will happen to you there. It's cursed.

[kusai Jijii]

why is that?

Refer to AK's post above. His explanation is based on unrefutable scientific fact.

[AssKissinger]

Refer to AK's post above. His explanation is based on unrefutable scientific fact.

That's right!

What could be more scientific than direct experience?

[steffi]

I hear the subway system is convenient. also, I'm severely used to assholes. maybe I'll become bitter and jaded in Nagoya. boohoo.

seriously, I doubt I'll have a bad time. it's not like Memphis is exciting, beautiful, or any fun. Plus a lot less crime is looking appealing to me. Aren't the mountains really close to Nagoya? Aren't there a ton of shrines and temples?

I'm going there to study, get fluent, and wander around aimlessly during my time off. also to travel around Japan whenever I get a holiday. ugly buildings and mean people aren't going to scare me off.

[Visitor K]

seriously, I doubt I'll have a bad time. it's not like Memphis is exciting, beautiful, or any fun. Plus a lot less crime is looking appealing to me. Aren't the mountains really close to Nagoya? Aren't there a ton of shrines and temples?

dont worry about it too much, japan is the size of california, but much more condensed; even in the middle of nowhere you can find interesting things to do/see.. i cant speak from any personal scientific experience like AK, but, you are right between osaka and tokyo, that has to be worth something, right?

[AssKissinger]

. Aren't the mountains really close to Nagoya?

Yes, but getting to the mountains or out of the urban sprawl takes forever in Aichi and it's expensive as shit. My wife and I often went to country Ryokan (or fake Ryokan onsen resorts-whatever they are) but the drive was always unbelievable. The best thing about that area though is the food. The restaurants are great. About Tokyo and Osaka though- I'm telling you, you may think yeah I can go there to one of those cities to see a show or whatever (because every touring band skips Nagoya, believe me) but you end up spending a thousand dollars or more before it's over with. I will say this though, coming as a student is so tops! Congratulations! I wish I had started off that way.

[AssKissinger]

Hey about the transit

check out this subway map (anyone)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shaun_morrison/20422015/sizes/l/

IIRC that major circle line wasn't completed when I lived there...

Does anybody know when that was finished up or is my mind just playing tricks on me?

That subway actually looks pretty awesome tttt

[Buraku]

[kusai Jijii]

i cant speak from any personal scientific experience like AK, but, you are right between osaka and tokyo, that has to be worth something, right?

Ah...yes. About a 6000 yen shinkansen ride to osaka, and a 11000 yen ride to Tokyo.

[steffi]

well, I'm not terribly worried about money as I got a crazy awesome scholarship. or a few. 20k+. and I have friends all over japan, especially osaka. whenever I go, I'll have a place to stay.

the most important thing to me is food. then quiet pretty places. then hole in the wall shops.

as far as going into the mountains, they must have an easier way to get up there rather than car. I have a year to investigate how.

thanks for the congratulations.

[AssKissinger]

then quiet pretty places

[Takechanpoo]

quiet pretty places

As long as you are a caucasian gaijin, unfortunately there is no quiet place for you in Japan.
I guarantee that.

[steffi]

I can hide in temples, damn it. I'm 4'11, I probably won't ever look up at ugly sky scrapers.

[Charles]

..I'm 4'11..

You'll fit right in. You'll fit right in bus seats, low doorways, and all the other places we 6'2" gaijin can't fit.