'THINKING OF TEACHING IN JAPAN? DON'T BOTHER' (Amen!)

[nottu]

[wuchan]

You can really do almost anything in Japan if you learn to speak Japanese.

The best way to get a nice job where people respect you, is to become Japanese, and that means learning the culture.

Really. Learn the culture, history, language, respect he elders and you can go very very far in Japan.

Othewise, you'll carry on your "visit" in Japan as an FG and feel nothing but bitterness and resentment.

OKLAHOMA?

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

In a thread about learning kanji, I posted that although reading and writing kanji at a proficient level is admirable, most FG would be better spending their time learning to be effective gaijin - they'll be happier in the end.

[FG Lurker]

OKLAHOMA?

I was thinking more along the lines of "Jack?", but the three really aren't all that different, could easily be the same basement-dweller.

[Greji]

[YT]/v/MA-VhhnBrW4&hl=en&fs=1[/YT]

[IkemenTommy]

Isn't Oklahoma dead last, next to Arkansas and Alaska, in everything from education, health care, and the earning index?

[sublight]

You know, I actually have to agree a little with hike-chan. While I have the job that I have (ad writer) because I'm a native English speaker, all our meetings, briefings, presentations, and client feedback are all in Japanese. Not speaking the language means having to be lead by the hand wherever you go, meaning the clients and your co-workers are going to think of you as dead weight 90% of the time.

Hike-chan's wrong about respect, though. It doesn't come from bowing and scraping to everyone, it comes from beating them at their own game. Respect comes from being able to work independently with the clients and tell them exactly what they need to hear in their own language without letting them hide behind any 'ware-ware nihonjin' bullshit (which is exactly what they'll do if you need an interpreter with you for everything).

[Hikonejou]

Hike-chan's wrong about respect, though. It doesn't come from bowing and scraping to everyone, it comes from beating them at their own game. Respect comes from being able to work independently with the clients and tell them exactly what they need to hear in their own language without letting them hide behind any 'ware-ware nihonjin' bullshit (which is exactly what they'll do if you need an interpreter with you for everything).

WRONG!

The Japanese do not ever want people to just "tell them what they want to hear".

Man, I don't know; You guys hang out in Roppongi too much, and bounce around with those Mud-Sharks at the Hard Rock Cafe, instead of trying to know the real Japanese.

I've been married to a Japanese for over 7 Years and I guarantee you 100% my wife would never EVER let me tell her just what she wants to hear.

It's almost insulting to actually read something like that from dudes living in Japan, but hey my advice to you's guys is to get out of Tokyo for a while and live somewhere more rural.

You may actually be able to learn something from all of this...

[wuchan]

[quote="Hikonejou"]WRONG!

The Japanese do not ever want people to just "tell them what they want to hear".

Man, I don't know]
um........



never mind.

[Greji]

I've been married to a Japanese for over 7 Years and I guarantee you 100% my wife would never EVER let me tell her just what she wants to hear.

It's almost insulting to actually read something like that from dudes living in Japan, but hey my advice to you's guys is to get out of Tokyo for a while and live somewhere more rural.

You may actually be able to learn something from all of this...

For someone who has only been married for seven years, you seem pretty certain. I would ask that if you feel so strongly about these principles for Japan, why did you leave?

[CrankyBastard]

WRONG!


I've been married to a Japanese for over 7 Years and I guarantee you 100% my wife would never EVER let me tell her just what she wants to hear.

Hikonejou, it's probably been less than six months. It just feels like seven years.

[Yokohammer]

It's almost insulting to actually read something like that from dudes living in Japan, but hey my advice to you's guys is to get out of Tokyo for a while and live somewhere more rural.

You mean like Texas?

I dunno Hik, the case you're making is not proving to be particularly effective in building your reputation as "He Who Knows Everything About Japan and its People."

You've been married to a Japanese woman for more than 7 years? Wow! I didn't even know they lived that long! I'll bet nobody on this board can top that record! <-Sarcasm, just in case you were wondering.

[sublight]

Hike-chan, I said "what they need to hear," not "what they want to hear."

Maybe English isn't your strong suit. It's ok, it happens, especially when one has become as attuned to Japanese sensibilities as you are.

[nottu]

[Bucky]

. . . if my wife spoke fluent English and I understood what she was saying all the time, I'm certain it would further confuse me.
Its really hopeless - like trying to become Japanese.
In other words - surrender.

My wife does speak fluent English and we still have frequent communication problems. And I speak Japanese too, so it ain't the language barrier. It's the sensibility barrier. You live with it and as Nottu says, often times, it is easier to surrender.

"Yes dear. . . ."

[Iraira]

My wife does speak fluent English and we still have frequent communication problems. And I speak Japanese too, so it ain't the language barrier. It's the sensibility barrier. You live with it and as Nottu says, often times, it is easier to surrender.

"Yes dear. . . ."

Along the lines of surrender, the technique to more marital or relationship bliss: just apologize. If you are male, then whatever you did to piss her off is your fault. Attempting to argue your point only serves to prolong the duration of the fight. Immediately apologizing doesn't get you out of the dog house, it does decrease the duration of your incarceration and increase your chances for an early parole hearing.
Note: this is not the technique in terms of dealing with fights due to adultery. In these cases, unless there is documented video evidence....deny deny deny.

[Coligny]

WRONG!

The Japanese do not ever want people to just "tell them what they want to hear".

Man, I don't know]

I've been married for quite some credit card statement too. And for things to work I not only have to say what she want to hear, but guess what she want to do and present it as what I want to do so she can follow without repsonsibilities. Which is bad luck since I stopped giving a fuck aboot it some times ago. House is big and my workshop is a no flight zone.

For my knowledge of other japanese people... I nearly only hang out with the 60+ year old crowd. Mostly from small city/countryside. So not exaclty what you are talking aboot. And unfortunately, the best way to fit in is the Spektor method... aka do the panda thing/ cute pet syndrome.

It's almost insulting to actually read something like that from dudes living in Japan, but hey my advice to you's guys is to get out of Tokyo for a while and live somewhere more rural.

You may actually be able to learn something from all of this...

[BigInJapan]

Immediately apologizing doesn't get you out of the dog house, it does decrease the duration of your incarceration and increase your chances for an early parole hearing.

Hear hear!

Note: this is not the technique in terms of dealing with fights due to adultery. In these cases, unless there is documented video evidence....deny deny deny.

I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it, you can't prove anything!
- Bart Simpson