panic attack

[Manarak]

Hey, ummm....
Yesterday I took the decision to move to Tokyo for career inspite I despise the city (not the people or the country, just the city).

Then on my way back to my hotel I had some sort of "panic attack" - I was very freigthened about moving here. Still feeling unwell today.

Did somebody else on this board experience the same?

I heard some stories about people going nuts here, I hope this will not be my case )

[Taro Toporific]

..Then on my way back to my hotel I had some sort of "panic attack" .
Did somebody else on this board experience the same?

Every morning.



It's a healthy response to an unhealthy place.
Every morning as soon as I hit the 150%-of-capacity train I get into my FG-panic-attack mode, aka "Terminator Taro." You'll find that "place" inside you too.

[cstaylor]

Had that the first time I went to a department store some five years ago. Never seen so many asians in my life (California has a sizeable asian minority, but it's still a minority), plus my zero Japanese language skills at the time.

You'll get over it. I still don't like Tokyo (so I live in Yokohama), but those panic feelings usually pass.

[GomiGirl]

OMG Taro is that your real head? I think it might be. Absolute classic!!

Now that we have the image gallery we needs lots and lots more photoshopping..

Hey gomichild - do you wanna get together again soon and make another masterpiece??

[GomiGirl]

I love Tokyo - it is not a pretty city - here in the land o' concrete.. but it is akin to living in an amusement park 24 hours a day. There is always something happening.

But a word of advice, make sure your home is your little oasis of calm that you can hibernate in if you need to. Surround yourself with the familiar - photos, CD, magazines, DVD's whatever.. so that you can "tune out, turn on and drop out" (sic) far from the madding crowd.

(Damn how many literature references can I crucify today?)

Also, make a plan to get out of the city on weekends.. ie off to the mountains to an onsen or a small village ryokan, or skiing, or to the beach, festivals. Whatever. Just do the whole Celestine thing and get outside in fresh clean air. Japanese countryside is gorgeous and when you are a visitor (ie spending money in an inaka economy) people are really friendly and warm.

[Manarak]

I don't like seafood - that doesn't help <g>

[GomiGirl]

Gomigirl, were you ever freightened by Tokyo?

Takes a bit for me to be frightened.. (nods of agreement from those who know me)

But on a personal safety level, I feel safer walking down the street or catching the train late at night than I do in any other country/city in the world.

I have been to quite a few places in my travels and on the scary scale, Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea was the scariest and Tokyo is the least...

My home city is about half way down the scale.

There is no way that you can control Tokyo - so the way to stay sane is just to control how your react to the things that you see etc. If you try to understand the place, you will go crazy - just be mellow and enjoy it for what it is and don't take it too seriously.

Most of the people here have no idea what they are doing either so everybody is in the same boat.

[Andocrates]

It's O.K. I think we all have those and I expect it's a chemical reaction more then anything else. I just stop, close my eyes and focus. Over the years I have really developed the ability to turn off things in my brain, like work, troubles, etc. For me (my type A++ personality) this was a necessary defense mechanism.

As Gomi girl said your home space has to be a refuge, no matter what the days throw at me the nights are mine. That's helped me deal with stress both in Japan and on the road in America.

[AssKissinger]

I despise the city

I'd say you're making a mistake moving there then. I would be devasted if I had to live there. No offence to yall who like it.

[kamome]

I despise the city

I'd say you're making a mistake moving there then. I would be devasted if I had to live there. No offence to yall who like it.

I'm beginning to come around to your point of view, AK. Living in the city is fun and exciting, but there are days when I wish I could see a tree, breathe clean air, have a moment of silence, and not have to ride a crowded subway.

I was in a rural part of Virginia last year to visit a friend, and he had this nice house out in the woods with 2 dogs and an outside deck. Clean air, trees all around. What a nice change of pace. However, I was wondering how it feels to come home at 8PM or whatever and realize there's nothing else to do except sit around at home and watch the tube.

[AssKissinger]

I was wondering how it feels to come home at 8PM or whatever and realize there's nothing else to do except sit around at home and watch the tube.

That's why I get so upset when no one posts on FG on the weekend! The only time I ever go out is when my band plays. I don't really miss it. I think the only reason I ever left home was to try to get some and now that I'm married that's all taken care of . Why go out for burgers when you got filet mignon at home?

[gkanai]

Every morning as soon as I hit the 150%-of-capacity train I get into my FG-panic-attack mode, aka "Terminator Taro." You'll find that "place" inside you too.

I totally agree.

When I first moved here, I was all like "oh I will be more polite than the Japanese, I will hold doors for the women, I will let people go in front of me, etc."

Now, fuhgeddaboutdit! It's like a fricking rugby scrum every morning at Shingawa. Every human for themselves. No one gives a damn for me, so I cannot give a damn about them. It's much worse than NYC. In New York, there is a personal space boundary that is rarely broached, even in public transportation. You'll get punched if you break into the personal space of some folks. Here in Tokyo there is none.

People tell me that other places in Asia are much less polite than Japan. I shudder to think...

[kamome]

I think the only reason I ever left home was to try to get some and now that I'm married that's all taken care of . Why go out for burgers when you got filet mignon at home?

Because I would get sick of filet mignon after eating it everyday. Of course, you can get sick of daily hamburger also.

[Manarak]

After some time for deep insight, I told the company today that I will not move to Tokyo and I stopped everything.

No party, folks!
Sorry.

[Taro Toporific]

After some time for deep insight, I told the company today that I will not move to Tokyo and I stopped everything.

No party, folks!
.

Noooooooo, it's a going to be a GRADUATION PARTY!

All hail Manarak, the got-smart-fast FG!

[Manarak]

LOL

It wasn't easy because some people will be disappoited/upset.
But now its done.

if one of you wants to visit France, Germany or Switzerland I can help with links and some advice

Plus, with 50 posts I am now a Makushita!

[gomichild]

panic attack no...violent reaction to crowded train yes...

Note to GG - yeah we should do some more silly photoshopping...should rain soon hey...

[Big Booger]

I was born in the boondocks and probably will die there... Boondock Saint 4 life!

[Frost]

I think the only reason I ever left home was to try to get some and now that I'm married that's all taken care of . Why go out for burgers when you got filet mignon at home?

Because I would get sick of filet mignon after eating it everyday. Of course, you can get sick of daily hamburger also.

Well if you sick of the daily hamburger, just be creative and make it a double burger...you have no idea how fun it is...and neither do I.

[kamome]

Well if you sick of the daily hamburger, just be creative and make it a double burger...you have no idea how fun it is...and neither do I.

You mean a double burger with "special sauce" between the patties? I've never had the pleasure of tasting that particular lunch.

[JapanBound]

Funny.. you gave up tokyo.. I'm dieing to get over there...


We all have our reasons

[Taro Toporific]

Funny.. you gave up tokyo.. I'm dieing to get over there...

You don't have to die . . . just grim-&-bear it a bit.

[JapanBound]

Not desperate enough to teach english, though.

[Manarak]

japanbound, just curious, for what reason would you want to go to Tokyo?

[JapanBound]

Well, I want to go to visit & live in Japan, so it's one in the same..


I grew up on the west coast, so I'm used to big spread out cities... I'm not saying I would love tokyo for ever, I'm sure eventually it would wear on me...


I'm sure if i grew up in NYC, I would think differently about wanting to explore the largest city in Japan, first...


I want to soak up japan.. The good, bad ugly.. that means hitting up the big city first, and then exploring from there.. I was given the opportunity for a long term okinawa contract, and then it was stripped aweay form me, so everyday I think about how I could be a FG, right now...

I view tokyo as a portal, to all of japan...

[mr. sparkle]

Not desperate enough to teach english, though.

Just go now and teach English for awhile and quit when you find something sweeter. It really is the best "in" that can get you started in Japan.

Don't wait until your a geezer like mr. sparkle!

[JapanBound]

I'm thinking about it everyday.....


I figure my options are as follows:

Study japanese in college, and then use their study abroad option... This would only get me there short term, but I would learn the language while I am at it... This would take another 2-3 years.. I'm not getting any younger


Work in I.T. - I see a good amount of I.T. jobs in japan. Obviously I would have to learn japanese. So really option 1 & 2 are one in the same


Teach English- I could get over there right now. Very tempting... This makes me even more pissed off at myself, I just didn't take the I.T. job on the base in Iwakuni.. No japanese needed, great pay.. Definetely a mistake turning down this job...


I'm 23, and only getting older.. I really want to get to japan, by 25... I don't want to be making up for all the lost partying when I'm in my thirties...



Argh, what to do..... what to do...

[Manarak]

I'll tell you: get a good job somewhere in a nice US state, get only half of the salary but live twice as good?

[American Oyaji]

I'm glad I was never stationed in Tokyo. Its good my wife and I didnt move there.

I don't think I'll EVER live in Tokyo. I like it too much.

I mean......It's too darn easy to go and pickup some take out, and I ain't talkin about any tabemono here. It's too darn easy. I've seen it done and I've done it just passing through overnight.

I like women. I really do. However, I'm able to resist the temptation of the female form in moderate doses.

Tokyo would push me over the edge from casual observer to active participant.

[hennagaijin]

First time I got there I cried. Tokyo was soo different. But after some beers with some coworkers everything got better
Try beer it helps!