introductions

[DE]

Well, we seem to be doing introductions around here, so, although some of you know who I am, I'll introduce myself for the sake of others.  I think that I am probably the youngest person on this board, weighing in at 20 years of age.  I'm a 3rd-year college student who's studying English.  I have a strong interest in Japanese women (don't ask me why but am searching for women from all ethnic groups with whom to correspond in the hopes of finding "the one."  That's a brief spill about me.  Oh, yeah, and I'm trying to go to Japan next year to study abroad.  Wish me luck!

[Jeff S.]

... in response to introductions, posted by DE on Jan 31, 2001

Hi DE:
I've been married to a Japanese women for some time now. She's from Yokohama and spoke almost no English when we met. My Nihongo was marginal at that time, also, but we perservered and after three years of letters, phone calls and two trips per year back anf forth, were married in a traditional Shinto ceremony at her parents house.

These days Japanese girls are far freer to marry who they chose than just a few years back, so you should have no problem. You're right, be very respectful, listen more than you speak and don't be loud and rowdy, and you'll have absolutely no trouble with Japanese. They'll tell you you seem more European than American. They judge most Americans by the many drunken sailors that have been stationed in Japan for the past 56 years.

Japan is a really fascinating place with an ancient culture and history. I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time there. E-mail me for specifics if you like.
-- Jeff S.

[DE]

... in response to Re: introductions, posted by Jeff S. on Feb 1, 2001

Hey Jeff,

Whatever specifics you can give me would be great.  I'll not be able to go unless I get the AIEJ scholarship;  if I can get it, then I should be set.  Otherwise...well, you know.

I've known about the drunken sailors thing for quite a while now.  I also think that some Americans tend to judge Japan based on World War II, which isn't exactly an accurate perception these days.  We were given an opportunity to do a 3-minute speech for a round-trip ticket to Japan.  It wasn't until it was too late that I thought of a good topic:  "Getting past perceived notions"  or something like that.

DE

[cc]

... in response to Re: Re: introductions, posted by DE on Feb 1, 2001

DE, I hope you get your scholarship - I have no idea whether you will have any saying over where in Japan you might teach, but if I were you, I'd go to Fukuoka on Kyushu island. I am probably biased, caused that's where I stayed for 6 months - and it's great!!!! It's still a big city (almost 2 mio people) but not quite as metropolitan as Tokyo and quite easy to get to the country side by train. Beautiful scenery!!! (Of course Kyoto would be wonderful too, maybe even better than Fukuoka, now where I am thinking about it...). My point is: try to get away from Tokyo, even though it is a fascinating city in it's own with many different centers and "flavors".

[Jeff S.]

... in response to Fukuoka / Kyoto, posted by cc on Feb 1, 2001

About Fukuoka. My wife has relatives there (actually Kitakyushu near Kokura) and that area of northern Kyushu is really great - friendly too. I'll pass on Kyoto though, even though most Japanese will tell you it's the nicest city in Japan. Every time I've been there it's been a hassle. There seems to be an arrogance about Kyoto people. You get a big agreement from me to get away from the Tokyo/Yokohama/Chiba megopolis. The smaller towns, especially in the north, south and Japan Sea coast are far more interesting and fun for the gaigin looking for exotic culture. Avoid the heavily industrialized metorpolitan areas.

My first trip to Japan was in 1977 on business (I was project engineer for the world's heaviest shiplift platform being built in Batangas Bay in the Philippines, buying & inspecting chain in Japan) and I ended up in Himeji for four weeks. It also is a smallish city and home of the most famous castle in Japan (where they filmed "Shogun") Kids would gather around me because they'd never seen anyone with blue eyes before. I stuck out like a sore thumb (6' 4" gaigin) It was really a fantastic experience. I was there alone, with no-one speaking English (well, barely) I made lifelong friends and still visit every time i'm over there.

- Jeff S.

[Jeff S.]

... in response to Re: Re: introductions, posted by DE on Feb 1, 2001

Hi DE
I wish you the best in getting your scholarship. If you, for some reason don't, though, there are a number of schools in Japan that solicit native English speaking people to work part time as teachers (I believe a degree is required but am sure it doesn't have to be an English degree) Here's a web site for teachers:
www. eltnews. com/home. shtml (take the spaces out)

I had to laugh when you mentioned American's viewpoints. When I first introduced my wife (fiance then) to my mother (a teenager in WWII with three brothers fighting in the Pacific) she had some realy interesting comments afterward about he having been the only Japanese person she'd ever met and how she realized her own views were colored by the WWII propoganda - even the songs ("You're a sap, Mister Jap, Uncle Sam is gonna spankie..") It took meeting my fiance for her to realize she had a nearly 40 year stereotype and snap out of it (that was in the mid 80's) Anyway, they became great buddies.

- Jeff S.

[AsianGirl]

... in response to introductions, posted by DE on Jan 31, 2001

Going abroad next year, DE?  Don't most people go abroad their junior year so that they can graduate on time?

[DE]

... in response to Abroad in your SENIOR year??, posted by AsianGirl on Feb 1, 2001

I'm not going to graduate on time anyhow...and my parents weren't so agreeable when I tried for it the first time.  Now they're far more agreeable to it.  You've gotta roll with the punches.

[AsianGirl]

... in response to Re: Abroad in your SENIOR year??, posted by DE on Feb 1, 2001

A guy in a class I had last semester did that.  He's returning for his "fifth year" this year.  He says he wants to go back after graduating to teach English.

[cc]

... in response to Ah I see...:-), posted by AsianGirl on Feb 1, 2001

Teaching english is a great way to experience overseas!!! I know many people who went to japan for teaching! You will get a totally different impression from living in a Country as opposed to being a tourist!

PS: Hope you will make it to Europe some day ;-)

[logan_jiang]

... in response to introductions, posted by DE on Jan 31, 2001

When I was in college I found a good wait to meet the Japanese coeds was to tutor in computer and english I had a chinese girlfriend and 2 japanese girlfriends  They were all very nice girls, but wouldn't commit to a gaijin  
PS nice to make your acquiantance (howdy)

[DE]

... in response to Japanese, posted by logan_jiang on Jan 31, 2001

I have seen experiences (cultural videos in class mainly) that show gaijins marrying Japanese women.  I'm *hoping* that if I were to show the family how I respected their culture, then they would allow me to marry their daughter (musume-san).

Howdy back.

[logan_jiang]

... in response to Re: Japanese, posted by DE on Jan 31, 2001

It may be true, I used the culture in road to But it all depends on the family Right now I have a lover who is a Japanese stripper in Nevada. It took almost 10 months before I got anywhere with her. I think the most important thing is respect. The friendship before sex seems more important with Japanese. More so than AW's generaly