Hello Japan reference people, I have been watching this forum some time now and since I live in Japan I deceided to join you.
My English is not perfect, but I have you can understand me.
I came Japan 6 months ago as an exchange students, I have one year plan here in Japan. I live in rural area called Shimmachi, which is part of Gunma prefecture. There are no other exchange students, from Europe or US. There are few foreign teachers however and few students from other foreign countries. 50% of students in my college are Chinese exchange students.
I am posting this here becouse I need to get this said. I only say it here becouse I probably can never tell for my parents how I feel about Japan after living here. Japan is great country, and I understand that I live in rural area where people can sometimes be little different. There can be a change of attitudes partly in Finland too depending where you travel or living as an foreigner. "We are only 5million people though so racisim doesn't show usually and we are quite individualistic in finland too, in my opinion."
My parents have teached me: Always to be as humble as possible and never use violance, never stare anyone especially into eyes, it is considered rude in some cultures. Do not raise your voice and express anger... etc. The normal rules of how to be polite.
After arraving to my new living area, in Shimmachi, these questions rose into my mind.
- Why some Japanese people think, they can read my mind ?
In the first evening after arrival to shimmachi, I had traditional evening meal at my landlords house. (My landlord is a great guy, no offence really) They were talking in Japanese, Why I came to Finland. First they asked me the questions and I explained the best I could. (I had studied little bit Japanese before coming to Japan. about one year) After I explained my intrests to culture and the Geography, the landlords wife suddenly came up with idea I just want to marry Japanese girl.
She just said it, I never said anything like that. There have been other cases too, where Japanese people think they can stereotype me.
Later it became clear that without Japanese girlfriend life in Japan would be even harder and I found one.
-when are you going home ?
This was the first questions Japanese students asked me, on the first minute I stepped to university area. Followed by question. You are going home right, I hope you don't stay, please I hope you go home soon. This question was asked by Japanese people, not by Chinese exchange students. Come on, at first day of your exchange student period. ☝ The college also point tutors to help me. The tutors showed up at first day when I came to Japan. Then they dissapeared and never showed up or kept contact to me again, so I was also of course out of cell phone or any communication tool.
I came to show intrest to someone elses culture like ikebana, anime /manga, and religion and this is how they treat me. Trust me I have had very little trouble listening "hashi joozu desu ne " and yes I can eat with chopstics. I can't even eat at school restaurant. They have been very unpolite for me. After two weeks of this same question and treatment, I decided not to speak with any college students in two weeks. I have never said bad thing for any Japanese, I try not to express my anger while I am abroad
-I don't want to be in picture
Japanese turists came to my country fairly often. They usually also take lot of pictures. In Japan it seems that picture taking is not looked to be very good thing. Actually it feels that there are only few things which turist should photograph and those are decided by Japanese people.
also:
You can add __________________ the crap here. I had to listen from my teachers on the last spot.
Japan is a good country for Japanese...but some people really might want to think and change their attitudes. In my home college I don't ran to exchange students and start asking when they are going home and such.
Well things are better now.. 6 months have based and my life is pretty normal. I like it here, but I don't never make communication with my college students again. I just go to classes and thats it.
My family also teached me another important thing. Never give up.
My English is not perfect, but I have you can understand me.
I came Japan 6 months ago as an exchange students, I have one year plan here in Japan. I live in rural area called Shimmachi, which is part of Gunma prefecture. There are no other exchange students, from Europe or US. There are few foreign teachers however and few students from other foreign countries. 50% of students in my college are Chinese exchange students.
I am posting this here becouse I need to get this said. I only say it here becouse I probably can never tell for my parents how I feel about Japan after living here. Japan is great country, and I understand that I live in rural area where people can sometimes be little different. There can be a change of attitudes partly in Finland too depending where you travel or living as an foreigner. "We are only 5million people though so racisim doesn't show usually and we are quite individualistic in finland too, in my opinion."
My parents have teached me: Always to be as humble as possible and never use violance, never stare anyone especially into eyes, it is considered rude in some cultures. Do not raise your voice and express anger... etc. The normal rules of how to be polite.
After arraving to my new living area, in Shimmachi, these questions rose into my mind.
- Why some Japanese people think, they can read my mind ?
In the first evening after arrival to shimmachi, I had traditional evening meal at my landlords house. (My landlord is a great guy, no offence really) They were talking in Japanese, Why I came to Finland. First they asked me the questions and I explained the best I could. (I had studied little bit Japanese before coming to Japan. about one year) After I explained my intrests to culture and the Geography, the landlords wife suddenly came up with idea I just want to marry Japanese girl.
She just said it, I never said anything like that. There have been other cases too, where Japanese people think they can stereotype me.
Later it became clear that without Japanese girlfriend life in Japan would be even harder and I found one.
-when are you going home ?
This was the first questions Japanese students asked me, on the first minute I stepped to university area. Followed by question. You are going home right, I hope you don't stay, please I hope you go home soon. This question was asked by Japanese people, not by Chinese exchange students. Come on, at first day of your exchange student period. ☝ The college also point tutors to help me. The tutors showed up at first day when I came to Japan. Then they dissapeared and never showed up or kept contact to me again, so I was also of course out of cell phone or any communication tool.
I came to show intrest to someone elses culture like ikebana, anime /manga, and religion and this is how they treat me. Trust me I have had very little trouble listening "hashi joozu desu ne " and yes I can eat with chopstics. I can't even eat at school restaurant. They have been very unpolite for me. After two weeks of this same question and treatment, I decided not to speak with any college students in two weeks. I have never said bad thing for any Japanese, I try not to express my anger while I am abroad
-I don't want to be in picture
Japanese turists came to my country fairly often. They usually also take lot of pictures. In Japan it seems that picture taking is not looked to be very good thing. Actually it feels that there are only few things which turist should photograph and those are decided by Japanese people.
also:
You can add __________________ the crap here. I had to listen from my teachers on the last spot.
Japan is a good country for Japanese...but some people really might want to think and change their attitudes. In my home college I don't ran to exchange students and start asking when they are going home and such.
Well things are better now.. 6 months have based and my life is pretty normal. I like it here, but I don't never make communication with my college students again. I just go to classes and thats it.
My family also teached me another important thing. Never give up.
. Actually it's a pretty good attitude towards life in general really. When you think about it, there's going to be just as many things in Japan that piss you off there that will piss you off wherever else, so somethings just gotta give.
