Hi everyone! I'm an attorney from Ohio who's going to be moving to Tokyo for a couple of years (most likely, maybe more, maybe less, who knows) to teach. I'm not what you'd call a rabid Japanophile, but it's always been my ambition to visit, and now I'm getting my wish. Like a lot of Americans, I'm nuts about martial arts, Japanese movies (especially Ken Takakura... or is it Takakura Ken, I can never figure that out...), and sushi, but don't know a whole lot else about the country or culture.
I lived overseas when I was a kid (Spain & Brazil, 2.5 years each), and had many of the mixed experiences I've seen described on this site: homesickness and enlightenment, inability to communicate and fluency in a new language, and that odd mix of idolization and oprobrium that seems to accompany Americans wherever we go. I'm ready for some major culture shock, but at the same time I've never been so excited and I'm going to take it as it comes!
My family's very supportive, but I'm going to be DYING without my dogs. I've got two really sweet dogs who've been my truest friends for years, and I just can't bring them with me. I'll try to post pictures of them in my profile.
I've got a ton of questions that someone may be good enough to answer for me: Can I bring/use all of my electronics, esp my TV and Playstation? I know I'll have to buy a new DVD player to play all of the new Ken Takakura movies I plan to buy, but I want to also be able to watch all of my American movies without re-purchasing them. Hell, will they even let me bring my American DVDs into the country?
What's the weather like in Tokyo? It's winter in Ohio now. Does that make it summer there? How cold does it get (keep in mind, it gets BUTT COLD in Ohio)?
What are living conditions like. I'm (like most people who make this trip) getting paid ok, but am neither rich nor poor. Will I be living in one room? 2? Will I have a kitchenette or my own bathroom? In the States we see footage of people in hotels sleeping in those little MRI-type pods... They're not gonna' plug me into one of those, are they?
Do all you Americans, British, Australians, etc. get together and hang out after meeting on this site, or is Tokyo so big and anonymous that there's just no face-to-face socialization with other expats? I'm not going to know anyone!!! I can kereoke my *** off, though.
People keep telling me to bring sports DVDs, games, hats, etc. to give as gifts. What's hot? I bought a bunch of sports games for my PS2, so I should have a good start!
This is a great site, and I've gotten so much info already! When I went to Europe in 79, the internet was still a distant dream. Now we can all stay in touch and swap info, thankfully! Looking forward to my trip, and to meeting all of you, at least electronically!
--Doug
I lived overseas when I was a kid (Spain & Brazil, 2.5 years each), and had many of the mixed experiences I've seen described on this site: homesickness and enlightenment, inability to communicate and fluency in a new language, and that odd mix of idolization and oprobrium that seems to accompany Americans wherever we go. I'm ready for some major culture shock, but at the same time I've never been so excited and I'm going to take it as it comes!
My family's very supportive, but I'm going to be DYING without my dogs. I've got two really sweet dogs who've been my truest friends for years, and I just can't bring them with me. I'll try to post pictures of them in my profile.
I've got a ton of questions that someone may be good enough to answer for me: Can I bring/use all of my electronics, esp my TV and Playstation? I know I'll have to buy a new DVD player to play all of the new Ken Takakura movies I plan to buy, but I want to also be able to watch all of my American movies without re-purchasing them. Hell, will they even let me bring my American DVDs into the country?
What's the weather like in Tokyo? It's winter in Ohio now. Does that make it summer there? How cold does it get (keep in mind, it gets BUTT COLD in Ohio)?
What are living conditions like. I'm (like most people who make this trip) getting paid ok, but am neither rich nor poor. Will I be living in one room? 2? Will I have a kitchenette or my own bathroom? In the States we see footage of people in hotels sleeping in those little MRI-type pods... They're not gonna' plug me into one of those, are they?
Do all you Americans, British, Australians, etc. get together and hang out after meeting on this site, or is Tokyo so big and anonymous that there's just no face-to-face socialization with other expats? I'm not going to know anyone!!! I can kereoke my *** off, though.
People keep telling me to bring sports DVDs, games, hats, etc. to give as gifts. What's hot? I bought a bunch of sports games for my PS2, so I should have a good start!
This is a great site, and I've gotten so much info already! When I went to Europe in 79, the internet was still a distant dream. Now we can all stay in touch and swap info, thankfully! Looking forward to my trip, and to meeting all of you, at least electronically!
--Doug
But if you read old posts you'll very likely find some of the answers - if not, a post in the 'Japan practical' section should do the trick! 
