Thinking about an exchange student year in Japan

Ah, that's where the difference is. Where I live, I've only seen one other young foriegn kid in 3 months ( and less than 20 adults) and my school doesn't offer any japanese classes, since I'm the first exchange student they ever had, in 103 years. I guess I have to study more, and I'm gonna tell my friends to try to speak more Japanese to me. I...really need to improve.
I find it strange that guys don't really talk to you. I mean, I don't know a ton, but there are definetly ones that'll stop and talk to me in loud english, it's great.

Your friends are great teachers for random words and modern phrases. Though I find that they will never correct my grammar unless I really, really brutalize something.

I don't know whether to say you're lucky or not that your friends speak english. I'm in the ICC (International Communication Course) class, so they take more than twice as many english classes than the adverage student...and yet nobody speaks a word to me. Beyond hello and goodbye that is. They're too shy about it.

I do think you're lucky that your school hasn't had an exchange student before. Mine takes a rotary person each year, and this year they have me as well as the regular rotary student(I'm not rotary). So they constantly compare us to the previous students and tell us how 'so and so' was at this point in the textbook when they had been here for 3 months, etc. It gets a bit annoying. They don't seem to realize that I am a different person. Ah well.

Anyway, good luck!

^_^ \/,,

Thanks, you guys! Those are some nices answers.

Actually, I'm not expecting to like it at first. I'm expecting things to bother me and be difficult the first weeks. That's why we have to adapt. ;-D


What things should one absolutely not do, and what things should someone absolutely do as an exchange student?
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Anyone has something to say about the maturity of japanese boys and girls? As I said, I've heard they're really immature(a guy i talked to said that japanese 17 year olds are more like Swedish 13 year olds). I'm wondering if it's necessary to lower the "maturity bar" a meter or two in school.
I'll be 19 when and if I go(actually, I'll be 18 when i go, but I'll turn 19 a month after the arrival).

And does anyone have something to say about the shyness of japanese kids?
I mean, if nobody dares to talk back much to a foreigner/gaijin, it could be difficult to make friends. ;-D
(I know I'm exaggerating, but I think you get my point)
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I know DragonChan and Ciata have already answered a little bit on these, but have anyone else got something to say? Or maybe the ones mentiones want to say something more?



Once again, I appreciate all answers! Anyone else who have some experience, please tell me/us! It would be fun to read them too!


OT

If you want to, I'd be happy if you guys would comment my english "skills".
If I say something in a wrong way I'd be happy to get corrected.


^_^ \/,, (hey! I invented this smiley to the left (I guess everyone here has already seen it, though. just to ruin everything ! ))

i ain't never met a boy or a girl who was mentally mature
thats why they be boys and girls?

Dragon Chan) I'm in the ICC class too, but most of the girls aren't shy at all and they speak either only limited english, or a basic mix. I'm happy to be the only exchange student here, since I know they'd compare us Lots of students here are really outgoing.

Chiefen) Just try to go with the flow instead of against it, and you'll be fine. With all the girls I know, it depends on what kind of immature you mean. They're kind of perverted immature, as in trying to flip up each others skirts and hugging each other and stuff, but it depends on the person. You shouldn't have to change your own maturity 'settings' so to speak, just be friendly and keep and open mind and I'm starting to sound like an adult.

Ciata said:

2 of my 5 male classmates

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DragonChan said:

As for guys in class. Well I really do want to talk to them but there are 8 of them and 33 girls.

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Ciata said:

They're kind of perverted immature, as in trying to flip up each others skirts and hugging each other and stuff

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Haha. Jackpot. You just really increased my need to go on an exchange to Japan. Is the ratio usually like this across Japan? Or do you know? Heh.