Ambitions

[Animeniax]

I don't want to poop on your dream, but a reality check is in order. The problem with what you're saying is, that's pretty much 95% of Asia (unless you have money), and 99% of Japanese (regardless of money). So around 99 out of every 100 Japanese you meet will look down on you or treat you like dirt. It's shitty, but reality. They won't openly show their displeasure at you being among them, they'll just quietly avoid you and ostracize you until you leave on your own, or stare at you like the oddity you are. The kids might be fine with you, but their parents may or may not, and instead demand the company use another teacher for their kid.

Going to another country to work and thinking you won't need to speak any of the local language is very naive of you. Even if you're teaching English, what do you do if the kids don't understand something unless it's explained in terms they already know? To do that, you'll have to speak their language. You might want to invest in Rosetta Stone language software. You might also want to learn all 3 kana syllabaries. Good luck, I guess.

[Abdula]

Damn. Is taking to wind out of peoples sails your hobby or is just a by product of your glowing personality. I don't think Masa is anywhere near that naive, but being black I have to agree with you Asians despise us, I wish I knew why because we certainly haven't done anything to them.

[Animeniax]

Only when that wind takes someone in the direction of a typhoon... well, mostly.

When I mentioned to my family that I planned to move to Japan in the future, my sister asked me if I realized what it would really be like. I was shocked she thought I would be so naive as to not know that it wouldn't be like in anime or J-dramas, but she has a point, since a lot of gaijin don't realize that, then end up hating the Japanese because of their own misconceptions. Some of the stuff masa is saying smacks of rationalization and justification, like he's trying to convince himself at all costs that everything will be ok, he just has to get there and it will all work itself out. If he at least spoke the language, he'd be that much more able to make this work.

Asians don't like anyone, especially other Asians, so don't take it too hard. They tend to be more accepting of lighter shades, but they'll avoid them just the same for the most part.

[Assertn]

Asians don't like anyone, especially other Asians, so don't take it too hard. They tend to be more accepting of lighter shades, but they'll avoid them just the same for the most part.

My tall caucasian friend was quite popular there. Apparently they thought he was Leonardo Dicaprio too (he happened to be blonde). If it wasn't for the fact that he had a girlfriend already and that most of the girls were underage, he probably could've had a decent amount of action there.

[Animeniax]

My tall caucasian friend was quite popular there. Apparently they thought he was Leonardo Dicaprio too (he happened to be blonde). If it wasn't for the fact that he had a girlfriend already and that most of the girls were underage, he probably could've had a decent amount of action there.

Good for your friend. Too bad about that pesky underage thing. Did he enjoy being ostracized by everyone else?

White guys usually fare better there, but masa is black and gay. Adults and elitists (75% of the population) will still avoid whitey like the plague. Sho ga nai.

[Abdula]

Some of the stuff masa is saying smacks of rationalization and justification, like he's trying to convince himself at all costs that everything will be ok, he just has to get there and it will all work itself out.

Um, the same could be said of everybody else, rationalization and convincing oneself that everything will be okay is normal human behavior. Everyone does it to some extent, its a good survival technique.

White guys usually fare better there, but masa is black and gay.

You make it sound like its throwing a lamb to the wolves. Even if it is, I think you should offer him a bit more encouragement I mean there is no reward without risk, and there is no guarantee that he will have a bad or good experience that is just life.

[Animeniax]

Yeah but we''re talking about masa here. He's tried to have me banned 20 times now, so all's fair in this war.

At some point rationalization and justification becomes self-delusion, and that's when it's a problem. I've talked to other foreigners who've tried Japan because they love anime, and now they hate the Japanese because things didn't work out like they expected. And somehow it's the Japanese people's fault for not being as cute and friendly and non-human as the ones in the anime.

He should go into this venture knowing all of the possibilities and arguably a pessimistic attitude. That way, when it's better than he expected, he'll be happy. The alternative is a jaded, bitter view and crushing defeat.

[Mizuchi]

@kitkat: I speak fluent russian so if you have any questions you can ask me and i would be happy to help you out.

@animeniax and psyke: Do you guys speak fluent or atleast good japanese? I started learning japanese about a week ago and surprisingly it hasnt been very hard at all. Im loving the two tenses thing, unlike spanish where theres like 15+. Anyways, I dont really have a teacher, just me and my friend are trying to teach ourselves using various books and rosetta stone (im not really liking the rosetta stone method of teaching...). Anyways, it's a bit hard without a teacher seeing as how I have questions that i have to figure out for myself, so do any of you have an AIM or Yahoo screen name so I may ask for help? I too plan on visiting Japan on college breaks, though i am still in highschool.

[Abdula]

Yeah but we''re talking about masa here. He's tried to have me banned 20 times now, so all's fair in this war.

At some point rationalization and justification becomes self-delusion, and that's when it's a problem. I've talked to other foreigners who've tried Japan because they love anime, and now they hate the Japanese because things didn't work out like they expected. And somehow it's the Japanese people's fault for not being as cute and friendly and non-human as the ones in the anime.

He should go into this venture knowing all of the possibilities and arguably a pessimistic attitude. That way, when it's better than he expected, he'll be happy. The alternative is a jaded, bitter view and crushing defeat.

I know what you mean I go into almost every situation expecting the worst and I'm rarely disappointed but that is just me. I always plan for every 'conceivable' outcome but again that is just me. As he said he is still months away from going there so I don't think he has really starting planning or anything yet.

I know what you mean about foreigners expecting something from a country based solely off of previous misconceptions but thats just ignorance. Secondly the average anime fan is about as intelligent as the average nascar fan so talking about them is saying much.

So its a de facto war huh, Lol. Its not like he tried to ban you without just cause.

[Animeniax]

Oh, you want some too abdula??

@Mizuchi: Man, sometimes I think there should be an age restriction here. I feel shitty talking smack to high schoolers and making a tough time in their lives worse. Sorry for any previous and future crap I might send your way, Mizuchi. Same goes to Lucifus and anyone else who aren't as old and pathetic as the rest of us. I think there's a good article on msnbc.com about adults being cyber-bullies to teens. assertn needs to read it, as do a lot of us older folks.

No, my Japanese is not fluent, I do know a bunch of conversational one liners and simple expressions though. I'm going back to university next fall and taking Japanese classes, probably as a minor, so hopefully I'll be fluent in a couple years before moving to Japan. I'm currently practicing the kana systems on my own.

[Abdula]

Sure why not. Its not like I have anything else to do here besides posting in the Naruto and Bleach threads.

What would your proposed age restriction be and from what do you consider one to be a part of what you call the older folks.

I think some people might take offense to the fact you equate everyone who is a bit on the older side to being pathetic.

[Psyke]

@animeniax and psyke: Do you guys speak fluent or atleast good japanese? I started learning japanese about a week ago and surprisingly it hasnt been very hard at all. Im loving the two tenses thing, unlike spanish where theres like 15+. Anyways, I dont really have a teacher, just me and my friend are trying to teach ourselves using various books and rosetta stone (im not really liking the rosetta stone method of teaching...). Anyways, it's a bit hard without a teacher seeing as how I have questions that i have to figure out for myself, so do any of you have an AIM or Yahoo screen name so I may ask for help? I too plan on visiting Japan on college breaks, though i am still in highschool.

I just took my Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level 3 yesterday. Was supposed to clear it last year but I was in Australia on a work related trip. But I continued my studies and will be clearing level 2 (which takes 2 years of study) next year along with my classmates. Probably won't be taking level 1, which according to my sensei is difficult even for some native speakers.

Anyway, I'm not good yet, because I rarely have the chance to practice it. But I don't really have any big problems with reading, although I will still need the dictionary for new vocab. It's still hard to learn any new langauge, but being able to speak Chinese plays a important role, as in I have a much easier time with Kanji than other people.

I used to believe that I don't need to attend classes to learn Japanese, but I was wrong. I reached a point where I couldn't progress anymore, and decided to join a school. But my self study was rewarded, as I skipped 2 levels. So, join a school if you're really interested.

[Animeniax]

I think some people might take offense to the fact you equate everyone who is a bit on the older side to being pathetic.

I meant the older ones (like assertn and masa, and sadly, myself) who talk down to the younger, more impressionable ones. I guess that's the risk of being online.

@Psyke: does your wife practice/speak Japanese? Did you learn just because or do you plan to move to Japan someday?

[Psyke]

@Psyke: does your wife practice/speak Japanese? Did you learn just because or do you plan to move to Japan someday?

Nope she doesn't. She only understands very basic words like kawaii and sayonara.... that's about it. I learn Japanese because I like Japanese stuff. I hope that makes sense.

[Abdula]

Yeah it makes sense. Everybody here loves Japanese stuff its an anime forum after all.

[Assertn]

I think there's a good article on msnbc.com about adults being cyber-bullies to teens. assertn needs to read it, as do a lot of us older folks.

lol what?

The effect of me ridiculing someone is caused by their posting habits, which, coincidentally, is often at a quality level directly proportional to age. If anything, I'm more likely to have prolonged conflicts with older members, because they are more inclined to maintain a front.

[Animeniax]

Yeah it makes sense. Everybody here loves Japanese stuff its an anime forum after all.

Kind of a broad generalization there. Anime is one (minor) facet of Japanese culture that we love. To be honest, I could do without anime, though I give it credit for introducing me to Japanese culture. I think a lot of people would not like the people or culture, especially if they think it's like in anime.

[masamuneehs]

next post unrelated to Ambitions gets a ban. This off-topic shit ends here.

[Animeniax]

One of my ambitions is to educate otakus that Japan is not the cutesy wonderland that they see in anime. I want to curb the rash of gaijin visiting and moving to Japan, then becoming disillusioned with the people and culture because it's not what they unfairly expected.

I'd also like to educate people that English is not the only language in the world, and that if they move and work in a foreign country, they'd better learn the local language and customs, or they're in for some rough times.

I realize these are very ambitious ambitions, and most otakus won't want to hear it because they are socially unaware miscreants, but I think it's worth the effort and energy.

[Animeniax]

I'm trying to figure out what I want to study when I go back to university. I was thinking I'd go with the old standby of Computer Sciences, but I don't plan to work as a programmer since I think it's boring and I don't have the knack for it. So my ambition to go back to school to get my degree is on hold until I figure out what I want to study.

Maybe linguistics or sociology, but I don't think there's any money in those fields until way down the road. I plan to stay in IT, but move into the engineering side or management, so all I need is a degree, and it doesn't seem to matter in what.