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The grass is always greener. But in the case of the US, it usually is when the grass is the rest of the developed world, sadly. After staying in Japan, there
by codesushi42 7y ago
The grass is always greener.
But in the case of the US, it usually is when the grass is the rest of the developed world, sadly.
After staying in Japan, there is no doubt that I would live there if I were Japanese. It is even a consideration as a non-Japanese.
Quality of life seems to be a lot better there, even if there aren't as many job opportunities.
- mutt2016 7y agoQuality if life seems better everywhere when you are a tourist. I think people in the USA work crazy hours and take no vacations. How does Japan compare?
- tmm84 7y agoThe people/times when I seen crazy hours worked are those doing paperwork or working on a death march for some project they didn't think when accepting it.
- codesushi42 7y agoIMO from what I have heard from folks working at Japanese offices of big tech companies: people work harder in SV.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- ghaff 7y ago>I think people in the USA work crazy hours and take no vacations. You may think that but it's far from universal, including in the tech industry. [ADDED: The US does rank fairly low on average on the amount of vacation people take but Japan is as low or lower.]
- astrange 7y agoIn Japan you stay in the office all day and night, not because you're doing work but because everyone is too self-conscious to be the first to leave. This is less true for the newer generation, especially since they don't have full time jobs in the first place.
- orwin 7y agoI don't know how people manage without at least 5 weeks of holidays per year. I know i have troubles without at least 7.
- Baeocystin 7y agoIf you have your income generated by something other than participating in the salaryman culture, sure. But I'll take my worklife without a serving of karoshi.
- codesushi42 7y agoIs it better though? You still have salaryman culture in the US, and crazy work hours. But zero guarantee with regards to benefits, and the employer has zero loyalty to you.
- indecisive_user 7y agoThat certainly depends on what part of the US you're talking about. In my experience in the south, working overtime is very rare. Most people have families and are out of the office by 5. Silicon valley might be a different story.
- codesushi42 7y agoTrue, but Japanese work-life is not all salaryman culture either.
- verisimilidude 7y agoIt depends. I spent a few years in Tokyo. Work hours were long, but there was strong morale and espirit de corps among my team. As a young person, it was bearable. In Silicon Valley, hours were also long, but with none of the pride or loyalty I saw in Japan. For example, a manager would dump a huge task on my lap at 4:00pm, expect it done by the next morning, and then promptly leave me for the day. Eventually I learned how to defend my time, but I was a sucker for longer than I'd like to admit. I'm in Sacramento now, and the vibe is different. The machine doesn't love me, but expectations are reasonable. Life is pretty great outside the office. So it all depends on location, workplace, etc. The same is probably true in Japan. For what it's worth, I have a Japanese spouse, and we could easily choose to live in either country. We choose the US for a variety of reasons. It's not an easy decision though, because Japan is a very nice country in a lot of ways.
- ggm 7y agoA write-up of working in Japan as a non-japanese interested me because of the socialized concerns in the community like banks: a small town banker in Japan feels personally bound to you, and may invest in you, but you need to accept their guidance on spending: Do you need the computer, or is a bicycle a better choice for you with this disposable income: Can you afford the rent in a place of good repute because living in this bad place will affect your longterm credibility which affects your debt/risk ratio to me as a banker. Wow. Imagine US or British people having their bank manager say "I won't lend you for that jetski until you clean up your act and live healthy"
- b_tterc_p 7y agoI think that would be a phenomenal boon to society honestly
- meddlepal 7y agoThis is kinda what the US was like up until the 1960s except you had to be white, male, straight, not Italian, Irish, or Polish, well educated and of good standing in your community (read: Christian, but preferably not Catholic). Basically it sounds good until you realize that kind of power starts to self select for the kind of people it wants to succeed.
- dane-pgp 7y ago> This is kinda what the US was like up until the 1960s Whereas now, instead, the US finally has the sort of society and power structures it deserves.
- meddlepal 7y agoProgress is a slow. But we're still making progress even if sometimes it's two steps forward and one and a half backwards.
- barry-cotter 7y agoThe 1960s was very long past the point where being something other than a WASP would keep you from the height of power. It sure as hell wouldn’t keep you from getting a loan if it wouldn’t keep you out of Congress, the Senate or the Governor’s mansion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_M._Tweed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_M._Tweed Boss Tweed was elected to the US Congress in 1853. Irish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Smith https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Smith Al Smith was four time Governor of New York and Democratic nominee for President in 1928. Irish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pastore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pastore John Pastore was Governor of Rhode Island from 1945-1950 and Senator from 1950-1976. Italian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Kleczka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Kleczka The first Polish American was elected to Congress in 1918.
- not_a_moth 7y agoEDIT - sorry intended to post on the comment below that's now flagged, not this one. Mobile HN woes.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- reverend_gonzo 7y agoSouth America is not a country.
- lacampbell 7y agoBut in the case of the US, it usually is when the grass is the rest of the developed world, sadly. Oh yeah Japan is crawling with US developers trying to get a decent salary, compared to the pittance they'd receive in a US tech center.
- jotm 7y agoEh, the constant social pressure seems insane. Also, I like everything big