5 ms·

Meh, actually that's a good point. My first time living abroad was also in Japan, and come to think of it a good many people there were just there to party. F

Meh, actually that's a good point. My first time living abroad was also in Japan, and come to think of it a good many people there were just there to party. For it to be positive you actually have to try and learn the language and engage in the culture. Also, the fact that I lived with a home stay family and made local friends helped (established meaningful relationships with locals).

rdouble 17y ago
I wasn't there to party, either. I was mostly hanging out with 50 year old salarymen! Frat boys on spring break in Cancun have got nothing on Japanese middle managers. I'll never understand how the Japanese have achieved the longest average lifespan. I'm a lightweight... if I had gotten wrapped up in the typical asian expat tweaker scene I'd probably already be dead.
- domodomo 17y ago
  Heh, ah memories, I can somewhat relate. I was a student in Japan, but spent a bunch of time hanging out with Taiwanese business men in southern China after that. The first block of time I spent there (relatively short) I couldn't speak mandarin at all, and it was pretty miserable experience. The second block of time I spent there, my mandarin had gotten pretty decent, and so I was able to flip everything into a learning experience...from learning words in Chinese like "static IP address" to how to politely refuse a karaoke prostitute my host habitually tried to force on me, those are some life and language experience I didn't get in the classroom =\
  - caffeine 17y ago
    If you're an American living abroad, 6 months is the minimum, and you should really stay at least 9 months. Why? Language is everything. Seriously - in most places sufficiently different from the US to be interesting, language will be your first and most formidable barrier, on the other side of which lies one of the most satisfying experiences you've ever had. It'll take 6 months after you arrive to cross the language barrier. Your life will rock afterward, so plan at least 3 months (more is better) to enjoy the awesome part. Example: I noticed I'd crossed the barrier when I managed to land a gig drumming for a Tokyo funk band, and I was the only Gaijin in the bar at our first gig). From then on, life in Japan was awesome. I could call up and organize scuba diving trips in obscure bays on my own, I could pick up Japanese girls using only Japanese (try that!) Fun.

rdouble 17y ago

I wasn't there to party, either. I was mostly hanging out with 50 year old salarymen! Frat boys on spring break in Cancun have got nothing on Japanese middle managers. I'll never understand how the Japanese have achieved the longest average lifespan. I'm a lightweight... if I had gotten wrapped up in the typical asian expat tweaker scene I'd probably already be dead.

domodomo 17y ago
Heh, ah memories, I can somewhat relate. I was a student in Japan, but spent a bunch of time hanging out with Taiwanese business men in southern China after that. The first block of time I spent there (relatively short) I couldn't speak mandarin at all, and it was pretty miserable experience. The second block of time I spent there, my mandarin had gotten pretty decent, and so I was able to flip everything into a learning experience...from learning words in Chinese like "static IP address" to how to politely refuse a karaoke prostitute my host habitually tried to force on me, those are some life and language experience I didn't get in the classroom =\
- caffeine 17y ago
  If you're an American living abroad, 6 months is the minimum, and you should really stay at least 9 months. Why? Language is everything. Seriously - in most places sufficiently different from the US to be interesting, language will be your first and most formidable barrier, on the other side of which lies one of the most satisfying experiences you've ever had. It'll take 6 months after you arrive to cross the language barrier. Your life will rock afterward, so plan at least 3 months (more is better) to enjoy the awesome part. Example: I noticed I'd crossed the barrier when I managed to land a gig drumming for a Tokyo funk band, and I was the only Gaijin in the bar at our first gig). From then on, life in Japan was awesome. I could call up and organize scuba diving trips in obscure bays on my own, I could pick up Japanese girls using only Japanese (try that!) Fun.