I went to Yoyogi park on Tuesday, chilled, drank beer and got sunburn. Matt and Sheryl got burnt too, with Sheryl being especially bad. This waylaid our plans for Mount Oyama until another weekend. Maybe. We also heard reports of Fuji and what to expect, from the various reports given, it’s different for everyone who does it.
I realised today that I have only 11 days left at Nova, 3-5-3 is how the next 3 weeks pan out with work. I also realised I have 28 and a half days left in Japan. Scary.
Here’s some advice I think is useful for the new batch of recruits heading to Japan. Enjoy!
1. If your coming to work for Nova, and reading this, you kind of know what to expect.
Many people I’ve seen come and go in my short time at Nova have come to Japan, liked it until they have to start working (me included). But there are a number of people who come as Visa-hunters and they are annoying. The often complain that the pay is low, and the hours are bad but all of this is explained to them before coming and still they complain. The Internet is full of stories about life at Nova at what to expect, Nova now even has a blog to tell new recruits what it’s gonna be like. One thing I will say (and this may seem really obvious) is that Nova is a Japanese company and so you will be treated differently from a company back home.
2. Bring plenty of stuff from home
The Japanese love to find out about their teachers home country and how it is different. Anything you can bring that shows this off is very useful. If you have brochures/menu’s/postcards/train maps bring them because when your teaching they become invaluable. Any pictures from Towns/Cities and the countryside are useful too as the Japanese idea of uniformity spreads far and wide, extending to City/Town and countryside aesthetics.
3. Don’t bring a guidebook, but do bring a phrasebook.
I brought a guidebook, and after the first week, never really used it. Save yourself £18/$40 and just ask someone. Students are a great source of info and love to tell you about places they’ve been and recommend. Other instructors/friends and random gaijin will always have somewhere they recommend. Added to this is Metropolis, a free English magazine distributed in Tokyo and Greater Tokyo areas (usually in Tower Records). Osaka/Kansai may have a similar magazine which caters to the resident Gaijin. It always has listings, gigs, films and mostly anything that takes your fancy.
A phrasebook is handy if you want to try to make an effort, something that the Japanese are always pleased to see. Even if it’s just to say please (onegaishimasu / kudasai), thank you (arigato) or where are the toilets? (toire wa doko desu ka?) it definitely shows some respect.
4. Make friends with the locals
If you don’t, you miss out on half of what’s going on at any place you visit. Many places don’t have English signs or translations of Japanese text (in Museums for example). Having someone who can translate, show you the cool stuff and tell you the best places to drink is such a gift. The benefit for your Japanese friend is that they get the kudos of being with a Gaijin and they can practice their English. Win-Win!
5. Learn Japanese
Show some respect, try and learn the language. Even if it’s a little, enough to get you by in a restaurant/bar it shows that you are here because you want to be part of the county. Admittedly I haven’t actively been studying but through immersion, I have been adding to my vocabulary, improved my listening and can easily negotiate through many social situations. Plus, speaking Japanese is cool.
6. Enjoy it!
Many people come to Japan for many reasons. The main one should be to enjoy yourself! Do what you want to do, go where you want to go and be glad you’ve got the chance to be in such a strange, different, interesting and amazing county.
Enough of my evangelising, if you have any comments or feedback I welcome them. Until the next time!
mata ne!
p.s.
I’ve just scaled the 5000 hits mark. Not a lot but thanks if you’ve been reading this blog!