Page 59 iStudy Guide 2019/20
P. 59
59
How would you describe the
nightlife?
The nightlife is very different from what you’d expect
in most western countries. Sure, there are your big-fish
clubs mainly in the shibuya area, but most nightlife
revolves around small bars, some of which may only
have space for four or five people. This especially
surprised me in the gay scene in Shinjuku ni chome. I
was expecting the large flamboyant venues I’m used to
in Cardiff and London, but with the limited real estate,
even the larger places were small. Nevertheless, It was
still great fun and surprisingly affordable with bars
usually implementing a “buy one drink” as a try fee; it’s
certainly cheaper than Shibuya.
What was the most difficult aspect
about living and teaching in Japan?
The most difficult aspect would be the isolation. My
role in the classroom was to be the point of contact
that didn’t use any Japanese and, therefore, it wasn’t
a requirement in me having the job or moving to
Japan. I spent a lot of time learning Japanese but I was
never at a level where I could really feel natural and
included. The isolation also largely stems from being
an obvious foreigner in a country that’s not used to and
often exoticises Westerners. When I first started, some
students would scream every time they saw me and
they would be all nervous and giggly around me.
How would you describe the
Japanese people?
In my experience, people were very rule conscious
which is quite different to the United Kingdom.
The mere idea of breaking the rules was alien to most
Japanese people I met. I think many Westerners love to
challenge the rules and societal norms which I agree
is a very healthy part of our society, but when you see
practically no litter (and no bins) throughout this mega-
city you can definitely see the positives! The other big
difference is the hierarchical respect system. There is a
version of the Japanese language which is specifically
for formal situations and you’d only use the most
polite verb conjugations when talking to a senior – be
that your boss or even your “senpai” someone who
has been at your company or school longer than you
have. In the UK, we see being casual as a good thing
– a sign that we are comfortable with whomever
we are speaking – but using casual language in the
wrong situation can land you in a lot of trouble in
Japan. The best word I came up with that described
most Japanese people I met was earnest. It’s quite
refreshing to not receive sarcasm or to be talking to
someone who genuinely cares about your day.
What advice would you give to
anyone who might be considering
moving to Japan to teach?
My advice to anyone contemplating the move would
be to go for it! There were a lot of hardships and it was
a real struggle for me to adjust, but it was all worth it
for the person I have grown to be in the two years I
spent there. Living somewhere so different to what
you’re used to means that what you find as normal is
constantly challenged helping you to become a well-
rounded and very open minded person.
Do you have any pointers for when
it comes to learning the Japanese
language?
Start with katakana! It’s a good starting point because
it’s the alphabet used for English words! My supervisor
gave me the Baskin and Robins ice-cream menu to read
because strawberry shortcake and chocolate chip are
probably the same in most languages.
Is there anything else you would
like to add?
Tip for travellers – if you want to see the country in all
its glory, take your time. So many people buy the bullet
train pass and miss all the beauty between stations!
The “seisun 18 kippu” forces you to use local trains for
five days but you can travel the entire country at your
own pace!
How would you describe the
nightlife?
The nightlife is very different from what you’d expect
in most western countries. Sure, there are your big-fish
clubs mainly in the shibuya area, but most nightlife
revolves around small bars, some of which may only
have space for four or five people. This especially
surprised me in the gay scene in Shinjuku ni chome. I
was expecting the large flamboyant venues I’m used to
in Cardiff and London, but with the limited real estate,
even the larger places were small. Nevertheless, It was
still great fun and surprisingly affordable with bars
usually implementing a “buy one drink” as a try fee; it’s
certainly cheaper than Shibuya.
What was the most difficult aspect
about living and teaching in Japan?
The most difficult aspect would be the isolation. My
role in the classroom was to be the point of contact
that didn’t use any Japanese and, therefore, it wasn’t
a requirement in me having the job or moving to
Japan. I spent a lot of time learning Japanese but I was
never at a level where I could really feel natural and
included. The isolation also largely stems from being
an obvious foreigner in a country that’s not used to and
often exoticises Westerners. When I first started, some
students would scream every time they saw me and
they would be all nervous and giggly around me.
How would you describe the
Japanese people?
In my experience, people were very rule conscious
which is quite different to the United Kingdom.
The mere idea of breaking the rules was alien to most
Japanese people I met. I think many Westerners love to
challenge the rules and societal norms which I agree
is a very healthy part of our society, but when you see
practically no litter (and no bins) throughout this mega-
city you can definitely see the positives! The other big
difference is the hierarchical respect system. There is a
version of the Japanese language which is specifically
for formal situations and you’d only use the most
polite verb conjugations when talking to a senior – be
that your boss or even your “senpai” someone who
has been at your company or school longer than you
have. In the UK, we see being casual as a good thing
– a sign that we are comfortable with whomever
we are speaking – but using casual language in the
wrong situation can land you in a lot of trouble in
Japan. The best word I came up with that described
most Japanese people I met was earnest. It’s quite
refreshing to not receive sarcasm or to be talking to
someone who genuinely cares about your day.
What advice would you give to
anyone who might be considering
moving to Japan to teach?
My advice to anyone contemplating the move would
be to go for it! There were a lot of hardships and it was
a real struggle for me to adjust, but it was all worth it
for the person I have grown to be in the two years I
spent there. Living somewhere so different to what
you’re used to means that what you find as normal is
constantly challenged helping you to become a well-
rounded and very open minded person.
Do you have any pointers for when
it comes to learning the Japanese
language?
Start with katakana! It’s a good starting point because
it’s the alphabet used for English words! My supervisor
gave me the Baskin and Robins ice-cream menu to read
because strawberry shortcake and chocolate chip are
probably the same in most languages.
Is there anything else you would
like to add?
Tip for travellers – if you want to see the country in all
its glory, take your time. So many people buy the bullet
train pass and miss all the beauty between stations!
The “seisun 18 kippu” forces you to use local trains for
five days but you can travel the entire country at your
own pace!
