Random thoughts on Japan

I agree with Gaijin Buddhist that public education sucks everywhere! My children were raised in public schools systems in the USA and I thought it must be a joke, they train kids to be brain dead by the time they reach Junior High School. I was raised in a European School system where the educational approach was completely opposite.
But that was years ago, who knows what they do now...
In any case, when parents have the money kids can get a better education, it's still the sad fact of modern life.
When I went to get my TESOL here in Tokyo we were told how backwoods and culturally different the school systems are. We did have to teach various age levels at various schools, the little kids were more open than the college students.
One has to remember that the educational systems in Japan only westernized during the Meji Era.
Culturally, things are as they are in Japan, and if we want to live here, we have to accept it. I know how tough it was for me to get used to the multi culture in the USA and especially the vast distances. Without a car, you're sunk! Backwoodishness was horrible there and the same they have here too. It's human nature. Remember, Japan was isolated for centuries and then they imitated things mainly after European models.
SO, I don't think education here is a joke, kids study very hard here. Japan has done what no other country did before economically and culturally. They are the most adaptable, amazing culture on this planet. They are, in general, very kind, generous, very intelligent people who go out of their way to help you, if you show the right attitude!!!

[Rube]

Originally Posted by marzipan

SO, I don't think education here is a joke, kids study very hard here.

What does a child studying hard have to do with the quality of the education? Where I'm from children didn't have to go to cram schools after school to learn what their teachers should have taught them to begin with. To me that's pretty clear indication that the education system is a joke. In fact leading industry here in Japan have repeatedly complained to government to improve the system since it's failing so bad.

So since your kids didn't go to school here what are you basing your opinons on? The right attitude? All about the attitude.

You can always leave and go back to the US if you don't like it here!!!
Attitude has a lot to do with it here. The system is no better in the US.
You cannot leave everything to the teacher but have to help them at home.
If you have such a bad attitude about lots of things and grumble at other members here as you do me why don't you go back to where ever it is you're coming from!
I don't have to take this tone from you or anybody here!

[larabell]

Originally Posted by Rube

What's strange is that a lot of foriegners end up with more traditional Japanese experiences than most Japanese. How many of us have seen kabuki?

I have... and I've seen a Noh play and had lunch on one of those boats you see floating around off O-daiba. But when I talk with some of my Japanese friends from around the neighborhood, I find that many of them haven't had the same experiences and they tell me (jokingly, I hope) that I'm "more Japanese" than they are. But I noticed that in myself when I was back in the US, too... It took a visit from a Japanese friend when I was living in San Jose to get me over to see Yosemite. Up to that point is just never occurred to me to go. When something is close and always available, I guess it's a lot easier to ignore.

How about maps? I like to read maps so I have a pretty good idea how to get from one place to another on the trains and sometimes when hanging out with Japanese friends I end up with a better idea of the train routes than they have. But attributing that to being an ex-pat would be a mistake -- I'm sure there are Japanese who also find reading maps interesting and who get around a lot more than I do so that's not really in the same category -- though it has drawn the same "more Japanese than the Japanese" comments from a number of friends over the years.

[Rube]

Originally Posted by marzipan

You can always leave and go back to the US if you don't like it here!!!

I didn't say I didn't like it here, but I don't have puppy dog eyes for it because I've been here for 20 years. Like any place there are things you'll love and things you'll hate.

Originally Posted by marzipan

Attitude has a lot to do with it here.

Attitude has a lot to do with life period. I imagine that I have a horrible attitude in your eyes and yet I'm pretty successful here living a life that has nothing to do with English.

Originally Posted by marzipan

If you have such a bad attitude about lots of things and grumble at other members here as you do me why don't you go back to where ever it is you're coming from!

Like me think for a sec.....ummmm no.

Dude don't come to a conversation about a hamburger, then give your opinion on said hamburger that you've never eaten. I'm sure you have lots of experiences you can talk about with expertise, like having the right attitude.

Originally Posted by marzipan

I don't have to take this tone from you or anybody here!

And yet you did by reading this post.

[Rube]

Originally Posted by larabell

I have... and I've seen a Noh play and had lunch on one of those boats you see floating around off O-daiba. But when I talk with some of my Japanese friends from around the neighborhood, I find that many of them haven't had the same experiences and they tell me (jokingly, I hope) that I'm "more Japanese" than they are. But I noticed that in myself when I was back in the US, too... It took a visit from a Japanese friend when I was living in San Jose to get me over to see Yosemite. Up to that point is just never occurred to me to go. When something is close and always available, I guess it's a lot easier to ignore.

How about maps? I like to read maps so I have a pretty good idea how to get from one place to another on the trains and sometimes when hanging out with Japanese friends I end up with a better idea of the train routes than they have. But attributing that to being an ex-pat would be a mistake -- I'm sure there are Japanese who also find reading maps interesting and who get around a lot more than I do so that's not really in the same category -- though it has drawn the same "more Japanese than the Japanese" comments from a number of friends over the years.

lol, I haven't been to a Noh play yet but got the rest covered.

I was never sure what to make of comments like "You're more Japanese so on and so on." I get it all the time and with my attitude that's clearly not the case. Of course there is the back hand compliment, "I like you, you're not like most foriegners." Some times just to be mean I ask them how many they know.

Sales people know their way around but I think most people just remember their routes. Remember seeing people asking for directions when they had to walk home on 3.11 I'm completely lost on the trains but I got the roads down pretty well. Glad I drove a few years before I got a navi or I would never have remembered.

[Rube]

This is the worst spring I've experienced since moving to the Tokyo area 10 years ago. I used to live in Niigata where it rains all the time, like crazy rain, and I remember always being jealous of Tokyo and cursing the weather people laughing at the 30+ days of straight sun shine. What is going on?

[Rube]

Japanese charcoal doesn't suit webber grills. I guess that wouldn't really surprise most people but I'm a little bull headed so I had to go though a few brands of Japanese charcoal before just giving up and ordering American charcoal. BBQ season is here officially.

Would be nice to be able to get thicker slices of meat. Tried one of those on-line places for some fillets, the meat was from OZ. Wife said that she prefered Japanese fillets. At 3 times the price it's pretty obvious the the Japanese fillets are a better quality meat but for a cheap BBQ the OZ meat wasn't so bad. A decent meal.

[tyr]

I agree with aspects of the Japanese school system being broken.
The super emphasis on exams is just crazy and wrong. I thought Britain was bad, Japan takes it to extremes.
Also jukus aren't right. What is the point in paying money to go to these inferior after school schools when you then end up sleeping through class?- in Korea they are actually attempting to tackle this and banning jukus from operating past a certain time of night.

Other stuff is cool though. The way kids are proud of their school and see that they belong to it and teachers are respectable people, not the enemy, is really good. Totally the opposite of home. And the clubs system is just great.

[Rube]

Actually the quality of the jukus here is often better then that in the schools. My kids say they would rather skip school.