Interview from 2009
Major at UVM?
Major: Studio Art
Minor: Japanese (I had more credits in Japanese than art)
How many years of Japanese at UVM?
4 straight years of Japanese, except one semester was at Kansai Gaidai.
Study abroad? Where and how long?
1 semester at Kansai Gaidai, in Hirakata city, Osaka.
Language
What was the language barrier like when you first got there?
Aside from basic phrases, Japanese was incomprehensible.
How long did it take before you could comfortably speak social Japanese?
It depends on my mood. There are still days where I feel like I can’t say anything. It’s easier when you’ve been studying recently, or are relaxed. It’s more difficult if you’ve been speaking English all day.
Do you dream and think in Japanese?
I’ve tried to think in Japanese, but it’s difficult and my thoughts are limited by my small vocaulary.
I’ve had dreams about Japanese. They’re usually about my anxiety speaking it (for example, no Japanese people understands me even though my Japanese is perfect), or my hopes for how I’ll be come at it (for example, everyone understands me and complements me, and they elect me president of Japan and give me free mikans).
Do you feel your Japanese improved a lot studying and living in Japan?
Definitely. Although much of it is a result of more effective study materials, rather than exposure to the language through immersion.
How much do you recommend studying in Japan? Why?
I don’t think it’s necessary. I believe that a motivated person can learn any language from their home country, but finding native learning materials is much more difficult and expensive. Living in Japan gives you access to cheap (often free) sources of authentic Japanese. Broadcast TV (with Japanese subtitles) is an invaluable rescource for listening and paralell reading practice. At the Japanese used book store Book-Off you can find any used book or manga you want for only 100 yen. At the video rental stores Sanyoudou or Tsutaya you can rent your favorite TV shows or movies (Western or Japanese) on DVD for cheap and watch them dubbed into Japanese. Additionally, there is certainly no shortage of speaking partners.
Do you think that Japanese classes prepared you for living in Japan?
I became much more aware of many aspects of the culture, I could read basic signs, and I could have basic conversations of a general nature. So I think it made coming here much less of a shock. Although, I’ve met some people who came here with no preparation at all and flourished much faster than I ever did.
English
How often does the opportunity to speak English come about?
Every day. I teach English at a pulblic Junior High school, so I speak English to my English teaching collegues and studedents. Almost all of my friends are natie English speakers (including my rommate). And many strangers come up to me without solicitation and speak English to me. It’s a big problem for me. I’m trying to avoid speaking so much English!
How many people do you encounter in a day who speak English?
It depends what I do that day. If I go to work and come home like usual… about 3 or 4. If I’m going to a social event with my foreign friends, a dozen or more.
Culture
What is the biggest cultural difference between Japan and American?
Japan seems much more formal and concerned with appearances and propriety. America is more laid back and casual.
What cultural similarities between Japan and the US did you see?
Both seem obsessed with celebrities and consumerism.
How hard is it to get used to Japanese culture? Did you have culture
shock at all?
The first week I did. I felt weird and had nightmares.
City
What it is like to live in the highly populated cities (if you do)?
I’ve never lived in a highly populated city, always in the suburbs of a major city (Osaka, and now Nagoya).
What is your favorite city in Japan?
Osaka.
Night life
What is it like to go out at night in Japan?
Safe. Exciting. There’s many more social people walking around on the streets, and it’s easy to talk to other people.
Hard
What was the hardest thing to get used to while living in Japan?
They don’t adequately heat indoor spaces in the winter. It’s freezing at work, I have to wear gloves at my desk.
Best
What was the best thing you have seen while living in Japan?
It’s a tie between cosplay and hanami.
Surprise
What surprised you the most when you arrived in Japan?
I was surprised how much they change western food.
Embarrassing
What is the most embarrassing moment in Japan?
I had to give a self introduction speech in Japanese on my first day of work in front of the whole school. I was so nervous I was stuttering and pronouncing things wrong. I made a serious mistake with one of the words, I don’t remember what I said, but I felt humiliated.
Have you ever said something in Japanese that was mistakenly embarrassing?
All the time. Children especially make fun of me, because they’re not very sensistive. They do a fake “gaijin” accent and talk to me in it, thinking that I won’t notice what they’re doing. It annoys me.
Dangerous
What was the most dangerous experience you have had in Japan?
I went to an onsen with 3 girls once. We had to be separated into different sections according to gender, so I was all alone. The only other people in the onsen with me were tough looking older Japanese men. Many of them had big tattoos and missing fingers. I think it was some kind of secret Yakuza-onsen.
Fun
What was the most fun part of being in Japan?
Going to drink outside with friends during hanami, or going to Akihabara and buying video games.
What was your favorite activity that you did in Japan that you cannot do here?
24 hour game centers. For a small fee you can stay there overnight and sing karaoke, play video games, darts, pool, or even fish.
Miss
What do you miss the most?
My family and food. There are many foods that they just don’t have here. Like fried mozarrella sticks, or biscuits.
What are you going to miss when you return to the USA?
Miso katsu and some other foods. Book-off. Nomihodai. The public transportation system. Having English teaching as a constant fallback.
Cost
How expensive is living in Japan? (Clothing, food, etc)
I prefer western food, so it’s really expensive for me. The rent is surprisingly cheap. My phone bill is extreme. You can buy cheap clothes, but they’re also low-quality.
How much money do you spend per month?
I make 250,000 yen a month, and I spend all of it.
Food
How is the food? What is your favorite Japanese food?
I didn’t come here to eat the food, so often people are shocked or insulted when I say I don’t like Japanese food. I like katsu, fried uzura tamago, karaage, unagi-don, oyako-don, katsudon, curry, ramen, gyoza, and shu-cream.
Tour
Where is your favorite place in Japan?
Nara was really pretty.
Study Abroad
How do the colleges differ?
The Japanese college was much cleaner, but it was a new campus. They were much more strict about attendance.
Are your classes much more difficult in Japan than in America?
No, they’re much easier.
Tell us the environment of the Japanese college life.
How much do you study everyday and hang out/relax?
I study about 3 hours a day, but I want to do more. I relax for about 5.
Place to stay
How big are your living arrangements?
When I was in college, I first lived in a homestay with a Japanese family. I had my own room, but it was a very cramped apartment. I moved to a dorm and it was much better. It was Japanese style and very clean.
How is your room? Homestay? Apartment?
My homestay room was cold and hard, it was a wood floor. My dorm was warm and soft, with tatami.
Foreigner
How are the people receptive of you, as a foreigner in Japan?
Mostly nice. Sometimes patronizing.
Have you viewed upon as an outsider or an everyday citizen?
Almost always an outsider. I’m aware of it all the time.
Did you have to change anything about yourself so you would fit into
their culture better? $B!J(BAdjustment)(attire, language, behavior, etc.)
I dress more neatly.
Was it hard to make non-American friends?
Yes. I don’t have many Japanese friends. It’s difficult to meet new people just to be friens, and conversations can be boring.
Here are some of the learning resources I mentioned when we spoke:
Anki – A spaced-repetition program for remembering facts
http://ichi2.net/anki/
Reviewing the kanji- A great website for reviewing kanji if you used the book “Remembering the Kanji”. The forums are full of advice.
http://forum.koohii.com/
All Japanese All the Time- This guy has some strange and interesting ideas about how to learn Japanese.
http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/about
Anti-moon- A good website about learning language. It’s about English, but you can apply the techniques to anything.
http://www.antimoon.com/
Lang-8- A place to put up a blog in Japanese and have it correct by native-speakers.
http://lang-8.com/
Eijiro- The best online Japanese-English dictionary.
http://www.alc.co.jp/ (click on $B1Q)
Jpop-suki – A good place to get Japanese music
http://mullemeck.serveftp.org/jps_beta/index.php
D-addicts – A source of Japanese drama.
http://d-addicts.com/forum/torrents.php