Do foreigners in Japan compete with one another? Are there foreigners who like to show off their language abilities, and prove they know more than everyone else? In my experience, the answer to both questions is a resounding "yes". I understand that some foreigners try to avoid non-Japanese and resent other gaijin for intruding on their little piece of Japan, but others (as in the case of this article) gleefully pick on newcomers to prove their superiority to their gaijin buddies. Thoughts?
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So, um, how does one find his/her rooms.
And do they come gaijin-size?...That's not very surprising to me. Almost comparable with American society.
This is one of the best...That's precisely what I thought myself, but given that the powers-that-be have zero...This isn't your typical boarding school, though. It's where they send the worst...I'm guessing he only passed the million dollar barrier because the dollar is so...Labor Day. Nov. 24 was Labor Day....What's this? Eating Yakinikku, drinking Asahi Super Dry, and living day to day on...Done and done. This is one of those easy topics that won't require divulging all...
And do they come gaijin-size?...That's not very surprising to me. Almost comparable with American society.
This is one of the best...That's precisely what I thought myself, but given that the powers-that-be have zero...This isn't your typical boarding school, though. It's where they send the worst...I'm guessing he only passed the million dollar barrier because the dollar is so...Labor Day. Nov. 24 was Labor Day....What's this? Eating Yakinikku, drinking Asahi Super Dry, and living day to day on...Done and done. This is one of those easy topics that won't require divulging all...
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I thought you were talking about Harvey (JapanNewbie.com) at first
I think this is very true. I have done it myself and feel a bit ashamed to admit it. I think it is just human nature and believe with what the post said in that it is probably not only Japan where it happens.
These days I shut my mouth and that is through experience. I have had staff in the past who have finished my sentences when I was giving some advice on Japan, and now just let them be and think about the early days of my time in Japan.
The funny thing is that if we "Gaijin" actually started to really help each other, we could possibly over-run this country, take control of the government and change all the things we don't like about this country.
That said, every time I go back to my own country, I have more of an appreciation of Japan. I say this because my own country has plenty of faults too.
As humans, we all like to be proud of our abilities and having someone come into our perceived backyard so-to-speak, bugs us and pride kicks in!
Keith
Well said Keith!
Yeah - it DEFINITELY happens. I have friends in the blogworld who left the established sites, where people were quite satisfied beating each other with their large radishes. I commented on the site. Down with jerks!
The ALT's and JET's in my area avoid me like the plague because of a famous incident (around here) where I invited about 6 of them to step outside a bar. They had just finished calling their public School students monkeys, how they would like to bang some of their J.H. students and then bitching because the J staff didn't like that they were studying Kanji on the Schools dime.
I exploded at such a lack of professionalism.
They did not come outside and they are lucky they did not. You raise an interesting topic because I view it from an opposite side.
I see them as the self absorbed losers.
Yeah when you meet another foreigner in Japan, almost invariably is the question, so how long have you been here? Like it's a competition to see who has been there the longest... I can understand why people would ask it, but then again I think a lot of times they just want to compare it like a badge of honor or something!
This is so true. It really gets on my nerves sometimes. In my writing I try to give an honest impression of Japan though my own eyes and avoid the kind of `I know better than you attitude` about a nation and culture I was not raised in. Personally I avoid most other Gaijin for another reason all together. I have noticed that many Gaijin have a total lack of respect for Japan, its people, and the culture. I have seen some that even get offend when the Japanese do not speak English to them.
Lots of people tend to act this way when they're in 'their own element,' so to speak. But, as someone already pointed out, in Japan, it's not really their 'element' no matter how much kanji or culture they know. It's a bit like a 2nd or 3rd year student picking on freshmen in high school.
Story of a lot of people in Japan. Ignore them.
I try my best to brush off the know it alls. But sometimes I want to punch them on the face one good time!