Conclusions I hope this has come over as not so much of a critique on Japan, rather than advice to stay mindful about what you see. Readers know me from my blog entries, which may give the impression I’m a bit of a Japanophile (as opposed to a Japan-basher), but I’ve tried to open...
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Japan is not a “get away from it all” place Those of you sitting at home watching movies like Karate Kid II and Lost in Translation should know better. Yes, Japanese culture spawned rock gardens, Zen temples, samurai, and Godzilla (which, incidentally, I NEVER heard mention of in two years), but the country is...
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You Will Never Be A Japanese Let me clarify that – I don’t care if you’ve lived in Japan for twenty years out of 25 and know kanji that would baffle the most advanced language scholars. Unless you were born and raised in Japan by an ethnically Japanese family, you are not a Japanese....
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Japan is Comfortable There’s no denying the Japanese have a “work hard, play hard” mentality. As many foreigners reject the former and focus their efforts on putting in whatever hours at the office are necessary to enjoy the rest of life, Japan truly can be a land of milk and honey: things to relax...
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Thoughts and reflections on two years in Japan When I first set out to write this all-inclusive thriller of yet another expat’s experience in the land of the rising sun, I put forth far too much effort in an attempt to make the article suitable for the likes of world class travel magazines. These...
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Of course, I have my particular choice when choosing wire transfer services, but I welcome other people’s suggestions and opinions. So the fact remains… How does one send money back home? Well, there are many methods, not all of them painful. 1. If you have someone you can trust at home, you can just...
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Anytime you want to have your Japanese skills called into question, be sure to visit a bank – they speak quickly and in a language almost dissimilar from Japanese. On top of that, it's a bureaucratic organization, with multiple forms, checklists, and immutable procedures.
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At some point on Sunday my heart stopped. My soul left my body, began floating into the beyond, when it suddenly glimpsed me continuing to pound the pavement because that's my purpose on this Earth. I am a runner. Evidently, I am also a masochist. And I believe the most...
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