Expats in Japan - Help me out

[Nantucket Red]

Originally Posted by Brian SD

Thanks for the opinions. I was going to learn osaka-ben for the fun of it, I really have no professional purpose of learning Japanese at all. Is it really that bad?

A lot of things said differ from what I thought I knew so its very helpful.

I started out thinking I would never have any reason to speak Japanese, and now I work as a translator.

Even the exective manager of my department doesn't speak his native Kansai-ben except for effect now and then.

When I was first learning Japanese in Kyoto, my teachers strongly advised us not to get into the habit of speaking in the dialects. I'm very glad I took this to heart.

 

[Brian SD]

Interesting. Well I already know all the conjugations and such for standard japanese and the differences between kansai-ben and standard. I already know some kansai-ben, but it may be a little feminine, because my conversation partner was a female. I'm aware of the gender differences, I'll make sure to try and make sure I'm learning the guy words. I definitely don't call myself "atashi"

I'm looking forward to Osaka, I have a lot of friends there already who I met in America. I think having an accent might be a good thing for talking with ladies. Whenever I say "Maido" to a Japanese girl here in SD I always get a positive reaction.

 

[Matt]

in my case I deliberately learned to speak Saigonese.

This tends to mortify Hanoians (which is 'standard Vietnamese') - but I figured that since I live in Saigon, mispronounce everything I say anyhow, they are most likely to understand me if I mispronounce it in the local dialect as opposed to mispronouncing it with an accent from 1200 miles away.

Japan I know nothing....

 

[Alter]

Originally Posted by Brian SD

Whenever I say "Maido" to a Japanese girl here in SD I always get a positive reaction.

How do you define "a positive reaction"?

 

[summej2]

Originally Posted by Brian SD

lawl?

I love Osaka.

Yeah, Osaka is great. Posh in some places, but with a great seedy underside that is missing in the rest of Japan. Bears in Osaka has great punk; they thought it was "goi" that gaijin showed up at a show.

You'll be fine with language given what you've said.

And, yes, the rest is true.

 

[summej2]

Originally Posted by Nantucket Red

I started out thinking I would never have any reason to speak Japanese, and now I work as a translator.

Even the exective manager of my department doesn't speak his native Kansai-ben except for effect now and then.

When I was first learning Japanese in Kyoto, my teachers strongly advised us not to get into the habit of speaking in the dialects. I'm very glad I took this to heart.

Yes, my boss and former thesis advisor really made certain that I spoke only "proper" Tokyo dialect; my accent is now far better than anything else I have left of the language.

 

[Bic Pentameter]

I lived in Kyoto for 2 years, Japan for 10. I was happy with J-phone, which became Vodafone, which then became Softbank. I think for international roaming and making international calls Softbank might be the best, though I believe that docomo's bedrock cheapest domestic plan might be cheaper. If you use Skype or voice chat on MSN, the international benefits of Softbank may not be an issue.

As far as the language, I think it is useful to distinguish between proficiency in speaking and proficiency in reading/writing. I knew extroverts with no prior study who did quite well by chatting people up in bars, at the supermarket, on the train -- what have you. They couln't read any hiragana. I knew introverts who were professional translators with arcane knowledge of kanji who had a tough time carrying on a conversation. While I do not think it has to be an either or decision, it might be better to focus early to focus on the verbal rather than the written. It takes quite a while to become proficient enough to read the Nikkei. The best way to become verbally fluent is to speak in Japanese with as many people as possible. This means avoiding the "gaijin hunters" at the local university English Speaking Society, the Pig & Whistle, or at the International House.

Osaka ben is not bad, and can be used for its commedic value. I use Kansai ben to get a laugh, or to seem folksy, but not when I want a Japanese client to see me as a serious business person that can be trusted with serious matters. It might seem cool to be able to speak Osaka ben, and some Westerners on televison have made careers out of speaking non standard Japanese. Those people are few and far between. Some day, you may not want to be the crazy foreigner who speaks Osaka ben.

Most all Japanese people from Kansai speak standard Japanese, though I know a few who staunchly refuse to speak standard Japanese, wearing their Kansai-ben as a badge of honor. If you take any type of organized class, you will be taught standard Japanese.

I would stick with public transportation and a bicycle.

Medical help is "decent," but I didn't visit a doctor for the first 2 years I was there. I would buy international health insurance that can be used both in Japan and back home (just in case). This will be important if you decide you want to get your teeth cleaned back home during Christmas vacation, get ill on a side trip to Thailand, or need major surgery and cannot get the attention you need in Japan. I speak from experience -- I paid $9,000 out of my own pocket because the Japanese health insurance scheme wouldn't cover surgery back home.

Pot is really that illegal in Japan, and the prisons really are that wretched. You do not want to be a foreigner (even a Caucasian North American one) on the wrong side of the law and sent to Fuchu Prison.

http://www.uknow.or.jp/be_e/consular/atoz/a/02g.htm

Bic

 

[Brian SD]

Originally Posted by Alter

How do you define "a positive reaction"?

A giggle and a conversation, and sometimes more. Can't complain about that.