![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Aug. 31st, 2005 02:43 pmI'm living in the middle of nowhere with no bars or coffee houses at which to drink, must rely on the wonderful k8 to chauffeur me about, have no choice but to get a driver's license and buy a car, lost my subsidized meals and $350/mo supplementary income, pay Japanese taxes, took a pay and housing subsidy cut, work longer hours each day, commute longer to work, and yet I'm loads happier here than I ever was in the Oaks.
It comes down to two things. First: my coworkers treat me as an equal and make an effort to include me in workplace affairs, and second, the people here are good.
The ALT group I came to the Oaks with sucked. Oh god did they ever suck. They were predominantly in Japan for a lark or because they couldn't find any other employment after graduating university. They were interesting people – or would have been, had we been in America – but we weren't and they weren't. Collectively, they had no interest in learning Japanese or participating in Japanese culture aside from drinking and major sightseeing (Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka).
Compare them to my newly arrived first years, who in the space of one week have: joined a weekly soccer night, asked for help finding Japanese tutors, asked about the availability of taiko lessons, asked me to arrange tickets to a traditional music concert, and are otherwise seeking to join martial and or fine arts clubs. That's cool. That's the point of going to live in another country. So much nicer than trying to hang out with people who weren't interested in getting involved. So, rock on. The 'Robe is not so bad.
That will be all.
It comes down to two things. First: my coworkers treat me as an equal and make an effort to include me in workplace affairs, and second, the people here are good.
The ALT group I came to the Oaks with sucked. Oh god did they ever suck. They were predominantly in Japan for a lark or because they couldn't find any other employment after graduating university. They were interesting people – or would have been, had we been in America – but we weren't and they weren't. Collectively, they had no interest in learning Japanese or participating in Japanese culture aside from drinking and major sightseeing (Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka).
Compare them to my newly arrived first years, who in the space of one week have: joined a weekly soccer night, asked for help finding Japanese tutors, asked about the availability of taiko lessons, asked me to arrange tickets to a traditional music concert, and are otherwise seeking to join martial and or fine arts clubs. That's cool. That's the point of going to live in another country. So much nicer than trying to hang out with people who weren't interested in getting involved. So, rock on. The 'Robe is not so bad.
That will be all.