[SSJup81]

Originally Posted by ChisaChi

I'm lucky that my boyfriend is pretty supportive of me going, and we've been together long enough and have a steady enough relationship to be able to survive a year apart, I think.

What if you decided to stay on for two years, after really liking it after a year? That's what I was worried about since I'd hate to leave him behind in a general sense. My ex is very loyal, and I'm sure he would've done the same. I broke up with him because...well...I just wasn't into him much anymore. The relationship really wasn't going anyplace, even if he thought so.

I keep hearing about people going to Japan on JET or other things without any Japanese and coming back without learning much either, so I'm sure you'd do fine

Yeah, I suppose. I've heard that too, but I still find it a bit difficult to believe. How can someone go to another country for a year, surrounded by the language, and not pick up anything? Even if it's basic stuff, seems you should get something.

I think the biggest obstacle that pops into mind, is if I have to go someplace, like say...the post office (I dunno), and have trouble communicating since my Japanese is limited and how there's a possibility that the person I'm conversing with doesn't speak much English or any English. Grocery stores, markets, or restaurants I'm not worried about.

In all the places I went to in Japan they either spoke some English or we got by with my crappy Japanese and charades. It definitely sounds like it would be a lot easier to get by and make friends with some Japanese though, and people always seemed to appreciate my bad attempt at their language all the same.

That's pretty cool. What part did you go to, by the way?

Originally Posted by samurai007

Like Chisachi said, you can get by. I'm one of those JETS who knew no Japanese, and while I learned some while I was there, I certainly never became fluent. But within a couple days after arriving I was going shopping by myself, and within 6 months, took a 9 day trip through western Japan without any problems (over Christmas break).

Wow, you're good! I don't think I could do that right off like that. If I get into JET, I hope to be as lucky. I think I really need to be around the language more than what I am to really get a good grasp on it.

It can be surprising just how much you can understand without words, and what other clues you can pick up on. For instance, look in your cupboard and refrigerator, and imagine that none of the packages had any words on them, just the pictures, etc. How many things would you really by unable to tell what they are? I bet most of your canned foods, TV dinners, etc all have pictures on them. And of course numbers are numbers, so you can see prices of most items just fine. And you'll learn hiragana and katakana fairly quickly, which will let you sound out many words.

I already have a heads up on that. I already know Hiragana and Katakana....although I'm weaker when it comes to Katakana. My writing of it is horrible, though. I need practice with that, especially with my Katakana.

Anywho, I'm not really worried about grocery shopping and such. There's a mart that my cousin and I go to at times, and since it's an Asian mart, everything there is an import. Some things we can't figure out (it might use Kanji or is either Chinese or Vietnamese or Korean, etc.), but we get the gist by the picture on the front. It's also a nice way to practice my reading of Katakana for some of the products.

Originally Posted by anrakushi

i agree with not worry about your japanese level, you can get by on none at all. In China, a different country but from my experience the people in this area knew far less english than where i was in Japan last year, I met a man who had been teaching english for a few years and he could only speak a few words of Chinese. He was having a great time. I could speak more chinese than him which surprised the hell out of me. On the opposite side of things i met a man at the chinese consulate in melbourne, he was from China but had been living in melbourne for 20 years and boy was his english awful. it took him quite an effort to explain to me that the east coast of China was very populated. luckily i already knew this so i can guess what he meant.

That's very interesting. My older cousin is teaching English in Thailand. He headed over there last year. I keep forgetting to ask my aunt for his e-mail address to see how he's truly managing with the language barrier.

what i will say though, knowing Japanese there sure makes your life more independent. I think the worst feeling I had when i started out in Japan in 2006 was that I had suddenly lost a lot of my independence because i couldn't deal with the internet company over the phone, i couldn't see doctors without a friend helping me, and so on. but if i can say anything about japanese it would be they are very patient and will do their best to make sure you understand. so you shouldn't be concerned.

Whoa, see, now that's what I was thinking of! Situations like the ones you mentioned. That's what I'm worried about. What if something comes up, and no one is around to help me, that type of thing.

as for career, well, my future depends on me knowing Japanese as I intend to stay in Japan for a good number of years before possibly moving to Korea. so I see being in JET as a nice way to work, get paid and also have more opportunity to speak japanese than I would otherwise have working in an 英会話 (english coversation school). hopefully i can make a difference in the lives of some students along the way as well ^^ of course that is if i get in ><

Out of curiosity, are you planning on going to North Korea or South Korea?

thanks ssjup81 for your wishes also. people in Perth are getting notified by email as of yesterday, lucky people.

Don't forget to inform us, but I'm sure you will.