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Originally Posted by tokusatsufan
You can go mad from any country if you're not suited to it. Maybe I'm "not suited" to the UK.
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I am not talking about theoretically "going mad" but actually going mad. One woman I knew had her electricity cut because she didn't pay the bill, but didn't do anything about it for weeks. She assumed her school was spying on her. Another thought the government was spying on him through his wristwatch. They both had to be escorted home.
Quote:
Originally Posted by samurai007
I don't know that visiting a country a few times will really prepare one for living and working there long-term. As a tourist, you are on an exciting whirlwind tour of temples, castles, and other sights, everything is exciting and new, and you might well be left with unrealistic expectations of the country. That's why I'm saying that while sometimes visiting a country first may be a good idea, to get at least some feel for the place, too much shouldn't be read into it. I think your own personality matters more... if you are adaptable, you can go to a place sight unseen and make a go of it. If you are set in your ways, I don't think trips in advance will be of much help, except perhaps in opening your eyes to some of the differences and difficulties you may face, such as ordering food, getting directions, a taste of the culture, etc. Most of them, though, won't really show up until you are working there day in and day out with Japanese colleagues, having to do your own shopping, cleaning, cooking, banking, etc.
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Again, I agree. Personality is everything. But even functioning as a tourist in a non-native language can give you a hint as to how you might do. No one can gauge their own personality, so I recommend at least one trip in advance.
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Originally Posted by ryuurui
Nonsence. Visiting Japan even for a month or two will not do the trick. Got to live and work here to get it. I have never visited before I came. You just arrived and dealt with it, period.
And to the last par of your post. This is exactly what I am talking about. I am not sure why you are arguing things that I have said before. They go crazy because they are weak, or just let the reality get to them. If you do that there is a great chance it will break you and send you home.
Then, you mention people who sign a contract and move here. I bet you did it the same way, as work visa is usually issued for 1-3 years. I came over and had nothing, except my masters degree and fluent English. I did not have a company to fix my visa, find me an apartment or help in any other way. I was not working as a teacher either, like 90% of the foreigners.
If you start at the bottom, nothing can touch you.
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Pretty much everything I say is nonsense to you, whether you agree with it or not.
I visited Japan over summer vacation to stay at a friend's home when I was in high school for a few weeks. What I learned on that trip was 1) I liked Japan and 2) I would like it even more and be able to function on my own if I spoke the language. So after high school I made learning Japanese and living in Japan my short term goals.
Visiting Japan for a few weeks opened my eyes up vastly, and I am glad I was able to come home, regroup, and make a clean and happy go of it.
Ryuurui, as to the latter part of your post, please speak in concretes, again. Ethereal statements like "they let reality get to them" don't mean anything to me. Yes, they probably didn't have tiger's blood or Adonis DNA. Neither did I, I just had a little bit of experience that carried me a long way.