I LIVED in Japan...

[trunker]

so true,.... so to get back on topic:

I never really thought of living in Japan. It was never really something i had considered until last november, when thanks to the global downturn, many doors closed but one door opened which led to Japan.

I came out here in november to check the place out. stayed up in tokyo for what should have been a few weeks,.... it turned into 3 months.

I really hated leaving.

Work got too much, the financial industry sucked ass big time, and I figured that it was time for a change. Thankfully the gods conspired to push me harder than i would have pushed myself, otherwise it would have been another couple of years before i got here.

i'm starting my 4th month here so still very much a n00b.

its been rough, its been odd, its been down right bizarre at times,....but its all been worth it for the few moments of pure joy that i simply havent experienced anywhere else. granted, alot of it has to do with the combination of a career change, a lifestyle change, and a country change all at the same time, but still.

I picked up the english teaching thing too, which in nagasaki is quite easy to do on a freelance basis, lots of universities here and lots of chinese students who understand the value of being able to speak english when they get back to china. so for them its a bit more serious than your average housewife killing time.

no i didnt have a clue how to teach, and i still dont really know what i'm doing,.... but over the years i've been an expat in a bunch of other countries so managing different languages comes naturally. My time in tokyo also helped loads since after 3 months of talking to me my hosts went from shy didnt want to speak english to never shutting up, which meant that i was doing something right. i have an english teaching theory which i wont bother you lot with unless you really want to know.

its early days yet, but i like it here. I dont know how long i'll be doing this english teaching thing as there are other things i would like to do with my life, and i dont know how long i'll be here,.... but i'll probably be here for a while.

[tksensei]

Tell us about your theory

[GTJ]

Or stay on topic

Anybody here who's LIVED in Japan ever DRIVE in Japan? Specifically I'm interested in anything with 2 wheels. Or Mazdas. I love Mazdas. But yeah my dream right now is to get a ビッグ・スクーター and drive around the country Anyone ever putter around on a scooter or bike?

[trunker]

yeah we should really stay on topic.

about the driving,.... i would like to, but narrow narrow 2 way streets freak me out.

i quite like the look of those low budget bikes, you know with the exposed frames and engines.

[ozkai]

Originally Posted by GTJ

Or stay on topic

Anybody here who's LIVED in Japan ever DRIVE in Japan? Specifically I'm interested in anything with 2 wheels. Or Mazdas. I love Mazdas. But yeah my dream right now is to get a ビッグ・スクーター and drive around the country Anyone ever putter around on a scooter or bike?

YES! I loved my YAMAHA JOG which I purchased new. It was one of the last Made In Japan and din't have all the pollution control features which made it a ZIP-ZIP-ZOOOOOOOOM little baby! Boy I miss it!

I purchased a new MAZDA ALTEZA, commonly known in Australia as a MAZDA 3..

Spent a lot of time driving and travelling.. I found the Japanese freeways very boring to say the least, as it felt like I was travelling on an enclosed racetrack, and the food gift shop stops felt like pitstops! The highways had cameras all along the way.

In Australia, a highway is free and easy. To stop means to be able to wonder off in the bush.

I found that Japanese drivers on the freeways around OSAKA where Kamikaze like, especially the old men. A real contrast to the streets of Kyoto where I lived.

All in all, travelling in Japan was definitely interesting and fun when off the freeways, and I would recommend it over trains as you have the freedom to go anywhere.