BagOfCrisps 24 Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 When you live here, does it get tiring to be looked at and the centre of attention (at times) and asked those same gaijin questions all the time? I can imagine it getting very tired and even annoying after the novelty wears off. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 It was fun at first, but as you say gets tiring quite quickly/ Link to post Share on other sites
samurai 0 Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I'm always reminding myself to be patient. I often find myself avoiding situations due to the predicted dialogue. I try not to do that when I aknowledge that I am... because it will never stop. shoganai. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Yes patience is what you need. I often find myself holding back and trying to hide a smirk or grimace when we go down a predictable path of conversation. But I don't like being the centre of attention either. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Rather the centre of attention than told "Sorry, No Gaijin!" at the local watering hole, huh? THAT got right up hubby's nose! Link to post Share on other sites
grandmastaal 0 Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 so are whitey really the centre of attention in certain circumstances? what are the gaijin questions i should be prepared for? Ive only ever been Gylow before so this is gonna be exiting! Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 I've never been told 'no gaijin'. No that's not true. I was told that once in a "muryou annai center" in Sapporo. But other than that, I've never been told 'No gaijin'. If you're a native English speaker, and better still, white, then being a gaijin is pretty cushy. Some even take advantage. Link to post Share on other sites
grandmastaal 0 Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Originally Posted By: ger If you're a native English speaker, and better still, white, then being a gaijin is pretty cushy. Some even take advantage. go on...?? what do you mean Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 uh... if you have to ask, you won't understand the answer. Link to post Share on other sites
grandmastaal 0 Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Originally Posted By: ger uh... if you have to ask, you won't understand the answer. comprende Link to post Share on other sites
Thunderpants 0 Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 i am a professional Gaijin Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Its funny - I kinda get ingonored now which is great. Black hair and black eyes - as the Japanese would describe themselves - have actuall been asked if I have any Japanese heritage - but I don't look remotely Japanese at all. Some of my friends - female or different hair colour - still get looked and pointed at but me nothing. I feel left out now. I wanna be treated like a zoo animal. Link to post Share on other sites
LiquidX 0 Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Nah, you don't! Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 I try to not think about it, but get uncomfortable at times when I just want to blend in but don't. It's part of living here though, so live with it. I was more outgoing in that respect when I first came here I suppose. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 It all depends on my mood. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 in the words of The Vapors I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so Link to post Share on other sites
samurai 0 Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 You may think you're turning Japanese... but the Japanese don't think so. Link to post Share on other sites
farquah 0 Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Ballad of a Gaijin (Sung to the tune of Sting’s “Englishman in New York”) I don’t make coffee or make tea my dear. I like to boast, I’m full of pride. And you can see I eat my ramen with a fork. I’m Charisma Man (not a Dork!) See girls gawking down the avenue. Lots of J-girls at my side. I must be making lots of ‘business for the Stork’. I’m Charisma Man (not a Dork!) I’m an alien, I’m a regal alien. I’m Charisma Man (not a Dork!) I’m an alien, I’m a regal alien. I’m Charisma Man (not a Dork!) Back in my hometown in the northwest, I was another average guy. Now I’m the man with really good looks and a smile. A whole new self, no matter what they say! I’m an alien, I’m a regal alien. I’m Charisma Man (not a Dork!) I’m an alien, I’m a regal alien. I’m Charisma Man (not a Dork!) Modesty, propriety or kakkoi notoriety? Who would end up as the lonely one? Mental health, sobriety are rare in this society. At night the Snack lamp’s brighter than the sun. Takes more than chugging beer to make a man. Takes more than just licentious fun. Confront your own worries, destroy them when you can. A gentleman won’t stalk for “Nampa runs”. Back in my hometown in the northwest, I was another average guy. Now I’m the man with really good looks and a smile. A whole new self, no matter what they say! I’m an alien, I’m a regal alien. I’m Charisma Man (not a Dork!) I’m an alien, I’m a regal alien. I’m Charisma Man (not a Dork!) Link to post Share on other sites
tripitaka 0 Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Many a sad sack has had a tough time dealing with life in Japan. They only thing worse for them is if they had to play by the Japanese rules. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted February 6, 2008 Author Share Posted February 6, 2008 What does that mean triptaka? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Yeah, it gets a wee bit on top of you getting stared at a lot. BUT the attention from J-girls does make up for it. Playing the Gaijin card in certain situations can be beneficial but of course if you wanna live here then you should try to "live as the natives". Link to post Share on other sites
tripitaka 0 Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Originally Posted By: BagOfCrisps What does that mean triptaka? It means that life is pretty tough for most Japanese. The trade off for being part of "the tribe," is a swamp of societal rules and obligations that the Japanese live by. Exam hell, voluntary unpaid OT, not being able to confront old gits that don't know what they're talking about. Gaijins' woes are relatively minor and you can always leave if you don't like it. Link to post Share on other sites
tripitaka 0 Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver Yeah, it gets a wee bit on top of you getting stared at a lot. BUT the attention from J-girls does make up for it. Playing the Gaijin card in certain situations can be beneficial but of course if you wanna live here then you should try to "live as the natives". Funnily enough, I've never had the charisma man thing, excpet from the girls I'm least interested in. Link to post Share on other sites
ssar 0 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 As a temp. visitor to Japan for the 1st time soonish, I'm lookin' forward to it. Will be there for the snowriding above all else of course, but at the bars, restaurants & shops whilst not skiing I will be checking out the vibe of the place mightily. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Originally Posted By: BagOfCrisps When you live here, does it get tiring to be looked at and the centre of attention (at times) and asked those same gaijin questions all the time? I can imagine it getting very tired and even annoying after the novelty wears off. Yeah, been here too long that if another person asks me if I can use chopsticks theyre going to be shoved up that persons @ss Or, after just saying good morning somebody compliments you on how good your Japanese is? WTF? I dont feel like a gaijin anymore, but certainly not a Japanese. Anybody else feel that way too? Kinda in limbo? Link to post Share on other sites
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