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John gave us this quick account of the Japanese lifestyle in his new found home-for-a-year in Sasebo, Japan on September 30th '99.
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Sasebo itself isn't too exciting as the Japanese are a "work, work, work" race of people. As for the reason for this being so, it truly is bizarre. Everyone waits for everyone else to go home not wanting to disturb the "wa" of the group, a collective karma so to speak. Hence people stay in the office for long hours. When it comes to enjoying themselves though, everything rotates around a two hour schedule, be it the bars and restaurants. Thus you have the reverse to Britain: Partying is strictly defined whereas work goes on into the night. They do however work during the day and party at night so don't get any ideas that I get pissed during the day and teach at night. As for the teaching, it seems at times to be a bit like uni without the drinking and partying; they keep having holidays and changing the schedules around so that I really don't know if I'm coming or going. Not easy when you don't speak the language, and it takes about three years to learn to read properly apparently. Not much hope for me as I still can't read english properly after twenty-three. Before I go here's a comforting thought about Sasebo that I found out last week. It is ground zero for any North Korean Nuclear attack, on account of its US Navy base and Shipbuilding. GREAT.
yours |
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Things have actually started to improve as one gets used to how the Japanese do things. They can be quite mad at times and the kids are, well, kids so they're quite lovable (at least the girls are, stop me if I start to get to soppy!) except for the lads. With them it's a case of just chilling out, so it gets to be quite fun. The one really big thing that I think has changed is the fact that I know where things are and have a better clue of what to buy in the shops.
As concerns travel, I've done a little here, benefit of this province
being one of the most spread out of all provinces (it has the most
islands and most coastline of any I know) Hence I took the liberty of
a trip to meet fellow JETs on an Island called Tsushima just off the
coast of Korea (beautiful sea; swimmable in Novemeber and clear as
glass! Pity the number of people there means that the JETS who live
there have a bit of a bum lot, living four hours from the rest of Japan).
Looking at holiday length about your final point, christmas here is shit by all accounts ( hence my trip to Thailand ) and is even more of a commercial effort. At least here they're honest about it being so. The holidays I get are much the same as Britain, but the Japanese teachers don't get them. They have "summer" holidays, during which the students come in for "extra" lessons. The only difference to normal school is that the day starts at 8.45am, not 7.45am. Some Holiday ! Not only that, but teachers get rewarded with a bonus if they do not take any holiday leave ! I don't get a bonus so it doesn't matter one iota if I holiday or not. This country is mad, I've concluded. Only in Japan would there be the biggest reduction on travel prices for holidays under seven days (the discount ethos in Japan is to discount the most commonly used option ; perverse or what) and for there to be souvenir shops at all the railways stations to sell presents for you to give to your work colleagues. The result; Four day trips to China (like what my school is doing) durimg which most time is spent buying gifts for work colleagues back home, who actually really don't give a damn what you bring back (they soon chuck it in the bin anyway. It is at this point that I realize that I have written an extraordianarily long email and my fingers have got tired. So, I'll wish you a merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, a meritorious New Millennium, a scintillating New Century and I hope you live out the rest of this century in Good health. Look after yourself.
Yours |
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Here comes another instalment in the travels Brown, or rather sit-at-a-desk-and-feverishly-devise-another-lesson-in-ten-minutes Brown. It's proving more and more interesting over here and while some things cost a hell of a lot, other things aren't too bad. What tends to cost a lot here are things to do with travel. Basically, it seems a conspiracy to keep the japanese tied to their desks as long as possible (seems to be working) in that even the shortest trip will cost a bomb (try 280 pounds for a four day holiday 100 miles away) Hence, it's very expensive for visitors but not so expensive for people who stay in one place (outside of Tokyo). Then again, I've been here for four months so things are starting to seem different (may be it's the beer or water). Still it is fun, even if it is a hell of a long way from home. Well, I'm sorry if this e-mail looks a bit short but I'm afraid I've got to organise and "english day" at my school tomorrow and I've got to chair a meeting of all the student in an hour's time. So it's time to get some work done (funny how the days of final project presentations spring to mind now). yours John |
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