KEEP CALM IT'S JUST JAPAN!

Here is a little something mainly to help all the newbies that have decided to come and see what Japan has to offer in their lives. But I’m sure the oldies can relate and benefit just as much J

So after a lot of thinking (ouch!) and gathering some perspective from other teachers, here are the ten top tips to conquering culture shock living in Japan. Gambate!

1.       Learn a little lingo. It’s true you don’t have to be a master at Japanese to survive in Tokyo, but even a few basic words will get you pretty far in sticky situations, and it’s best to avoid those in this weird and wonderful place. Plus you really impress the locals when they hear you trying, just a few words and to them you would already be very ‘jouzo’(good at) . Not bad for the old ego too J

2.       Giggle… at yourself. Messed up a little? Said something completely wrong in Japanese, or parked your bike in a no parking zone area without realizing as you may be unable to read the signs, resulting in it being towed away? (that one is probably only me). LAUGH at it. There will be many things going on around you every day that will leave you guessing forever, and they make amazing stories that can be shared with other foreigners living here and soon you will be comparing to see  who’s story is the funniest and who messed up the most, leaving your sides hurting.

3.       Eat the weird and you might get wonderful. Guaranteed you will go into a convenience store and turn your nose up at most of the stuff to eat in there when you first arrive.  You may even lose a few pounds and be put off eating well for a while. But Japanese people are known to live a very long time, and studies have suggested that there is a very high chance  it could be down to their diet.  So although it looks horrifically different to anything you may have tried before,   once you dive right into it you’ll be pleasantly surprised how fun all the different tastes, textures and combinations of food you’ll discover is. You’ll be saying ‘mmmm oishiii!!’ before you know it, and may have extended your life by a few years.

4.       Say goodbye to homesickness. Let me guess, you are missing baked beans, Cadburys chocolate, frozen pizzas, English breakfasts, and a good old pint of British ale or stout from somewhere south western, Wiltshire or Devonshire prehaps. Well I’ve only be here 7 months, and I have found them ALL. There’s an abundance of English pubs, and international supermarkets, even a Waitrose section for you upmarket folk.  Tokyo is a city full of surprises, keep asking around with enthusiasm, and you’ll find whatever you want.

5.       The silence is only temporary. You will do lessons sometimes and wonder if the student your teaching may be slightly mute. Let me tell you that’s very improbably the case. You may find the reserved personalities a little shocking at first, but please know that it’s not YOU, you wouldn’t be offending anyone as I’m sure you’re a great guy/girl. Being shy and reserved is part of the culture here, especially when meeting foreigners (we are a little scary at times it’s true) so keep smiling, keep eliciting and keep being yourself, and within no time the students will feel comfortable, open up more,  and may even be best bud material.

6.       Oh the mystery…What are they thinking? Sometimes when you have no idea what’s going on in a situation, it won’t just be because of the language barrier that there may be(unless you have a super brain and picked up how to write 2000 Kanji characters just walking off the plane).  But even then, languages aside, you will find a tendency for a lot of thinking to be happening,  but not enough talking, saying what it is  they are thinking, even if it’s important. You will find this especially on the trains when you will be crammed left right and centre like sardines in a can. No one will speak but it will be obvious that everyone will be getting on everyone else’s nerves. What I’ve done in this situation is just simply understand and accept that that is how it is. Worrying about it will only cause unnecessary stress. Besides, this allows the ‘bum shuffle’ to be totally acceptable to do on the train (a term we’ve recently come up with for cramming yourself backwards when you enter the train, making everyone else shuffle up and suffocate just a little bit more) It’s all fun and games of course J

7.       I. AM. ROBOT. But it’s OK not to be too. Tokyo is an exciting place to be. But you may notice that there is a certain robotic-ness to the daily life routines. People will be doing the same things, dressed the same way go to the same places every single working day. Some people have called it being ‘plugged into the matrix’.  And it’s so easy to get caught up into that matrix yourself. My advice here is mix it up a little. Take a different route, go shopping and eating in different places (there is ample to choose from!). Go check out some crazy museums, robot restaurants, cat cafes, kendo  and ninja lessons, maid… well, whatever takes your fancy, each to their own. It will take out the mundane feeling from daily routine and help you feel you are making the most out of your experience here.

8.       It’s not just any plan. It’s a Japan Plan! Got some holiday coming up? As amazing as Tokyo is, get out and about in the rest of Japan as much as you can. It has everything you can imagine, from bungee jumping in the mountains to scuba diving in the tropical islands, anything you want,  you’ll find it. The only limit is the one you set yourself.

9.       Drink. Find a local bar and get in there as much as you can. Plain and simple. Even if you don’t like alcohol (non-alcoholic beer is a bigger thing here). Friends will be made, amazing people will be met, opportunities will be placed in front of you on a silver platter, and your Japanese language skills will sky rocket.  Trust me on this oneJ

10.   Actually, you’re quite special. Oh go on then, a lot J You will look around sometimes and think, my god, I’m an alien. Yep, we are not in London, where your best mate may be Polish, and your Dad Indian and your cousin Jamaican.  It’s pretty daunting, and you will probably get stared at, and get given a fork instead of chopsticks every-time you buy something from a convenience store .  125 million people live in Japan, and we only make up  1% of that. But this small percentage does not have any effect on what you are worth. Understand, accept and enjoy being different, let your uniqueness shine through you and the adventure that you came here looking for may well exceed your highest expectations.