Comments | expatsjapan: Minorities Studying Abroad?

guzophela in expatsjapan

Minorities Studying Abroad?

Jan 08, 2007 11:31

Hi! I'm a high school sophmore and I'm applying for a Japan exchange program through ASSE. I've never been to Japan, but from what I've heard they look down on women (somewhat) and have problems with dark gaijin in particular. I'm hispanic and black, plus I'm fat with big breasts so will I have to worry about being harassed, etc? I'm pretty tall (5 ( Read more... )

exchange programs, culture shock

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wendye January 8 2007, 16:55:03 UTC

People WILL stare and comment no matter your size or color. My first roommate and I went to an onsen once, and between her giant black breasts and my big cuban culo, I think the other women there had whiplash from staring.

I have been felt up by kids a time or two, but never adults.

I ditto what the above poster says - it's THEM, not YOU.

Fat, Caucasian Yakuza at Onsen.. ? breau January 8 2007, 21:40:04 UTC

Try having large breasts, being a bit "fat", and having tattoos alongside of being caucasian.

Onsens made me nervous at first, but my Japanese friends didn't care, so neither did I.. those are definitely a serious trial for self-esteem as you have nothing to hide behind - unless you have a large washcloth. LOL.

Re: Fat, Caucasian Yakuza at Onsen.. ? she_rambles January 8 2007, 22:14:25 UTC

I'm surprised you were allowed in with the tattoos! One of my male students once booked a man-to-man lesson, specifically to focus on language for politely asking foreigners to refrain from certain behaviours in the onsen, how to tell them tattoos are forbidden (or need to be covered up), and a heap of other stuff. He worked at a popular onsen and apparently they kept getting tattooed foreigners, and the management had decided it would be his job to tell them they had to leave (though his way of compromising was by telling them to hide the tattoos).

Re: Fat, Caucasian Yakuza at Onsen.. ? breau January 8 2007, 22:42:46 UTC

How exactly do you hide tattoos in an onsen? LOL.. that is something I'd like to know!

Besides, I really got my largest one once I'd come back to Canada.. so that probably helped anyway!

Re: Fat, Caucasian Yakuza at Onsen.. ? thorny_rose January 8 2007, 23:30:05 UTC

Bandaids.

Re: Fat, Caucasian Yakuza at Onsen.. ? she_rambles January 9 2007, 00:15:40 UTC

I asked him the same thing. I think he was talking about using the little square clothes to cover them where possible, or to like, sit with your hands hiding it in a casual fashion. o.O

A friend of mine joined a gym where tattoos were forbidden, so he just used band aid patches to cover his.

Re: Fat, Caucasian Yakuza at Onsen.. ? breau January 9 2007, 03:40:14 UTC

I always have a problem with that - I mean OBVIOUSLY caucasians aren't YAKUZA .. I used to get annoyed about that. Even if you have tattoos, it's not like the Yakuza's tats - I mean in some cases, maybe, but mostly not.

Just another example of Japanese stereotyping!

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