One particularly uncomfortable thing about Japan...
...that might also apply to what's happening in my life now, come to think of it...but anyway, back to the point.
For example, despite all the help so many people tried to give me at the time, I'm not entirely sure how many people really thought that it would be a good thing for me to go on the school trip. As a friend once said, it's really tiring to keep thinking about how other people feel, that what they think may be entirely different to what's coming out of their mouths.
I once listened to a drama CD that touches upon this issue. The main character suddenly found himself able to hear the thoughts of others. Whilst it frightened and hurt him at first, he eventually learned to use it to great effect in his job as a salesperson. Furthermore, when someone truly fell in love with him, knowing of that love with such certainty really comforted him.
The story, however, ended with the notion that the uncertainly of not knowing how others really feel can be a wonderful thing in itself. Whilst frightening, being rewarded for your efforts to please others, or even just for your trust in others, can be even more satisfying.
True - in Japan in general, everyone is really polite, and will try to help you if they can. But it's very difficult to become close to people and their families. There is nothing quite like the backyard BBQs that we have down under, though there are a few other JETs who know their co-workers kids, and I knew my neighbours' kids (and had them over once in a while...) I don't know...in the way that Americans are know for their supeficial "thank yous" and "i love yous", sometimes, the niceness in Japan is just a front. The trouble is, that's the public face that they show to people.
Nevertheless, sometimes, you reach the stage where you know that you are basically family. I realised that when I went back for graduation in March of this year. Still, it's something that I have to maintain, though emails, phone calls, Facebook - any means I have. And I'd better get to it now.
For example, despite all the help so many people tried to give me at the time, I'm not entirely sure how many people really thought that it would be a good thing for me to go on the school trip. As a friend once said, it's really tiring to keep thinking about how other people feel, that what they think may be entirely different to what's coming out of their mouths.
I once listened to a drama CD that touches upon this issue. The main character suddenly found himself able to hear the thoughts of others. Whilst it frightened and hurt him at first, he eventually learned to use it to great effect in his job as a salesperson. Furthermore, when someone truly fell in love with him, knowing of that love with such certainty really comforted him.
The story, however, ended with the notion that the uncertainly of not knowing how others really feel can be a wonderful thing in itself. Whilst frightening, being rewarded for your efforts to please others, or even just for your trust in others, can be even more satisfying.
True - in Japan in general, everyone is really polite, and will try to help you if they can. But it's very difficult to become close to people and their families. There is nothing quite like the backyard BBQs that we have down under, though there are a few other JETs who know their co-workers kids, and I knew my neighbours' kids (and had them over once in a while...) I don't know...in the way that Americans are know for their supeficial "thank yous" and "i love yous", sometimes, the niceness in Japan is just a front. The trouble is, that's the public face that they show to people.
Nevertheless, sometimes, you reach the stage where you know that you are basically family. I realised that when I went back for graduation in March of this year. Still, it's something that I have to maintain, though emails, phone calls, Facebook - any means I have. And I'd better get to it now.