http://emergentchaos.com/archives/2008/11/the-twain-meeting.html The Emergent Chaos Jazz Combo Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:20:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://emergentchaos.com/archives/2008/11/the-twain-meeting.html/comment-page-1#comment-5268 MikeA Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:28:03 +0000 http://emergentchaos.com/?p=2956#comment-5268 I worked/lived in Japan for 6 month a *long* time ago, and this post brought back so many memories :) You so hit the nail on the head what gaijin "means" (although I was told there was no real direct translation) - the natives (and you had to be native to Japan not to be gaigin - no matter how long you lived there or assimilated) really thought it was amusing watching you try to adapt. I had a terrible time initially, but as I got into living there, and the culture, I really enjoyed myself. It's really hard getting started - imagine getting of a plane, a bus to Tokyo, and then only seeing kanji for the names of subway stations you had to go to! Anyway, nice to see it wasn't just me that had that impression :) -- Mike (another gaijin brit!) I worked/lived in Japan for 6 month a *long* time ago, and this post brought back so many memories :)
You so hit the nail on the head what gaijin “means” (although I was told there was no real direct translation) – the natives (and you had to be native to Japan not to be gaigin – no matter how long you lived there or assimilated) really thought it was amusing watching you try to adapt.
I had a terrible time initially, but as I got into living there, and the culture, I really enjoyed myself. It’s really hard getting started – imagine getting of a plane, a bus to Tokyo, and then only seeing kanji for the names of subway stations you had to go to!
Anyway, nice to see it wasn’t just me that had that impression :)
– Mike (another gaijin brit!)

]]> http://emergentchaos.com/archives/2008/11/the-twain-meeting.html/comment-page-1#comment-5267 egon Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:43:54 +0000 http://emergentchaos.com/?p=2956#comment-5267 I spent enough time working in Tokyo to have found myself in some of the scenes from "Lost in Translation", but not quite enough to really become "henna gaijin". I horrified colleagues with how many of those warmed cans of milked coffee I could drink before lunch, and sent a wave of amusement down the meeting table when I suggested the project was becoming a "gozilla project".. but not quite henna gaijin... I'd love to hear some of your stories. I spent enough time working in Tokyo to have found myself in some of the scenes from “Lost in Translation”, but not quite enough to really become “henna gaijin”. I horrified colleagues with how many of those warmed cans of milked coffee I could drink before lunch, and sent a wave of amusement down the meeting table when I suggested the project was becoming a “gozilla project”.. but not quite henna gaijin… I’d love to hear some of your stories.

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