I led an awfully peaceful existance for two years in my town, I never had a police officer whip his damn baton out on me.
It wasn't where I lived, it was my behavior.
You have to understand, I was much younger then I am now. Before I stepped off that plane, I had been watching Anime religiously since 1987 (it was 1992 when I went there.) I honestly thought it was the land of Bubblegum Crisis and Dragonball Z. Now imagine all this nerd obsession, that had been seething for five years before that first step off the jetway. Imagine here is this blinded American anti-social geek, who, for the first time saw a manga store.
And there was a *JAPANESE GIRL* she was *WORKING IN A MANGA STORE*.
She MUST of loved anime, just like me, I thought. I went up to her and tried to show her the anime in my bag (All copied VHS tapes). I tried to ask if they had a VCR so we could watch it with REAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES!
In short, I made a perfect ass out of myself, and got thrown out by the manager. No doubt the police were also called...
There is a happy(?) ending to this story for those who love pain. About three weeks later I was pretty much balled in the corner of my room sobbing as reality pissed on all of my dreams. Here I felt bad because I was an outsider in the states and thought that once I would get to Japan I would be accepted.
Yea, I actually thought that.
After three months, I got the hang of the place. A year in, and I decided to make it home for another three years.
I mean when I went to Akihabara, Yeah I was excited, but I didn't try to get the workers there to make me show them stuff. I went looking around they came up and I asked a couple of questions in english and pointing and they gave me the required items.
Thats the extent of my conversation. They might talk to me telling they like the model and if I collect them in broken english, which I admired them for at least trying and we would have a few minute conversation before I left and went on to another store. But I never forced them or made them uncomfortable to talk to me.
My experiences were different because I came as a part tourist and part Anime/Manga admirer and not the full blown Otaku, which I guess was the difference. That and people seemed genuvinely nice which made me fall in love with Japan.
My adivce is to go as a tourist to Japan. Understand that yes, you will see boys to senior men, from girls to senior women reading Manga magazines, and yes you love Manga and anime but they are not fanatical like many otaku I see here. I have a couple from friends who I would never take to japan because thier experience would be exactly like halkun and they would embarass me.
Its a part of the life there and there are extremes from both directions but they aren't as crazy as many otaku are here. Understand that, enjoy more sights other than Akihabara and vist the many other places that are equally or more interesting.
Yea, I'm not as bad as I used to be. I "got out of Anime" around 2001, and moved into general Japanese media. It's one of the reasons why I got my business degree. The fandom switched to 2D drawings to 3D people. Don't let the Ayumi Hamasaki avatar fool you. I am in love with the company she works for, and adore her as a businesswoman. I love that stuff you never see on stage and makes the wheels actually go.
The two times I went to Japan it was with a school trip. We actually had quite a bit of freedom and we even smoked and drank when we were there thanks to vending machines. Still, I'd like to go there completely on my own now that I'm older and do whatever I want. In my experience, people weren't total jerkasses to foreigners and at worst, they just minded their own business (which is perfectly fine with me). I think in some cases, it's better to be an American than in other cases. For instance, I think it's better to be an American musician in Japan than, say, an anime fan. One Japanese guitar player I talked to was completely in awe that I had a Gibson (And yes, I know why this is). I think it'd be really cool to go to Tokyo and play guitar with people. Maybe it's a shitty scene, maybe it isn't. I'd still like to try it out.
Dude, I hear that the Japanese are crazy metal-heads. As far as I know, Metal is still really popular there, especially bands like Symphony X, and Dream Theatre. (my favourites! :P)
I led an awfully peaceful existance for two years in my town, I never had a police officer whip his damn baton out on me.
It wasn't where I lived, it was my behavior.
You have to understand, I was much younger then I am now. Before I stepped off that plane, I had been watching Anime religiously since 1987 (it was 1992 when I went there.) I honestly thought it was the land of Bubblegum Crisis and Dragonball Z. Now imagine all this nerd obsession, that had been seething for five years before that first step off the jetway. Imagine here is this blinded American anti-social geek, who, for the first time saw a manga store.
And there was a *JAPANESE GIRL* she was *WORKING IN A MANGA STORE*.
She MUST of loved anime, just like me, I thought. I went up to her and tried to show her the anime in my bag (All copied VHS tapes). I tried to ask if they had a VCR so we could watch it with REAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES!
In short, I made a perfect ass out of myself, and got thrown out by the manager. No doubt the police were also called...
There is a happy(?) ending to this story for those who love pain. About three weeks later I was pretty much balled in the corner of my room sobbing as reality pissed on all of my dreams. Here I felt bad because I was an outsider in the states and thought that once I would get to Japan I would be accepted.
Yea, I actually thought that.
After three months, I got the hang of the place. A year in, and I decided to make it home for another three years.
Okay, I get you.
I'm glad your response to your life challenge was so positive.
I really want to go to Shanghai for your birthday, Viv
but I don't know if I can afford it and also I don't know if I have enough money to buy a ticket and rent a hotel.
Edit: I could probably totally go next year, though.
sarukun on
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VivixenneRemember your training, and we'll get through this just fine.Registered Userregular
edited June 2007
Dude. If you can make it mid-December, Butler will be here. You should at least try to come for a couple days and we can have a ShaPAX.
Plus, if you were to come, I would get you a place to stay. Sheesh. You act like I wouldn't even TRY taking care of you. Especially by December, as I will have moved into an apt with a couch by then.
Dude. If you can make it mid-December, Butler will be here. You should at least try to come for a couple days and we can have a ShaPAX.
Plus, if you were to come, I would get you a place to stay. Sheesh. You act like I wouldn't even TRY taking care of you. Especially by December, as I will have moved into an apt with a couch by then.
I would feel like a huge dickweed if I foisted travel arrangements and trying to find me free lodging on you like that, though.
December sounds pretty nice though. I mean, I do like Butler.
And I should have a job and therefore money again.
I will see what happens.
sarukun on
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RankenphilePassersby were amazedby the unusually large amounts of blood.Registered User, Moderatormod
edited June 2007
I told you once and I told you twice
Ja-pa-nese eat lots of rice
You can be my ass-is-tant
I could be your det-ri-ment
Posts
It wasn't where I lived, it was my behavior.
You have to understand, I was much younger then I am now. Before I stepped off that plane, I had been watching Anime religiously since 1987 (it was 1992 when I went there.) I honestly thought it was the land of Bubblegum Crisis and Dragonball Z. Now imagine all this nerd obsession, that had been seething for five years before that first step off the jetway. Imagine here is this blinded American anti-social geek, who, for the first time saw a manga store.
And there was a *JAPANESE GIRL* she was *WORKING IN A MANGA STORE*.
She MUST of loved anime, just like me, I thought. I went up to her and tried to show her the anime in my bag (All copied VHS tapes). I tried to ask if they had a VCR so we could watch it with REAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES!
In short, I made a perfect ass out of myself, and got thrown out by the manager. No doubt the police were also called...
There is a happy(?) ending to this story for those who love pain. About three weeks later I was pretty much balled in the corner of my room sobbing as reality pissed on all of my dreams. Here I felt bad because I was an outsider in the states and thought that once I would get to Japan I would be accepted.
Yea, I actually thought that.
After three months, I got the hang of the place. A year in, and I decided to make it home for another three years.
I mean I might be called a fantic of Anime/Manga, but I know where to draw the boundries.
He's a pretty cool dude
Thats the extent of my conversation. They might talk to me telling they like the model and if I collect them in broken english, which I admired them for at least trying and we would have a few minute conversation before I left and went on to another store. But I never forced them or made them uncomfortable to talk to me.
My experiences were different because I came as a part tourist and part Anime/Manga admirer and not the full blown Otaku, which I guess was the difference. That and people seemed genuvinely nice which made me fall in love with Japan.
Its a part of the life there and there are extremes from both directions but they aren't as crazy as many otaku are here. Understand that, enjoy more sights other than Akihabara and vist the many other places that are equally or more interesting.
That's what makes her awesomesause.
habit.
It stuck after 15 years. I'm just not creative to come up with something better for "Hal Nicholas"
The boundaries apparently start after hentai
Dude, I hear that the Japanese are crazy metal-heads. As far as I know, Metal is still really popular there, especially bands like Symphony X, and Dream Theatre. (my favourites! :P)
Okay, I get you.
I'm glad your response to your life challenge was so positive.
You want to fight?
I think we should fight now.
Culture shock is a glorious thing.
People kept asking me if it was hard to adjust and what things were so totally different than life back home and if I was homesick
and I was like "This is exactly the same shit except my vocabulary is a little smaller and the food is healthier."
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
Well, not white, no.
I've bounced from country to country so many times... you don't think I had some culture shock moving to the States?
Simply put, you learn to love it. It really is such a fantastic experience.
I don't even mean just VISITING a place. I mean MOVING there, to LIVE.
I can guarantee you that it's probably the least Shanghai-like place you'll have ever been to.
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
but I don't know if I can afford it and also I don't know if I have enough money to buy a ticket and rent a hotel.
Edit: I could probably totally go next year, though.
Plus, if you were to come, I would get you a place to stay. Sheesh. You act like I wouldn't even TRY taking care of you. Especially by December, as I will have moved into an apt with a couch by then.
shit new shiina ringo album out
dl dl
I would feel like a huge dickweed if I foisted travel arrangements and trying to find me free lodging on you like that, though.
December sounds pretty nice though. I mean, I do like Butler.
And I should have a job and therefore money again.
I will see what happens.
Ja-pa-nese eat lots of rice
You can be my ass-is-tant
I could be your det-ri-ment
haha
Nah, yours is okay because it's an animal and not your name
Unless there's something beyond the monkey avatar.
what do you think
what's that even mean
Which is also a turn of phrase, come to think of it.
?????????????
which is why i hate wheel of fortune
Nah.
Interestingly, none of the numerous Japanese people have ever called me anything-kun.
I think my name is too long and important sounding in Japanese to put anything less than san on it.
Or maybe they were never really my friends.