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Iro
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#276
Old 02-18-2011, 03:37 PM

*eyes long posts warily*

Er... Just to say I updated my post with 2 new songs, one of them instrumental violin Canon Rock. xD

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#277
Old 02-18-2011, 03:59 PM

Whoa someone actually acted negatively over your nationality? I think the most shocking thing I've seen is people posting signs on the web saying 'no gaijin allowed' on them. Like they're actually discriminating...in the 21st century it's kind of head turning...I've been told by one of my Japanese 'friends' (I say friend loosely, because as soon as I stopped paying her to tutor me she dropped me from the face of the planet) said those people who 'hate' Americans are a dying breed...

I think other than just standing out like a sore thumb (which yes it does get old...I didn't stay in Japan long enough, but living in a small town in England got me similar results when I opened my mouth for awhile...), the thing that annoyed me was how no matter how bad you are at speaking Japanese or doing 'Japanese things' they will always tell you "You're so good!". It's really OK to give constructive criticism... :P The other things were my host family asked me questions and were amazed that no I didn't eat bread and drink coffee religiously...Yes probably more than the Japanese diet, but still. The other thins I thought were super cute was my host dad knew Elvis songs and broke out to 'hound dog' to I guess to break some awkwardness. I still remember him watching me trying to fit in at the table one morning and him breaking out in laughter and "okashii". I looked confused and it was one of those moments where he was scrambling around to get the dictionary so he could explain it.

You know the thunder reminds me of one of the days we were at the hostel in Tokyo. A thunder storm had rolled through, and because of all the really tall buildings the echoing of the thunder was something I never quite heard of. It was really quite an amazing storm to witness. ;) (For me..)

I guess I was a little too 'wannabe' for my own good. I had tried to make friends with the group of exchange students from the sister city in our university. I even met up weekly with my 'conversation' partner for lunch. The only thing I didn't do was take part in the 'Japanese club' and of course when I interviewed for monbusho they were asking me 'why don't you go?'. (I couldn't - They held sessions on Saturdays only and my dad wouldn't let me take time off work where I worked in order to go...I worked at the same company he did, doing dispatching/phone operator kinda thing and weekends were always busy and needed staff. *sigh*)

I'm...still...so...envious! I know I'm still 'young' enough, but you need a BA before you can sign up for JET. Not to mention that but I'm married, have my own house, etc, etc. I just don't have the ability to up and leave to another country...no matter how much fun that sounds.

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#278
Old 02-18-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:
For example, there was a thunder and lightning storm one day and a teacher asked me "Does thunder exist in America?"
Heh, I smirked at that. It wouldn't surprise me if some people from every country/nation/etc thought that they were unique about something among the rest.

I also kinda laughed about the cheeseburger part. I mean, we ARE the obese country after all. :rofl: Stereotyping isn't good, but it doesn't help when there actually are people who fit them and keep them going.

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#279
Old 02-18-2011, 06:05 PM

My apologies, Iro, for the super long posts. XD

@Demo: I picked that out as an example, but it comes up every so often in different ways when you talk to people. Something within the Japanese national identity creates a tendency to assume that things are unique to Japan. Those who have studied/traveled abroad tend to be better about it. I must admit I was the same way when I came to Japan since it was surprising to find so many familiar things, particularly brands and companies.

@Izumi: I've heard stories about the dreaded "no gaijin allowed" and rumor has it that foreigners aren't welcome at the host clubs in my city, though that doesn't really affect me. :lol: There is undeniably discrimination for foreigners who want to live in Japan indefinitely, but Western-looking foreigners are assumed to be temporary visitors and usually are treated well, in my experience.

It's not intended to be insensitive, but I often get asked questions that clearly only are because I'm a white American woman. In a typical conversation with a new person I get asked if I'm American, how old I am, where I'm from, if I'm a student, where am I living now, where do I work, what school do I work at, how long I've been here, how long I plan to stay, and questions relating to my Japanese proficiency level (i.e. "How is it that you can speak Japanese?!")

Ha ha, nice! I stayed with a host family a few years ago for a few weeks and they also did goofy things to put me at ease. I wish I was proficient at Japanese then as I am now (which isn't even good) so I could have had proper conversations with them. Luckily when you get to know people better they stop with the incessant compliments for performing simple tasks, but I think it's nice to be encouraged to speak Japanese when you're starting out and obviously can't speak it very well.

By wannabe I mean those people who quite literally wish they were Japanese (or whatever they see in anime). I'm sure a lot of people think I'm that type given that I'm living in Japan and doing my best to learn the language, but I have no qualms about being who I am and have no intention of trying to become anything else. When I do things normally not expected of foreigners, I'll get "Eh?! Nihonjin mitai!" (lit. Like a Japanese person!) comments, but then I'll just as quickly do something stupid to remind them I don't actually know what I'm doing. :lol:

Well you can always travel for awhile and/or study abroad someday. That's also a good way to see the country although it's so expensive to travel. ;__; I have so many places I also want to go, but I'm not sure how I'll make it a reality. And as I've said before, I'm equally envious of your life. I'd give a lot to have a family and house to come home to rather than my empty shoe-box apartment. :gonk:

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#280
Old 02-18-2011, 11:36 PM

Updated with some new tracks

Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Howdy View Post

Inso added music to his post. And something tells me he likes to dance! :insane:

Enjoy the Cruxshadows. ;D
Only with lotsa alcohol :D

Quote:
Originally Posted by .Jazzed View Post
[color=#663399]Omg -starry eyed- DUB FX! -cheers on Inso's choices- lol..
The guy has serious talent!

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#281
Old 02-18-2011, 11:37 PM

I guess. Some days (like today, ironically) I would love to be in your shoes still living life up and seeing the world. I feel like I settled down a little too early. (First marriage was on my 20th birthday...) It definitely is nice to be in a supportive relationship and I must say it's really helped me move on from some of my family life drama that's gone on. I'd like to think if my parents were more supportive emotionally I would of done a little more in my life.

I wouldn't be too envious of me just yet. I have a wonderful husband, two step kids, and two pets who are my 'nuclear family' I guess you'd call it. (Although I only see my kids every other weekend.) I'm a bit bummed as we're still heaped in debt and while we have our own home it still is a trailer in a trailer park. One day I'm hoping to own a real house. I'll never have any kids either, as that wasn't my husband's wish and he ended up getting sterilized. I feel like I'm far from being on par with 'the Jones's' you know?

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#282
Old 02-19-2011, 05:34 AM

*updates my post*

*sees that Knerd did as well* ;D

@anna ~ I've been meaning to check out Her Space Holiday since Sidhe posted another song from them.

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#283
Old 02-19-2011, 05:55 AM

These stories make me afraid to leave the country. :lol: Hell, I'm afraid to leave my state. Tourists are so heavily hated in places like NYC... Because, you know, "how dare you come and appreciate our beautiful city!"

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#284
Old 02-19-2011, 06:22 AM

Howdy's Pick! -attempts to high five Howdy but ends up smacking him in the general region of his sinuses- :o Sorry...

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#285
Old 02-19-2011, 05:37 PM

I updated my post and managed to listen to Howdy's pick. I really need to get around to everyone else's. Nice song choice btw, Howdy. I may not know the band, but they sound awesome.

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#286
Old 02-19-2011, 06:26 PM

I'm not really happy with the state of my post right now. The video is the only one of that song that I could find on youtube, and yet I don't want to post it from another source, as I am going for uniform and streamlined look. So, this is how it's supposed to sound: Leave Your Friends Behind | Brilliant Mind

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#287
Old 02-20-2011, 12:53 AM

@Biggles ~ Yeah, I really couldn't make out the song in the vid, but clicking the link it's not bad. ;D

@Demo ~ I almost got that song stuck in my head. ._.

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#288
Old 02-20-2011, 04:31 AM

@Howdy- I forgot to mention this when it was your featured song, but fffff, I love Florence + the Machine! :heart:

@Scooter- I love your song, aaah.

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#289
Old 02-20-2011, 05:26 AM

@Howdy: I hope that's a good thing. It's such a good song. =u=

@Annerz: Thannks, I loves it too! x3

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#290
Old 02-20-2011, 07:28 AM

@anna ~ Oh yeah, she kicks ass. ... They kick ass. I love the CD.

@Demo ~ :lol: Some songs just have a way of taking root for hours.

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#291
Old 02-20-2011, 07:38 AM

I do too! I can't wait for her... their next one. :3

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#292
Old 02-20-2011, 07:41 AM

I was excited to see Lykke Li on the cover of Spin magazine this month. Thank you for introducing me to her, Sidhe!

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#293
Old 02-20-2011, 07:44 AM

@annez ~ I think I might have to buy one of those Twilight soundtracks, not sure which one, cause it's got that song Heavy on it. ... :ninja:

... *pokes the lurking Sidhe*

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#294
Old 02-20-2011, 07:49 AM

I've updated my post! Link. Now featured are an acoustic song with unusual vocals, and my favorite post-grunge song. Yay!

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#295
Old 02-20-2011, 07:54 AM

o.o Didn't expect that guy to start shouting.

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#296
Old 02-20-2011, 08:01 AM

Yeah. :lol: I heard him before I ever saw him, so seeing such a clean cut looking little guy was just hilarious. :lol: Not surprisingly (for his vocals, not his aesthetic), he's usually fronting an anarchopunk band. Not my thing, but I really like that song. And one or two of aforementioned band's songs that don't have anything to do with anarchy.
The studio recording of Harsh Realms sounds a bit better. Maybe I should have tried to snag that.

(really recommend the one I linked to as "one." Not screamy, extremely catchy, and good lyrics)

Last edited by Cherry Who?; 02-20-2011 at 08:03 AM..

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#297
Old 02-20-2011, 08:27 AM

@Inc'est- Or, you could just download it! ;D But the music on the Twilight soundtracks is actually pretty good, so it wouldn't be a horrible loss to buy one, besides the fact you'd be sullying your good name with Twilight merchandise. :no:

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#298
Old 02-20-2011, 09:00 AM

@Howdy: Yeah true, some songs are just soo catchy it's almost terrifying.

@Anna: Or he can just.... dundundun.... PIRATE the soundtrack and then keep all the songs he likes. :ninja:

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#299
Old 02-20-2011, 09:02 AM

@Scooter- Oh my! Are you suggesting... that Howdy should commit a crime?! :gonk:

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#300
Old 02-20-2011, 09:06 AM

.... Wait, wasn't Howdy already a crime lord? >.>

 


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