Since I have a teaching degree in English, there was a very strong chance that when I came to Japan I would teach English. It was very easy to get a job teaching English in Japan.

The puzzling thing for the Japanese people I knew was that I chose to teach in Nagano. 

“Why don’t you work in a private school in Tokyo? You can get a good salary and you don’t have to live among the rice fields.”

Well, I wanted to live among the rice fields. I didn’t want to work in the Big Mikan. How can anyone really experience Japan by living in Tokyo? Tokyo is Tokyo, and it isn't the real Japan. Since it's a melting pot, you get all kinds of people from around Japan and overseas, and everyone is busy trying to live... in Tokyo. No, thank you.

My decision to teach in Nagano was a wise one because I got to know many kinds of people that I might not have met in Tokyo. Like rice farmers! Also, the pace of life in Nagano was much more relaxed than  living in a big city in Japan. The cost of living was low and I could live well. Most importantly, I was appreciated.

As you can imagine, there aren't a lot of non-Japanese in Nagano. When I was living there, there were even less of us. Of course, we enjoyed hanging out together. I always enjoyed summer festivals in Nagano. We non- Japanese would walk along the streets in the evening and slightly drunk people would offer us some food, and drink. If you want to make Japanese friends quickly, you should enjoy drinking alcohol.

I learned a lot about life in Japan when I was in Nagano. Much more than would learn in Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka and many other large Japanese cities. I learned even more about teaching when I was in Nagano. The students at junior high schools in Chino were my best teachers. They listened to me, answered my questions and often chatted to me at lunch time and after school. Some even came into the English teachers room and checked my kanji when I was studying Japanese.

Have you heard the anecdote about becoming a good Japanese speaker? I've been told that you are a good Japanese speaker when Japanese don't tell you, "Your Japanese is very good."

Japan may not be the easiest place to teach English, but Japanese people do appreciate people coming to Japan and finding out about Japanese culture and the local  lifestyle. Nobody asks me, "Do you like Japan?", they just show me their kindness and tell me, "You are like a Japanese." That's the ultimate compliment.

When you choose a career, remember that your quality of life is far more important than the money you might earn. Try it, spend some time in rural Japan and find out how Japanese you are, and how much better a person it will make you.

Somethings I Like

Near my apartment, there is a lot to see.

There’s a little Italian-style pizza place called Pizza Pazza. Mr Hagiwara, the owner is so friendly. He loves Italian food and opened a pizza delivery service about three years ago. Now, the pizza place is a small restaurant. Very small, with seating for six people. It is intimate and has a very Italian atmosphere. It smells of cheese and olives, there are lots of different wines to be drunk, and it's noisy. 

Especially if you're sitting on the stool near the telephone... he still does his delivery service and people call to order a pizza to go. 

I'm so fortunate to have a large park less than ten minutes walk from my home. My little people, Luna and Luke enjoy their morning walks to Minato-no-Mieru Oka Park on Saturday and Sunday. Perhaps you've been there, and if you've seen the movie Up On Poppy Hill (コクリコ坂から) then you'll know the place I'm writing about. 

Until early June, the park is hosting the Garden Necklace Yokohama so it's a great place to visit these days. Especially on weekend mornings, you may see me with the Luna and Luke.

People say that Tokyo is a large collection of villages that look like a city. It's the same in Yokohama, I'm happy to live in Yokohama and have a lovely community and neighbors.

Check out the Garden Necklace Yokohama link here:

http://www.yokohamajapan.com/upcoming-events/garden-necklace-yokohama-2017/

What don't I like to do?

Well, I don't like to complain... but I do.

A lot.

I live in Japan, and for Japanese people complaining isn't something that they like to do. It gives people a bad impression if you complain even a little. In Japan, going with the flow is not only common, but almost compulsory.

However, since I'm not Japanese, and Anglo Saxon in fact - I'm a member of race that takes complaining to a new level. We have to complain. If we don't, we'll be unable to sleep at night.

Then, we can complain about not sleeping well at night!

Living in a country of people who rarely complain is something I complain about.

If Japanese people complained more, then they'd be happier... like me. When am I happiest? When I complain, even though I don't like complaining. I sleep every well at night - eight hours or more.

Before I came to Japan, I didn't complain very much because everyone else in Australia was complaining and since our complaints were similar, I only had to agree with various people's various complaints.

Of course, when I first came to Japan I didn't complain at all because everything seemed wonderful. When people come to Japan and experience life here for the first time, it's so good. People are kind, people are friendly and so positive.

Then, after a while we get used to life here and small 'issues' appear. Still, we don't complain but we wonder why Japanese people don't do, or at least say something about it.

I think my first issue in Japan was bicycle brakes and bells. Thankfully the squeaky, brake pads seemed to have disappeared, so that's one complaint I no longer have. However, people still use their bicycle bells in a way that makes me want to complain, and I do.

Let's imagine, a sunny April morning on the way to the train station. I'm walking along the narrow footpath and someone on a bicycle behind me rings their bell. It's their way of warning me that they are coming up behind me and I should step aside for them. Japanese people will either back themselves against a wall, or ignore the cyclist and keep walking.

What do I do?

I stop, turn around and look the cyclist in the eye and tell them while pointing at the roadway, "Shado ga arimasu". Literally, that means that there is a place for wheeled vehicles right there.

There's a road and since they are riding a bicycle, either use the road or if they are on a footpath, then proceed at footpath speed and wait. I don't step aside, and I don't ignore them. I give them some good advice. I've never seen a Japanese person do it, and I guess they think I'm complaining.

Am I complaining? What do you think?