Question for Daniel Alando Garcia?

Question

This is not a personal attack or anything.
I looked into your profile and saw you didn't allow any direct messages so I thought I'd post it.
I've been seeing alot of negative opinions from you about Japan and it looks like you hate it there.

I know, sorry for putting you in the spotlight and all but I was going nuts to know.....why you went to Japan in the first place.
I'm guessing that you researched and decided to go because you liked what you saw. But now that you're there you hate it and want to move out. I just wanted to know. What happened??

Not criticzing you or anything so don't take it the wrong way dude.

Thanks for the comments guys. Although most of you aren't Daniel. LOL
All your answers were interesting though.
Now with that said....

I Hate Hippies,
I absolutely understand your point of view about the things you don't like about Japan. And also this goes out to anyone else who hates Japan for the crappy things about the country. Your opinion is what it is, an opinion and everyone is entitled to one. But please let me point out that as Yozora has said, Japan is just a country like any other. You mentioned that you would be alot more helpful if a foreigner asked for your help in broken English and I bet you would be. But then again in NYC you COULD meet a person who'd say "FU** OFF and learn English you dum F**!" as often as you'd meet someone in Japan who'd ignore you because of your poor grasp in the language. My point is, being unhelpful is not a characteristic of Japanese / Japan. It's a characteristic shared by the human race.

Adam,
I definitely agree with your opinion. Life's tough living in a foreign country and Japan is not as open as many western countries are to foreigners so I feel your pain.
Being a Japanese national raised in the US, it was hard for me to adjust to Japan when I first moved there as well. And I LOOK Japanese! Can't imagine how hard it is for people with different skin color.

yozora,
As usual I agree with most of the things you've pointed out as I have mentioned to I Hate Hippies. Every country has their ups and downs. Every country has a fu**ed up government / law / way of life.
Hating a country...let's say because of the dictatorship is one thing but hating it because you don't like how some of the local people treat you is another. People think Hawaii is a wonderful place to live and I bet it is. But it doesn't make it the best place to live. I think it's up to you to MAKE it the "Best Place to Live". Which was the point I was hoping to make with this question. Anyway thanks for your thoughts.

Bum,
Since I've seen you use the word "Japs" a few times, I'd rather not respond to you because I hate regarding you as an equal human being. But with that said I agree living in Tokyo is stressful. So is living in any other large city in any other country. It's not Japan they should be hating, it's the way of life that they choose to live. If stress is not something they want in life then they should move to the mountains and be a shepard. Not bi*ch about how life sucks where they live.
(Please notice I used the word "they" as opposed to "you" because I'm not accusing you of doing any of this.)

Twikfat,
Hey your Japanese is very good! LOL
(Bet you haven't heard that one before!!)
The only reason why I was interested in Daniel was because I too hated Japan for the first 3-4 years I was living there. Tokyo is stressful, people can be snobbish di*ks, trains suck, weather sucks, everything is so friggin' expensive etc. And I admit, I still to this day hate some of the things I just mentioned which is why I don't want to move back to live there again. But as you've mentioned there are pros and cons. I'm just concerned (I know, none of my business) that Daniel hasn't seen the pros yet. Or maybe he has but the cons are just too great. I just wish he'd have something good to say about Japan once in awhile because like us, I'm sure he's had some good experiences. Well, I'm glad you've seen both sides of the coin. THanks for your opinion! And my dad's from Hakodate!! 北海道最高! イカ刺食べたい!!

Nyl,
My point exactly.
You mentioned racism and have seen many people angry about the racism that they experience in Japan. And I don't blame them for it.
BUT, when they make it sound like Japan is the most racist country in the world it makes me wonder if they've really thought that opinon through. I mean as long as you're a foreigner in a different country you'll be treated as that. The US is filled with racism and this country is alot more open to foreign immigrants than Japan is.
Experiences are what you make them I guess. Even bad experience is good experience because it's authentic.

And last but not least Daniel!!!
Thanks for posting. And again I'm not trying to be mean or anything. As I mentioned above, I too hated japan when I first moved there and I have to admit it took a while for me to truly enjoy Tokyo and Japan but adapting to a different country always does. You're a Psychology major so I'm sure you know how the human psychi works when you're introduced to new surroundings. I learned (not a Psych major, survey course) that the first 2 years are the hardest with tremendous ups and downs. After that it gradually gets better. (or so I've experienced)
Anyway, I know it sucks there at times but from the posts I've read by you, you make it sound like EVERYTHING sucks there. Granted it's not the best place in the world but it can't be ALL bad right? I'm glad to find out you've enjoyed some parts of Tokyo. And I agree the weather sucks there. lol.
But I also know that weather change means cherry blossoms, snow and mini-skirts!!

Answer 1

I am not Daniel either. But I think he came to japan with quite an open mind, as he knew very little about japan prior to going on a vacation to japan. After he returned from his vacation he thought it might be fun to continue the vacation by living & working in japan for a year or 2. He had some fun times, some adventures, but ultimately he decided that japan was a disappointment. And so he has chosen to return to his homeland. But he doesn't hate japan or japanese people, but he will continue to warn other foreigners that might have a false impression that japan is this wonderful place. But even if he loved japan, he would eventually have to move on, because there just aren't opportunities in japan like there are in America. Who wants to work as an ESL teacher long-term? I place it one notch above titty-dancer! Plus, the weather in japan sucks ***! You all know it!

Answer 2

I think this is a relevant question, although I wouldn't be surprised if he was simply sent here by his employers. Obviously he would have had to AGREE to that - although the alternative might have been losing his job perhaps, so that's not much of a choice..!

BTW, I've given 'I hate hippies' the thumbs up..!! What he says is totally relevant - Japan IS just another place to live! It's pretty much like any other, but with a lower crime rate. But, as I have to point out frequently, LOW crime isn't NO crime..!!!

Actually, I've known - and worked with - people who would NOT make the effort to understand someone with poor English. Regardless of the reason for the poor language skills - foreigner, brain damaged, etc., they just took the p!$$. Shocking, but at least Japanese people don't normally do THAT - they just talk too much! (If a foreigner can't make themselves understood, it's obvious that they can't speak enough Japanese. So WHY go into greater detail? I've known people in England do that too, in fact I've probably been guilty of it myself in the dim and distant past...)

Anyway, to sum it up, Japan is NOT paradise - but the same could be said of ALL countries...! And I do NOT blame Daniel if he's homesick - I'd be more surprised if he WASN'T!

(My God! I just gave Daniel Alando Garcia the thumbs up...!! I must be ill.....!! BTW, if you see this, tell him that slagging off a country is NOT the same as making people aware of the realities! Simply telling them that overall it's not so different from their own country would be adequate.)

Answer 3

For the record, Tokyo is one of the most stressful modern societies to live in. Competition is immense, social expectations are almost unsurmountable, expenses are the highest, the tinest homes, people always on their toes. People living like canned sardines. Not a very appealing lifestyle. The suicide rate there is apparently quite high too. If its for work, Tokyo is rather shitty. But it does have an interesting culture. Nice place for tourists.

Answer 4

I have been interested in Daniel for some time now and have read his website and follow his comments because I think he is very open and honest. I, like Adam, love living in Japan. Sure it was the hardest thing, as it gets someone out of their comfort zone, yet each day had a new adventure - be that stressful, or exciting.
I love reading Daniels posts because he says what alot of people think. Sure, I know the huge ups, and huge downs of Japans. I lived there, I was totally immersed.
I think back on it, and sure, in heinsight (sp?) it was all faeries and flowers, but I do not forget, nor do my journals forget the hardships and patronising and racism and sweat and heat and bitter winters and so on. Nor can I ever forget the kindness of people, and the transformations I saw of complete strangers become eternal friends.
Thats why I love Japan, because I had such a great experience.
Many of the posts we read here, yes it is true, are by those who have never set foot on Japans soil. They are the otaku who watch their anime and listen to the Jpop and like to say they like sushi. And its most likley true. But Japan, as stated above is not a childs anime. You may notice that alot of anime is post war, post apocalyptic, full of filth and rape and fear and darkness, that is what Japan is all about. Anime, the mainstream series and Miyazaki in particualar is a cry for escapims.
Who wants to live in that world? No one, thats why they escape either through anime or physically though Working holidays etc.
I have been at the train station when kids have jumped onto the tracks and killed themselves over a bad test score. In japan the day the results come out there are always suicides. And I have sat in a house of friends as the mother cradles her newborn baby and it wraps its small hand around my finger. So you see its just normal life. There is so much to say, and I find it interesting to see that the honnin himself, Daniel has not posted yet, just sits back and reads, probably laughing.
Im sure he is very interested to see what we have to say about him, and yet couldnt really care less.
We shouldnt give others a fake impression of a paradise and the 'ideal japan' but we should give our points of view.
Thats what I do, and thats what he does, and so I should stop speaking for him. Thanks for all your opinions everyone , I love to read the different views. ^o^
皆様続けてたくさん書いて下さいね。

Answer 5

I hate hippies has an interesting post.

As someone else who has lived in Japan, I'll tell you that living and working here has a lot of ups and downs. It can be very tough being a foreigner here. Maybe someone does like it. I am one of them. I love living here, but I'll still say that living here is tough. It is hard work. People need to make their own choices and he has decided to leave. That is his choice. Good for him for at least making it here for 2 years or whatever. Some foreigners can't even last that long.

I'll say it again....I love Japan but living here can sometimes be quite difficult for foreigners. Gotta take the ups and the downs.

Answer 6

I would thumbs up on this question...eat my world...
Good comments guys...this is just the real eye opener who really wants to know what is it like there in Japan..I have read some of Daniel answers and I have no comment about him as everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion based on experiences and knowledge of living in Japan.
For getting thumbs down guys ..don't be discouraged,,you have shared what you wish to say and all that matters is you have made contributions for this..the facts about living and working in Japan..
I am not Daniel, but I have lived, worked in Japan and I had
some ups and downs too..but I took it as blessing for me having lived there as lots of opportunitie came to me when I was there, met lots of wonderful people around the world..as many foreigners live there too.. but as it said..we make our own choices, love or dislike Japan..life goes on with us and have to move on.. ..and decided to leave Japan for another reason,..though I love the city life and the people....living there was full of challenge and adventures...sometimes one of these was walking alone at night after work which I found safer than any coutries, I have not worried about being late for commuting is very convenient like buses, trains and bikes and not worrying about paying high prices of gas and parking areas, though some negative points are the same we sometimes deal
in other countries like being descriminated.. and being homesick. I have lived in US territories too.. that's another story.

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Answer 7

I'am not Daniel, so I won't speak for him. However I'am someone who has lived here (for 3 years). In defense of Daniel I have never seen him post that "He hates it here". I have seen him post that he will be "Fortunatley be leaving soon" He may dis-like it and be ready for a reverse change. Who could blame him. (I 'am now speaking as someone who has only read his posts) SO MANY people post here that think of Japan as an escape/ fantasyland this is so far from the truth it's scary.
Japan will kick you in the NUTZ when your not looking. When you think you have Japan figured out, that's when Japan bites back. Those of us that live here know that it's just like HOME, you wake up, you work, you come home, you eat, and you sleep. You also pay taxes and can't vote (Yeah thats fair) When I went to work this morning Doremon did not take my toll money, I did not run into a Samuria, Ninja or Pokeman on the subway nor did I stop to have a tea ceramony on the way to work.
Let me give you a small example. If I a U.S citizen was on the street in >>Lets say New York<< and someone came up to me who looked forgien and said "Vegatable where to I go,buy" I would know what they were trying to say and help them the best I could. In Japan if you say to a local "Yasai wa kau masta doko des ka" they would not make the leap to figure out what your trying to say. I like Japan but its not the LA,LA land many people (Young people) think it is. It's just a place to live. Daniel says what he thinks and feels and I give him credit for that. It's better then reading some response from some dork who has never been here saying something like "AWESOME DUDE JAPAN ROCKS I NEVER BEEN THERE BUT HOPE TO SOME DAY"
To add on if you come to Japan EVERYONE does NOT speak english...YOU can not learn to speak Japanese by watching animee (Small "a" intentional) the Japanese as a whole don't LOVE Americans. Japanese girls grab on to American (Or white loser) just like they would grab onto a CHANNEL handbag as an item to be admired.Wake up living with your parents is OK bask in it and enjoy your OTAKU-ness.

Otaku's also, Push the Doritas away from your fat nerdy face.

GREAT I'M GETTING ..THUMBS DOWN on my rating.. The people giving me these are the OTAKU I speak of. they are the ones that know all (Never been her but please don't ruin my fantasy of the good life, of animee queens and Tekken fighters in the street), so they think 2 thumbs down and no response. I fyou wanna give negs to someone atleast counter with something. Freakin losers If you cant fathom in your small heads that EVERY country is the same IE. Work, Sleep, Eat grow up.