Comments on: Do you think you are lost in Japan?

By: kanmuri

kanmuri — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:15:37 +0000

I guess a lot of people feel lost when they get here because they finally realize that Japan is NOT a manga.

But yeah, there are a lot… wonder why…

By: jasohill

jasohill — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:46:08 +0000

I can totally agree with your story and I’m sure many people are very scared and lost while they are in Japan. When I was on the JET programme, I helped many new people get used to their surroundings. The strange thing is that many people will take on the email before they even leave. Almost in preparation for being lost. It’s very odd.

By: kionee

kionee — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:16:11 +0000

I remember my first visit to Japan, I was woefully unprepared. I’d been studying the language for 6 months, thought I knew plenty. Didn’t really plan my trip very well and when I left Narita and hit Tokyo. I felt lost, sure. I think a lot of people have this idea of what Japan will be when they visit and it’s totally not when they finally get to experience it. I remember phoning my mother and she was worried about me as I sounded ‘off’. I remeber feeling a little bewildered and confused as it was so overwhelming at first, to the point I almost, almost went back to the airport to get the next flight home.

Yet, I perservered and for three weeks, I totally fell in love with the country. In fact, leaving Japan for the first time was one of the hardest things I have ever done. That was in 1995, and I have been back 6 times since then.

While I am not a fan of this new fad, I can certainly understand a little where they are coming from.