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A little more advice for new JETs
Since I just can't seem to stop posting stuff today here's a couple of things specifically for the latest batch of new JET teachers fresh off the plane. Unlike my last post along these lines, I'll try to keep from getting too snarky this time.
TV: Chances are you only have 5 channels or less on the TV suplied with your apartment. Unless you really enjoy cooking shows, Go and watching Japanese celebs say "Ehhhhhhh" a whole lot you're gonna get pretty bored by it fast. Luckily these days there's a thing called P2P file sharing. If you want to download the latest TV shows (as well as movies, music and software) all you need is an Internet connection and a program called Azureus and a torrent website such as Torrent Spy. If for some reason Azureus doesn't work for you, there are plenty of other Bit Torrent clients you can find online. Of course the legality of all of this is somewhat debatable.
Japanese: I'm the last person in Japan to offer advice on learning Japanese since I've been here two years and have barely learned a word. Still here is a short list of easy to learn Wasei-eigo terms, or Japanese-invented English words. For example: セクハラ ... sekuhara ... sexual harassment
Food: It won't be long until you've had it with Japanese food and want something that tastes like home. In Aomori there are a number of foreign food stores or grocery stores with foreign items. Here's a short list...
...
Aomori- Caldie Coffee (Downtown, near all the hipster stores) and Jupiter (next to the train station). There's also a good selection of foreign snack foods at Toys R Us.
Kuroishi- Jusco (Great selection of foreign booze among other things)
Goshogawara- Caldie Coffee at ELM shopping mall
Hirosaki- City Hotel basement has a small selection of items. There's also a small mom and pop store I know of that has also has a very limitted number of items. The Sakurano department store also has a few rare items scattered about in its grocery department.
Towada- Downtown, small old looking store, just a few items
Misawa- VX, Taco Bell and Burger King on base (you need to befriend a member of the American military to gain access). Other grocery stores in Misawa sometimes have a slightly better selection of foreign food than most places.
Hachinohe & Mutsu- None that I'm aware of. Any suggestions?
Also check out the big Sanwado box stores across Aomori prefecture. Their foreign food selection is very limitted, but they are the only place I know that you can find bulk food items (i.e. the portion sizes you're accustomed to back home)
4 comments
Can't wait till I finally take the reigns as a new JET in four or five years.. eh.. college comes first, but, it will happen!(That is if the program is still alive and well)
To each his own my friend. Food in Japan is excellent. It's delicious, filled with nutritional value, and judging from your increased size over the last 2 years, could stand to lay off the Mac and Mos burgers.What's more is that you pay through the nose to eat home food. Whereas if you learn to cook some Japanese food you'll save money.
Secondly, you don't like Japanese shows because you can't understand Japanese. Learn the language and you might be more interested.
To finish off: yea, you are not only the last person to be giving advise about Japanese, but I'd add 'life in Japan'. You are still merely looking through the window despite living here for two years.
Stick to your superficial, at times funny, commentary about your extended vacation here.
Signed: Someone who can speak the language and has lived here longer than you.
Dude, where's all this hate coming from? Perhaps you didn't notice but this post was written for newcomers to Japan who might desire a taste from home once in a while, not for smug japanophiles frustrated by the fact that despite years of effort learning the customs and language of their adopted country and eating miso soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner they still find themselves held in the same regard as lowly gaijin by the very people who's respect they so deserperately want to gain, and thus begin misinterpreting harmless statements by fellow foreigners as slams against Japan and feel the need to then post snarky comments on their websites and will eventually snap and run home with their tails between his legs when they hear 'Hashi jouzou!' once too often.I like to think that I'm probably one of the BEST people to offer advice on "Life in Japan"! Perhaps I should write a Dear Abby column for the Daily Yomiuri, because judging from your comments there must be many gaijin-for-lifers out there that desperately need my help.
..I might also like to add, "Pickles", that the only decent pickle I've ever tasted in Japan was inside a Big Mac. I bet you secretly wish you had a belly like mine!
PWNT IN THE FACE. 
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