A female co-worker was over in our little corner of cubeville a couple of days ago. She asked me “why are you so obsessed with Asia? What’s so great about it? I was in Korea once and I hated it!” ( I make no secret of my passion to return to Asia.)
“Where did you go?”
“Seoul and Osan”.
” And you couldn’t find anything good to do in Seoul? Clearly you were not going to the right places.”
” Well how about you-what is it you like about it so much?”
The conversation went on for some time-since she was female, I had to dance around the number 1 reason(s)-the women-and point out to her innocuous things like the excitement, good transportation, places to see, the hustle and bustle. And finally I gave her the reason that always seems to baffle the unaware, of which there are lot of Alabama:
“Because when you are there as a Gaijin man-you are unique. And that is worth any amount of being in Alabama.”
It went over her head-just as I expected it to. ” Well there is lots to do here in Alabama!”
“Maybe-but its all relative, now isn’t it? There’s a lot of things I want to do that I can’t do in Alabama-and there are things I can do here. But here the mudane things are just mundane and there they were not. Get it? No, I didn’t think you would.”
I think I will go back and show her this quote from Lola. It ought to really set her head on fire:
There are two types of people-those who understand and those who don’t. Those who understand Lola’s frustration can smile and shake their heads knowingly. Those who don’t understand-never will.
girl.
Hmmm.
I read a few kblogs and a few Thai blogs written by expats and there are quite a variety of expats out there. Some embrace the experience and learn the language and culture, others like the punters on Farang speaks 2 much spend all their time (literally years) in the search for Thai booty.
And some just can’t wait to get out of Dodge.
Back in the day I knew a lot of GI’s in Korea who had it all. Korea was cheap then, sex, drugs, food et al and all they did was complain and couldn’t wait to get back to the “world”
And then I read blogs like yours (and now Lola’s) or Peking Duck and you guys just hate the US, or at least living here.
But you interest me because when I asked you before I believe you said that you DON’T speak Japanese that well and everything I have read over the decades leads me to believe that as a Gaijin you will NEVER be accepted by the Japanese as part of their culture/life.
IF that is true, then why is Japan so fascinating?
Aren’t you missing something because of Gaijin isolation?
Or am I incorrect in my assumption?
I speak and read Japanese relatively well. I used to have level 2 proficiency-however two years of living here have dropped that I am sure.
Now given a choice-my first choice for places to live in Asia, Hong Kong or Singapore would be my choice. Failing that I would love being back in Japan. You are correct that Gaijins can never be a part of the culture per se-but you are still able to function well within the culture and it has so many things that beat the US-especially transportation.
That does not mean I hate the US-it means I don’t understand why the US will not achieve the same standard of existence-or even make the attempt. Instead, you come across places like here, that think that living in the US is so great, when in reality it doesn’t hold a candle to (fill in the blank of favorite Asia city).
Now I suspect too, that because I am a man-that has a part to do with it. I like the women and make no secret of that. Gaijin women don’t have it so well-they are not competitive in that market-especially if they think and act like your typical American woman.
But that is why it is great to be a guy. 🙂
My experience with the military is limited and very ancient.
I do remember that in Korea it SEEMED that few GIs ventured out of Yongsan except to the ville of course.
How as it that you became so adventurous?
Did you have a mentor?
Did you explore Japan alone?
I always cringe when i hear someone say that America is the best etc etc, usually by someone who has NEVER lived in another country. It just so jingoistic BUT as Sugimoto said in his 2002 book, Japan also has its racists and uber nationalists.
After all, nothing could be better than being Japanese ……
I suspect thats not an uncommon WORLDWIDE belief, depending on ones nationality of course.
When I went to Japan I was divorced. I decided to broaden my sphere of friends-as a way to meet women, and also as a way to keep those who had interfered in my life before from interfering again. ( Long story). As a result I met a lot of expats who had nothing to do with the Navy. I joined a hiking club run by a Brit ex-pat and I travelled a lot too around Asia and back and forth to the Middle East.
After meeting the S.O. she introduced me to a lot of Japanese and taught me a lot about Japanese culture. Since she preferred watching Japanese TV-I got to watch a lot of that.
And then it all came crashing to an end when I had to return to the US to stay employed.
Yes I did explore Japan alone-and also with others. I like traveling alone-truth be told. I can usually scare up an adventure given enough time.
It’s interesting to read your perspective on things. I lived overseas off and on from 73 to 84 and grew up in Bahrain, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Australia. In Houston now and waiting to go back, but mainly just to visit the places I remember. I remember lotys of wonderful things, but I also remember some horrible experiences and places. I can see the attraction to go back, but I have to say that coming back here was wonderful as well. I’m able to take the good of both and play them off to each other so that they both were good experiences. I can’t see any place as just horrible. Granted, I have the travel bug right now, but it’s not a specific area, just a generic get away for a while and try something new. Just my two cents. I wish you a good trip when you finally get there!
MM
I’m not saying it was all sweetness and light-but I haven’t had the same experience as you had coming back. Then again-there is a difference between Houston and Shopping Mall USA. That said-I do agree with you that no place is horrible-hell I even had a good time in Djibouti in 1992!
I’d probably be happier if I had some opportunities for international travel-but I don’t so much.
That said I liked living in Asia for a couple of specific reasons-and they are probably unique to a very specific set of expats. ( or Sexpats whichever you prefer). I don’t apologize for it-but the appeal was there.