Thread: Life in America

I think if one actually wants to take in the culture of a country they should live there. Even the most well meaning traveller can't actually claim to know the culture of a country without spending a reasonable amount of time there. People who take a year out and go travelling are kidding themselfs if they think they're really bringing anything more profound than a degree of life experience and some funny stories back.

Also sailor jack, its more of a big deal to move somewhere especially with green card issues and all than it is to simply live and work somewhere. The economy might play a bigger part.

Originally Posted by <JANE>

I think if one actually wants to take in the culture of a country they should live there. Even the most well meaning traveller can't actually claim to know the culture of a country without spending a reasonable amount of time there. People who take a year out and go travelling are kidding themselfs if they think they're really bringing anything more profound than a degree of life experience and some funny stories back.

i think the speed at which one takes in another countries culture is largely dependant on your social skills and your enthusiam, aka it's not an exact science and everybody is different

that being said, i feel as though if you're about average, you can get a general idea as to what the culture is like in a country if you actively try to learn about it in about a month or two. now this doesn't mean you're a damned native, but you should be able to grasp basics and realize if you want to learn more about said country after that length of time assuming you were paying attention at all imo.

edit: nice elitist comment capnfaggot that was enjoyable (i've lived in more countries than you--your experience in japan does not make you an expert at this)

Okay, excuse me faesce if I'm trying to keep this thread from getting derailed which you seem to be god set on doing. I don't know if you have lived in more countries then me, and you don't know if I have lived in more then you. Cause well I don't know, and I don't care, I'm not trying to make this a thread of how many countries have you been to (make one yourself if you want).

And for what its worth my experience here in japan does make me an expert but an expert of japan. I've seen life from the very bottom to millionaires. I've seen life and I want out... In a city of 34 million I can go to any part of it and get spotted by somebody I know. Living here has made me bitter and jaded about life.

But this thread is not for this conversation, If you wanna continue it then please send a PM.. Cause this thread was not made for this type of debate.

Originally Posted by faesce

i think the speed at which one takes in another countries culture is largely dependant on your social skills and your enthusiam, aka it's not an exact science and everybody is different

that being said, i feel as though if you're about average, you can get a general idea as to what the culture is like in a country if you actively try to learn about it in about a month or two. now this doesn't mean you're a damned native, but you should be able to grasp basics and realize if you want to learn more about said country after that length of time assuming you were paying attention at all imo.

edit: nice elitist comment capnfaggot that was enjoyable (i've lived in more countries than you--your experience in japan does not make you an expert at this)

yes but a month or two is really just a quick glance at the culture there. I've found that 3 months in a place is the point where i really start making connections to the community that i'm in, but even after living somewhere for a year i still feel like a newcomer

Originally Posted by coqauvin

yes but a month or two is really just a quick glance at the culture there. I've found that 3 months in a place is the point where i really start making connections to the community that i'm in, but even after living somewhere for a year i still feel like a newcomer

Originally Posted by faesce

i think the speed at which one takes in another countries culture is largely dependant on your social skills and your enthusiam, aka it's not an exact science and everybody is different