Ladonna
10. Tell about the difficulties living in a foreign country.
INot being able to speak the language is probably the most difficult thing about living in a foreign country. Especially if one has never studied the foreign language or the natives do not speak one's language. I've lived in France as a Rotary exchange student and it was perhaps more difficult getting used to Japan than it was in France. In France I was faced with the language barrier, of course, but many words sounded familiar so it was perhaps easier to understand the language eventually. Also in France, another difficult thing was adjusting to conserve energy, for example I couldn't use the internet and talk on the phone as much because it was more expensive in France. In Japan it is the norm to have a cell-phone. Not having one was the difficult part cause I could not communicate with new friends or easily get directions. Now that I have one, my first and only one, I can't stay off of it! Everything is expensive in Japan so I've had to adjust to paying 2 or 3 times more than the price in the US or France. Paying more is always difficult at first.
11. What do you like about Japan?
IIn Japan, I like the fact that the media is used in positive ways to educate people about various cultures around the world. I've noticed while watching Japanese television that one can find a variety of educational programs geared towards teaching people about foreign languages, people, and places. There are various language programs on non-cable channels that teach people how to speak different languages such as; French, Italian, Spanish, German, as well as English. One day I found myself trying to learn Russian from one of language programs. That's more than any effort of a television network to encourage learning a different language than I have seen anywhere else in the world. Another interesting fact about Japanese television is that Japanese subtitles are often used during television programs even if the program is spoken in Japanese. I'm sure that the subtitles promote a deeper understanding for the Japanese language for Japanese people as well as for foreigners living in Japan. I think, if anything, the subtitles encourage people to read. It encouraged me to try to read Japanese. Another thing is, whenever a foreign film is broadcasted on television or in the movie theatre, in Japan, one has the option to either watch the film with Japanese voice-overs or view the film in its original language. In America, movies are always dubbed over in English and foreign programs in the original language are rarely seen on regular television and in common movie theatres if at all. That makes me sad
12. Tell the advantages living in a foreign country.
For me, the advantages of living in another country are;
1. One acquires knowledge about another culture other than one's own.
2. One meets so many interesting people.
3. One has the best opportunity to learn a foreign language when one is in a foreign country.
4. When one returns home, most of one's friends probably don't speak that languages but one will start to attract the people who do.
5. New lifestyle, new foods, new fun!
6. Living in a foreign country inspires one to travel to other foreign countries.
7. One has the opportunity to meet other foreigners who have settled down in foreign countries to start a family of their own with the natives.
8. One can have just as many friends around the world as AT&T have wires.
9. It's always exciting to have a family member or another friend from home visit one in another country.
10. GOING BACK TO ONE'S OWN HOME WHEN ITŐS ALL SAID AND DONE (to O.D. on food, dates, and moviesÉ) and then plan to travel somewhere else all over again.
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