far far away
Japan
From the Philippines to Japan, it’ s just‘ around the corner’. But for Faye Vitan, who moved there a few months ago, it sometimes feels like a totally different planet. Wouldn’ t it be the same for us too?
I came to Japan to work as an English teacher. I was originally set to go to China to teach English when Japan opened its doors to Filipino English teachers in 2011. It was a rare chance I couldn’ t pass up. I mean between China and Japan, who wouldn’ t choose Japan?
At the beginning language was a big problem. Almost everything here is in Japanese. I didn’ t expect it since Japan is a first world country. I’ ve been to other countries in South East Asia and I got by with English. Here in Japan, it’ s just so different! I had to learn how to read in Katakana and Hiragana. I also decided to enrich my Japanese vocabulary so that even if I cannot string a sentence I can somehow understand what is going on. Some people say that you can survive in Japan without knowing the language but I think it would definitely make your life easier if you know some basic words and expression.
It is easy to ask for help from the local people. I didn’ t have a hard time asking for help from Japanese people. They are polite and helpful. However, to be friends with them is another story. There’ s the language barrier and then there’ s the cultural one. Even if I am friendly I am still considered as an outsider. In effect most of my friends are foreigners like me.
I find it funny whenever old women would talk to me just because I uttered a Japanese word. This usually happens at bus stops and terminals while we are waiting. Old Japanese women like to talk. They would usually strike a conversation with me. I would utter something in very basic Japanese then they would talk to me nonstop- or at least until the bus arrives.
I did not experience any‘ shock’ when I moved here. Maybe because Filipinos are pretty familiar with Japanese culture. What I felt was more of‘ awe’ because of the orderliness, cleanliness and safety of Japan. I wish the Philippines would also be like that.
The biggest obstacle when I moved here was the approval of my documents so I could work in Japan. The Japanese government is very strict with Filipinos. Also, I had to produce a lot of documents certifying that I can speak and teach English. It took me a year to process all the necessary documents.
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