POLL: What should I do with my life?

[Schadenfreude]

(This might be a stupid fling for me, so dont' be suprised if I'm still here after may)

Alright, first of all, this isn't the end-all be-all decision for me, as I've talked this over with a few of my closest friends . . ..

I'm nearing the end my my school (undergraduate studies) days, and well, I don't know what to do! First of all, before I settle down, I definitely want to do some traveling . . . but it gets complicated:

- I'm one of the main instructors at two (extracurricular) dojos, and I've actually helped one the schools start here . . and it still has a lot to grow, but it seems stable enough.

- I spent so much time there that a good chunk of my friends are from the dojos, and they're "townies"

Basically, I've made roots here. If I settle, this would be a nice neighborhood to live in (if you live in the right area, I suppose), but at the same time, I'd like to live a bit closer to home if I was to settle down . . . but I digress. Anyhow, back to the main point. For some reason, I really, really want to move to Japan for a few years, but I don't know the first steps of doing it - I speak no Japanese at the moment, and I figure I'll need some money while I'm there for regular needs . . ..

I was daydreaming about contacting some companies about getting a Job there somehow, like at a military station where Japanese isn't a neccesity, necessarily.

But I think it'd be much more feasible if I work here for a couple years so I can gather enough funds, learn some more Japanese on the side (somehow), and then go.

Or, I guess I can go to graduate school and enroll in the Japanese classes some more.

Or I guess the military option isn't that bad of a choice . . ..

What do you guys think? I'm going to talk to my adviser/Japanese professor and see what the possibilities are, but have you guys done this? More importantly, what options are there for me to choose from?

EDIT:

CliffsNotes!
-About to graduate with a BA degree in liberal arts
-Want to spend some time in Japan
-No idea how to speak Japanese
-what are my options?

 

[her209]

are you going to do exactly as i say?

 

[Miramonti]

dojo?

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: her209
are you going to do exactly as i say?

Hell no. I'm more curious abot the options available for me then you opinions.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: jjsole
dojo?

"martial arts studio". I'm an assistant instructor for one and the head instructor for the kids' class for the other.

 

[imported_Mike]

i called you a dumbass, mainly b/c your asking ATOT to give advice on your own future, which is utterly retarded.

edit:Good luck on that though

 

[skim milk]

why do you want to go to japan so bad?

is that your native country? did you major in something japanese related or something? just wondering....

 

[TommyVercetti]

Originally posted by: fritolays
why do you want to go to japan so bad?

is that your native country? did you major in something japanese related or something? just wondering....

That's what I am wondering too. Japan isn't really some slice of heaven that is portrayed on the travel channel.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: CheapArse
i called you a dumbass, mainly b/c your asking ATOT to give advice on your own future, which is utterly retarded.

Damnit people - like I said, I'm more curious about what the options available for me are, and also if you guys have any similar experiences. YOU GUYS AREN'T THE END ALL BE ALL DOMINATING FORCE IN MY LIFE!

Learn to read the whole thread, thankyouverymuch.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: fritolays
why do you want to go to japan so bad?

is that your native country? did you major in something japanese related or something? just wondering....

Well, no. I'm actually a native Korean, and aside from the differences, I figure that it's close enough geographically to where I can be comfortable and also be exotic at the same time.

My major is philosophy. All cultures and form of knowledge have underlying ties to my major.

And I'm thinking more about learning about the culture, and esp. the martial culture of Japan - ironically enough, I take a Chinese and Korean Martial art, but with the infusion of the cultural "samurai" attitude (it's not nearly as exaggurated as it seems, I know) and the popularity of martial arts there, I see Japan as the "Mecca of Martial Arts". Furthermore, the chinese style I'm taking is a stark contrast to the major styles of Japan - it's absolutely one of the biggest martial arts in Europe, and I think it can be incredibly huge there . . . if I'm not the man to do it, at least I can learn more about other styles there.

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: CheapArse
i called you a dumbass, mainly b/c your asking ATOT to give advice on your own future, which is utterly retarded.

Damnit people - like I said, I'm more curious about what the options available for me are, and also if you guys have any similar experiences. YOU GUYS AREN'T THE END ALL BE ALL DOMINATING FORCE IN MY LIFE!

Learn to read the whole thread, thankyouverymuch.

ah, thank your for bringing up my 2nd reason I voted dumbass. You been here awhile, OT needs cliffnotes, hard to put your entire life up to this point into as few bullets as possible, but it must be done!

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: CheapArse

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: CheapArse
i called you a dumbass, mainly b/c your asking ATOT to give advice on your own future, which is utterly retarded.

Damnit people - like I said, I'm more curious about what the options available for me are, and also if you guys have any similar experiences. YOU GUYS AREN'T THE END ALL BE ALL DOMINATING FORCE IN MY LIFE!

Learn to read the whole thread, thankyouverymuch.

ah, thank your for bringing up my 2nd reason I voted dumbass. You been here awhile, OT needs cliffnotes, hard to put your entire life up to this point into as few bullets as possible, but it must be done!

Ah, touche. You win this round . . ..

 

[TommyVercetti]

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: fritolays
why do you want to go to japan so bad?

is that your native country? did you major in something japanese related or something? just wondering....

Well, no. I'm actually a native Korean, and aside from the differences, I figure that it's close enough geographically to where I can be comfortable and also be exotic at the same time.

My major is philosophy. All cultures and form of knowledge have underlying ties to my major.

And I'm thinking more about learning about the culture, and esp. the martial culture of Japan - ironically enough, I take a Chinese and Korean Martial art, but with the infusion of the cultural "samurai" attitude (it's not nearly as exaggurated as it seems, I know) and the popularity of martial arts there, I see Japan as the "Mecca of Martial Arts". Furthermore, the chinese style I'm taking is a stark contrast to the major styles of Japan - it's absolutely one of the biggest martial arts in Europe, and I think it can be incredibly huge there . . . if I'm not the man to do it, at least I can learn more about other styles there.

How do you figure you are gonna learn, without having a good command of the Japanese language?

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: CheapArse

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: CheapArse i called you a dumbass, mainly b/c your asking ATOT to give advice on your own future, which is utterly retarded.

Damnit people - like I said, I'm more curious about what the options available for me are, and also if you guys have any similar experiences. YOU GUYS AREN'T THE END ALL BE ALL DOMINATING FORCE IN MY LIFE! Learn to read the whole thread, thankyouverymuch.

ah, thank your for bringing up my 2nd reason I voted dumbass. You been here awhile, OT needs cliffnotes, hard to put your entire life up to this point into as few bullets as possible, but it must be done!

There's nothing wrong with getting feedback, and he presented the thread in a very readable manner for those who wish to read it. If you don't like it post elsewhere.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti


How do you figure you are gonna learn, without having a good command of the Japanese language?

I immigrated here when I was little. The way I learned english was through socializing with classmates (and the only subject I "learned" while doing that was math . . . what a breeze. I was supposedly doing American 5th grader level math in Korea while I was in 2nd grade). Why should it be any different now?

 

[AnyMal]

Marry a japanese girl perhaps?

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: CheapArse

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: CheapArse i called you a dumbass, mainly b/c your asking ATOT to give advice on your own future, which is utterly retarded.

Damnit people - like I said, I'm more curious about what the options available for me are, and also if you guys have any similar experiences. YOU GUYS AREN'T THE END ALL BE ALL DOMINATING FORCE IN MY LIFE! Learn to read the whole thread, thankyouverymuch.

ah, thank your for bringing up my 2nd reason I voted dumbass. You been here awhile, OT needs cliffnotes, hard to put your entire life up to this point into as few bullets as possible, but it must be done!

There's nothing wrong with getting feedback, and he presented the thread in a very readable manner for those who wish to read it. If you don't like it post elsewhere.

lol, whats your deal? If you can't pick up my sarcastic joking manner, im sorry. I hope the OP can at least. Take the stick out of your ass, thanks.

 

[TommyVercetti]

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti


How do you figure you are gonna learn, without having a good command of the Japanese language?

I immigrated here when I was little. The way I learned english was through socializing with classmates (and the only subject I "learned" while doing that was math . . . what breeze). Why should it be any different now?

Learning a language as a kid and learning as an adult are two very different things.

 

[skim milk]

bruce lee majored in philosophy

follow his footsteps and become the second greatest martial artist of all time!!11

 

[deerslayer]

I voted for dumbass as well, just because you put the option in there

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: fritolays
bruce lee majored in philosophy

follow his footsteps and become the second greatest martial artist of all time!!11

Second greatest martial artist of all time?

Puhleeeeze. By the time I'm done, they'll replace my name to mean "absolute mastery of all things martial".

Anyhow, on a serious note, I could name plenty of figures who I look up to more as a student of the arts that is martial (A.K.A. "asskicker") then the famous master of Brisk Iced Tea. Miyamoto Musashi, for one. Don't get me wrong, I think Bruce did a lot of things to improve the state of affairs in martial arts, but from a techincal standpoint, either JKD has deterioted/mutated into something other than what he intended, or it was faulty to begin with. Furthermore, if he was alive today, I'd think even he would be sad if he saw no progress in martial arts today . . . and I wouldn't consider him the best thing since sliced bread for other reasons . . ..

 

[Miramonti]

I'd definitely recommend learning to handle yourself with japanese before going. Not completely fluent but a strong foundation. It will give you many more opportunities socially and with work. Maybe take a trip for a couple months as a test before you decide to make a longer commitment.

You don't want to go there and hang around with just english speakers...I wouldn't atleast.

Sounds exciting, for martial arts and cultural experience, if you can find the guts to go that is. If you can get involved with the arts there you never know what it could lead to, there or wherever.

It only gets more complicated or difficult to do something like this as you get older imo.

 

[RabidMongoose]

I think the real reason that he wants to go to Japan is because he's some sort of anime freak and thinks that he'll be in anime heaven once he goes there.

I'd choose the grad degree.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti

Learning a language as a kid and learning as an adult are two very different things.

How do you figure? I know that kids pick things up much, much MUCH quicker, but if I intend on going there with a specific purpose, I'm sure I can meet someone native/some other misguided foreign Bruce Lee/Ryu (from streetfighter) wannabe with a similar interest. Anyhow, once I remarked about the exotic nature of a foreign culture - it works both ways - I've noticed that a lot of native people try to help foreigners out more than just a stranger, and add to the fact that english is taught at a very young age in Japan - I shouldn't be dependent on their english skills, but it can't hurt while I'm adjusting to the place.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
I think the real reason that he wants to go to Japan is because he's some sort of anime freak and thinks that he'll be in anime heaven once he goes there.

I'd choose the grad degree.

Anime? With the tentacle porno? What's that?

Anyhoo, like I said, I'm Korean, and I still can read/write/speak (semi)-fluent Korean. If I want my comics fix, I can go to a Korean bookstore and get them (or just stroll to the university comics store and get the english translated versions).