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The big move: Tokyo to Dallas.
- Thread starter yoyo5280
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I've been to Tokyo and Dallas a couple of times and there is a Massive cultural difference.
If you're Japanese, I think the only Japanese friends you may find are in the odd person that works in a Japanese Restaurant, and if I recall, there aren't many.
I also found a serious lack of public transport in Dallas, which (as you know) is extremely different to Tokyo, so you'll need a car, it's a big city and you maybe find you'll be spending all your money on Taxi's.
On the upside, you'll be in the States, and at some point you'll want to get out of Dallas, so make your way to more cosmopolitan cities, like San Francisco or New York, you may enjoy these places more...
I've personally been very fortunate enough to travel to over 62 countries, and Texas/Dallas aren't that bad, it's just that they're not the best places in America, imho...
Moving house can be stressful, it's actually one of the most stressful things you'll do in your life, it's up there with the Top 3...
I recommend you try This for Stress
And This for the Depression.
They are both natural and work wonders.
Don't worry, you'll be fine...
AS to the public transportation, it's getting better, but particularly where you are it is not great. There is a light rail, but that is not really effective except for certain routes.
Moving from a city with one of the best public transit in the world to a city with one of the worst.
Make friends with that hole on the side of a car; you'll be opening it a lot soon.
Wouldn't want to be in your shoes either, but hey you only have a few years before you can take off.
Make friends with that hole on the side of a car; you'll be opening it a lot soon.
Wouldn't want to be in your shoes either, but hey you only have a few years before you can take off.
Yea I think so. My school in japan was some tiny azz private one, and I heard that carroll is huge with two buildings and a shuttle bus and serious about football... I ain't no sportsman.
eek
Yea I think so. My school in japan was some tiny azz private one, and I heard that carroll is huge with two buildings and a shuttle bus and serious about football... I ain't no sportsman.
Football in the US is huge, especially in Big 12 country!
Learn the lingo so you can talk to comlete strangers about them longhorns or cowboys lol
Be prepared for a much cheaper cost of living than you are used to
Yeah right, and buy some guns and say "Yee Haw" a lot, that's something else you can't do in Tokyo...
Chipotle is amazing, just wait till you try the real mexican food tho.... yummyyy
Ohh, and another thing-
I've never been to japan, but from what i understand, be ready to take a serious hit in internet speed...
And most of them are probably Chinese.
When you can go to uni, go back to Japan and GTFO. My friend from Texas says Austin is the place to be in Texas. I think Tokyo is fantastic, although I'm the type of person who likes things like public transport, fantastic food, great shopping, etc.
Yea I think so. My school in japan was some tiny azz private one, and I heard that carroll is huge with two buildings and a shuttle bus and serious about football... I ain't no sportsman.
High school football is stupidly popular here and yes, Carroll school is huge (I drive past it every day on my way to work). Texas will be vastly different than Japan as you already know, but it isn't something that can't be overcome. I lived in Japan for 3 years while in the military and you learn to adapt. You'll be fine here.
Just to satisfy you stereotypers out there:
Seriously, welcome to the area and don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything we can do to help. Despite the stereotype we're not as "out of touch or country" as you would think.
Seriously, welcome to the area and don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything we can do to help. Despite the stereotype we're not as "out of touch or country" as you would think.
My favourite was a coffee/tea mug I bought which had - "Don't Mess With Texas" written on the side of it!
I'm sure it just meant "Please don't litter/trash the county"
But I read it as - "DON'T eFF WITH US!"
No, you read it right. It has nothing to do with litter, although I think they may have made it a slogan for the anti-litter campaign. I remember seeing some anti-litter signs last time I drove to DFW. But the original usage, and still most common usage, is exactly what it says.
About 18 months ago, I made a similar jump. After almost 9 years in Asia, I moved from Singapore to Florida. It was a culture shock even coming back annually to visit folks.
I found it helps immensely to look at it as visiting a new country. Take the good and bad and try and find something close to Japan where you can ease the transition. It's not easy but it can be an adventure.
I found it helps immensely to look at it as visiting a new country. Take the good and bad and try and find something close to Japan where you can ease the transition. It's not easy but it can be an adventure.
If you want to blend in, you should get a big-ass gun and shoot a person with Downs Syndrome. I bet they'd love you.
You just reminded me - I haven't shot my daily Down Syndrome person today
Please.And Dallas has very few of those. Fort Worth, on the other hand...
There is a train that goes into Dallas, which is certainly not a "massive city" if you're coming from Tokyo, but in the end the real means of transportation is to have your own vehicle. DFW is far too spread out to make public transit feasible for most people.
I can certainly vouch here - roughly half of all passenger vehicles are pickups, SUV's, or vans.
I certainly hope you're joking.
In that regard, Southlake is a typical suburb - like I said, things are more spread out here. Land is cheaper, so it's easier to build "out" than "up."
I've lived in North Texas for nearly 15 years, and I've yet to hear a single person yell "yee haw." You've been watching too many old western movies.
And most of them are probably Chinese.
That's interesting. The majority of hibachi chefs and servers in Japanese restaurants here in Louisville are Korean. I guess the nationality mix differs between cities.
Just thought I would throw it out there, we arrived today!
People are sooo incredibly nice, and...well... fairly large! lol
So far my mom is hating it... she keeps saying she hates the suberbs etc, but so far I think I have been taking it fairly well. woohoo.
To be honest, I do feel that America is really behind in tech,culture, and design. But we have not been in downtown dallas/southlake yet...you never know.
Missing Tokyo loads, but up for the adventure. Still *****ting my self about school coming soon though...
Will keep intouch with questions
-Omi
EVERYTHING is BIGGER in texas!
we don't carry guns and yell YEE HAW here in socal! now lots of other things are the same in socal as in texas......