| Author | Thread |
|
|
07/25/2007 01:47:34 AM · #1 |
Really sorry to waste everyone's time with this but just needed to get it of my chest and the rants forum seemed best. I do normally try to keep things photography related, this is my first general rant on DPC and if it turns nasty I'll close it straight away.
Anyway heres the story;
I live in Japan and want to register for permanent residence later this year. Probably not really connected but had a minor bump with the car in front of me at some roadworks on the way to work. It was bad enough to crack the front mudguard on my scooter but all that happened to the car was a 5mm chip on the rear bumper which appeared to have already been badly repaired from an earlier scrape she must have had. I stopped as soon as we got past the roadworks of course and the driver of the car got fairly aggressive. Just pushy and kept on about calling the police which is fairly standard in Japan for even minor incidents. I didn't have time though and said that I would of course pay for the damage I caused and gave her my contact details. (Took a photo on my mobile too of course)
Nothing serious and all very minor but what gets to me is that she didn't really trust me at first because as she said 'There are so many foreign criminals nowadays'. the first thing that bugs me is that it was just a tiny bump and what the hell does foreign crime have to do with anything? The institutionalized rascism is a daily annoyance but ARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!! Just hope that if she messes me around and I do have to register it officially as a traffic accident that it won't cause any problems with residence status later. Of course thats unlikely but considering how arbitrary immigration is here its not as ridiculous as it sounds. I like living here but situations like this really get me.
BTW- Foreign crime in Japan has dropped as a percentage while Japanese crime has risen. |
|
|
|
07/25/2007 03:56:44 AM · #2 |
Sounds like a lotta nothing. It's common and comes with the territory for any "foreigner" to not be trusted, or for their obvious foreign status to be blamed for things - it's fairly universal human nature, IMO. I don't think it has anything to do with racism either - just sounds like she was aggravated. Shrug it off, life's too short.
|
|
|
|
07/25/2007 04:18:13 AM · #3 |
| yea, wait for her tomorrow and bump her again :-) |
|
|
|
07/25/2007 04:28:43 AM · #4 |
I know, it wasn't serious rascism but the day to day minor stuff is still unnecessary, frustrating and irritatingly common. The whole situation was a whole lotta nothing really, I know. Just getting more annoyed waiting for a call. Anyway will stop winging and try to resist the urge to bump her again if I see her ;-)
Message edited by author 2007-07-25 05:57:38. |
|
|
|
07/25/2007 07:15:42 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by canary:
I know, it wasn't serious rascism but the day to day minor stuff is still unnecessary, frustrating and irritatingly common. The whole situation was a whole lotta nothing really, I know. Just getting more annoyed waiting for a call. Anyway will stop winging and try to resist the urge to bump her again if I see her ;-) |
How long have you been in Japan? This is the first time you've encountered this type of behavior?
|
|
|
|
07/25/2007 08:21:34 AM · #6 |
Happens everywhere, and nothing wrong with not trusting 'foreigners' - they can go home (and usually do) to some country 1/2 way around the world and the poor schmuck is stuck holding a broken bumper with no recourse.
Those with diplomatic plates are worse.
|
|
|
|
07/25/2007 10:22:09 AM · #7 |
| When she made the comment about foreign criminals, you should have told her about having the same problem back in the States with Japanese criminals. |
|
|
|
07/25/2007 10:52:19 AM · #8 |
Is there anyway you can shoe horn the photo you took with your phone into the "Rolling Stones" challenge?
:-) |
|
|
|
07/25/2007 11:18:08 AM · #9 |
| Sounds like she was having "Canary" :) over nothing, but hopefully she'll calm down when she gets home and nothing will come of it. |
|
|
|
07/25/2007 11:20:34 AM · #10 |
I am not sure what this womans *individual* response to your fender-bender has to do with *institutionalized" anything... By definition, "institutionalized" means sanctioned by the government or a ruling body of some sort...
R.
|
|
|
|
07/25/2007 11:22:18 AM · #11 |
| I would have hit her right back with "Well GEEZ, youre a woman and asian, this is OBVIOUSLY your fault" yelled "BOOYAH" and then scootered away while singing AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. |
|
|
|
07/25/2007 11:42:10 AM · #12 |
What people have realize about  canary is that he IS AND ACCIDENT. That's why WE call him canary...because we send him in first and if HE doesn't get into an accident, we're pretty much ALL safe...lol |
|
|
|
08/01/2007 05:43:11 AM · #13 |
As it turned out everything was OK and I paid her off with slightly more than the damage deserved and she was quite calm and nice albeit sanctomonious. I understood she was mouthing off and you do get it sometimes, it just pissed me off. 'Happens everywhere' and all that, yes I know but when its never challenged and politicians can quite freely say the same and worse it does get to you when so out of context. I say institutionalized because it is; as evidenced by the open bigotry of many politicians, police forces, TV stations,etc while the country refuses to ratify any laws against rascism.
Lived here nearly nine years and I'm not really as paranoid as this rant probably makes me sound. I care too much about my home to ignore some things is all. On the whole people are great and you can have a good life here but until you can close your eyes to the things which let the country down you will often be a little frustrated.
Anyway it was a bad day and it worked out. Sorry for starting the rant, but needed to vent.
As for me being an accident, just had a few too many having earnt me the name 'Canary'. As for minor traffic accidents though besides falling of a bicycle a few times without injury this was the first.
Message edited by author 2007-08-01 05:56:11. |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/27/2025 03:59:02 AM EDT.
