Tag: do your own thing

  • Free rein

    Free rein

    WotD: Free rein Have you ever felt that you’d like to have free rein at the office? I had often felt restricted by school rules, customs or norms when I worked as an instructor for large eikaiwa or as an ALT in Japan.  I longed for the days when I would branch out on my…

  • The odd one out

    The odd one out

    Phrase: The odd one out One of the biggest misconceptions of North Americans is that everyone has a very strong sense of independence and individuality. Yes, there are many more Canadians and Americans than Japanese who do not mind being the odd one out in a situation, but not everyone feels that way. Many long…

  • Do your own thing

    Do your own thing

    Phrase: Do your own thing In Japan, doing your own thing has traditionally been frowned upon. Following the crowd was what got you rewarded. However, with the decline of lifetime employment and good pension plans, more and more Japanese are deciding to take a chance and see if doing their own thing can get them…