That itch is getting worse. Your dreary office job is simply not doing it for you. Youre sick of reading all those exciting tales of other people taming gorillas in Rwanda or scaling Andean peaks. How you wish you were brave enough to quit and follow in their footsteps. Isnt there somewhere a little less scary?And then one day you see the advert in the paper "Teach English in Japan! Experience a new culture! Earn money!"Now thats more like it, you say. Yes, Japan! Perfect! An enticing blend of the exotic and the modern. And safe too! Next thing, youre on the plane, excited at the prospect of your own adventure about to start. What could possibly go wrong?Quite a lot, it turns out. GAIJIN Nine Cautionary Tales of Life in Japans English Teaching Community is the story of a bunch of ordinary folk who, for a variety of reasons, decide to strike out and make a new life for themselves in the Far East. We watch as their lives unfold. There are highs and lows. There are shocks and surprises aplenty. Theres a contender for the worlds worst karaoke performance. There are challenges and tough choices. Spoiler alert It rarely ends well. Anyone whos spent time in Japan will find plenty to relate to. And anyone considering a change of country might do well to read this first. Some people are probably better off staying home. | Peter Smith GAIJIN: Nine Cautionary Tales of Life in Japan's English Teaching