1) The document discusses two websites - e-Maple and GaijinPot - that are meant for expat communities in Canada/Japan. 2) E-Maple is a Japanese-language site for Japanese people living in Canada. GaijinPot is an English-language site for newcomers to Japan. Both sites aim to provide information and facilitate local communication for expat communities. 3) The document analyzes and compares the navigation, content and discussion threads on both sites. Popular threads on e-Maple include questions about domestic help, intercultural relationships, traffic rules and health insurance. Popular threads on GaijinPot focus on loneliness, searching for partners and "recruiting friends"

1. 1
“Recruiting Friends!”
Sense-Making Within Culturally
Specific Online Expat Communities
Josh Anderson
Master of Information 1st Year Student (Information Systems & Design)

2. Purpose of this Presentation
To explore the shared practices of
sense-making on two websites meant for
expat communities.
2

3. 3
e-Maple
http://www.e-maple.net/
Japanese-language
website for Japanese
people living in
Canada

4. 4
GaijinPot
https://gaijinpot.com/
English-language
website for
newcomers to Japan

5. ● Mirror purposes
● Both seem to be the most comprehensive, widely
visited sites of their niche
5
Why These Two Sites?

6. My Interest in
This Topic

7. 7

8. 8

9. ● A peek into an interesting, overlooked part of
the web
● Seeing concrete examples of how cultural
nuances manifest themselves in online
platforms
● Insight into (and sensitivity for) the desires,
priorities, and concerns of expat communities
9
Hopeful Outcomes of this Presentation

10. The Sites’ Stated
Purposes

11. 11
e-Maple
To Collect Information About Canada
e-Maple Canada is a website that provides
information about Canada, such as study
abroad, travel, working holidays, and
immigration. Also, it can be used as a place
for local communication for places such as
Toronto or Vancouver.

12. 12
GaijinPot

13. Exploring the
Navigation

14. 14
Similarities
Home Bulletin
Board
Classifieds School
Information
Travel Lodging Word of
Mouth
Canada
Guide
Sites

15. 15
Differences
Home Bulletin
Board
Classifieds School
Information
Travel Lodging Word of
Mouth
Canada
Guide
Sites

16. 16
Jobs

17. 17
Study

18. 18
Study
English
● General English
● Business English
● Conversation Concentration
● Listening Concentration
● Speaking Concentration
● Writing Concentration
● Pronunciation Concentration
● Academic
● Private
● Other English
English Test Preparation
● TOEIC
● TOEFL
● IELTS
● Cambridge
● Other English Tests
Specialty
● Business Management
● IT/Multimedia
● Tourism
● Hospitality
● English Pedagogy
● Early Childhood English
● Interpretation/Translation
● International Trade
● Medical
● Beauty/Fashion
● Internship
● Other Specialties
All English Programs
English Test Preparation
● Farm Stay
● Activity-Based
● Parent and Child Study Abroad
● Second Foreign Language

19. 19
Lodging / Apartments
Area
● All Areas
● Vancouver
● Toronto
● Other
Category
● All Categories
● Rental Rooms
● Home Stay
● Condominium
● B&B

20. 20
Canada Guide

21. 21
Canada Guide

22. 22
Blog

23. 23
Audience Location

24. 24
Anonymity

25. What are the
communities
talking about?

26. 26
Popular Threads on e-Maple
Looking for domestic help (people who
like cooking)
Question for Japanese women… what do
you think about marrying foreigners?
My child was offered marijuana at school
Traffic rules in Ontario
Is four wheel drive necessary? Overseas residents can’t use health
insurance?

27. 27
Popular Threads on GaijinPot

28. 28
Loneliness
Searching for Partner
I haven’t found anybody on other sites or
apps, so I’m posting here. I’m searching
for a partner where we can fill up each
other’s loneliness. It’s not even that I’m
looking for a boyfriend. I’m a 26 year-old
woman.

29. 29
“Recruiting Friends”
People who live in
Toronto—! Even
tourists!
Anyone who’s free—!
Recruiting vegan
friends
Recruiting friends!
People whose schedules
fit mine today ~
Recruiting friends
Single, forty-something
remaining in Canada
Recruiting companions for
backpacking through South
America (June ~)
Searching for partner
Currently recruiting friends
Newcomer to Toronto
Recruiting friends
Recruiting friends
Want to play softball?

30. 30
How to Be that Friend

31. Thank you