Q & A about moving to Japan/teaching in Japan (cont. from Rezz`s photo diary)

[Demon Dave]

I've never heard of them either. Justin is right, the disadvantage of such an agency is that you never know where you'll be based...

having said that, countryside gets my vote.

[Rezz]

I lived in country Mie-ken (west of Nagoya, near Suzuka Circuit ) in a town called Iga-Ueno for a year contract job teaching kids English back in '00/'01 and for my first job in Japan... it was good. It was REALLY boring during the week/weeknights, and on the weekend I'd go back to Osaka to meet friends... well practically every weekend. But on the bright side I could save about $11,000 that year (the exchange rate was fookin good back then!) and I got over my phobia of speaking Japanese out loud.

I was the only gaijin in that town for about 6 months, and was told by one of the obasans (old ladies) that I was somewhat of a celebrity, I was often brought up in conversation??? Wierd, but it really hardened me to the reality that Japanese STARE at you again and again, it's in their genes.

[Demon Dave]

Yeah, you get used to the staring...besides, it does kinda make you feel like a celbrity

Fortunately for me, my area is being rapidly developed...and what was once a very rural town with absolutely nothing in the way of things to do/entertainment, is now becoming a busy city. In September, my town and 2 neighbouring ones will merge to become a BIG city (relatively speaking, it'll be around 1/50th the size of Yokohama or something like that) but big for Yamanashi.

So I expect it won't be long before I have to endure traffic lights spaced at 50m intervals!

[Sciby]

How are the older generation in the country to gaijin? Are they mistrusting, or are they like all old folk and welcoming and fuss over you?

And what was the speaking jap phobia about? Just self-concious about speaking it?

I was a bit like that... but I see my jap lecturer in my normal work day here at the uni, so we always greet each in nihon-ga and have a bit of a chat...

Small side story... we were all chatting about anime one day, I brought in a usb drive with Macross Zero, Area 88 and a few others... in the break, one of the other students played a bit with the piano in the lecture room... the sensei came over, sat down and said 'I wonder if the fingers remember...' and belted out the entire Astroboy theme song...

The amusing part is he's this dumpy quiet little guy, you wouldn't pick him for a musician...

[Demon Dave]

all of my neighbours are senior citizens...indeed, I and my family are the youngest group in my immediate area. When we first moved in we got a bit of a cold reception...not unfriendly, but not exactly "a welcome to the neighbourhood" kinda deal either. I think we were the first group of gaijins to move into the area. Starting up a school, promoting it and pitching it as a "benefit to the local community" seemed to help...

With time, most of them have warmed up...and now they're quite a friendly bunch. We're always invited to local events (which isn't always such a good thing since many of them involve "community work"! ) and my eldest son often hangs out with the neighbours in their garden.

Being one of very few gaijins in my area, and working at just about every yochien there is, has meant that over time I and my family have become somewhat well known. Now it's almost impossible for me to go out without bumping into someone whom I know, or more commonly knows me. It can be fun, but tiring at times...now I've gotten to the point whereupon walking into the local supermarket I've started counting the seconds before I hear "ディビット先生!!" shouted out by some kid

My 2 yens worth.

[Sciby]

wah, my hiragani/kanji reading is terrible, no idea what that means... I'll assume it means 'Get out, you damn gaijin!'

Supermarkets... that's one thing I cannot wait for... shopping, the new food products, the drinks, the candy, the fast food, bento boxes.

My stomach is almost as much in charge of me as the upper brain and lower brain.

[Demon Dave]

It says "deibito sensei" , or in English: "David Teacher"

I find going to supermarkets entertainment in itself The only downside, the bill when you get to the checkout! Food in Japan is expensive, especially fresh fruit....

and cereal. Can't recall the last time I ate cereal for breakfast!

[Sciby]

Cereal's expensive? Gawd... one of my main addictions in life is cereal... http://www.emptybowl.com is one of my favourite sites.

I figured that fresh produce would be expensive... especially those bloody square watermelons... $150aud for one. :freak:

[Polski]

hehe i read about those square watermelons, if only you could choose your location in an english school !

so Dave, u need any teachers in your area? ^_^

[Sciby]

http://www.teachinjapan.com/

Nova apparently will take your preferences into account and try to get you close to where you want, if a position is available.

I want to live... er... everywhere. I'd like to try a bit of everything... maybe two years, one in the boonies, one in tokyo.

[Streeter]

OK just to be a little different from every one else posting...

I live in Osaka and find that this whole dont lock doors and no crime thing just aint the case. I used to live in Richmond Melbourne which is pretty bad for crime. And I think its about the same here, if not worse.

Nova will employ you as part time IF you have atleast one year of tertiary education, that is either uni or TAFE.

As for Nova and your preference Pffft put down where you DONT want to go coz that way you wont end up being there!! LOL

[akeenan]

Nova take into account where you want to go... but for example I requsted to work near a placed called takenotsuka on the outskirts of tokyo near saitma prefecture and I am living in Chiba 1.5 hours from where I requested.

[Streeter]

I asked to be placed in Osaka, greater Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Kyoto anywhere near Kansai. I end up in Kochi about 6 hours away on another furken island!!!

edit* BTW I forgot to mention they didnt tell me this fact till one week before I was leaving and had already quit my job and booked my airline ticket. NOT HAPPY JAN!

I also have work mates who wanted Tokyo and are in Osaka. I think your preference is pretty far down on their list of whats important. You can transfer though but it usually takes some time.

Akeenan you were damn lucky!

[Rezz]

Streeter you're in Kochi? It says Osaka as your location, and me and Troy wanted to hook up for some car fun, but it seems you have to go to great effort to get here?

Kochi is Shikoku right? Damn, tough break if you wanted to work in Osaka...

[Streeter]

I started in Kochi on Shikoku Island about a year ago. Its not such a bad place but as I think you mentioned in one of your other posts about country towns/areas it is really dead during the week and to get any real action you need to head to a big city (which is easier said than done when you are on a small island!!) lol

but I am now in Osaka and have been for the past 4-5 months. Alot more fun here but must of really lucked out with the area as crime is pretty bad here

[Sciby]

Right, cross off Osaka's crime areas then.... are there any truly horrible places to avoid in Japan to live? At the moment, I'm pretty much ready to live anywhere, because it's all Japan.

Streeter, what kind of crime is it there? Anything and everything? Dangerous to walk the streets at night?

[Streeter]

Umm to tell you the truth some pretty horrible stuff happened just recently and I would prefer not to go into it

I feel safe as I am about 6 foot and about 75kg... LOL I know that aint big but it is for here, plus being a gaigin you are labled as a bit of a looney.

But yeah lets just say my wife doesnt feel safe at all anymore.

not to mention I have had a heap of stuff stolen from my car, and before you assume I was leaving valuables in the car I am talking about unbolting and stealing my bride seat!!! RRRRr

also my scooter got its ignition key all mashed coz some prick was trying to pick the lock. Luckily they failed but still now the ignition lock is all screwy

worst thing is all of the crime I have experienced is with in a 200metre radius of my house! the car and the scooter where parked at home!

And yeah Osaka has the highest rate of theft etc in Japan... or so the cops say

[Sciby]

Kerist... I'm 6'3" and 110kg, people might be frightened of me. :jk:

Hmmmm... I thought (mistakenly it seems) that japan was fairly mild for crime, that it was safe to walk the streets at night, etc.

[Streeter]

lol no joke... they will be scared. If I wave at little kids they some times burst into tears!! hahahaha

I dont think you will have to worry about muggings etc but I wouldnt leave anything lying around in Osaka thats for sure!

[Sciby]

On the other hand... maybe there'll be some kawaii girls who like big gaijin.

It's a shame there's crime at all... must be western influence on younger generation... I mean you always had the Yakuza, etc... but from all reports they weren't/arent' as... animal... as some of the people we have in australia. Did you guys here about the guy who tried to rob the security guard here last week? 25 year old went at a 42 year old woman with a RSL/local pub's pokies takings with knuckledusters... she's blind in one eye, fractured skull/eyesocket, etc... she shot him, and now the family of the dead guy wants revenge. Just crazy.

But anyway, yes, japan. I can't wait to go. Even a bit of crime won't spoil it for me. As long as there are vending machines with drinks and food I've never seen, weird engrish everywhere, and R33 GTR's that cost $20k aud and can come back with me under personal import... then I'm perfectly happy.

Speaking of which, was doing somework in the car today, found some wadded up paper in the dash, turned out to be an Autobac's small shopping bag.