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Shimokitazawa
Joined: 16 Aug 2009
Posts: 458
Location: Saigon, Vietnam
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 Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: New here, serious questions about Japan... |
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| KatiePowers wrote: |
| *beep* wrote: |
Is there anywhere specific that you want to teach? If so, you're SOL! |
That's something I wonder if I should have an opinion on... |
What you need to understand is that you don't matter. You're a number on a page that needs to be filled somewhere. Where you would like to live or teach is of no significance. Absolutely none at all.
The best you can do is in your second year get smart and tell them to fuck off and find a school in the city or get multiple part-time positions around, say, Tokyo and make a living.
You might even become a permanent resident.
But the first thing you need to do when you come over to teach with GABA or INTERAC, etc., is to get out of out GABA or INTERAC, etc.
Do not walk but run from these companies once you get established. |
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The Fifth Column
Joined: 11 Jun 2014
Posts: 331
Location: His habitude with lexical items protrudes not unlike a damaged pollex!!!
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| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: New here, serious questions about Japan... |
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| KatiePowers wrote: |
| Rooster. wrote: |
Is there anywhere specific that you want to teach? |
That's something I wonder if I should have an opinion on...
If I say I'm open to going anywhere, does that come across as flexibility or apathy/ignorance?
On the flip side, if I give a specific location, does that show that I know their school locations and have done my research, or does that mean I'm likely to flake out if put anywhere else?
But to answer the question, although I'd accept and be happy anywhere, my dream locations would be Either Fujisawa or one of the Kyushu locations (for ECC), Western Japan or Shikoku (for Aeon), or just about anywhere in Saitama Prefecture (for either of them or as an ALT). |
Why not give WIL a look?
http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=33297
Kumamoto is big enough, but far enough off the beaten path to give you a "full" Japanese experience.
Plus, the beaches are Ushibuka at top-rate... |
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KatiePowers
Joined: 01 Oct 2014
Posts: 16
Location: Niagara Falls
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| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 9:41 pm Post subject: Re: New here, serious questions about Japan... |
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| Shimokitazawa wrote: |
| KatiePowers wrote: |
| *beep* wrote: |
Is there anywhere specific that you want to teach? If so, you're SOL! |
That's something I wonder if I should have an opinion on... |
What you need to understand is that you don't matter. You're a number on a page that needs to be filled somewhere. Where you would like to live or teach is of no significance. Absolutely none at all.
The best you can do is in your second year get smart and tell them to fuck off and find a school in the city or get multiple part-time positions around, say, Tokyo and make a living.
You might even become a permanent resident.
But the first thing you need to do when you come over to teach with GABA or INTERAC, etc., is to get out of out GABA or INTERAC, etc.
Do not walk but run from these companies once you get established. |
Um, I do thank you for your input, but I most certainly would not do that. It seems both dishonest and I suspect it would simply make things more difficult for the next teacher they hire, as it would sour their opinion of gaijin. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| nightsintodreams wrote: |
I'm not talking about tourists leaving rubbish. Over half of the beaches I've visited in Japan are full of trash all year round. No one bothers to clean them and the rubbish just keeps washin up. In fact most nature spots in Japan are unusually dirty when compared to similar places in the west (OK, I'm generalising here, but I think most would agree).
That may be true. There's definitely less violent, looking for a fight types here, but I'd say there's as much or more chance of being sexually assaulted when compared to the west.
A lot of the girls here who maybe only stayed a year or two have a story of being groped, followed home etc and I know one who claimed to have been raped. |
She has some things to say about teaching English, as well as safety for females. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqiF_xvNQso
She isn't one of those mad at Japan, so I think her criticisms are more or less spot on, and they manage to not be annoying.
Japan is safe, but women should NEVER take that for granted. I know many people who have been followed/stalked, and for many women here, getting groped is fairly common. So yes, things here are safe, but don't act like you are guaranteed to be OK. Always be aware of your surroundings, and always meet new people in a public setting. Be careful of over drinking when going out, you don't want to pass out somewhere and be left to a stranger's good will/what not.
I rescued a girl once from some guys who cornered here at a station at night. I have no idea what would have happened, who knows, it could have been just them being annoying about getting a phone number/email.
I also agree, Japan is not what you think it is. You will be in for a decent amount of shock(s). I was at first, and I hated Japan for a while. I think it depends on you, and how to react to adversity.
The beaches outside of the Tokyo Bay area are pretty nice. I have lived near some, and they are great. Not world class, but nice to look at.
As soon as you get hired, study Japanese like crazy. It is shocking how little you actually know when you start living here. Even after 4 years of living here and studying, I from time to time have no idea what is going on. The more you study the better off you will be when you get here, imho |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:41 pm Post subject: Re: New here, serious questions about Japan... |
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Wow, didn't know Dave's had real ads on the site anymore. Nice find, that is a really good job listed here |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:44 pm Post subject: Re: New here, serious questions about Japan... |
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| KatiePowers wrote: |
Um, I do thank you for your input, but I most certainly would not do that. It seems both dishonest and I suspect it would simply make things more difficult for the next teacher they hire, as it would sour their opinion of gaijin. |
Haha, I know how you feel. Seriously though, the ALT companies have to recruit from abroad, so you burning them will not affect the next new ALT. if you do a good job as an ALT, when the contract for your position is up, you can compete against your company to get the contract. If they like you, you an get it. ie get a raise and more stability. There is nothing wrong with cutting out the fat.
I'd recommend it to any ALT who is here in Japan.
Anyhow, if you come here as an ALT, just keep your head down, and don't burn bridges. Then take it from there. |
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nightsintodreams
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 558
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 2:50 am Post subject: |
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No one is saying you should up and leave mid contract, just be on the lookout for opportunities especially after your first year.
You shouldn't feel bad about leaving these companies. They don't even pay you pension or health insurance like they are obligated to do by Japanese law, they don't care about you, so you shouldn't care about them either. |
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KatiePowers
Joined: 01 Oct 2014
Posts: 16
Location: Niagara Falls
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 3:27 am Post subject: |
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| nightsintodreams wrote: |
You shouldn't feel bad about leaving these companies. They don't even pay you pension or health insurance like they are obligated to do by Japanese law, they don't care about you, so you shouldn't care about them either. |
Pft I'm a 20 year old girl in perfect health... I don't really worry about those sorts of things  But thank you for the advice; I'll definitely keep in mind that I have options. |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 3:42 am Post subject: |
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| KatiePowers wrote: |
| Pft I'm a 20 year old girl in perfect health... I don't really worry about those sorts of things But thank you for the advice; I'll definitely keep in mind that I have options. |
It's not a matter of being in good health. It means that you'll have to pay the full cost of national health insurance. Most employers will pay 1/2 of it. |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 4:01 am Post subject: |
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| KatiePowers wrote: |
| Shimokitazawa wrote: |
| Do not walk but run from these companies once you get established. |
Um, I do thank you for your input, but I most certainly would not do that. It seems both dishonest and I suspect it would simply make things more difficult for the next teacher they hire, as it would sour their opinion of gaijin. |
| KatiePowers wrote: |
| nightsintodreams wrote: |
| You shouldn't feel bad about leaving these companies. They don't even pay you pension or health insurance like they are obligated to do by Japanese law, they don't care about you, so you shouldn't care about them either. |
Pft I'm a 20 year old girl in perfect health... I don't really worry about those sorts of things |
You'd better grease your nipples, Katie, because with that attitude, you're going to get milked pretty hard.
Listen to Shimokitazawa. Bottom-of-the-barrel companies like GABA operate a conveyor-belt recruitment system. Ultimately, you have to look out for your interests, not theirs.
And for goodness' sake, make sure you join one of the legally-required health insurance schemes. (Not a private program.) Just trust me on this one. |
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Maitoshi
Joined: 04 May 2014
Posts: 718
Location: 何処でも
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 5:35 am Post subject: |
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| Pitarou wrote: |
| You'd better grease your nipples, Katie, because with that attitude, you're going to get milked pretty hard. |
C'mon, Pitarou! We expect better of you.
That being said, thanks for the visual.  |
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nightsintodreams
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 558
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 6:00 am Post subject: |
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That's fine Katie, but you don't have a choice, you are required to pay by Japanese law.
I'm speaking for first hand experience here so listen up. If you skip the health or pension payments they will build up and if you stay in Japan long enough then you will probably have to pay them all back.
I had to pay my health insurance each month (my dispatch company got a complaint from city hall about not paying and made me pay up).
After three years of not paying pension I was ordered to pay all that too.
Luckily in your first year they let you get an exemption from pension payments and the payments for health are very low.
So if you want to live as well as you will in your first year then you need to pick up a part time job, private lessons or move onto better things.
Meh, dunno why I'm bothering....you'll find out for yourself like I did. |
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RM1983
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
Posts: 360
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 6:12 am Post subject: |
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| nightsintodreams wrote: |
That's fine Katie, but you don't have a choice, you are required to pay by Japanese law.
I'm speaking for first hand experience here so listen up. If you skip the health or pension payments they will build up and if you stay in Japan long enough then you will probably have to pay them all back.
I had to pay my health insurance each month (my dispatch company got a complaint from city hall about not paying and made me pay up).
After three years of not paying pension I was ordered to pay all that too.
Luckily in your first year they let you get an exemption from pension payments and the payments for health are very low.
So if you want to live as well as you will in your first year then you need to pick up a part time job, private lessons or move onto better things.
Meh, dunno why I'm bothering....you'll find out for yourself like I did. |
This stuff is no joke! I got hit by a car and had unrelated dental work last year, both wouldve cost me a fortune with no health insurance - but i got walloped with the "surprise" tax also.
My gfs birthday is coming up too. Hope she is happy with a happy hour Hub sesh followed by Champion.
I agree drop any sense of loyalty to these companies, they dont give two shits about you and dont need to. Remember interac sacking that guy for taking time off after his wife miscarriaged? Inremembr this time last year my boss stalled and stalled my holiday confirmation and the price rocketed. Then acted like I owed him a big one. Japan aint fun if all you see is the metro system and the various combini
They expect you to bounce anyway, im pretty sure they dont respect you if you hang around long |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 8:52 am Post subject: |
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| Maitoshi wrote: |
| Pitarou wrote: |
| You'd better grease your nipples, Katie, because with that attitude, you're going to get milked pretty hard. |
C'mon, Pitarou! We expect better of you.
That being said, thanks for the visual. |
Your welcome. Come to our place and you can see it for real. The midwife told my wife it's the best way to prepare for our little bundle of joy. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Def sign up for the national insurance when you get here. It is really cheap the first year, and if you decide to stay, you won't have to back pay. |
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