Job Discussion Forums

chi-chi- · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 194 Location: In la-la land

A lot of you guys sound like you have it pretty rough. I was wondering why so many people sounded so defensive on the board; I guess this is why. My question for you is: have any of you considered taking the wife and kids and moving to your own (respective) countries? It sounds like things would be cheaper (Japan's the most expensive country in the world) and that your hours would be shorter...

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

chi-chi,

Defensive about what? This issue or other ones?

As to thinking about relocating to my home country, it's not an option right now, for reasons I won't explain. I'm sure others have the same sort of situation.

We are planning on it, but it's not in the near future. So, we live with what we have.

Just as a side note to my own working conditions at the high school, one thing that keeps me (and in my opinion, most other people) there so long is the lack of organization in the office. For example, the English department has changed curricula every year in the last 4 years, and they will do so again next year. Makes for a terrible situation in terms of consistency, and learning a new textbook (if we have one). Another example: they like to move teachers around so they are "well-rounded" in what they teach. The problem is that nobody keeps notes or records on what they taught, so you reinvent the wheel every year. Another example: we are told our assignments for the year only 2 weeks before the term begins. Hey, nothing like giving people practically zero start on building lesson plans, eh? And, we get a new calendar every month to show the changes in days off or events, or whatever, so you can't always count on a consistent (there's that word again) plan of action. Another example: students with "excused absences" feel it means they are excused from doing the lesson itself. WRONG! They just don't get a mark of absent on their attendance. However, trying to get this through their heads and getting them to catch up with the rest is a never ending chore. As a result of all this, people stay late building lessons and trying to keep students on track. There are times when I say "to hell with that" and go home early, but "early" can be 6pm. That means I've already worked 10 hours and still have to add an hour round trip commute to the time I have a way from home. So it's not like I'm sitting there trying to LOOK busy. I AM BUSY!

nomadder · Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 3:33 am Post subject:

I don't think the Japanese teaching system was originally intended for long stayers.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Glenski, this is going to sound like advice from a bad teacher, but if you take it, you might find your life a little more enjoyable.

Don't go so far out of your way to help students meet your expectations. Set the expectations and let students find their way to meet them. There is just not much cause in killing yourself for a job that has next to zero value in the school system after the brochure pictures are taken. I'm sure your a great teacher, but try not to let the job rule your life. I think I've heard you mention that you are on a three year not-renewable contract. Is this worth what you are committing to it?

LA Galaxy · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 19 Location: Los Angeles

I moved back to the states with my Japanese wife. We have a baby boy just 2 months old. We are trying to teach him English,Japanese,English. I usually speak to him in Spanish. I think it is important for the kids to know their parents native languages. They dont have to speak it perfectly, but enough to be able to use it as adults.

I am currently teaching at a public school in Los angeles and although its not making us wealthy, it should be able to provide for all three of us. My wife plans to go back to work soon. My advice to all of you in JApan is to consider going back, eventhough it seems that you will not make enough money. Get a masters while you are in Japan or do research. If you are happy in Japan, then good luck.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

guest,

Point taken. Yes, I am on a 3-year contract that cannot be renewed beyond that point. However, there is a possibility of changing that non-tenured status (jokin) to tenured status (sennin). That is sometimes enough to warrant my dedication, aside from just plain old integrity. It also makes the letter of recommendation that much stronger if I don't get sennin status, because people here will see what I am trying to accomplish. I have already heard secondhand that various higher-ups, with whom I've had practically zero contact, think highly of my work. Nice warm fuzzy feeling if nothing else.

All that aside, I really honestly truly do see your point, but putting in the hours is pretty much a necessity in order to get lessons planned. I usually have little to zero notice and hardly a textbook to go on.

Thanks for the advice.

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

Sherri · Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 11:49 pm Post subject:

We are back in the States too. I think it is cheaper here (Hilo, Hawaii) than in Tokyo for most things. Japanese food is readily available. There are farmers' markets for fresh fruit and veg. Garage sales and discount shops made furnishing our house easy and cheap. Housing is not only cheaper, but larger and more kid-friendly. We have a huge yard for kids to play in and plenty of room indoors and on the lanai if it rains. It's easier for me to get around here with 2 kids as the roads are never crowded (much easier than dragging 2 kids and a stroller around Tokyo's subway system.)

Health care is good and about the same cost for us as in Japan. My daughter has a chronic health problem and being able to discuss her problems openly and honestly in English is worth the move in of itself.

Childcare costs $4 an hour (including lunch) here compared to 800 yen an hour at our ward office (no lunch).

No one stares at us, no one refers to my kids as "gaijin". We mix right in and I love that.

Overall, though it is not the cost of things, but the lifestyle which here wins handsdown over life in Tokyo! Having said that, I know that different people value different things. For some living in Japan is better. And of course it depends on where you live in Japan vs where you choose to relocate.
Sherri

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

Sounds like you have it great in Hilo! To give you an idea, the best deal we could find for day care in either Pocatello Idaho or Columbia Missouri was $200/kid/month for part time (with no lunch). Also, you probably didn't have the issues that my wife had--she couldn't even get health insurance in Missouri (she was turned down by several companies because of their policy not to insure foreign nationals who have lived in the States less than three years), and we were all forced to wait six months for health insurance in Idaho (state law: new faculty hires at state universities need to wait six months before receiving insurance benefits).

I never lived in Tokyo, though I heard things are very expensive there. However, food in Fukui was extremely cheap--especially if you ate mostly fish, rice, etc. In Pocatello, for example, anything besides beef and potatoes (neither of which my family really eats) is quite expensive, even by Japanese standards.

Finally, the racism element: yes, it was irritating being called "gaijin" all the time, and my kids certainly had minor troubles at school in Japan. Still, Missouri was a far worse place.... (PM me for the gory details, including a successful lawsuit....)

Sherri · Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:09 am Post subject:

"Still, Missouri was a far worse place.... "

Missouri? I grew up in Kansas City (Missouri side). Notice I didn't choose to relocate there! I left when I graduated high school and have never returned. Not the best place for an international family and I would imagine that Columbia isn't much better though the university would bring in a small international element.

I hope you and your family can find a better place to settle.
Sherri

stretch · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 59

$800-$1100 CDN month per child.70,000-100,000 yen/month
8am-5pm.
Not really worth sending my wife back to work just to pay for daycare!

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

Sherri · Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:57 pm Post subject:

Stretch
Did you get those figures from the Tokyowithkids.com site? (70,000-100,000 yen/month 8am-5pm)

Think also about where you are going to live and how much that will cost too. Remember places in Japan are usually much smaller to what we are used to in North America.

Are you going to live somewhere where you can have a car? If not, it is NOT FUN taking small children (strollers and bags) on the trains and buses to get from A to B. Believe me I know.

Where in Japan do you hope to live?
Sherri

stretch · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 59

Sherri,
I got those numbers from several daycares around my house here in the suburbs of Toronto.
I'm hoping to live in and around Yamanashi. Nagano, Shikoku area. The car thing. I hear ya. I had a car last time I lived in Japan. Can't imagine living without one in a rural area with kids.