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neechan
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:27 am Post subject: Nagoya City |
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Hello everyone! I've just joined the board, and am moving to Japan in 3 weeks! I can hardly believe it, but I wanted to start getting some information about the area where I'll be living in.
Does anyone know a whole bunch about Nagoya? I've only been there once, and it was only one day so I couldn't see too much. Just wondering if people knew more than I did. I stayed at a ryokan...it sure was interesting. I loved it.  Any feedback is appreciated! |
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Mike L.
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 519
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Big John Stud
Joined: 07 Oct 2004
Posts: 513
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 6:39 am Post subject: |
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Nagoya is a pretty cool place. In fact, I hate you because I live outside of Nagoya. It takes me 45 minuts by train to get to Sakae, but from then on I usually have a great time.
I am just joking about hating you, because I really like Nagoya! You will probably have a great time there.
Good luck |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:14 am Post subject: |
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Who you coming to work for here in Nagoya?
Nagoya is like melding the windiness of Chicago with the industrials of Detroit and the conservatism and weather of some place in the US South East.
Activities wise, Nagoya isn't known for tourism... though with the Expo getting ready to crank up you'll have something there at least. Nightlife is minimal outside of Sakae(in the city center).
There's an international center with an English library and other resources near Nagoya station. I don't recommend hanging out there though... it tends to attract riff raff.
Subway system is pretty easy to navigate compared to other cities.
There's plenty of shrines etc around town. Atsuta Shrine is nice. Osu kanon is ok... and its near the electronics and young person's shopping area of town.
Another nice thing about Nagoya is you're between the beach and the mountains, Osaka and Tokyo.
Some people who are really into active nightlife, bars, etc tend to not like Nagoya. Its just not that kinda town. People in Nagoya are not overtly friendly but neither are they the other end of the Spectrum. |
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Albright
Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:51 am Post subject: |
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Don't forget the Nagoya Castle.
I'll be heading to Nagoya myself through ECC. When I did all the paperwork and interviews, I decided to not request a placement location and to leave such decisions in the hands of fate (and/or an ECC pencil-pusher). I think it was a good choice for me, though; I grew up in a small, mild city of 10,000 and would likely have gone nuts in madhouse like Tokyo. "Nightlife" for me is splitting an order of chili fries at Denny's after midnight with my old high school buddies. |
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neechan
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 4:41 am Post subject: |
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Wow thank you guys for all of the info!
bearcat, I really appreciate all of the info. I'm assuming you live in Nagoya  . You've told me a lot, and I feel like Albright because I love quiet times for hanging out. I like to go to bars, but not TOO often. Going out with friends is so much more fun most times. ^_^
But do YOU enjoy living in Nagoya? When I was there and went around on the subway, I would have to agree. It's very easy to navigate.
Albright, I really want to see Nagoya Castle! I didn't get to see it when I was there, so I'm excited to see it when I return.
How do you like ECC's system of doing things? |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:14 am Post subject: |
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| I've been here now 7 years. I prefer Nagoya over Tokyo or Osaka. So, yes, I like and enjoy Nagoya. |
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neechan
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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| bearcat wrote: |
| I've been here now 7 years. I prefer Nagoya over Tokyo or Osaka. So, yes, I like and enjoy Nagoya. |
Awesome! I'm really glad to hear that. I also liked Tokyo, but would prefer a more, I guess you would say subdued??, city. I'm glad to hear you enjoy it.
I'm sorry I didn't mention, bearcat, but I'll be working for AEON. Do you know any of their schools around you? I'll be in Tenpaku-ku. I've been to Sakae! I really enjoyed it there as well. My brother and I found it funny on the subway, though. Whenever they announced Sakae, it sounded like she was saying something rude whenever she said "SAKAE".
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6810
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 309
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I'll be in Tenpaku-ku. |
Dude, if you skate(board) tempaku is heaven - hills galore! If not, depending on where you live, it's a pretty swish, upmarket area. Have fun. |
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neechan
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:26 am Post subject: |
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| Wow I haven't skated in years! That would be soooo much fun to do in Japan. Then they really WOULD stare. Thanks for the info!! |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 9:36 am Post subject: |
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| neechan wrote: |
| bearcat wrote: |
| I've been here now 7 years. I prefer Nagoya over Tokyo or Osaka. So, yes, I like and enjoy Nagoya. |
Awesome! I'm really glad to hear that. I also liked Tokyo, but would prefer a more, I guess you would say subdued??, city. I'm glad to hear you enjoy it.
I'm sorry I didn't mention, bearcat, but I'll be working for AEON. Do you know any of their schools around you? I'll be in Tenpaku-ku. I've been to Sakae! I really enjoyed it there as well. My brother and I found it funny on the subway, though. Whenever they announced Sakae, it sounded like she was saying something rude whenever she said "SAKAE".
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Aeon has many branches in Nagoya. You may live in Tenpaku ward but will they be placing you at a branch (or branches?) there?
Nagoya has tons of Eikaiwas, dispatch companies, and other English teaching gigs. The big 4 are here: Aeon, Nova, Geos, and ECC.
Since the Nagoya area is a heavy industry area and major port there are plenty of business English classes to be had on part time gigs. Just scour gaijinpot or Jobs in Japan or Ohayo sensei for most of them. Too many places here to list them all.
But one down side is that commutes can be long and involved for some of those gigs. For example many years ago a teacher I knew was teaching the radio ship controllers at the Nagoya Harbor Radar tower.
From their company, they had to take a subway (meijo line at the time now that part of it was renamed to the Meiko) to Tsukijiguchi station(this essentially was a 10 minute subway ride). From there, they had to take a bus 20 minutes out to Port Messe's big arena bus stop and then walk another 30 minutes between warehouses and loding docks to the Tower which was located on a thin wisp of land in the harbor. It was only an basic hour's commute(average for most here and lower than ave for Tokyo) but the variances, wait times(as the bus came not so often), plus other conditions(dangerous if its dark in the winter with various cargo trucks and lifts zipping around) made it a real pain for em. Luckily they only had to teach em for 6 weeks.
What's the closest station to where you will be living? How long to you have to walk to get to it? Is it on a main busy street? (meaning chance of the obnoxious bikers reving at all hours of the night but nice for shopping).
For some people the conveniences of you apartment and comfortablility can be crucial for your adjusting to living and working here. |
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Albright
Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 7:01 am Post subject: |
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| neechan wrote: |
| How do you like ECC's system of doing things? |
I'm not actually teaching for them yet; I won't touch down in Japan until the 24th. Sorry. |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 11:30 am Post subject: |
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| Albright wrote: |
| neechan wrote: |
| How do you like ECC's system of doing things? |
I'm not actually teaching for them yet; I won't touch down in Japan until the 24th. Sorry. |
ECC I'd have to say is the easiest of the big 4. I attribute that to 29.5 hour work schedules and scripted lessons for the adults. Only trade off would be that the kids classes can be downer if someone isn't into dealing with kids. If you're ok with kids then its a breeze.
Longer there with em the easier things get usually too as you get seniority with schedules etc. |
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falleneagle
Joined: 12 Jan 2004
Posts: 5
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Albright wrote: |
| neechan wrote: |
| How do you like ECC's system of doing things? |
I'm not actually teaching for them yet; I won't touch down in Japan until the 24th. Sorry. |
You're starting training in Nagoya on the 28th for ECC? If so, me too, also leaving Canada on the 24th. |
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Albright
Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 1:00 am Post subject: |
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Cool... Can I ask you something? Have you applied for your Japanese visa yet? As I mentioned in this thread, I'm having more than a little trouble trying to get a straight answer from ECC on how to fill out the paperwork... They still haven't got back to me. I'm gonna resort to using the good ol' fashioned telephone later tonight if they don't get an email to me by then...
I'm very frustrated that these people are not doing their jobs... Definitely having second thoughts about choosing ECC. |
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