Job Discussion Forums

[osakajojo]

Maybe the Osaka and Kobe area are different. Sure, if you have to encounter the sea of emotionless faces everyday than it can be depressing. Best thing to do is try to avoid it if at all possible. I was working for a friend for 6 weeks and was able to use his car everyday. It introduced me to a whole new side of Japan that I had never seen. The freedom to drive around in the mountains and countryside of North Kobe was so refreshing compared to the sardines in a can train rides. However, it was just a temporary thing. If I had a car of my own than I would have all of the added expenses that comes with having a car, just being able to find a parking space where I live could be a frusturating challange.
I have fun everyday here. I think because my apartment is so small is a reason why I go out so much. A big reason I eat out a lot is that my refrigerator and kitchen is too small for storing and cooking dinner everynight. In Texas, I stayed home almost all of the time. I had a big kitchen and a big refrigerator and a big TV a big couch and lots of space, there was no reason to go out, plus I couldn't go out to drink because I had to drive home. A car is the only form of transportation where I come from. But here, I can visit one of a million different restaurants in the area (and I am not exagerating when I say a million, which shows that even though a lot of people put in 12 hour work days, these restaurants are still frequented enough to stay in business) and have a drink and catch a taxi or take a train home.
Its the freedom that I enjoy here compared to America. One night in particular that I think sums it up was a few weekends ago I attended a rave in Osaka Jo park. I arrive at midnight and go to Lawsons and buy a few cans of beer. (In the U.S. you can't buy beer even a second after midnight even if you are standing in line with beer in hand and the person in front of you takes to long digging through her purse to pay for her wine coolers.) As I walk back to the rave area in a corner of the park, I pass people shooting off fireworks. (where I come from, fireworks are illegal to possess.) I follow the loud thumping sound of the bass comming from the d.j. to the party area. I meet many friends and make a few new friends during the night. Everything was peaceful, no fights, people dancing and enjoying themselves and drinking a bit. If it were America, the place would have been raided by the police, people would have gotten any number of tickets: disturbing the peace, entering the park after it closed, open container law, underage drinking tickets for those under 21, public intoxication for a few of them, the event holders would be charged for having the event without a permit, those that drove there would risk getting a driving while intoxicated ticket after the police forced them to leave the event....I am sure a few would be caught with some illegal substances...etc.
And when I talked of driving in Kobe earlier, I never once saw a squad car hidding to bust a speeding motorist. I saw maybe 3 police cars just driving around in the 6 weeks I was on the road. In Dallas you cant go five miles without seeing atleast one cop car. On some streets at night. you can count up to a dozen cop cars within a few blocks. I don' t break the law and have nothing against police, just that one can have the sense that he or she is doing something wrong even if they are not when there of a police presence.
I guess what I am trying to say is that sure, if you do as many of the Japanese do and work 70 hour work weeks and just go back home to your home every night than yea, the quality of life is not good. And I understand that once you have kids, the extra added pressure of needing to work hard to support your family really trumps the enjoyment of going out worry free to an all night party in a city park! But for those of us who don't have a family, Japan is such a fun place.
The fact that none of my Japanese friends have kids, and most are well traveled and artistic in one way or another, ALL of my friends in America have kids (however many are already divorced, adding more drama-) is a huge factor in all of this.

[SEndrigo]

Hey Osakajojo,

You talk about having more freedom in Japan....but in Japan, if someone discriminates against you, there are no laws to protect you. In the US, and many other countries, there are laws written to protect people from being discriminated against. Sure, discrimination still happens, but the difference is there are laws to protect you and if someone does not let you in to his restaurant, he'll be facing the wrath of your lawyer !

In Japan, if you get into trouble with the law (for whatever reason, whether or not it is your fault), you'll have a lot less rights than you would in the States.

The system here is geared toward making many things difficult for foreigners.

Yes, you have certain freedoms here you wouldn't have in the States, as you say (i.e. drinking beer on the street) and you don't have to follow the social customs many Japanese are bound by.

I suppose if you don't mind being an Eikaiwa teacher and living in a 1K apartment the rest of your life, then Japan offers more freedom.

But if it comes down to making money, the US is better. If it comes down to quality of life, I'd rather live in Canada or Australia.

But that's just my opinion...I still think Japan's a great place, but saying you are more free here, is not always true.

[osakajojo]

SEndrigo, you are right, 100%. Thanks.

[Brooks]

in the end it boils down to the kind of job you have.
I used to work at a place that was old-fashioned. We had sick days but we weren`t allowed to take them unless we were in a hospital.
In fact, that happened to a Japanese teacher since she worked too much then got really sick, and ended up in a hospital.

We had to bite our tongue and not even look like we were going to complain about anything.
Just do what you were told.
Sempai knows everything. The kohai just has to sit there and listen and has no right to an opinion.
So I felt like I was drowning. But I changed my job, and things got better.

But the thing is, there are things that bug us about the educational system but we can`t change it. It is Mombusho`s fault, and not the teachers.
All we can do is teach the best we can and shine our little light.
We get paid to be genki teachers, even though it takes a lot of energy to do it six days a week.

[nomadder]

I have to say I hardly thought about emotionless faces when I was there. They don't smile in pictures either usually or at least the older people don't. They are taught not to really show emotion which I didn't find such a bad thing. At least you're not burdened with the upset of an acquaintance or colleague. Besides in most big cities around the world you'll find stern faces. It's the way you become in a large group.

As for quality of life, North America can be so boring due to things mentioned earlier. Luckily J TV mostly sucks whereas in N.America people are too addicted even though it is getting worse and worse(too much a part of the culture). That plus things mentioned above makes for a terrible social life in many places or that Fri/Sat only thing. In Japan most places are busy every night.

Agreed that the nutty/over the top rules in N.America make for a very stifling life. Some of the police here need a reality check-make a big deal over nothing.
In my neck of the woods they keep toying with the idea of banning those horrible creatures-cats. What's next-birds?? Noisy little critters.

[osakajojo]

[may be going]

sorry van island but that post of yours was incredibly sanctimonious and condescending.

because you work in eikaiwa you're a 'monkey' and a 'punk on a lark' unaware of the 'real japan'? what misguided twaddle.

because you're not married and working 12 hour days and part of the group you're not in the real japan? is it a badge of honor to live in this so called real japan you talk of?

i work in a 'real school' a university in fact. and the japan i inhabit seems real to me

everyone has a right to an opinion and opinions are often formed through the subjective experiences of any given individual. to dismiss someone's opinion and dismiss the life they have because it's not the same as yours is very sad and peurile.

if that's what the 'real japan' produces in people i hope i never find it.

[Sweetsee]

Greetings May be Going,

I enjoyed reading your post. I believe you said what many of us feel.
Some people...


Enjoy,
s

P.S. Please forgive me but I believe you transposed the "u" & the "e".

[osakajojo]

van-island, dude, you are unmarried, on the JET program, live in a small town and you're taking off for a month to get your TEFL at ECC in Thailand!
This opression you're speaking of is something you read about!


by the way, I suggest your girlfriend go trecking in Cambodia and Vietnam or down to Koh Chang or Koh Samet while you are training in Siam Square. You are going to be so busy you won't have much time at all to hang out with her during the week. There is so much more for her to see and do in Thailand than hang out at a hotel pool in Bangkok for a month while you are busy all day.

[Stosskraft]

[nomadder]

I thought the JET program was for monkeys. Following the Japanese teacher's orders or trying to look busy when they don't need you. What makes a "real" school I wonder?

[JezzaYouBeauty!!]

I saw some good monkeys in Beppu, in Oita-ken, Kyushu, last week. nice place by the way.

I got monkeys on the mind now. I possibly have a bit of a decision to make now....between an ALT job in elementary and/or junior high schools, or an eikawa job. Bit less money for the ALT job.

Which job...can I at least be a...better monkey?....

I suppose this thread is going a bit of track now though....isn't it....

Honestly, I have a big choice to make. Any feedback would be great.

Cheers,

-Jezza

[PAULH]

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[chixdiggit]

Too bad this thread digressed, it was quite possibly the most interesting one for months. Cheers to the OP. I think all the posters(minus 1 of course), have valid points. Most of what I have to add has already been said, a rare occurence indeed. One observation I will make is that EVERY Japanese friend I have that has spent a considerable amount of time(uni, job placement etc.) overseas has no desire to ever live in Japan again. I think this really says something. On the other side of that coin, I've been here 5 years and have no desire to return to Canada. Like Jim and some others said, it really depends on outlook, lifestyle, and job. Let's not let one poster ruin this thread. Keep it going people.

Cheers,
Chix

[nomadder]

I would pick an eikaiwa if you got the right one. Some, like Nova, do have you following set procedures whereas others allow for lots of creativity and autonomy which is what I liked. It's tiresome that many constantly put down eikaiwas as many offer rewarding jobs.

It's well known that the English program as proscribed by the Ministry of Education doesn't work very well, hence the need for conversation schools. At least in convo schools you have a better chance of getting students who actually want to learn English as opposed to having no choice and you have smaller numbers of students to deal with.

I always thought that in the public school system you'd be very limited by the curriculum but I'd like to hear from others on that. How about in universities? For some that's ok but I need a certain degree of freedom in choosing books, activities etc. I also don't like bureaucracy.