Job Discussion Forums

[abyssiniangrl]

hello,
I am thinking about moving to Japan in April. I was offered a job which pays $30,000 per year (3,300,000 yen), housing included. First of all ,is that a good deal? it seems everyone sais japan is expensive. Also, I am not a very conservative person, would I be stared at all the time? I'm young, black, with a big afro...I'm considering getting a haircut...

[PAULH]

[abyssiniangrl]

thanks paulh,
actually, the school provides housing, so I guess it is a pretty good deal!

[Glenski]

Just be sure that when they say "housing provided", that they mean the key money and rent are paid for. Usually, it doesn't. It just means they save you the trouble of looking for a place and furnishing it and paying the deposits. You still have to pay rent.

Your salary is, as Paul wrote, slightly above norm, but in Tokyo, that'll probably do fine if you are somewhat frugal with your money and have no major bills to pay back home.

[JimDunlop2]

Whether it's a good deal or not depends also on how many hours per week you need to be working to get the aforementioned wage. Also, consider that if they make you sit at a desk when you aren't teaching, commute to different locations, etc... you should take all those things into account (because the company usually will not). They will often only talk about teaching hours... For example, if you must teach 6 classes/day, 5 days a week, that's 30 classes a week. Some companies would claim that you are only working 30 hours a week (even though you work much more than that, but just not in the classroom). Such a schedule would burn a person out quickly.

Anyway, regarding your appearance... I like a nice 'fro... But you'll be the center of attention as it is here... Yes, you will be stared at regardless. But see how it goes.... Maybe a less attention-grabbing hairdo will be better... Maybe not. Can't say, really. But as Paul said, Japanese people don't come into contact with black people very often.... Much of the black community in my city here are from Nigeria and Uganda. They're awesome people to go out drinking with -- lots of fun to talk to. They work at the local hip-hop clothing stores, because they "look the part." Which is funny, because many the locals of course think that they are from da hood in New York... Yet, it's only the Japanese kids you see walking around wearing bandanas and BLING!

[PAULH]

[Gordon]