Job Discussion Forums

[Squire22]

Dear all,

I've been offered a job in Japan that doesn't start until March/April time but just wanted to ask a few questions to those that have been in Japan for quite a while.

I'd just like to hear from a personal perspective what you've really liked about living in Japan/continue to like about it. What was it that has made you stay? Was it eventually a family? Standard of living? Behaviour that you wouldn't find elsewhere? Or is it simply the people are nicer? Have you found the number one place in the world you want to live (Beach front house? In a forrest? Up a mountain? Close knit community, Cheers style?)? Does the country still hold intrigue/fascination for you, if so, why?

Has Japan become an inescapable place for you? An indescribable magnatism that you can't quite put your finger on?

It would be great to hear any comments or mini-stories that have stuck out in your memory.

Many thanks to those that may contribute.

[SEndrigo]

hey Squire,

I think you'll find that people stay here for many different reasons, but most people end up staying for only a year; as for me personally, I came here because I had never lived/worked in Asia and I wanted to get back into teaching.

The reason I decided to stay longer than one year was the opportunity to earn a full-time salary working part-time hours.

I don't have a family, but I will say that Japan is a land of extremes, in some cases it is very convenient and first-world, in other cases it is very inconvenient and third-world.

This has just been my limited subjective experience, of course. But, will I live here forever? Definitely not. It just doesn't offer good value for your money, and most people are overworked and stressed out.

If you're looking for a relaxed lifestyle, go elsewhere.

[Gordon]

I think like most places, life becomes comfortable after you put down your roots and it becomes more and more difficult to leave. I'm into my 4 the year now and only planned to come for 2. Frankly, I can't think of a better set up anywhere else than what I have now, in Japan or anywhere else. If only my work and current house were somewhere else.

Beach house? Haven't seen any in ways you are probably imagining. If you see a house on the beach, the windows would probably face the road or a wall and not the sea. I live on a hill, with a magnificent view, but all the windows face the road in front. This is typical. I have to go out the back door or look out the tiny slit window to enjoy the view.

[canuck]

I like it here.
Many people I care about are here.
The taxes are low.
The income is good.
The holidays are great.

[Sherri]

I stayed because:

I had a great job with colleagues that I enjoyed working with.
I earned a lot of money.
I took overseas trips 2 or 3 times a year and still saved money.
I was having fun and learned a lot.

I left when I stopped learning something new at my job and life there (Tokyo) was no longer fun for me. I kept a lot of good friends though.

Regards
Sherri

[tokyorabbit]

Good question.

- It`s safe. I like being able to walk around at night and not worry about crime.

- People are nice. I like 95% of the people I`ve met here (both Japanese and foreigners living abroad).

- I like the public transportation. (I`ve always hated cars.. enjoyed being able to travel almost anywhere by foot.. it`s good exercise too.)

- The money is decent for the job and I have less other financial stress (my healthcare / commuting expenses are covered, taxes are low, my rent is quite reasonable).

- Tokyo is more exciting than my hometown (more museums, music clubs, festivals, good restaurants, interesting shops, on and on)

- I like the lack of overt religion here (I hope this doesn`t offend anyone, just being honest.. I am not religious and find life here more comfortable)

- My wife is Japanese.

- I find this a great homebase for traveling to other countries. Vacations are generous and it`s very normal to make one or two international trips per year (some even travel more). I particularly like going around Asia which is quite cheap and convenient from here (if you can go off season).

- I generally feel appreciated by my students. In my job back home, I just felt like a guy going through the motions of the daily 9-5 grind.

- I have learned so much here.. not only about Japan but about other countries. As an American, I did not have many international experiences prior to this but I`ve had the chance to befriend some great Australians, Europeans, etc. and also talk to people who lived all over the world. It`s been very educational.

- I`m addicted to the food.

I`ll try to think of more later (just kidding).

[abufletcher]

Stay here in Japan? Or stay overseas in general? Most of what keeps me in my present here are the same things that kept me in previous heres (Mexico, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Germany). My life as a soujourning EFL professional abroad has been amazingly consistent from one place to another. Sure the supeficial stuff changes (the food, the language, the local customs, and the scenery) -- and that's the biggest draw of "the new country" -- but the ways that we doing being foregners/expats/EFL teachers is largely the same. Many of the comments made by others above are just as true of other countries I've lived.

So Japan is really just "the next place" in my mind. But as a matter of fact I have been here longer than I was any previous place. Why? Is it because I like Japan better? No not really. I have stayed here in Japan because my particular job here in Japan is better in many ways (largely unrelated to Japan) than any previous job I've had. I get paid more, get to teach more (almost entirely) in my specialty areas, and is secure. If a similar type of job suddenly became available in China or Vietnam or Chile or Chad I'd be off in a heartbeat -- just for the novelty of it.

[malcoml]

The low taxes
The minor celebrity status
The resonable pay for a job a monkey could do
and most importantly, having a group of Japanese girls who are constantly on tap.

[canuck]

[Brooks]

and yet he isn`t even in Japan.
He must be living a vicarious life.

[malcoml]

Actually you dont even need to be in Japan. The hunting is just as good at any university campus library.
I just advertise on the bulletin board as single male looking to earn extra money teaching Japanese people english and helping them with their assignments. I usually get 10-15 calls at start of semester and from there I would say conservatively 7-8 end up on tap.
Well you are only young once.

[SEndrigo]

[Canadian1]

[malcoml]

SEndrigo


I would be there except I'm mid career and dont know if taking a year off to teach english in a conversation school whilst shagging myself silly would look to good on my resume. Though as a lifestyle choice the shagging myself silly bit sounds pretty good.

[SEndrigo]

so you're saying that shagging yourself silly just isn't possible in OZ?