Job Discussion Forums

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Synne, I stand by what I said...

Of course, many people can make things work in their present situations, but I am (and many Candian ex-pats who have been away for a long time) are also a testament to the fact that things aren't the way we'd like them to be -- otherwise we would have never left. In our situation specifically, when we were considering moving abroad, I couldn't have cared less about having an international experience... That's nothing that a 2-week holiday wouldn't have solved. My motives were mainly economically-oriented.

I'm not trying to say that NO little guy can get ahead -- but I still think that the cards are stacked against me and I don't want to play by Canadian government's rules...

By the way, the words "the little guy just can't get ahead" actually originally came from my friend that I mentioned in my previous post... I can't really even take credit for having thought that up.... But after he said it, I gave it a lot of thought, and decided that I agree with him.... Now it's something that I say as well.... Smile

Willy_In_Japan · Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 329

I want to live in Canada, but I came to Japan for the money..thats why I am a bit horrified to be making 10,000 dollars less a year than three years ago after converting back into Canadian dollars.

I tend to agree with Jim.......I had a lousy paying PART TIME service job in Canada, and my job over here is my first ever full time job. I was 39 when I came over.

Perhaps i didn't try harder to get a professional job, but I found myself in a trap, slowly drowning financially and driving a 20 year old car, living at home. I am not a person to whine about taxes, but I must say that the lower taxes, combined with the fact I don't need a car in Japan and ALL my work related transportation costs are paid for, I would say I am doing MUCH better in Japan than I was in Canada. I remember walking around in Canada with 100 bucks in the bank and 20 bucks in my pocket and my car on empty, and my credit cards maxed.

I hope my experience here can translate into something decent when I go home.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I left a $55,000/year teaching job in Canada to come here. I still took a hit even when the exchange rate was 76. It really was the taxes that killed me there and the fact my job was about as permanent as soft tofu.