Job Discussion Forums

[Anharchy]

Hello everyone ~ I've been reading this forum religiously since December (after I submitted my JET apps), and I'm astounded by the (general) helpfulness of everyone here. However, try search-strings as I might, I haven't been able to come up with a solution to my particular set of questions yet, and thought I'd ask.

Here's a little background:

I just graduated from college (B.A. in Anthropology) in May, and am currently in the process of applying to the JET program. My S.O. (about to graduate law school) also applied to JET, but whilst I've made it to interviews, he unfortunately hasn't. We've been gathering as much advice from previous posters as we can regarding the big eikawas (looking at AEON/ECC thus far), and avidly discussing what route to take re: back-up plans, locations (we REALLY. REALLY. want to go.) I requested the Kinki region in general, suburban zones, as I'd like to do cultural research in Osaka/Kyoto on the weekends whenever possible. So here are my questions:

1. Has anyone here been in a situation where pre-existing couple, both applying to JET, have one get in and one NOT get in?

2. Subsequently, how did you deal with that in terms of living arrangements and obtaining job/visa for the non-JET partner? Does JET mind cohabitation?

3. I guess this is related - worst-case scenario: Is it possible to support two people on a single JET salary? Theoretically, we might be able to beg our parents to subsidize a small amount, but I'm trying not to rely on that. Adulthood and all.

And, these is slightly off-topic, but I've heard some strange things and would like to see what everyone's experiences are:

4. How do the Japanese feel about other Asians? I'm of Vietnamese ethnicity, and I've heard things ranging from "it doesn't matter" to "you'll have an...interesting...time." Not exactly cheery. If it changes anything in the experience, I'm also female, although tall-ish for an Asian girl.

I have a crapload of other questions too, but as it's late, thank you for tolerating my verbosity, and if anyone has any answers or a link to any answers, I'd totally appreciate it.

Thanks again in advance!

[Zzonkmiles]

If by SO you mean SPOUSE, then your "SO" could enter Japan on a dependent visa. However, if your SO is only your BOYFRIEND, then he is not eligible to apply for that. It looks like the only way a BOYFRIEND would be able to enter Japan is through a work visa of his own, which means he needs to start hitting the interview circuit. Fortunately for him, if he's about to finish law school, that should mean he already has a bachelor's degree. You need at least a BA to get the work visa. As for finding a job, AEON, NOVA, ECC, and GEOS are the usual suspects when it comes to being hired from abroad, although there are no guarantees with where you will be placed. However, if you opt to work for NOVA's Multimedia Center, that will guarantee you an Osaka placement.

Good luck getting placed near Osaka though. There aren't so many JETs there to begin with and it's a highly requested area. You might be better off requesting Hyogo or Nara and hoping you don't get stuck too far out in the boonies, which is where most JETs are assigned.

As for the ethnic part, a lot of times the Japanese will mistake you for a Japanese person and come up to you and ask for directions. There are several foreigners of Asian descent working here--I've been friends with several of them, including Chinese-Canadians, Vietnamese-Americans, and South Asian Americans, among others. You might get some stares, but generally people are not going to hassle you. They might even be surprised or envious of you if they hear perfect English come out of your mouth. Anyway, if you've experienced discrimination or feeling like an "outsider" back in your home country, then Japan should be easy for you.

Good luck to you and your "SO."

[David W]

I think you'd be better off asking this question over at Big Daikon. I can almost guarantee there will be JETs who have experienced/are experiencing all or some of the things you've asked about.

[Glenski]

[kdynamic]

See if you get into JET and where you get placed. If you are in a midsize to big city, he will have no trouble finding work. If you get put out in nowhere it will be much harder. Also see what kind fo living situation you get. Your place might not be big enough for two people in which case you'll have to move out. You guy could come on a 90 tourist visa and look for work.

[Anharchy]

Zzonk:

Fiance is the proper term for him, but I hate using it because we're not like, "OhmygodgettingmarriedinJuneholycraps!" Japan first, and then we'll plan the rest . But, I don't figure his status is any different from Boyfriend in visa-land, so that's why we were figuring upon eikaiwa as an alternative. Worst-case scenario was with the idea that he'd take his 90 day touristy-ness (i've been reading!) and we'd struggle it out for those three months if he couldn't get a job from the U.S. I'm not really figuring on being placed in Osaka itself - just close enough that I can get there by train without it being ridiculously expensive.


David W: I'll try that too. Thanks!

Glenski: Yeah, I've heard - JET's pretty much only concerned with the disposition of its ALT and that's where it ends. I'm more curious about how strict they are, and whether they have any concern regarding the "image" of their program as it relates to unmarried couples living together. And knowing him, he'll sleep 'til 12 and then go around drooling over the architecture (he loves traditional Japanese/Chinese building and fantasizes about us building one here - dork.) And get a job (very important) haha.

I will try to be as tactful as possible, difficult though it may be .

kdynamic: Yeah, the living situation thing does wig me out a little bit, since I've looked at the various bits you pay just to GET one. Key money + Commission + Deposit + Rent for the first month? Worse than where I live!! My wallet's wailing in pain right now.

[wintersweet]

Hi--

Yes, it happened to a couple friends of mine. At first, the turned-down SO stayed home, but later she joined a Japanese study program in a major city. They got to see each other once in a while that way.

However, the odds of your being close enough to Kyoto/Osaka to really do research are pretty slim. Most people get stuck in small towns. Of the four JET tours among my friends and acquaintances, three were in towns that were both small and isolated. One was in Kyoto, but she already had advanced Japanese and did a CIR position. So don't count on that too much. (What kind of cultural research are you interested in? I keep thinking about doing research there, too ... )

Also, the last person is the only one who ever had to pay key money, etc., and I believe that was because she wanted to live somewhere besides the subsidized apartment offered to her. (Don't quote me on that, but I know the other three did not have to worry about deposits and key money and so forth. At least one had a free apartment, and another lived in a dorm or something.)

P. S. I would check out Big Daikon, but I would also take anything I read there with a grain of salt--or possibly the whole shaker--even more than here or any other online BB.

[Nagoyaguy]

Housing could be a major issue. The Board of Education usually acts as your sponsor for accommodation. As such, they have the final say on who does and doesnt live there. Also, the landlord would need to be consulted too. If they say"no", then your boyfriend will not be allowed to live with you.

In a rural area, this can be a problem. Tongues will wag, there may be an image problem that the Board doesnt want to deal with.

Perhaps a better option would be;

1/ You apply for JET. If you are accepted, then your boyfriend can start looking for work in the same area. I am assuming he has a BA, so he is eligible for a sponsored visa from a private English School (eikaiwa).

2/ Hopefully the two of you can live in the same area so you can keep your relationship alive.

If your Board doesnt go for you living together, the above is the best option. ANother option is to get your own housing. This is difficult as you generally need a Japanese guarantor for the lease, and your board may be loathe to do so. Also, the start up costs would be in the area of 300,000 yen, or about $3,000 US.

[Anharchy]

Wintersweet:

I don't really mind the small/isolated thing at all - so long as I have internet, I'll be fine, but I'm more interested in being able to occasionally go to Osaka/Kyoto/other districts or larger city on weekends, stay in a capsule hotel or whatever, and take notes and pictures to supplement a journal. I'm thinking of cultural research in a couple of things, mainly related to my post-Japan career (industrial/fashion design) and also as part of my observation of how Japan as a culture compromises between the super-modern and super-traditional components in its history. I am (obviously) ridiculously excited abou the cultural component of the JET program because I feel like it'll be fairly immersive.

Nagoyaguy:

Thank you very much for the response. I am definitely hoping we can get this junk figured out in a way that will allow us to be as close as possible to each other, even if we need to get separate apartments (that's what sleepovers are for...). I mean, I don't know it even matters to traditional Japanese that we're engaged - not sure if there's any value added with that title. We're not...totally living in sin? Okay, maybe we are. Whatever . However, we've done a minor distance thing for the last few years, where he and I have commuted approx. 2 hours to see each other every two weeks. If we can stay inside of that in Japan, it'll probably still be manageable.

I suppose it doesn't seem much like anthropology and design is related, but they are in my head, and I can give that spiel later for anyone who digs the same stuff I do and might have suggestions !

Also, just an observation regarding BigDaikon (mmm...daikon): I used the same method over there as I did here (lurk lurk lurk), and I'm not feeling so hot on joining their forums. I've seen mentions here of "frat-boy"mentality in the ALT world, and while I can appreciate a well-played Your Mom joke, their conversations tend to be so laden with extraneous material, it's nigh-unto a total waste of time trying to dig through the crap to get to the good stuff. Did notice a few familiar handles in there and Let's Japan - Glenski, PAULH, etc. but apart from these multi-taskin' helpful dudes, it's just a lot of s**t about getting ass from Japanese girls. At least it seems that way.

[wintersweet]

Ah, I was going to do a similar topic (modernity and tradition) for my undergrad thesis on China, but then I went in a totally different direction. (And I got the same vibe from BD. And you quote Neil Gaiman. I think we might be two of a kind. )

[Gordon]

Anharchy,
I think you summarized big daikon about as well as can be.