Job Discussion Forums

[cornishmuppet]

If she's a woman, go round with some omiage, smile your best gaijin smile and then carry on. My neighbours, both in my current place and the last, love my guitar playing. All women, though, and fairly young. Don't know how it works with a man or some out battleaxe.

And I'm not that good, trust me.

[Sweetsee]

That's right Muppet, bust a little omage on her, next thing you know you all will be jamming together on the veranda during hot summer nights!

[cornishmuppet]

That's what I'm hoping, Sweetsee! Perhaps I'll get the old bat a couple of doors down to sing backing vocals!

[Sweetsee]

LOL! Thanks Mup I needed that, every one here got a good laugh on that one mate!
Can I ask how long you have been at your school?

[cornishmuppet]

Hi Sweetsee, only since February. I had an initial six week contract because I replaced a guy who left part way through his, then they gave me a new one up to July 31st. I'm hoping to get a new one from September for another year, pending at the moment.

chris

[Sweetsee]

Howdy again CM,

Sorry for being so trunky but I am interested in other direct hires like us and if I you wouldn't mind me asking, are you at a high school and are you using any good material, having fun with your kids.
And while I have you here, my friend has a school in Yamagata and is looking for someone big time, maybe you know someone? Not everyone wants to inaka but there is an apartment, maybe a car. Just thought because you are in the mountains and all and mate just happens to be our house guest this weekend and you being new and all. That make sense? Exhausted, sorry, long seven weeks.
That and I am curious about what goes on in other schools, I am assuming you are at a private school, like me. Always on the lookout for material and maybe I could interest you in some.
Really sorry to jack on this thread, bad manners.

Enjoy your weekend,
s

[cornishmuppet]

Hi Sweetsee, I'm at a junior high school, hired by the Board of Ed (I assume that counts as direct hire). Its a public school as far as I know, and I think there are about five other direct hires in Nagano City. The rest of the Junior High ALTs are JETs. I don't know about the High Schools because they are sorted by the Prefectural office. I think they're all JETs, but JETs being JETs you never see them unless there's a big JET function on. All at flower arranging or taiko classes I suppose.

I basically just make board games and group team games to practice what they learn in all the other boring lessons. They seem to enjoy it but I think in general their classes are pretty dull. The rest of the time I just do what I'm told, and even though I've successfully taught far higher grammar than we use I resist the urge to butt in and let the JLT get on with it. Don't want to be overawling (is that a word?) anyone's authority, and all that. The out of class time I generally meet and greet in the mornings, wave them off in the evenings, and wander about the corridor with the crazy volume turned up. Most of the kids seem to love me, though I imagine there are one or two who hate me with a passion. Always the way.

I know a lot of people who'd like my job in Nagano, but no one in Yamagata, I don't think... where is that, exactly? Left or right of here?

And you?

[Sweetsee]

Yamagata would be left from where you are if you were looking this way, I think.

You said many people want your job, why's that?

[cornishmuppet]

Most of my friends work in cra ppy eikawas or struggle by on privates. I earn a lot more and get way more holiday than them. I used to feel a little guilty but I did my 18 months sentence in an eikawa and I guess someone's got to do it. May as well be me!

[Ignore What I]

[quote="Sweetsee"]May I ask what tunes you like to play on your guitar IWI? I too, started playing while on an extended sabatical in SE Asia six years ago. A friend taught me three chords and I picked up a guitar in Vientaine. Had always wanted to play, stuck with it and mostly enjoy Dylan, Van Morrison, C.C.R., Neil Young and Marley. Actually take lessons twice a month and sensei has taught me countless melodies that are excruciatingly difficult at first but I try hard and do learn them, many very nostalgic.

I actually don't know any artist's tunes. I've been hacking away making my own music and while I have some very catchy rhythms I really haven't grown exponentially as a musician. I'm not too far away from Osaka or Tennoji Station. I will look for a sensei there and find some of my own nostalgia

On a side note... My other neighbour is a foreigner. I was having dinner next door and let out a belch. I could hear my neighbour laughing so I said (just in a normal voice) "Sorry." "That's OK." The walls are thin but at least people have a sense of humour.

[cornishmuppet]

I write my own. For years I was suppressed and unconfident but in Japan no one ever heckles you. I actually did some busking down the train station last year and played a gig at a small bar last September. I want to make a CD when I get around to it.

I'm not so good, mainly a chord strummer, but I like down-tuning and playing Smashing Pumpkins style octave stuff. I know a handful of covers and bits of but most of the time I can't be bothered to learn them. They never sound as good, know what I mean?

Last week I bought a piano sized keyboard from a recycle shop for 4000 yen, so I'm happily learning that. Someone taught me some Beethoven, but at the moment that's all I can play. The thing is so huge it takes up half my appartment.

Rock is alive,

Chris

[canuck]

[Sweetsee]

Howdy IWI,

If you are hankering for a bit of nostalgia, just google your old favorites and see what the chords look like. Chances are you will know some of them and for the others you can use a chord generator.
Get a sensei too, never regret that, money well spent.


Enjoy,
s

[unclealex]

Well, what do you know? I have been thinking of moving to Japan from
Korea to teach English to get away from just that: thin walls and noisy
neighbours. I thought the Japanese were better at construction engineer-
ing than Koreans. Anyway, if you want to get your neighbour to acquiese
to your guitar playing, try learning some Japanese folk tunes. If the new
venue fails to work, then I'm sure you can compel her to cooperate by
blackmailing her. I'm sure you must have heard some incriminating things
about your neighbour as her voice came streaming through your wall.