Job Discussion Forums

TK4Lakers · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 159

bec_irvine2002,

Are you from Irvine, Southern Cali?

bec_irvine2002 · Joined: 16 May 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Japan

No way mate!

I am True Blue 100 % Aussie.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Gorvine?

Zzonkmiles · Joined: 05 Apr 2003 Posts: 309

I've been here for 3 years now. When I originally came here, I expected to be here for 3-5 years. My current job contract expires next spring, and I have no plans to renew it. So it looks like my original estimate of how long I'd live here will turn out to be an accurate one. While I don't feel as though I'm wasting time in fantasyland, I'm not really doing so much to advance myself by staying here. I enjoy teaching, but this is not something I want to do for the next 20 years. So I'm probably going back home next year, but I'm sure I'll be back someday. I think Japan's a great place to live, but a terrible place to work.

Like a Rolling Stone · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 872

tokyo story · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 40

I've been here all of five months and applied for the second six months of my Working Holiday Visa. I've made a lot of friends so I'll probably try to stay after my WH Visa expires, but another year at the most. I love Japan, but the lifestyle doesn't compare to back home.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Where might that be and how could your lifestyle be better here?

luckbox · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 180

After my first 3 years I vowed never to return, yet here I am again, and yet again. So many factors at play, and if ever the notion of ESID applied, it does to this thread. I think Sheri's comments were worth noting; it's easy to be seduced and slowly hypnotized by the cycle of "just one more contract, one more year."

Unless you have a unique skill set which allows you the luxury of several career options in Japan, you are entering an ESL/ALT wasteland, or ghetto. I love many things about Japan, but the only way I could see a long term future for myself in this country is if I had some form of sustainable self-employment or small business, in which I called all the shots. Working for the man back home is tough enough, but in Japan - as a foreigner - it can be a serious drag. And even worse when faced with the prospect that you may never advance beyond the 250,000/month, no benefits scenario.

The one thing I really miss about work in my Western culture is the value placed on leisure/holiday time. In Japan holiday and time off work (even sick time for that matter) is a great social crime. This is something I'll never grow to appreciate while in Japan. And to tie all this in with the OP's poll question: Japan is the only nation I know of that has a phenomenon known as death by overwork. Is this the way I want to expire? No.

Tom Bombadil · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Boston, MA

This thread interests me as I may be moving back to Japan from the US, and will likely live out my days there.

My wife is Japanese and we have a three month old and are of the opinion that life in Japan will be easier for all of us. As I watch my industry in the US disintergrate along with numerous econonomic fundementals as a whole and the obviously poor political situation, Japan looks better every day.

While I will step away from an IT career in the US, she will eventually take over her father's business and we will inherit the family home in Kamakura, so it's not a bad arrangement. Her father is also a famous entertainer, so our lives there tend to be especially interesting.

I know some people who have been there over a decade and have no intention to return.

Sherri · Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 5:02 am Post subject:

Tom, it sounds like you will have a good set up, certainly not a common one!

These are the things I think are important to consider before making a life-long commitment to Japan. Unfortunately some of them are hard to realistically answer until you have lived in Japan for more than 10 years.

1. Do you mind being a "gaijin" for the rest of your life? I mean, in Japan no matter how many friends you have, how well you speak Japanese, you will never fit in. I got tired of being an object of interest where ever I went. After more than 10 years, it just got to me.

2. Are you willing to either put in the time and effort to be proficient in Japanese--writing, reading and speaking? OR are you willing to spend the rest of your life being illiterate and unable to communicate?

3. Are you willing to work as an English teacher for the rest of your life? There are not that many job options for non-Japanese. I am a career EFL/ESL teacher with almost 20 years experience. I found that my teaching was stagnating in Japan. I needed to move on a teach a different population. I am getting a great new challenge here in the US.

4. If you have kids, are you willing to put in the time and expense to raise them bilingually (much harder than you think!) ? OR are you willing to have your children speak English just the same way as your EFL students and educated and behaving the same way as the junior high, high school or college students that you deal with now?

Just a few things to think about. I hope it helps
Sherri

Tom Bombadil · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Boston, MA

Sherri's points are critical IMHO.

If you are the kind of person who needs to "fit in" and feel like you can dissapear in a crowd, well that is just never going to happen for a 外人。

One must also have a good grasp of the language to function in society as anything but a spectator. I don't mind doing my own things and moving in my own circles, but being able to communicate is essential for anyone lookign for a long-term relationship with an adopted country.

NorthofAmerica · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 187 Location: Recovering Expat

I have been here all of 6 days so needless to say it is a little early to tell how long I will stay here. I am here for a one year contract and IF all goes well enough I am prepared to stay for another year or so. I can't tell yet if I actually enjoy teaching English or not but if I do then I may continue teaching elsewhere, like Chile for example. All the while I am still hoping I will figure out what to do with my life and then go from there. In the meantime Japan is my new home.

I am certainly not going to go back to Canada just to pick up where I left off in a boring office job with a predictable routine.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

My wife and I are undecided, though we are leaning toward leaving within a few years. I am just not sure to where, she prefers Hawaii, but the property prices are high right now and the job prospects are a little thin.

As to Japan itself, yeah it's not everyone's cup of tea, including my Japanese wife's! Confused

Antonimus Prime · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 18

Here for life. Hopefully there is a place that makes real pizza here before I die!

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

Just ran across this article. Although I suspect most people are aware of these issues, it might be a worthwhile read for those who are not.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/09/japanese_demographics_threaten.html

Here's the money quote in my opinion: