Job Discussion Forums

[Squire22]

Hello everyone,

I posted a, well, post, about my Japan experience after 3 months - you can find it using the search function - and said at the time I couldn't predict how I would feel after 6/9/12 months so I thought I would write a brief update 6 months down the line since I arrived, again I include my get out of jail card by saying that come Christmas or March things may have done a u-turn, never can tell.

I have to say that I had a period of about a week or two back in July sometime where I was thinking that I would just stay for the year and people had replied to my last post mentioning culture shock, however for me it was more about the social aspect that anything to do with Japan (if you know what I mean?), relationships with teachers were okay but not really going anywhere, and although I'd found a local aikido club - still going, still love it - I hadn't found anything else socially.

Finished the term end of July, had an awesome summer, went to lots of local festivals, went to Tokyo a couple times, climbed Fuji, played in a staff volleyball tournament and went to my first staff party/gathering thing, generally had a good time. Since I've returned to school since summer i've found that teachers' attitude towards me have generally been a lot friendlier, more relaxed, more fun and generally happier. I've thought about it, but I haven't come up with a single conclusion. We've had sports day and a school festival - today in fact - both of which were awesome, took part in the PTA tug of war at sports day and sang songs today up on stage with the staff.

I've also found that since returning to school I myself have had a much more positive attitude, I love going to classes, I'm happy to see the kids and just happy to be there, I still stay until around 5 to 5.30, school closes a little earlier now due to the darkening evenings.

I've found a local international group where i can go and get free Japanese lessons - as such - and met one or two people from there who I can now meet up with. Might only be one or two people, but suddenly it's the beginning of a social life - awesome.

I've signed up for the JLPT test in December, my aikido sensei has asked me to prepare for the black belt test also in December - don't think i'll be ready for it, but it's nice none the less - recently celebrated my birthday down in Nagoya and had an amazing time.

All of this has combined to make life really good for me, school is fun, I look forward to going to work, I rarely want to leave early - I can leave at 4pm - teachers are now starting to be friendly and interact with me, I have a reason to study Japanese, aikido is going well, social life is finally beginning, and I feel like my life here is finally starting.

This is the longest I've been abroad, previous was 4 months, and at the moment staying put for a while.

All in all, things are now better than they were after three months and still on the up, I must admit I thought the novelty and excitement would all wear off, but I find myself more excited than I was before and that everything is flying by in fast forward, hours, days, weeks are gone in the blink of an eye because so much is happening and I'm enjoying everything so much.

This isn't really a post for discussion, I'm not even sure if it's on topic, I just wanted to post and let people thinking about coming to Japan or just arriving that for some people the experience seems to be getting better as time goes on. I wanted to share my positive experience with people and hope that others can have such a great time out here, I know this isn't/won't always be the case, but the chance is there.

Regards

[canuck]

[i_teach_esl]

have you considered keeping a blog? xanga or blogger or myspace? i think they're very useful for newbies wanting to know about what it's like to teach/live elsewhere. had you a blog, interested parties could go to it, read your experiences in sequence.

uhm, b/c... uhm... the job discussion forum isnt the place for an entry such as yours...sorry... just sayin'...

[wintersweet]

It's good to see this kind of post, because a lot of people post when they're frustrated/lonely and never post again. So, thanks for the update--it should be encouraging to others. Coping with daily life is a vital part of succeeding in a teaching job overseas, and since Japan (unfortunately) only has the one discussion board on Dave's, this sort of post belongs here.

[TK4Lakers]

Nice, interesting post.

I can relate to you in many ways. It seems we've both arrived at the same time and are both ALT's.

I, too, hit a little strut after a few months being here. I can't pinpoint what it was, but I think it was the culture shock. I was missing home, I was home alone on weekends with nothing to do, I felt like some of the friends I made here were flaking on me, and in general, I missed all my friends and family and familiarity.

Summer was definitely a nice breath of fresh air. I also went out and spent a lot of money, got a bit involved around my community, and my girlfriend came to visit from the states.

and I also joined the city's international foreigner's association group, and I'm actually teaching English to them every Saturdays now. and I'm tutoring elem. school kids to adults, 4/5 days a week. So yea, I've been really busy this 2nd term, but I don't mind it too much, I enjoy the interaction and it doesn't hurt to make extra side $$.

As for the school, I just try to stay positive. My interaction with some teachers is pretty much to a minimum (I blame it on the schools' principal and the atmosphere, its very dark in the teacher's room), but I just try to have fun with the students and work hard to keep up with the Japanese status quo.

As for the JLPT, I too want to take that, but not until next year and a little more studying. What level are you planning on taking? I understand it's in December, mind PMing me about it afterwards?

[i_teach_esl]

[canuck]

[maya.the.bee]

thanks again for the info. being a short timer myself, it really helps to hear what others are experiencing.

i haven't really hit any problems finding stuff to do, but what about crap roommates? (sorry if this is off topic.) i'm finding the biggest stress of living here to be my roomie. i'm generally nonconfrontational, but...every little thing is getting to me.

and even more off topic. canuck, I LOVE your avatar. it makes me giggle whenever i see your posts.

[canuck]

[maya.the.bee]

not to be judgemental or critical, but a certain someone makes the rest of us look like productive members of society. over-achievers really.

[canuck]