Job Discussion Forums

liehtzu · Joined: 26 Feb 2003 Posts: 35 Location: North Thailand

I work in Korea and am about to wrap up. Prior to Korea I worked in Thailand and Vietnam. Now as I ponder the future, certain that it will not be in Korea, there are two things that pull me: Japan and back to SE Asia.

Japan has been an alluring proposition for some time. I've long been interested in Japanese culture: literature, film, traditional art, sake, temples, etc. There have been a few times when I thought of going to Japan at the end of a contract and something else came along. Now I am not too far outside of Busan in Korea, and Fukuoka is a short ferry ride away. Fukuoka is where I am now.

Japan, which I have so long looked fondly towards with those rose-tinted specs, is now all around me. And I must admit, now that I am faced with it: the city is cold, constantly overcast, hyperexpensive, crowded, and almost everyone looks miserable. In short, I don't see a massive difference between it and a city of comparable size in Korea except that the prices are significantly higher. The women are attractive, the nightlife seems pretty good (at least on weekends), but these are not things that are impossible to find in many places in Asia.

I think of Southeast Asia, warm beaches, friendly folk, watching the traffic gently glide by while nursing a cold, inexpensive beer... and it looks much more appealing. I did not come to Japan with a downer-on-Japan attitude - in fact, just the opposite - but I am having a hard time finding things to love. I've only been here a few days and think maybe I just need time to settle in. I don't dislike the place, but I have to ask, especially to the old-timers: what is it that makes Japan great for you? I'd honestly like to know, because I'd like good reasons to consider staying here. Much obliged.

kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

I like Japan because it's NOT easy: the constant challenges that the language and culture pose force me to learn about myself and grow. Living here and sticking it out has made me a stronger more adaptable person.

dove · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Posts: 271 Location: USA/Japan

For me, Japan is a place where I can feel settled. Things work here. The bureacracy is minimal. I feel safe here. Crime is relatively low. I feel that if I work hard, I can always find my way here. I like that my co-workers and Japanese friends appreciate hard work and sincerity. Cynicism is low among them (but high among my foreign friends).

I feel I have a life here, not just saving money to pay off bills, or to move on to the next place. I like that if I want to go out and party I can, but if I want to stay home and make pickles I can. I like that I can work my as* off teaching private lessons if I want, but if I don't want to, that's OK, too. I like not having to drive.

That said, I am feeling so bored with the work, with teaching Japanese students. They are very polite, but I am so tired of their fear of making mistakes. (And I bet my students are getting a bit bored with me as well!) I need to teach a different population, so I am going to take a break from Japan for a year next year. I need something NEW. But I have a feeling that I will be back in Japan because in a lot of ways this country feels like my home....that's the strongest recommendation I can give.

Give it a try here. Japan still needs good teachers. You can find your way here.

Good luck!
Dove

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

I'm never bored in Japan. I'm constantly learning new things.

c-way · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 226 Location: Kyoto, Japan

This will sound haughty and arrogant, but tell me guys you haven't at some point thought the same thing.

When I walk down the street and my natural tendency to size people up kicks in, I end up feeling pretty darn good about myself.

ripslyme · Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 481 Location: Japan

callmesim · Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 279 Location: London, UK

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

I agree that life in japan is comfortable. The work is easy and it pays well, so I'm in no hurry to leave. But everytime I go back to the States for vacation, life is somehow much more relaxed. It's most likely just because I'm on vacation. If I could feel that way all the time, though, I'd bail in a heartbeat.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Venti · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 171 Location: Kanto, Japan

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

For me, being immersed in a second language. It's frustrating, fun, rewarding, confusing, and just when you think you've hit a wall and can't go further, you find yourself in stimulating conversation, or watching some drama that draws you in, or reading something that really speaks to you.

I guess you're also in another language there in Tland, so you're experiencing the same things I do here.

The safety, extensive public transport (I don't drive here or in my home country), cultural learning opportunities and people, both Japanese and foreign from various countries, keep me here.

KYdynamic's comment reminds me of some things I've been thinking about lately in terms of challenges, stress and stimulation. Japan's challenges are very stimulating and keep me thinking. If you're a stim junkie, there's always something - cultural (sometimes gender and cultural) barriers, language learning challenges, beaurocratic machinery to tangle with, that keep it interesting. If you seek out new things here, you'll never get bored.

liehtzu · Joined: 26 Feb 2003 Posts: 35 Location: North Thailand

Thanks everyone. I still haven't made the decision. While I'm here I plan on a few job interviews, test the waters. How do you all find the work environment here? From what I've seen there are a lot of screwy scenarios, like "teaching" two year-olds and weird hours (and Saturdays).

For those who referred to Thailand if I was to go back to SE Asia it would likely be Vietnam, which pays much more than the peanuts you get in Thailand and has other attributes besides. I think I would prefer Japan to Korea in many respects, and I am interested in learning the language, etc (I can read Korean and I hate not being able to read the signs here - motivation!). I have a thing for Japanese girls, and dig that people in Japan actually know Western bands other than The Beatles and The Scorpions (the latter - along with several other of the great hair metal bands of the 80s - is massive in Vietnam).

I'm also actually kind of starting to be down with Fukuoka, it's growing on me. I'm not a city slicker, really, anyway. May try to scout jobs in a smaller city in the Fukuoka vicinity, like Karume. I have a little over a week left and whether I decide to make it Japan next year or not I'm at least going to have a good time while I'm here. Going to try to see other places in the area. Dazaifu and Karatsu sound possible - anyone have an opinion on Nagasaki? Cheers all.

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

Nagasaki's definitely a good idea - lovely place IMO, and with quite a lot more to see and do than just the obvious tourist attraction.

I'd give Kurume a miss though - unless it's a really good job - pretty dull, grim place from what I've seen of it. There's a smaller place not far from it called Yanagawa which is much more interesting and which you can tour around on little gondola-type boats. A similar distance away as Nagasaki, but in the opposite direction, is Beppu, on the east coast of Kyushu. It's a bit touristy but it's famous in Japan for its hot-springs and would perhaps help give you more of an idea if Japan is for you.