Job Discussion Forums

[kovac]

Sorry, this perhaps should be included in another post (the catch 22 one)...But is anybody out there NOT living the "Work in Japan" dream that is presented to so many newcomers to this wild n wacky country ?

Just yesterday I had to give back a copy of the "Charisma Man" anthology to a mate after only reading it half way through without feeling like I was drastically missing out on something...I found it a depressing read...as often as such Japan is presented as a playground where University graduates and misguided backpackers can earn fast bucks, drink plenty beer, sleep with an abundance of willing Japanese girls, be befriended left right and centre by quirky Japanese, a land where japanophile gaijin can induldge thier dreams....But I find myself in a real catch 22 over here...my collegues who have had no Japanese language exposure or cultural study seem to breeze through life picking up free TV sets, invites to family homes, abundant GF's, whereas myself having studied Japanese language and culture at university find myself between a rock and a hard place...perhaps being not "foreign enough"...

It mystifies me !?!? Has anyone else encountered this phenomenon ?

[J-Pop]

Good observation, IMO!
YES--during my time in Japan, I noticed almost exactly the same thing.

Interesting.

[shmooj]

Surely it would depend on what The Dream is for you (scot47 would probably prefer The Dram for example).

If the Dream involves job stability and plenty of work available, a decent salary to enable you to put something by for future plans and a fascinating culture and language to learn, you will find it here. I have.

But if your dream is to maintain the kind of pre-pubescent state of a university freshman in endless drinking bouts and non-committal relationships, I wouldn't know. One read of Charisma Man though and you would think it was the norm. In fact, one read of Japanzine (AKA The Alien), would make you think that everyone in Japan was living this life. I have a theory that, as opposed to living The Dream, these people are living in a dream, doing what all freshman are wont to do: avoid getting on with the hard work that, ultimately, we must all put in if we are to live The Dream.

And as I'm on a decent salary here, that was my Y20 worth.

[Gordon]

These exaggerated stories and books are put out for sensationalism. Who wants to read about a normal, hard working life? Doesn`t sell well.

Most of life is what you make of it and about your perspective. I find that those that are in it for the money are rarely satisfied. Someone always is doing better than you and there`s always a missed opportunity.