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voodoochild
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 80
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 Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| No its not the first time i have been a mnority, and i havent forgotten what its like in other places... i like to see things for what they are and not gloss over things with rose tinted glasses |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:12 pm Post subject: My Two Yen |
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So...why will I be going to Japan? Several reasons:
1. Just finished an MA in TESOL. Japan seems to be a good place to put it to use.
2. Am currently a fourth grade ESL teacher and am no longer enjoying it. Want to make the switch back to TEFL and the switch back to teaching older students. My experiences teaching high school and college students and adults in China and Austria have been highly rewarding and I'm hoping to emulate such experiences in Japan.
3. Want to return to Asia. I was in China from 2000-2003 and loved it. Was evacuated because of SARS in April, 2003 and knew that I would return to Asia someday.
4. Want to learn Japanese. Since I was a small child, I have wanted to learn foreign languages: German, Mandarin, Spanish...Japanese sounds like a nice next step.
5. Yeah, yeah, the usual adventure, excitement, a different life, enjoying the rock star status, being flirty with women in a different language, blah, blah, blah, this stuff does appeal to me.
womblingfree, I dig the cartoon! Thanks! 
Regards,
fat_c |
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europe2seoul
Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 3:58 am Post subject: Re: My Two Yen |
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Was transfered. Had no choice.
Actually, for every good gig and future advancement in career (I am not ESL) I realized that companies ask level 3 or 4 japanese. So that would mean investing 2-3+ years in getting there. For that time, working in an all-english environment (USA/Canada/UK/Ireland) in technology I can advance my career a lot (team lead/manager).
So for now sticking it in here & weighing my options. I like Japan though, nice country to live in, pay is on time and its pretty good but I am definetly not a Japanophile....now career is my #1 thing to do...couldn't care less if this is Japan or not - PC is PC, office is office...toilet is toilet. |
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DNK
Joined: 22 Jan 2007
Posts: 236
Location: the South
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Unless that toilet is a hole in the ground. Then it's a hole in the ground. |
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Eva Pilot
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 351
Location: Far West of the Far East
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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| fat_chris wrote: |
| 5. Yeah, yeah, the usual adventure, excitement, a different life, enjoying the rock star status, being flirty with women in a different language, blah, blah, blah, this stuff does appeal to me. |
Another one of these guys huh.  |
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jademonkey
Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:20 am Post subject: Re: My Two Yen |
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| fat_chris wrote: |
| 5. Yeah, yeah, the usual adventure, excitement, a different life, enjoying the rock star status, being flirty with women in a different language, blah, blah, blah, this stuff does appeal to me. |
You see, I have a rockstar lifestyle in my own country. I went to Japan to evade the crowds of screaming fans. |
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japanman
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Posts: 281
Location: England
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:30 am Post subject: |
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| For a lot of people, they stay because of relationships with local people. I myself have this kind of situation. My girlfriend can't leave Japan and I like living here so i'm just staying here. When she can leave, we both want to go to Singapore but that may be a while away yet. |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Eva Pilot wrote: |
| Another one of these guys huh. |
Eva, relax. |
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Precise
Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Perhaps it is more imporant to ask 'why not Japan'? |
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europe2seoul
Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:38 am Post subject: |
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| Precise wrote: |
| Perhaps it is more imporant to ask 'why not Japan'? |
Well, all people I know back in the States and in Europe work for investment banks, now are on the junior managment level and stuff. Most got married and their wifes work in similar fields or medical fields. Some of them are in law school and stuff.
For me (being in corporate world) and them being in Japan or not being in Japan does not really matter at all. It would be a same job. |
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japanman
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Posts: 281
Location: England
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:44 am Post subject: |
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Not "why not Japan" but "why not your home country" is better I think.
I like England a lot but I just don't see any point in being there. I lived there from birth to 22 and I don't think I get any more from life there. My father lived abroad when he was young, my uncle has lived abroad for 30 or so years etc, so it was always in my family to live abroad etc. Be it Japan, Thailand etc is of no real importance. |
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europe2seoul
Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:39 am Post subject: |
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| japanman wrote: |
| Not "why not Japan" but "why not your home country" is better I think. |
For the same job I get 6 times the salary compared to back home and living expenses are not that different her in Japan believe it or not (about 30% higher or even same). Obviously I come from Eastern Europe.
So, being in Japan enables me to save money which I will be able to invest back home in real estate, etc. After some time, going back home on a managerial level would be a nice & cushy job.
Also why not - living and experiencing new things, meeting differnet people but that is not primary goal to live abroad anymore. Though I wouldn't mind some nice japanese gf  |
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Precise
Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| japanman wrote: |
Not "why not Japan" but "why not your home country" is better I think.
I like England a lot but I just don't see any point in being there. I lived there from birth to 22 and I don't think I get any more from life there. My father lived abroad when he was young, my uncle has lived abroad for 30 or so years etc, so it was always in my family to live abroad etc. Be it Japan, Thailand etc is of no real importance. |
Yeah I see your point. I'm 23 and already the USA feels boring to me. It's kinda sad since It's such a huge country and I live near a big city like Boston with plenty of things to do. I guess it's not just the aura of Japan that makes me want to leave but also the fact that I'm and international person so travel is what makes me feel good. |
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