Job Discussion Forums

junglegirl · Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 9

Hi

I have quite a few questions I was hoping someone could help me:

1-Can you Honestly save that much money in Japan. Between Student Loans and Credit Cards I will have to make payments of 700$ Canadian each month. Is that doable working for a school like Nova? Will I have enough left over to live (I do not go out much or eat out a lot anyways)?

2-What do you miss from home? Should I be bringing tons of deoderant? or any other "Western" things? I do not want to over pack.

3-I will most likely be going over with Nova. It seems liek the best place to begin at least. They say to bring with you 120 000 Yen as a startup. Is that enough?

Thank you so much

Canuck2112 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 239

Hi Junglegirl. Although I've only been in Japan a few months I'll do my best to answer your questions:

1.) How much are your loan and credit card payments? I'm managing to save about 800 CDN a month here, but keep in mind I go out around twice a week and in general I don't skimp on things. Of course this depends on your area (I'm out in the sticks)...living in a large metropolitan city will cost more. I think if someone really tried to save and kept luxuries to a bare minimum, they could probably save 1200 +CDN a month on a typical 250k yen salary. However, this would entail a very spartan existence, but it's do-able.

2.) Deodorant is available, but selection is very limited. I've been told by other teachers that it's somewhat weaker here than it is back home. I don't know, as I brought an absolutely ridiculous amount of Old Spice High Endurance "Pure Sport" (note to all men: this is the best deodorant ever made). Toothpaste is available, most of it is indeed flourinated, but at least in my town the selection is limited. We have aquafresh, but it's sickeningly sweet. You might want to bring your own. If you take multivitamins, bring lots. They're a rarity in Japan, and the ones I've seen are of poor quality. Other than that, everything I used in Canada is available here.

3.) This depends on a few things....start up costs, time until first paycheque, etc, but I'd personally bring more than 120k (if possible). Better safe than sorry.

Good luck!

junglegirl · Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 9

Hi Canuck

Thank you for the speedy reply. I needed a realistic answer (not the NOVA fed answers to please everyone)

Deodorant and toothpaste topped my list. I am a vegeterian (no meat or seafood) so eating out for me may be out of the question from the sounds of it.

My credit card and student loans come to 700$ Canadian per month. The Credit Card will be gone within a year. However I was hoping to make enough to make my payments and save some. I actually may be better off here as I am making my payments, saving money and have some left over to "play".

What part of the country are you in?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

BuddhaRhubarb · Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 14

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

BenJ · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya

you shouldn't count on it, but don't forget that after you've been here a while you can probably find some extra work to bring in more cash, be it a part-time job or a private student or two. Of course living in a bigger city will make this more likely. Even if you only work an extra few hours a week you can up your salary by 40k yen a month. But, as I said, it's not something you can count on till you have it...

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Ben, as far as getting privates go, I think you can make as much or more in a small city. There may not be as many potential students, but there is less competition from teachers. I think my wife and I and other teachers around us earn more/hour than someone who lives in a big city.

easyasabc · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 179 Location: Japan

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

IMO there is a difference between small city and small town. I live in a city of 300,000 and my boss could care less what I do and couldn't find out if they wanted to. There are some gaijins here, but not it's not likely you'll bump into very many unless you are downtown.

I don't think schools in Japan care if you teach privates unless you're taking students away from them. That said, don't advertise that you're teaching privates. Small town schools may be more anal because any private teaching could be construed as taking away potential students.

junglegirl · Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 9

Hi all

Thanks for the replies and the tips.

Other than English schools, where else can you find work in Japan? Do companies hire? How good does your Japanese need to be?

Thanks and have a great day!

Laughing

BenJ · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya

Gordon,

you're probably right - I was referring more to the available part-time jobs you can find to fit into your existing schedule.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

I might also add that in the past people teaching in Japan have lost jobs or not had contracts renewed (by city governments espousing internationalisation) for knowing too much Japanese or having Japanese ability. In the minds of the powers that be, knowing Japanese made them "Japanised", not 'foreign' enough for their students and somewhat stale because they had learnt the local language and culture after a few years in Japan and were not so fresh anymore.

If you dont know Japanese, don't worry as they probably won't ask you about Japanese ability, and its not required to get a job here unless you are applying for some university positions.

That said, the more you know the better as you will understand your students better and it will make life OUTSIDE the classroom that much easier for you (dealing with landlady, local shopkeepers etc)