Job Discussion Forums

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:09 am Post subject: so tired of the crap

I currently work at a small kindergarten owned by a temple. I love kids and my boss, who is super helpful. But the other teachers suck and I'm rapidly getting tired of teaching English.

The school's curriculum allows very little manipulation, unless in my private classes. They are teaching all classes (not just English) with an old formula probably provided by Buddha himself. I'm the only forienger and English teacher so sometimes I feel like I can't stand up to the other teachers.Plus it doesn't help that my boss is always MIA b/c of temple duties.

Just an idea about how catty and gossipy these ladies are...one girl who never talked to me the whole school year wrote on her nengajo (to me) "Please take me base shopping" --I used to have access to the military base. Then when I got divorced, they heard accidentally from my boss' wife and all of a sudden everyone speculated why in Japanese around me (thinking I couldn't understand) saying "It's because she's fat." or"She's too independent for a husband." (When the real reason was sooo far from that) I have about one teacher at work who is actually nice and talks to me, but the others are fake as hell. So that kinda sucks. It's not that I want to be friends with anyone there- I don't. But I just want the work environment to be less crappy.

I just come in and do my job and go home. But I always ask them "Do you need help?" or when I'm free instead of reading a book, I cut out rabbits, make medallions, clean the other rooms. I always go the "Japanese distance" and serve the Shodo teacher tea, when she comes to the office, offer slippers to visitng parents--crap I would have never done anywhere else. I figure that doing these lil Japanesey things would help me be in favor more with the teachers--nope. I always bring omiyage for them, sweets, presents from America, and etc.

The parents love me though. They always ask me not to leave until their kids graduates! (and stuff like that) They invite me to BBQs, belly dancing classes, and parties--it's nice, since my first year I was at NOVA and we couldn't do stuff like that. My boss is cool with it as long as I don't hang out with one particular mother more than another. I sometimes feel like I have to say yes, when I don't want to go b/c I went to another mom's party or such, which is my own fault.

My boss didn't bat an eye when I asked them to be guarentor for my apt. Then I said I would lose my cheap Y plate car (I drive to work everyday) and he offered me a new Honda (temple car) to use daily. He invites me to dinner at his house and trips for sightseeing in Japan.

The school itself has benefits. All nat'l holidays paid. Tons of school holidays off. Full pay the month of August even though I work 4 days only.Every spring the encho takes all the teachers on a trip somewhere in Asia for less than 2man. incl.hotel, air,etc.(Really!) I get off at 2pm.and so on. But every Wed. the teachers look at me funny when it comes time for me to leave.

Random Jteacher: Are you going home?
Me: Yes, I always leave at 2 on Wed.
Jteacher: Oh ok. (looking puzzled)
Me: See you tomorrow.

My boss, when he's there on Weds,never bats and eye and says "See you", but I always get this weirdness from the other teachers. I use Wed. as my only day to get to the bank, go to the post office, doctor's appts, and such, since every other day I get off at 6.

I also found out that I get paid way more than the others, but they get huge summer and winter bonus which I don't.

I have never been invited to any of the wedding parties that the girls have had,but they always ask me for money for the presents. Then they come to work and show the pictures or videos from the party. Maybe they think it would be too hard to translate, but I actually understand Japanese fairly well...

Once at a music festival (which I go to but am not required to) I was left behind by the teachers bus and had to get a ride back to the school by a parent. I wasn't late or in the toilet, they said the bus was full and they would come back but an hour later they weren't there and almost everyone was gone. (They later said they thought I had drove there...no I had rode with another teacher on the bus, but they conveniently forgot) My boss apologized profusely.

The teachers have a lot of power. Last year they got 2 other new teachers fired. I was shocked b/c one teacher who was super nice and kids loved her, was told not to come back after Xmas and forced to move out of the schools apt within a week. (They said she taught kanjii stroke order wrong.)Everyone treated her like crap except me and one other teacher. In the office they kept moving her desk around and when I invited everyone to the base for lunch, no one would come b/c she was coming. (They told me this) Another teacher had the flu, but came to school and gave it to other kids. (What most Japanese ppl would do!) and the teachers complained "She coughs too much" or "She's not genki enough" and she was gone quickly too. Apparently the complaints reached the encho and he axed them. So I was scared I'd get axed too, but a lot of the parents told me if I left, they'd take their kids out and the temple mother really likes me(apparently she has a lot of power in the school), so I don't have to worry.

I could on forever about all the stuff there, but the real thing is I'm at this crossroads on what I should do.

I was offered a HR position on a military base really far from here and was thinking that I need a new start in a new area with new ppl. But at the same time, I feel like I didn't come to Japan to work on a freakin military base.The pay is significantly less ($2000 a month)but it does have benefits like free grad classes and I could move up in positions... can you tell that I'm a really indecisive person?

I really like kids and my school has tons of benefits, but also a lot of crap. I'm locked in til March, but if I take the HR job, I have to decide asap and find a new teacher for the school (which shouldn't be hard) Almost all of my teacher friends have left and the few that are still around are out of teaching. I figure I have 2 more yrs max of teaching before I will head back to the States (I still want to live here to improve my Japanese and travel more)but I'm just tired of the crap at work. I don't know what else I can do to make the environment better. (Two bitchy girls will leave soon as they are pregnant, but they might come back)

Sorry if this just rambles on, but I'm in particularly pissed off state. Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated.

Mapleblondie · Joined: 29 May 2008 Posts: 93 Location: Canada

Hey Nawlinsgurl,

Wow, it sounds like you have a real doozy of a situation to contend with. I don't think that as posters on this online board anyone here can really TELL you what the best route would be for you to take. That is really a personal decision.

It seems that there are a lot of positive points and a number of negative ones too, but since you seem to say that most of those problems stem from those few Japanese teachers and they are going to leave on mat leave pretty soon, maybe things will get better when they leave?

I think you really just have to weight what is most important to you in a working place, and if you really feel like you are ready for the change to a new working environment. It may be the right choice to move, but definitely don't choose to do it simply because you think the grass might be greener on the other side. Every job has its positive point and its not so positive points to consider, and the lower pay and lack of little kids to enjoy the company of may only be the beginning of the unappealing points in the new job.

It seems like you are doing a lot to try to fit in and go out of your way to please your coworkers, but as I'm sure you know, sometimes no matter what a person does they cannot make certain other people see them favourably. From what I've heard from a bunch of people, the situation of Japanese teachers disliking foreign teachers is NOT UNCOMMON. In fact, there seems to be a real trend of that happening, I suppose because they are jealous of you for a variety of reasons, including your early days off, your higher pay throughout the year, the fact that the boss likes you, etc. It could be a number of things that have nothing to do with you as a person. Just take solace in knowing you are doing your best and that you don't need people like that as friends. Try to let it roll off your shoulders, if you can. Take care and I hope you find things easier in making this decision. Smile

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

I have been in a similar situation before back in about 2001 with a school in Tokyo.

Just such a negative vibe!

Dude, life is too short...and the world of teaching is TOOOOOOOOO big. Detach from your current gig and get another job. I am sure a lot of other schools would love to welcome you on board! Make it so.

Go to some interviews....sign the contract...give them 4-6 weeks notice. Expect them to h-o-w-l and cry when you say you are leaving.

They will.

But its easy enough to get a new teacher on board in that amount of time.

Do you have any teaching qualifications? If not, why not study part time in order to upgrade your value and insights into teaching?

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:25 am Post subject:

Thanks for the advice. Nope no teaching qualifications at all. Majored in Journalism in univ. I was thinking of branching out and trying something other than teaching but my lack of Japanese speaking ability and experience kinda scared me from that. I have been teaching here since graduating from univ. almost 3.5 yrs ago. First Nova for a year, then this school...

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

#1, not all teaching positions are alike. Yours sounds relatively poor, but I've heard of worse.

Yes, you may make more money per month, and yes, the other teachers will probably get compensated for that with their bonuses. Pretty standard. HOWEVER, it is illegal for either of you to get paid more (total) if you are considered to be doing equivalent work! Be careful about mentioning pay.

Leaving on Wednesday. This may be the arrangement between you and the boss, but it's obviously different for the other staff. Shrug it off. You can't change things. Be sure the other teachers get first crack at omiyage, I guess.

#2, If you are dissatisfied, look for other work. It's there, whether you get teaching jobs, HR work, or anything else. Get it lined up before you resign, of course. HOWEVER, the employer can't kick you out of your apartment. The landlord or building manager can try, but by law even they can't do it right away. Be on the safe side, though, and line up something else before resigning.

Why do YOU have to find the new teacher? Giving notice gives the employer the opportunity to do that. It's his school, after all.

#3, I repeat, not all teaching situations are bad. What sort do you you want?

Wintermute · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 79

It sounds like a really negative situation you are in and to be quite honest, the other teachers sound like absolute bitches. This in particular:

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

God, those women sound so British! My sister was working as a temp in an office in Bristol and the gossip circle bragged to her about the staff party, pointing out there was no point inviting her because she was 'just a temp'. I don't know if they showed her the pictures, but the kind of attitudes you describe are one of the reasons I left England. Most of my co-workers are too docile to even realise I'm there, let alone make an active effort to actually bitch about me.

I would take 'too independent for a husband' as a compliment! And I'm a man.

Like others have said, don't feel tied in, don't feel obliged to find them a new teacher. If they don't provide adequate working conditions for you (man, I'd have screamed blue murder about that bus thing, and they wouldn't have got a penny for any wedding presents) then they don't deserve you to put your neck out for them. Find a new job and appartment, and give them the required four weeks notice.

Good luck!

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

So you get off early, you get almost all of August off and you get paid more than the other staff. What could they possibly have against you? I'm sorry, but suck it up, you're on a good wicket. Resentment from the Japanese staff is part and parcel of the teaching game in Japan.

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject:

Well I only gave money 2x for weddings, then I realized I wasn't being invited. I also give money for babies and summer and New Years presents for the temple. (Not required but kinda of everyone does it)

But this can show you how fake the teachers are: Today I went to pick up my salary--it's given in cash every month in an envelope (how archaic!) And all the teachers jumped up when I walked in, rushing to say hi and such--now we've only been out of school four days--but my boss was there. He had to work temple stuff for the upcoming Obon and such, so he had been MIA. So he asked me how things were going with school and such, but of course all the teachers were right there listing like evil stepsisters.

I don't think my school's doing anything illegal by paying me more--they are a temple--so they probably know what they are doing, but salary's are supposed to be confidential. I think that one of the teachers may have found out what I make (its written on the front of the envelopes we get monthly) but I know its more than they make so that might be why they are so bitchy.

I'm kinda worried about looking for a new teaching gig b/c I know the market is flooded and everyone says that I have a pretty good thing now, if I just ignore the bitches. That's just hard to do day in and day out.

originaloli · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject:

I'm new to the teaching lark but I've got years of experience at Samaritans. Just because people tell you to ignore something doesn't make it easy to do. I'd say that if you're not tied to the school for some reason, you should jump ship. Your happiness and emotional health should come right after making sure you don't starve. It's all too easy to say "well but there's people worse off than me" but that doesn't make your situation any more bearable. Good luck...

Oli

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

Have to agree with several other posters; there are plenty of jobs out there. Apply around with the peace-of-mind that comes from knowing you have a job that pays the bills for now, and when an appealing opportunity presents itself, go for it, without hesitation.

On the way out, let at least one of the blabbermouths know how you felt during your time there. Probably won't help the next teacher, but it might. You'll feel better anyway.

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

Take this in the spirit in which it is given.

Get off the money issue. You said yourself that the other teachers get 2 bonuses which you don't get. It's cheap that they write the amount of each paycheck on an envelope that all can see, but do you know exactly how much the other teachers make total? Do you know if they get the same benefits you do (All nat'l holidays paid. Tons of school holidays off. Full pay the month of August )?

I wouldn't try reading people's minds. Get on with life, and best of luck.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Hi Nawlinsgirl!

I just read your post again, and to be honest, you're job doesn't really sound bad at all. Yes, you have sucky co-workers... But who hasn't at some stage? I do admit though, it's often co-workers that can make or break a job. When I think about all the good and bad jobs I've had, the best jobs have been the ones where I've worked with really cool people.

You get paid well, have lots of holidays, don't have any evening work, get off early on Wednesday, get taken on an overseas trip by your boss, are well respected by the students and parents... And your boss happily went as guarrantor for your apartment and provided you with a car. Yeah, you must be tired of all that crap!!

You say ...

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

I know how you feel! Maybe its because Japanese workers dont like girls from Louisiana! haha. They hate me to. But one good thing about my school is that I have about 3 other gaijin "on my side" (well I think they are...).
I am pretty sure that it comes down to jealousy. I hate that the Japanese workers make less, they work more overtime, and are given more responsibilities...because it gives them license to hate us. And it sucks! One big problem at my school is that they want everyone to be the same..but are paid differently....its stupid. But I have learned to ignore the hate and be happy about other things, such as our new puppy, etc. Having the owner on your side is important...so if you have that then why worry??
I dont know what to tell you because on one hand I would give money to have a 10 to 6 job working with kinder gardeners, and on the other hand I know how the "hate" feels. (I have the hate, morning and night classes, 30 min commute, with a 40 hour a week requirement, nuts!). I guess you should just weigh the good and the bad...but my philosophy is "dont waste your life" so if you feel like you are unhappy and are wasting precious time of your life..then get out!
Wink

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

You dislike your 30-minute commute, Quibby? You're lucky you don't live in Tokyo. Many people here would kill for a 30-minute commute, let alone a 30-minute commute where you didn't feel like a sardine.