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viddy
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 50
Location: London, England
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 Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 12:23 am Post subject: Handa, Aichi Prefecture |
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I've been offered a position at the AEON school there. Does anyone know about this area (it's about 40 minutes south of Nagoya)?
From what the gentleman at AEON said, and my own research, it seems a pretty small beach town. As someone who is more of a big city person, might it be a difficult adjustment? How many other 'gaijin' may be around the area e.g. from the other language schools and JET?
Finally, if I were to decline this position, does that mean my business with AEON is over, or will they continue searching for a more suitable location for me?
Thanks in advance. |
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grampus
Joined: 14 Mar 2003
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 12:52 am Post subject: |
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Hi mate,
Sorry to disappoint but Handa is rather dull. It is near a beach so to speak but not one you want to venture near. It is polluted and the locals don't go there. Unfortunately, there is no nightlife bar the odd Izakaya. Gaijin, well, a few work there and im sure you wouldn't be completely alone but then again.
Nagoya is not far, but for a night out you looking at the morning train back if you want a big one.
My advice, do not do it! As for the job istslef, i dont know so much abt AEON. |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 12:59 am Post subject: Re: Handa, Aichi Prefecture |
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| viddy wrote: |
I've been offered a position at the AEON school there. Does anyone know about this area (it's about 40 minutes south of Nagoya)?
From what the gentleman at AEON said, and my own research, it seems a pretty small beach town. As someone who is more of a big city person, might it be a difficult adjustment? How many other 'gaijin' may be around the area e.g. from the other language schools and JET?
Finally, if I were to decline this position, does that mean my business with AEON is over, or will they continue searching for a more suitable location for me?
Thanks in advance. |
I think grampus was a bit negative. Nagoya is not exactly the biggest city on earth but it is a the fourth biggest city in Japan and has plenty of foreign life. Handa is spitting distance from where I have lived for 6 years. The beach (as you know it) is non existent down here so forget that unless youw ant to drive about 2 hours away. But central Japan has lots of advantages if you like discovering a) history and b) scenery.
Foreigners outside Nagoya in the local cities that border Nagoya seem to me to be very standoff-ish. I don't know a single foreigner outside my own school around here despite being here 6 years. I do know some in Nagoya though.
FWIW, English Teachers in Japan (ETJ) have a very active and supportive regional group which would meet just north of you once every two months. That would be a great way to get into the foreign teaching community with ease and through them into other communities. Transport into Nagoya should be good though I've never travelled from there - they must have a train.
The location means that you could have the city life in Nagoya whenever you wanted but also immerse yourself into pure Japanese life in Handa too. Handa is nothing to look at - just a typical featureless Japanese city. But that means that it doesn't draw foreigners too much and so you can really make Japanese friends and learn the language without distractions too.
IMHO, it's as good a place as any. |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 1:03 am Post subject: |
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| Oh and another thing. From FEb 2005 the new international airport will be literally down the road from Handa making it VERY easy to get to if you are coming in and out of Japan. |
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grimmer
Joined: 14 Oct 2003
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 5:25 am Post subject: |
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Handa is a hole. That`s the harsh truth and nothing but. Has a vinegar factory, little else. People visit the area for a few days a year to dig for seafood. It is similar in charm to wigan, milton keynes or newport pagnell.
Nevermind...
good luck |
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unchi pants
Joined: 20 Dec 2003
Posts: 64
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 6:08 am Post subject: |
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In my experience it's better to live in a city that has some charm of its own ... rather than simply living in a place whose only attraction is that it is located NEAR to other things. It's NEAR Nagoya ...  It's NEAR an international airport ... (great for escaping). It simply means you end up spending all your money on transport in order to get out of the city.
You can live in a nice place and still experience pure Japanese life.
Incidentally... There are three cities in Japan "famous" as having unattractive women ...
Sendai, Mito and ........ NAGOYA! |
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viddy
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 50
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 8:38 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the info. From the sound of things it's somewhere you wouldn't even send your mother-in-law to! 
So what about the other question I asked:
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Finally, if I were to decline this position, does that mean my business with AEON is over, or will they continue searching for a more suitable location for me?
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guest of Japan
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 1601
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 8:55 am Post subject: |
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I don't know the answer to your last question. This means that it is entirely possible that they won't extend a different offer.
If you are dead set on coming to Japan with AEON, but do not want to go to this area then you should express your deepest wishes to be an AEON teacher, but that you don't wish to go to that area of Japan.
I'll warn you that AEON is not known for bargaining. |
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BenJ
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 209
Location: Nagoya
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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| unchi pants wrote: |
Incidentally... There are three cities in Japan "famous" as having unattractive women ...
Sendai, Mito and ........ NAGOYA! |
Should I even bother with this... ? |
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unchi pants
Joined: 20 Dec 2003
Posts: 64
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:20 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Should I even bother with this... ? |
You might aswell .... You obviously want to. |
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