Job Discussion Forums

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Oops! Horrendously drunk, (and somewhat pissed off with other people (not you) stereotyping young Japanese women) when posting earlier.

It was mainly a knock at those 'teachers' in Japan who argue that the low wages and bad treatment by Eikaiwa management is somehow compensated for by the fact of the existence, indeed ubiquity of said stereotyped school students, and yes they really do exist (such teachers I mean) and argue that position (you'll come across their arguments occasionally on gaijinpot if you join it). I accept that the criticism doesn't apply to you. I'm glad that you are happy and excited about heading out to Japan. My advice, for what it is worth, would be to guard against seeing things through too rose-tinted a pair of 'this is unusual and different and as it is because it is Japan' spectacles on first arrival in Nippon. Many things are good and commendable about Japan, and Aeon are probably the best of a not particularly good bunch in terms of their treatment of teachers but some things are slightly fucked-up, and Aeon corporate groupthink is one of those. Being warned that it is not 'Japan' but 'Aeon' may help make the realisation of just how manipulative a process initial training can be easier for you than it was for some others, including myself. But maybe you'd have simply had a blast with your fellow trainess at initial training whilst taking the relentlessly positive nonsense with a pinch of salt without my warning, or maybe you'll find it all fine and dandy, but experience and the writings of other ex-Aeon staff tell me that many find Aeon's corporate atmosphere, behavior and expectations ever so slightly cult-like.

The wages may be higher, at current exchange rates, than you have been earning where you are, but they are very low for graduates in Japan (and don't rise with age and experience, unlike Japanese graduate salaries) and Japan is dear, especially for fruit and vegetables.

But it is a pity that you are not (yet?) a big fan of seafood; for the seafood in Japan really can be very very special.

Enjoy! And don't let my cynicism put you off. There are many many wonderful things about Japan. It is just that it often seems that the more relentlessly positive the new (or not-yet) arrival, the heavier the comedown a couple of months in, and there will be a comedown, and then an upswing, before stabilisation takes place.

Apart from the seafood, the nature in Japan can be spectacular. Get out of the city just as often as you can, and really get away from it all whenever possible. The mountainous centre and southern coast of Shikoku are superb, and perfect for camping. Hokkaido and the coast to the south-west of Honshu have their devoted fans. Just getting out of the city and being 'in nature' at dusk can be incredible: The mountains are everywhere, just add a river or stream and the sound of running water and you could be in heaven (watch out for the midges in Autumn though).

Enjoy!

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Iverin,

Congratulations on getting in with Aeon. Beware, as the other folks have said, of serious indoctrination.

Have you learned much about Fukushima Prefecture? It seems you lucked in and got a lovely part of southern Tohoku, very nearly Kanto region. The prefecture just to your south is Tochigi, which has fantastic natural landscapes, gorgeous mountains, and Nikko, a world heritage site.

There are a lot of treasures to see in Fukushima Pref. You've got the old castle town Aizu Wakamatsu there. You can read about it on the JNTO website. You know about it?

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/fukushima/aizuwakamatu.html

JNTO is a great place to search for info about places in Japan, and to find out how to get there, check out http://www.hyperdia.com/.

iverin · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 111 Location: Ontario

Thanks for the info Liz,

I'm still looking into something to do over the winter break that doesn't cost too much money so I'll look into some of the local "nature" things and see what I can do in December. My Aeon recruiter keeps asking me what I plan on doing for the break but as of now I don't have any plans seeing as I'll only have been working about 3 weeks before I get the week off.

Ashtonmd · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 10:32 pm Post subject:

Ivervin,

I too am trying to find something to do for over the December holiday that is inexpensive. I am arriving Oct 31st and as such will also be relatively poor. Let me know if you find some interesting things to do!!! Also I'm going to be in Kobe, so something in the Kansai district would be preferable.
Does anyone have any suggestions??

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Kyoto.

Go with a friend if you can but alone is fine and stay at the Utano Youth Hostel in NW Kyoto http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/utano-yh/ on a leafy road on the edge of the city close to the NW temples and nestled under a hill with views over Kyoto, big o-furo (japanese style baths), bikes to hire, superb staff and refurbished earlier this year. Nice walks abound and the area (and temples) look great if it snows. If you tire of all the nature and temples just hop on a bus, or bike (to hire at the YH) and you're in the centre in 30 mins or so.

Heaven.

http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com/hotel/-P133196.html

P.s. The 10.00 curfew can be circumvented via the verandah at the back of the building although you are kicked out of your room daytime for cleaning.

iverin · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 111 Location: Ontario

Well I have my Visa in hand and my flight leaves in 30 days!!! A friend of mine was also just offered a position two towns over from mine so I'm really excited and hoping that she accepts it so at least I'll have one familar face on the other side of the globe!

paRACHute · Joined: 12 Oct 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Sydney, Australia

I have 21 days left before I fly to Osaka! I am totally freaking out! AHhhh Help!

Squire22 · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 68 Location: Shizuoka, Japan

I just wanted to say that I think it's fantastic that you guys are so excited to be coming to Japan. Your first year will be like nothing you can possibly imagine, it will be filled with excitement and amazement, probably in equal measures of positive and negative. I can't tell you how amazing my first year here was, and I hope that you can experience as good a time as I had. The only problem I had, if you can call it a problem, was that I did, and indeed still do, feel as though I'm still starting out in this country, even after three years.

Try to stay positive, a lot of things will seem strange if it's all new to you, don't worry about it, don't take anything too personally, just think of it all as a new way of thinking and you'll be fine. Japan really is a spectacular country, you'll have a blast.

Best of luck to you