Job Discussion Forums

spidr245 · Joined: 26 Nov 2008 Posts: 60

So with the cost of the car (and associated costs), that just means we will have to bring in more money with us. Hmmm...that's quite a bit of money. But in the end with the costs that we save, it is a better deal right?

seklarwia · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:03 am Post subject:

A better deal than what? Not driving? Well that really is going to depend. Remember that your salary doesn't change for driving positions. If you rent a car it might cost you 20,000/month (15,000 for rental plus 5000 for your parking spot). That's 20,000 every month out of your salary that a non-driver is not paying.

But if you have a lifestyle like deoglasse and are regularly making long trips... well everytime he was heading into Hiroshima (sorry, I forgot where he said he went most weekend) he was saving about 11,000 by driving rather than using public transport. So if he was renting and made two trips in the month he would already be slightly better off for having a car. If he made a 3rd or 4th trip that month he would have made quite a saving.

If you have a car and only ever use it for work, then no it is not a better deal. If you use the car often for things that you couldn't do on foot or by bike (and assuming your not in a place where you are hit heavily by paid parking) then it could possibly be a better deal.

But it is not really something you can do anything about now. If you said you were willing to drive, you probably will be driving and there is little you can do about that now.

fhsieh · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 29

Again, ESID.

In my situation, I listed that I was actually willing to drive. But my placement doesn't specifically require me to drive -- I'm able to get to my (only) school via biking, a train ride, and a 10 minute walk. That commute (round-trip) ends up costing me 880yen/day, fully re-imbursed at the end of the following month.

On the other hand, I need about 400yen worth of fuel to make the round-trip commute by car, also re-imbursed (and like degolasse said, at a higher per-km rate than I actually need for work); but of course paying for the car comes out of my pocket.

That said, driving to work is substantially better than biking and walking when it's raining, very hot, or very cold. And in my placement, having a car makes it much easier to get to different grocery stores (and even places like Costco) -- or rather, being able to drive back with a decent amount of groceries in-hand.

I think it is more convenient to have a car, but that convenience just isn't always obvious. Example: I had to bike home from the grocery store one day while it was raining, and managed to catch a cold. I was still able to go to work (thanks to some cold medicine), but needless to say it was a rough week for me. Interac does have provisions for temporary illness (using paid vacation days as sick days, getting doctors' notes, etc), but if you're prone to that sort of stuff, that kind of downtime could start to cut into your 20000yen bonus and/or salary.

mintxleaf · Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 47

So it's not like we have to save every single gas receipt to be paid back later, but it's more like Interac says "you'll receive XXXX yen allowance per month for driving expenses" or something like that right? I guess it'd depend from person to person...

Thanks for the many replies! Coming out from California (meaning we drive everywhere) I am terrible when it comes to public transportation >_< It would make me feel better to have a car, but the costs associated with it isn't something I look forward to.

fhsieh · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 29

Gas reimbursement might vary from one branch to another. For mine, it's calculated by: (days you went to work) x (distance in km to your schools, round-trip) x (￥14 per km fuel allowance), reimbursed in arrears together with your paycheck.

Eg: If I go to school 20 days this month, driving 30km each day (15km round-trip), at ￥14/km means I will be reimbursed ￥8400 at the end of next month.

Of course with the transportation expense claim sheet, the travel expenses should be itemized on a daily basis so that you can account for different schools (if you go to more than 1, some close and some far), and different modes of transportation (if you use a car for some, and train for others). Whether or not you're required to provide receipts may also vary from branch to branch, but in general you only need to provide copies of the receipts if you buy a monthly pass (train/bus) or need to take the taxi one day for some reason.

Again my branch pays the fuel allowance as a reimbursement (in accordance with how many days you actually went to school), rather than providing an allowance in-advance. These things may all vary to some degree with other branches.

spidr245 · Joined: 26 Nov 2008 Posts: 60

Sorry seklarwia. I wasn't too clear on my question, but you were able to figure it out anyways. Thanks, and everyone else as well. This definitely sheds some light on the issue.

So by having a car, I'll basically be getting less per month. However, I do like the points that fhsieh brings up (weather, groceries). And if you do have to travel, which one would want to occasionally, then it is a good thing to have as well. I guess I'll just have to watch how I spend then.

mintxleaf · Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 47

I just got my placement and was told I need a car (as I was expecting - and glad of it, I'm a car person!). For anyone else who is looking for answers, here is my situation (as I was told over the phone):

I'll be direct leasing from a car company (which Interac will introduce me to), and Interac will be paying for a little over 50% of the costs associated with it plus subsidized allowances (for gas I'm assuming). I'll be paying ~ 20,000yen/mo, which includes insurances.

Your situation will probably vary depending on your location and the BoE you work for. I think I'm part of the Tokyo branch (I'm in YAMANASHI, near Mt. Fuji). Anyone near that area? Very Happy

seklarwia · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:05 am Post subject:

Because I'm in the neighbouring prefecture we got to meet many of the Yamanashi ALTs at a post training meet in Kofu city. They are great people and many of them are not new to being an ALT or to working with Interac so they should prove a good support network for you. Definately you should ask them about festivals and what not if you are interested. They gave us some fantastic insight on things to see and do around the Yamanashi area. It's only a shame that it takes about 3 hours for me to get there, or I'd go more often. Its not that far but I need to catch 3 local JR trains to get there. At least its a very cheap journey if lengthy...

You are in the same branch as me. The MC is very good at putting you in touch with nearby ALT. The MC even made an email list which he sent to all the Nagano and Yamanashi ALTs so we cold contact each other.

LadyK · Joined: 25 May 2009 Posts: 55 Location: USA, FL

spidr245 · Joined: 26 Nov 2008 Posts: 60

gwynnie86 · Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 159

Well, firstly you shouldn't be doing it just for the money. There are plenty of ways to make more money than teaching.
Secondly that article was very cynical, but you know... I could live in a dirty flat in the UK on the only job I could get which just abouts gets me by enough to travel everywhere by bus (and walk through the rain past the lovely British locals... yeah) and shop at Aldi... knowing that the degree I just spent �15,000 on (and debt I won't be able to pay off for years) is worth nothing in the current climate... my friends are scattered across the place and I can't afford to go out anyway... OR I could have an "interesting cultural experience", which could either be enriching and exciting, or will make me appreciate home a heck of a lot more.

mintxleaf · Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 47

Thanks for the news seklarwia!　

By the way, I kept wondering... are there alot of people at the "training in Tokyo?" Even for the seminar/interview I was expecting like 100-150 people, and there were only a few people present. And now I'm again imagining this Tokyo training to be like 250 people.... but something tells me it might be smaller...

Also, I was hoping for suggestions.
Is there anything you can do to prepare for your Japan trip in terms of living (ex: apartment searching, insurance, cell phone, etc) you can do prior to arriving? Maybe I'm just confused about what's really happening when they say they're assigning you to a person (after the training) who will help you transition into your japan life and what he/she will be doing exactly...

seklarwia · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:30 am Post subject:

When I came in March, yes there were those kinds of numbers at each training session as that is when the majority of new ALTs arrive. But one guy I spoke to who arrived last summer said there were far fewer people at his training session, maybe about 30. I guess with far fewer ALTs arriving then, they whisk many off to their branches for training instead. But who's to know exactly how many they are taking on this summer.

I shouldn't think they'll be hundreds at any one training session for you. But who knows... maybe Interac will find it more cost/time/resource effective to have you all arrive at the same time and bung you in one large training instead of staggering arrival and training dates like they did for us.

Unfortunately apartment hunting online isn't really viable without a fair amount of Japanese ability. I have only found a few decent sites in the past that had an English option and they tended to be major city specific. Interac will arrange accomodation for you, which will more than likely be Leopalace. It's small, but functional and there are some perks like not having to completely furnish the place to move in and they have internet already at no extra charge (great for me who had her 360 plugged in before even buying any food).
You'll be told and hear that Leopalace has no key money or deposits to pay, but don't be fooled. There is no key money or deposit but you will have to part with a substantial amount of cash probably at training to cover your first couple of months rent and some other fees for cleaning and whatnot. And you'll have to part with a little more when you go to collect your key and to have the water guy come over when you arrive.

Interac may send you info about a foreigner specialist mobile phone company. This company may even turn up at training, telling how great their deals are. Don't bother with them. Firstly they are Tokyo based and I've heard some ALTs had nightmares after trying to even get reception at their placement locations. Secondly, the deal is a rip off. I don't even have the cheapest tariff from my provider but my bills are only about 4000/month compared to the 6000/month (or was it 6500... meh) that they'll try to charge you.

You should get assigned an IC (a helper). There is a chance that after training, you'll be handed train tickets and you'll have to make your own way to your placement. Your IC will probably be waiting to pick you up on the other end. They will take you to get your keys, take you to do your alien registration, then help you set up a bank account, mobile phone, etc. Mine also took me shopping 2 days running, showed me where to find my nearest supermarket, etc then took me out to lunch with her family the next day (she's a great woman). I met three of the Yamanashi ICs... they all seemed nice, though one seemed to speak next to no English. The IC is also the one to call if you need help with something you don't have the Japanese knowledge for, like if you need to see a doctor, or you missed a delivery and need to reschedule (though I've found that the latter is quite easily done yourself if you just know your numbers and can tell the time in Japanese).

As to insurance... you need to make that decision yourself. Interac will suggest Interglobal, but our trainers were quite honest. They did do the sales pitch of how wonderful their insurance was, but also warned us that if we intended to stay more than a year we could face back payments if we changed jobs and had to join NHI. But with the prospect of not being able to renew your visa later if you are not on NHI, perhaps you sholuld think twice about accepting Interglobal insurance if you think there is any chance that you might be here for the long haul.

mintxleaf · Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 47

WOw! So much great information. Thank you again seklarwia! I guess I'll be doing the NHI since I'm planning on staying for over a year (I start 2nd semester, then I want to continue on to the following school year as well). It's great knowing what to expect at the training session, and to not bother with the mobile phone company people there since I probably would've signed up had I not known otherwise. Thanks again =)

And arg, I really hope Interac will be telling us the arrival dates soon... must book that flight >_<