Job Discussion Forums

[RoseMoon]

Hi everyone,

I am an ABD (d=thesis) Master's student, currently working full-time. Nice to meet you all!

I got accepted to work for a small eikaiwa called Alpha Language School in Hamamatsu, Japan (Shizuoka prefecture). It has about 100 students, and the owner seems very nice. The owner has a detached apartment (2LDK) on the site of her home, fully furnished and subsidized for rent of 30,000yen per month with a 5000yen electric bill. She said she usually hires people from Australia and Canada, and this was her fist time hiring an American. This is a dream come true for me as my goal is to become a teacher in Asian studies, and this would be some excellent experience and I get to fulfill my dream of living in Japan. I have studied Japanese in college, and though my fluency is not so great through lack of practice, I have a very good base to work on and continue my studying in Japan.

I was interviewed by the school owner's best friend (I'll call her Y) as a favor who happened in be in the US. I am meeting with Y again this week to discuss/sign the contract and review the visa documents. If all goes well, I will start on August 1st (probably will arrive in Japan on July 28th).

My first question is: has anyone heard of this school? This is the website for it: http://www.alpha4u.jp

And, how much should I pack (as far as clothing, entertainment--books, etc., toiletries--bringing lots of deodorant!)? Would it be an issue bringing a 6 month supply of birth control pills?

And! Do you all recommend getting a cellphone in Japan? The rates seem very high for cellphone rentals...

Thanks for any help you can give!

[Glenski]

Have not heard of the place, but I would caution against renting a place adjacent to your boss.

Yes, get a cell phone. 5000-8000 yen/month is too high...?!

What to bring? 2 seasons of clothing, for one. Have the rest mailed to you. Most everything else in the way of clothing depends on your sizes. Definitely bring antiperspirant.

Birth control pills? uh, well, they are not dispensed here unless you have a serious medical reason for them. I suggest asking the females here or on http://www.being-a-broad.com/

[seklarwia]

Apart from deodorant and make-up (if you are not fair skinned) most every other toiletry is readily avaliable so you don't need to bring huge supplies. As to how much deodorant you can bring, I think there is a maximum number you can bring of any one item, but its not a small number so you should be fine.

I had whole heap of microgynon in my hand luggage... not an issue. I have heard that oral contraception is not easily avaliable over here and even if you are able to find a doctor to prescribe it for you, its not likely to be the same as what you are used to.

What you need to be careful is bringing in some of the drugs that you might easily get from your doctor back home. A couple of the US people that came in with me had (what was for them) regular painkillers conviscated at customs. Even things like Vicks inhalers contain substances that are illegal in Japan.

As to cell phones, don't rent one. Buy one and get a proper contract. Start up costs and bills can vary. My bills were about 4000 yen/month but I just got my bill a few days ago for the last month and it is only for 2400 yen since I only used it for calls and mail, not surfing the net like I did in the previous months. So the monthly bills don't have to cost you the earth if you choose the right plan for you. But if you will need a cell out here. Not only is one of the main ways to stay in touch but I was shocked how necessary it was just to find a friend at Shinjuku amongst the crowds of othe waiting for people. You will likely find yourself out and about so often that you won't even need a landline.

[RoseMoon]

Glenski:
Thanks much for the advice! How come you think it might be a bad idea to live in a place near my future boss? I thought it might be a nice thing, and it would bring me comfort to live next someone I knew (even if it is my boss). However, not sure what her true personality is like..
Also, I am wondering how big of a deal it would be to have someone visit me for a week or two in that apartment.. I'm not sure if I should ask ahead or keep it to myself.

seklarwia:
Thanks for the advice! Ok, I will have no qualms about bringing the pill..

As far as a cellphone, do you recommend any English language sites for buying a cellphone and getting a contract?

Thanks guys!

[seklarwia]

That's the problem with living next to your boss, you will have no privacy. They might be the nicest person on Earth and you might never have a problem. But they might be evil control freaks who will use the opportunity to spy on your every action and who might indeed have an issue with you having guests... whose to know?

You'll have to go into a store to get a cell. You should take your boss with you to help out. Around here most are with AU, NTT Docomo or Softbank. The only difference really seems to be the prices of the phones they have avaliable, but Softbank does seem to have the largest selection of phones in English. Don't know about the others, but Softbank also has an English speaking customers service number. Softbank and I think NTT Docomo have english sections on their sites but the info on price plans is all quite confusing.
It's not something you can sort before hand though, since you will need to have applied for your ARC card (though you won't get card immediately you can get a document on the day you register that you can use) and have a Japanese bank account to get a cell out here anyway.

[RoseMoon]

seklarwia
Ahh, right! I have definitely considered that, but the problem is that I will not really have enough cash on hand (because of the timing of this job; I actually applied for the position last Sunday and got accepted within a week) for key money to get a new place. However, if I feel very uncomfortable I could probably save enough money after a few months to get another place. I'll just have to take my chances for now.. we'll see how it goes

Thanks for the info on the cellphones! The Docomos look really sleek..

[Apsara]

Docomo has the best range, but their monthly payments tend to be the highest- everyone on Docomo seems to be paying around 8-10,000 yen per month. AU is usually the cheapest- I pay just under 4,000 yen for a plan including a lot of talking and internet connection time and almost unlimited emails. I very rarely go over the limit and when I do it's only usually a few hundred yen extra.

Seconded about the Microgynon- I have at times brought up to a year's supply with me into Japan and I have had my family post it to me before as well. Now my family no longer lives in NZ I have it prescribed by a doctor at an expat medical center in Tokyo, but it is pricey- it would almost be cheaper for me to fly to NZ once a year just to get it!

I agree with the above- living near your boss could be a blessing or a curse. If it turns out to be bad you could save up to move- there are places around which don't require all the key money, it's not always a given that you have to pay it.

[Mr_Monkey]

30,000 yen/month for an apartment the school already owns is 30,000 yen/month less they have to pay you. It doesn't make a difference to you, unless something goes wrong between you and your boss. However, walls in Japanese apartments can be somewhat... thin, depending on build quality, and you might find yourself working for people you dislike, and then having to almost live with them without even a great deal of aural privacy.

I would avoid living anywhere near my boss, personally - would you do it in your own country?

It could be good, but it sounds like a far bigger opportunity for Mr. Pain to welcome you to his world.

A possible issue I can see with th arrangement as it stands right now is that when your boss is 30,000 yen/month lighter in the wallet, and you are living independently, you represent a less financially attractive proposition as a teacher than someone who chooses to live in the school owner's granny-flat.

[cornishmuppet]

I agree about the apartment thing. It might work out well but I personally wouldn't want to. In a quiet area in Japan you can hear every time a door opens or closes, not to mention music or other things. Plus you have the problem that she might want to drop round unannounced, or might suddenly need you to work in an emergency giving you no chance to build an excuse.

I'd give it a shot as the rent is pretty cheap, but just be prepared to move out if necessary.

For phones, I have softbank, and it usually varies between 4 and 7,000 a month. I don't use it all that much, though, mostly just messaging. The 7k months are usually when I've made the mistake of calling up a particularly garulous mate!

[tsunatuna]

Birth control pills: it's no problem to get them here as well (just make sure you know exactly what you need). It's really not a big deal

[Glenski]

Detached apartment, ok, but right next to the boss? There have been cases where teachers actually LIVED WITH their bosses, and I have heard of nothing but grief from them. Besides, do you want to be indebted to your employer for a job as well as a place to live? I wouldn't.

As mentioned, who is to say the case will be any different living right next door? Have you any idea what this apartment looks like yet?

Where the heck is the school, anyway? If it's not next door or part of the boss's home, then you shouldn't have to feel guilty about asking for a different location. (see below)

If you can't afford key money, then at least consider asking whether your employer will serve as guarantor for a place, or help you look for one that does NOT ask for key money. They do exist, but they are not easy to find. Of course, that would also mean furnishing it COMPLETELY unless you get a LeoPalace21 place, in which case you would still have to pay everything up front (the whole year, that is).

At this point, don't even think of mentioning visitors, but scrutinize the contract to see if it prohibits them. Some do, and that's outlandish rubbish to try controlling your personal life.

They want you to start in just 4 weeks? That's a little pushing it, considering a visa might take 4-8 weeks to get. Be careful here. Get more on this place if you can.

[seklarwia]

[starteacher]

[RoseMoon]

Thanks everyone who has replied.. I am most likely going to get all my BC pills from Planned Parenthood since insurance is inflexible and doesn't allow me more than a few months worth of medication (being from the US and all).

I will heed the words of caution, but I don't get a bad feeling from this place as far as the apartment and the small amount of time I have to get situated. If worse comes to worse, I'll just buy a ticket home!

[ripslyme]