Job Discussion Forums

[ohcanada]

Hello,
I recently got a job with ALS and I will be moving to the Chiba prefecture in June of this year. I would like to know more about Chiba and what it has to offer. I would also like to make some contacts if anyone is interested, especially those who are Canadian like me. Also any information about the American Language School would be appreciated. Thanks for the help.

Cassandra (a.k.a ohcanada)

[Sam Adams]

Hello,

Do you know where in Chiba you will be living? I could give you a lot more detailed info depending on where you live. Chiba has both great cities and beautiful nature, and depending on where you live you might have easy access to both.
The winters are cold, not not as cold as Canada or northern U.S.A. The summers get very hot and muggy.
Chiba-ken is also home to Disneyland and Narita airport. Depending on where you live, you could be fairly close to Tokyo.
I hope this brief info helps. Any questions please just ask.

[Synne]

my girlfriend is from Chiba, the area is very nice, not too busy like the city, but not too small either. I have a friend in that area, but he's recently came back to Canada.

Sorry I can't help you, I'm also looking for a job in Chiba though, so maybe with some luck (lots of it) i'll be able to join ya there sometime this fall.

[TokyoLiz]

Check the Places to Live in Chiba thread.

Here's my happy message from that thread----

I live right in Chiba City's Hanamigawa Ward. The good things about living in Hanamigawa Ward are

1. It's slightly less ugly than neighbouring cities! There is much less concrete than in neighbouring wards. The parks are gorgeous and the Hanami River is mostly wild with 80% less concrete than the other rivers.

2. Three train lines run through it - the Keiyo borders it on the south, Keisei in the middle and JR Sobu on the north side.

3. It's a mere 10 minute ride to Chiba Station in Chiba's Central Ward, and a 15 minute trip to Tsudanuma in Narashino City where there is decent and cheap shopping, bookstores, Internet cafes and half-decent drinking establishments, some of which are cluttered with foreigners.

4. Kaihin Makuhari is on the Tokyo Bay side, in Maihama Ward, only a few minutes away from the JR line and served by the Keiyo line. Kaihin Makuhari has great shopping - Costco, Carre Four, theatres and a quiet little cafe scene that is just starting to grow.

5. It's only an hour and a bit to Shinjuku station on the Sobu Line.

6. It's not Tokyo!

7. Chiba is a large city and each ward of the city is very different from the others. Some wards are very rural.

8. Chiba City boasts great parks - Aoba Mori, Showa no Mori are gorgeous parks in any season.

9. There are really wonderful scenic bike routes which are well-marked if you read Japanese.

10. Chiba City has an awesome international office which is a 2-minute walk from Chiba Station. You can get free Japanese language tutorials there. The office hosts all kinds of events for foreigners.

The only thing I don't like about Chiba Prefecture is the equisitely ugly landscape between my station and the Edo River. It's incredibly dense, ugly, covered in billboards and virtually treeless. It's hideous.

[ohcanada]

Hello everyone,
Thanks for responding so quickly. I'm so excited that Disneyland is in Chiba! And to Synne, you should apply to ALS. It's tentative but I think they want me to work in Yotsukaido. Most of the placements are in the Chiba prefecture because the company was founded there. The director of recruiting is Greg Taylor who is actually from my home town--small world eh? He has been there for three years and loves it. Hope this helps. Who knows, maybe I will see you in the fall.
Any info on Yotsukaido would be appreciated.

Cassandra (a.k.a ohcanada)

[Synne]

Hey yea, thanks Cassandra, you never know; however, I have no degree, just 2 years teaching experience. But I can still hope for the best. Your from B.C. eh? I am also. I'm sure you'll enjoy Chiba though Cassandra, and thanks again for all the info, I'll check it out.