Job Discussion Forums

[rxk22]

[Inflames]

I don't think winding up as an alternate is that bad - I had a friend who was one for a month and he got paid to basically sit around and do nothing.

Most Japanese people work long hours but a fair amount don't - they can leave soon after they finish. A lot depends on your type of employment - contract workers and temps almost always leave right away and seishain usually stick around (it depends on the company). Most people say working for a foreign firm is a lot better than working for a Japanese firm.

[stumptowny]

I was offered a contract.. its being sent now.. now for some blow back, mental dribbles of mine as I read through all your posts... and want to vent a bit...

regarding interac, it has been a crap in-take experience for me. they are "doing what they can" while waiting for BOE's and renewers to renew before the newbs get in on the 60% pay for summer holiday action / 75% x-mas pay.. same old, same. whatever. looking forward to becoming the vaunted human tape recorder and not to make the ekaiwa a dime more with 2 year old taikens (really.. 2?!). done.

anyway, placement will be interesting... I was pigeon holed into a crap location, being told "there are no other openings, anywhere" (total BS) so that has tainted my experience. the lack of communication overall in the hiring process was bad.. I think they are so overworked they can't maintain minimum communication standards... still not an excuse.

I agree, Japanese is worthless outside Japan and mostly worthless here as well, as noted. if you want to become an anonymous automaton, grabbing your ankles for conformity, have at it. study up and get in line. I would chill and save $$ as a teacher... it's easy to save if you are not a drunk. meet ladies sober and grow a pair. or just go back home if you want a solid income. you would be better off going to grad school or raising your creds at home if you want a good job.. and then waiting for a job market of any kind..

outside the working realm, Japanese come off as emotionally stunted, social morons. see any japanese tv program....... how about the new product being shared and the astonished 10 tv hosts totally losing it in sugoi, because a machine can cut a cake so evenly or something ridiculous.... "EEEEEWWWWWWW?????SUGOIIIIIIII!!" it's every tv show I think. Not sure how to react while watching? just watch the box of the tv host's face at any time to figure out how to appropriately respond without thinking for yourself.. they did sell their souls for politeness after all. what do you expect.

individually, they are closer to being socially developed, capable of displaying a range of salient behaviors and emotions, approaching "normal" back home. but then the tv thing again.... they just do a remarkable job of dumbing up their society by being themselves on public tv. AWKWARD. it's like every moment is a doh!! moment. some cool peeps amongst the robots though, just gotta find'em. they are the ones who have lived or traveled extensively abroad...

all the others are "store bought cool"/hip... want to be alternative? buy the brand new alternative/counter-culture clothes package and poof, you are counter culture-anarchist now. repeat for reggae persona, punk, whatever you want to be. just buy your identity and never mind knowing it or heaven forbid, owning it. I need a vacation, it's true. but damn it's fun rippin on the bots.. especially when they try to identify as anything but Japanese.

learning japanese will make you more privy to the obvious.. you are not japanese or afforded anything just because you understand what is said. you realize your place faster is all.

in hindsight, if I had to choose learning Japanese or focusing my time on getting more creds back home, obvious choice.