Job Discussion Forums

[PAULH]

[Sweetsee]

I was surprised to learn that a full time Japanese math teacher fresh out of university at our school was informed in February that his one-year contract would not be renewed.
This came at the same time that they informed me that they had no plans to renew my contract. But it seems that our principal refused the board of directors order to fire me and they agreed to give me one more year.

[PAULH]

[shuize]

[Vince]

There are two points to keep in mind. First, pessimistic stereotypes will always be the order of the day. Second, our cultures put a lot of value on playing The Game, and growing up in that environment has left such an impression that we sometimes even wonder about ourselves for not playing The Game.

During a conversation with my father today, he made a comment about me "starting [life] kind of late." I didn't appreciate the insinuation. Teaching in Japan wasn't a "real job" or a "real life." Things didn't get real - I didn't get real - until I joined the corporate world, got a mortgage, had kids, and in all other important ways fell into the American rat race. I'm not saying my father wants my life to be a grind, but that the rat race is what people consider to be real adult life. Anything else, and you live in the clouds. My people will always tell me that going to college in my late twenties was ok because I spent my early twenties in the military, and that starting my corporate career in my mid-thirties was ok because I spent my early-mid thirties overseas. They sincerely want to give me that benefit of the doubt, but the cultural momentum is such that they're ultimately humoring me.

I know what took me to Japan and what will most likely take me back. It certainly won't jibe with the typical expectation for an "adult" life, but I'll be comfortable with my choice as long as I can provide for family and achieve my goals. Other people's opinions of that path's validity used to affect me, but now they amuse me.

[JimDunlop2]

[SEndrigo]

Hey Paul,

I completely understand where you are coming from, especially as you have a wife, kids and a mortgage too.

But let me ask you this: did you not know that the Japanese government systematically discriminated against foreigners, before you started teaching at a Japanese university?

With my previous post I did not want to imply that we should ignore all such problems, only that we should stop whinging about it on a message board.

There ARE ways to combat racism and xenophobia, but I don't think by posting negative views on ESLCafe that we will help eradicate such social problems.

[PAULH]

[PAULH]

[SEndrigo]

Have not read that one but it has piqued my curiosity...shall check it out !!

Yes it's really a shame that the fact that one needs to support a family isn't taken into account, it's really dog-eat-dog out there and I suppose uni is no different.

I suppose it's up to us to make do with what we have, or push ahead and try to better ourselves as best we can!

It's possible to do that in a "free" country such as Japan, we are pretty fortunate to be living here as I don't think our possibilities are as limited as some people make them out to be.

Anyhow just my two pence !

[shuize]

[PAULH]

[cameron.mayo]

Who gives a tinkers cuss what your percieved as by people from your own country...Let go of mummy's apron strings and be your own man/women. People that dis you obviously don't have the balls to do what your doing and live in another country...Who gives a toss whether you wash pots n' pans, your sucking up lifes challenges just as your so called 'buddies' are.

[Jazz1975]

[sallycat]