Job Discussion Forums

gtidey · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 93

So, you've been working all day. You've managed to create a classroom of geordies who will go home via the "boosh" (bus). Now what?

I'm interested in coming to Japan to teach but it just seems like any other city. What do you do on a night? Is there much of a night life where you are, and if so can you afford it?

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I wish I made my username witty.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Hmmm... What exactly are you looking for? There's fun to be had anywhere--you just have to find it.

I'm in a little rice farming town in Niigata-ken. (Me, a city girl...) On evenings, I do any of the following:

1) stay home and read, study Japanese, watch movies, talk on the phone, have friends over, exercise, spend too much time online, etc.

2) go over to friends' houses

3) go to my ikebana class

4) go to an onsen

5) go to the (dirty, polluted) beach

6) go out for dinner and/or drinks in my little rice farming town

7) go into the Big City (Niigata, about 40km away) for dinner or drinks

Yep, it's all affordable. Of course, if I did activities 6 and 7 every night, I'd be pretty broke.

I don't always like Japan, but I am never bored. There is always something to do.

d

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:37 pm Post subject:

Yes, its just like any other westernised city/country,but the food is better(usually).
Depends on how much of life you have seen. If you've never been anywhere then maybe Japan will wow you for a while...
(I know I will probably be accused of some kind of herecy, but there we go....)

As for cost, that's your choice. You could eat quite comfortably for 5 pounds/1000 yen/8 dollars a day. So, yes I can afford it. The salary for a n English teacher here is not bad, but not as high as any graduate can get back home. Of course, not all the teachers here are graduates,so for them its a nice earner.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

If you are from Geordie-land, a night on the toon in Japan might not match what you're used to.

Firstly the lads don't stroll through the streets with white shirts open to their navel and lasses with skirts not much longer than a belt - even in January.

Secondly, there are very very few kebab shops and, in any case, vomiting up your evening's repast is not usually standard practice.

Finally, and perhaps most disappointingly, a night out on the toon in Japan does not end in a good old fist fight in the street over "Wot e called wor mam." and such like, usually resulting in having to avoid one or two individuals for the following week or so.

However, if you enjoy going out with a bunch of locals who will get very merry very quickly and whose speech will become just as incomprehensible just as rapidly and eating some excellent food while you are at it, I would recommend a night out in Japan.

At least, that's how I remember Newcastle and Japan respectively Wink

gtidey · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 93

Eee, you're dead canny, you. *refuses to put on jacket of any kind*

Iwantmyrightsnow · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 202

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 4:03 pm Post subject:

[quote="Iwantmyrightsnow]

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

We can also ask Mulder how much weight he has lost too?

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I could easily eat for 1,000 yen/day. I usually spend less than 3,000 on groceries (unless I am stocking up on girlie drinks...), and they last for three or four days.

d

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

yes but Denise, you're a vegetarian or perhaps even a vegan if I recall correctly.

Some of us NEED meat and that costs dosh... Wink

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2004 2:16 pm Post subject:

Nah, I just think you rich guys are eating too much and boozing it up - both of which I approve of, of course! But I have quite a tight budget.

I used to work in a hospital and without boring all with the details, I do know more than your average Joe about health and nutrition.
I was pleasantly surprised about how little food CAN cost in Japan. You just need to look about a bit, or better still know a local, who can show you the best places. They really have got healthy eating down to a fine art here, unlike us westerners.

And Schmooj, you are right, I am definitely not normal Wink

Just for the record, I think I've gained about half a stone. Not sure what that is in kg. But thats because my local bar keeps inflicting half-price beer on me.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 3:00 pm Post subject:

yuk! no way, i ain't no vegetarian.

So get your wife to cook some stuff (or do it yourself). My girlfriend can cook a great meal for 800 for two people. Your wife is Japanese, right?
We've eaten just about every animal, mineral and vegetable on a very reasonable budget. I have never had such a varied and ....more importantly...balanced diet. (mind you, that's not saying a great deal considering the horrendous stuff that passes as food in the UK Laughing

)

I agree, one of the best things about Japan is the food, be it expensive or otherwise.