Job Discussion Forums

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

Simple question. My new job is insane. I only work 2 days a week. 9 to 3. Very good pay. But of course I am in Japan:)
With such a wide open schedule. How would you spend all that time?
I thought about doing an online Masters, I dont have one. but to be honest my uni job is tenured for life and the thought of slugging through a linguistics MA doesnt enthrall. Something of interest does, but really the costs doesnt justify itself when I can just read the book I like anyway.
Thinking about learning to play some kind of musical instrument, I love music but have never tried. I wonder though if at 38 I have any chance of learning it. ANybody any words of encouragement on this?
Are there any meaningful volunteer organisations out there? This does interest me.
Anybody got a new idea, abacus perhaps? Smile

Anything that they were surprised at how enjoyable it is.
Basically I dont want a few years to pass and look back that I spent them chiefly on interent forums:)
I dont get bored as such, but definitly looking for something new.

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

Feels like hitting the lotto, doesn't it?

Jazz1975 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 301 Location: Zama, Kanagawa

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

I started to learn the guitar at 33, 2 years ago. I still suck, but it is fun.

Why don't you look at a masters that you're interested in. Lots of degrees out there that are not that dry. Mine was a lot of work, but it certainly wasn't unintersting.

sallycat · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 303 Location: behind you. BOO!

are you trying to make us hate you? Very Happy

take up capoeira -- that way you'll learn how to do a backflip while singing in portugese.

may be going · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 129 Location: australia

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Had a couple of years on you when I picked up the guitar six years ago, actually take lessons these days, hard work though.
Where's your school and did you marry into that one?

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

Hmmmm, this is a post that asks about my free time. Why the blisstering attack? No I never said that I never had a degree. Where you get that idea? As Gordon can tell you, things in Japan are who you know not what you know. I got the job a few years ago on a part time basis. This year it turned into full time. Well to be honest its a national university. I am not sure if it is "tenured" as such. Just that the guy who gave it to me said its for life.
Thanks for the words of encouragment about the guitar. So could you get to anything near a play in the band level? That would be this ageing rockers dream:)
Yes I do think about doing a Masters Gordon, but as I dont plan on working once I leave this gig......well is it really a good way to spen $10000?
Oh and to give inspiration to others and annoy Canuck.....I have a friend working ft in another university with only a BA too. Canuck you just have to get to know the right people.

abufletcher · Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:32 pm Post subject:

The term "tenured" doesn't mean much in the Japanese context but it is different than simply being on a full-time contract that is indefinitely renewable (if both parties continue to agree to the arrangement). University contracts in the Gulf are like this. You can normally just continue on and on and on until you feel it's time to move on or until you step on the wrong toes or say the wrong thing in class to the wrong person's kid or someone in admin decides that it would be cheaper to hire someone else on a starting salary than pay a senior employee increments.

Tenured, on the other hand, in Japan means they CAN'T get rid of you even if they want to. Well, that's not entirely true, but it is AWFULLY DARN HARD to get rid of people with a tenured status. For example, even if our department dwindled down to only 1 or 2 students the university still can't officially fire the tenured profs. They would first transfer us to other duties or perhaps try to force us to quit by giving us particularly onerous tasks.

Also tenured university positions (in Japan) come with a certain set of perks, including a full Mombusho supplied research budget (450,000 per year) and paid year sabbatical leave. Perhaps the biggest perk is that you get the full bonus deal as all "tenured" company salarymen, namely roughly 5 months salary in bonuses per year.

You are then also obliged to attend department meetings and participate in the management of the department. Contract teachers typically have few duties beyond just teaching classes. I've never heard of a tenured faculty member teaching less that 7 koma per semester (and the average is more around 10). Normally these classes are scheduled on just 4 days with one day reserved as a "reseach day." But I have experienced semesters where I ended up only teaching three days a week -- (but even then I was obliged to also teach a grad class which met on a Saturday).

It is still possible to get lucky in Japan -- and not just in Roppongi!

abufletcher · Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:40 pm Post subject:

Oh, and if you are, in fact, just full-time renewable rather than tenured, I definitely suggest you get to work on that MA in linguistics/TESOL right away. Because I can almost guarantee that your luck with run out before you reach retirement age.

Heck, I AM tenured and I'm still always planning for the possibility of a next job!

cameron.mayo · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 81

Do something physical. I took up Muay THai 2 years ago at 36. Been doing it for 2 years including 2x 4month stints in Thailand, heck I even fourght a Thai guy in the ring! Got my arse kicked too. Karate, that Brazilian thing somebody suggested? Or even the guitar or both. You're never too old to be what you might of been. Dare I say it I've now got the body of a 28y.o....Go physical!!!

Jazz1975 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 301 Location: Zama, Kanagawa

abufletcher · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 4:12 am Post subject:

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

Thanks Abufletcher for the explanaition. Hmmm well it seems as if I am somewhere inbetween:)......I get the 5 months bonus, even a housing allowance. I dont though have to attend any meetings or in fact anything else at all.
As for the MA. As crazy as this may sound I was actually totally ready to leave Japan but of course couldnt turn this opportunity down. I still havent decided if I will stay here for much longer......but thats another thread:)
Cameron......thanks for those words. I have been wondering if it was too late to start something martial artsy......I exercise at home and jog, but I can still barely touch my toes. I seem to have the most unflexible body in the known universe. I have this image of being this total soft nerdy dude surrounded by a bunch of hyper aggressive, strong 20 yr olds though. Truth is, I have been to in touch with my feminine side for too long. Would love to bring the real man back to the surface:)