Job Discussion Forums

[Meagan0813]

Hi,

I am new to this forum, although I have been scouting it for many days. The information here I can see is priceless. I want to teach abroad for 1-2 years, I have my BA, I am American, I have 10 years of professional experience at a hospital and a university in the states.

I originally was passionate about going to France, as this is my families background (nope, I don't qualify for a passport), then my second choice was somewhere in Europe. I don't think I will be able to work in Europe. A couple friends of mine had great experiences in Japan, and I started to do some research. It seems that there are jobs available, Americans are welcome there (I would prefer that people be happy that I am there !), and good wage as I would like to send a little money home.

I have a friend who may know a Japanese family that can host me until I find a job if I leave for Japan without a job. I am planning to go in March 2009, as this is a good time to look for a job and works for me personally.

I would like advice on the plan above - picking up, going, staying with a host family, then finding a job. Is this a good option? Since it's hiring season, I don't want to miss the mark.

How long will it take to secure a job on average?
Which language schools are the best? I would like to work with business/adults/teens to use my business experience.
I have a cat that will be coming, I saw one school doesn't allow for pets at their accomodations - is this typical? What is my alternative (besides to leaving him at home?)
I have travelled pretty extensively in my lifetime... and I know this is relative, but is the culture shock of moving to a new country really bad?

Any other advice and/or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance.
Meagan

[seklarwia]

Pretty much all the apartment ads I've looked at said no pets. I don't know about houses, but I'm guessing thats going to be way out of your price budget.

[wintersweet]

Have you used the search function to look at posts in the Japan forum regarding cats? There's a fair amount of info here about this topic already.

Good luck!

[Meagan0813]

I haven't seen anything about cats... but I will keep searching. I didn't do a "search", I have been reading through by looking at topics.

[wintersweet]

[accidental double post]

[stevenbhow]

If you are only planning on staying in Japan for 1-2 years you would be better off leaving your cat in the States. Japan quarantines all in coming pets for at least a month. Then, you face the difficulty of finding housing that allows pets. Most don't. If you cat is an outdoor cat, he or she would probably have to adapt to being an indoor cat while in Japan, which means a lot of long hours alone in a small apartment. If you plan on doing any traveling around Japan or Asia while you are here you might find it difficult to find someone to take care of your cat while you are gone. It isn't something Japanese neighbors do for each other here. Sorry to discourage you, but I was in the same boat when I came to Japan and decided to leave my cat with friends.

If you need a cat fix while you are here there are plenty of street cats in most cities and towns that will be happy to be your friend once you have fed them.

Good Luck,

Steve

[Glenski]

[Meagan0813]

Thank you everyone for your responses. They are very much appreciated. I will have more questions I am sure, but meanwhile I will keep looking through the posts, especially the FAQ's.
Thanks!

Just out of curiosity - has anyone left the cat at home, came back after 1-2 years - and how is it? Does the cat still know you? May seem silly, but he's 10 years old and my little buddy.

Thanks in advance if anyone has had experience with this.

Meagan

[mimimimi]

I left my cat with a friend back home and visit her (the cat - - - and the friend too) every time I go home, about once a year on average. She (the cat, but not always the friend) recognizes me every time, especially my voice and the way I call her. She's 12 now. I really missed her when I arrived, but I don't regret my decision in leaving her one bit. It was in her best interest. She's an outside-play-indoor-sleep cat, so I couldn't bear to keep her cooped up.

[Meagan0813]

How long have you been gone? Do you plan to take her back when you come home, or has your friend "adopted" her?

Thanks. )

[mimimimi]

She belongs to my friend now. It was a blessing really. Her other cat passed away shortly after taking in my cat.

[JL]

Meagan,
Those who counsel against bringing your cat with you to Japan, in the end, may be correct. But allow me to muddle the issue for you a little.
I have known a number of apartment tenants in the greater Tokyo area (where I have lived), who have kept dogs or cats, as permitted by their lease. I don't know where you are headed, but I'm guessing you can find an apartment that accepts cats, if that's what you want.

Now, if you're still are planning to come in March, but would like to bring your cat, I have to regretfully say that this is impossible. However, if you postpone your plans for approximately six months, it's entirely possible for you to bring your "little buddy" with you. The following I'm about to explain, will seem very daunting and arcane -actually, it's not. We just so happen to be in the process of getting ready to bring our family dog with us to Japan, have done all the research, and are in ongoing contact with the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service at Narita Airport.

You have to have a microchip (preferably, but not necessarily, ISO compatible) embedded in your cat. You'll also need records of the two most recent rabies vaccinations done on 'Buddy.' Subsequent to the second of these vaccinations (which, hopefully, you've kept up to date on) Buddy must be tested for rabies' antibody levels (your local vet can handle this, though the actual blood sample must be sent away to the USDA-sanctioned rabies lab at Kansas State University). The truly onerous part is that a 180 wait-period must elapse from the time blood sample is drawn, until Buddy may enter Japan. Dogs and cats that are quarantined at the Japanese point of entry, are those which haven't fulfilled this wait period before being brought into Japan. The 30-day wait period mentioned in a previous post, strictly speaking, is incorrect.

It just so happens, we followed all these steps last fall, targeting late March as our arrival date in Japan. However, the vet botched the procedure, and it all was for naught. We had to re-initiate the process, and now cannot enter Japan until August (yes my friends, you all must now endure seeing my "Las Vegas" datelined dispatches for almost another half-year. I seriously wanted to take the vet to small claims court, but decided against it. Have no idea how I'll manage to find work in August. But that's another topic for another thread...)

In short, despite all the hoops to jump through, and this major setback, we are resolute about bringing our Benny with us. It can be done. Whether bringing your cat with you is something you will still wish to do, is a decision for you to make.
Here is some must reading:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html

And here's our Benny!
http://community.post-gazette.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.ImageFileViewer/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles.00.00.00.33.10/KIF_5F00_3087_2D00_1.JPG_2D00_600x450.jpg

[JL]

The thread consensus, including immediate post below, is that bringing your pet with you is unwise. I do not discount the points made by others. If you have the option of entrusting your cat with someone back home, that may well be the thing to do.

In our own case, we have no such option. Additionally, though being sedated and cooped up on a plane for half a day will an ordeal for our dog, he is a rescue dog that has been traumatized through abandonment already. It took us over one year to bring him around. Now, he seems very well adjusted and happy with us. Even if we knew someone to take him in, subjecting him to what he would perceive as abandonment again, is not an acceptable solution. I wouldn't subject my kids to the heartbreak, either. It's not like the dog has only one owner, and will be alone any time I am out at work. My wife may, or may not, even work for the year we are in Japan. And if she does, it would be in the day, while I work predominantly evenings. We have kids -we have always staggered our work schedules for that reason.

Anyway, different households must make different decisions about their pets.

[Appletreesrtall]

About the cat, I was sooo motivated and determined to bring my 2 cats to Japan. I got the blood work done n all that jazz, but people in this forum really opened my eyes to how "selfish" I was being. I mean, its a lot of stress( for you, but MAINLY your cat) to take them half way across the world. And then to be teaching and gone for a majority of your day?? The real kicker was when I found out one of my cats has allergies, I didn't want to put him through more than what hes already got. Luckily my boyfriend is staying in the states to work while I go to Japan, so he'll be able to keep an eye on them.

As for the culture shock, you mentioned that you've traveled extensively, but exactly WHERE have you traveled to? Asia is just on a whole different level in my opinion.

Good luck with your traveling!

[Meagan0813]

Thanks again everyone for your words of wisdom from experience. And, Benny is adorable!

It is a very difficult decision - to bring, or leave, and I think a lot of factors go into it. For me, I would want to leave soon, and it's not going to happen with "Squeaky" (his name bc he talks a lot - I mean a lot) to Japan. I am considering some of the other Asia countries that don't have such strict intake procedures...any ideas?

As far as travelling, no, I have never even been to the Asia area. I've been around Europe, Mexico, and some others. I spent 1 month in Germany sitting at home while a boyfriend worked, and that was not fun. Working all day does make the culture shock a bit easier, yes?

Thank you all again,
Meagan