Job Discussion Forums

suki_monster · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 15

does anyone have any experience with this city, or know anything about it? is there anything to do? is it a nice? hahah i don't know, any help would be awesome.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

I used to live down the line a bit in Toyota.
Seto is a satellite city of Nagoya therefore it has most of things you'll need but still leave you unfulfilled.
Really it depends on what you're into. Seto is really nestled in the foothills of the mountains NE of Nagoya so it's not far to go to get outdoors, but I'd say the nightlife was a bit dull. Still you can get into Nagoya quite easily.

suki_monster · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 15

first, thanks for the response! i know nothing about this city other than what i have read online (and it's pretty generic reading). when you say "unfulfilled", what do you mean? me personally, i like reading and getting coffee, maybe walking/bicycling around exploring the area, etc. then at night, i like going out with friends to the same old bars we always go to. is there a decent amount of mid-20 somethings? do many people speak English (since i speak no japanese..but i AM learning)? what is the weather like? i have tattoos (two partial sleeves), is Seto a more conservative city in that perspective?

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

sethness · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hiroshima, Japan

1) tattoos: All of Japan is going to freak a bit at the tattoos. Try to keep'em hidden, and don't be at all surprised if places like onsen (public bath houses / natural spring saunas) refuse you service.

This is because tattoos in Japan are usually a sign of yakuza (Japanese mafia) or foreign young-dumb-and-full--of-fight military types-- in short, the types of people you'd expect to have problems with.

This perception may be partially alleviated because you're a foreigner, and (maybe) you don't look military/mafia in other respects. ymmv

2) If you're in the 'burbs, you may find that the single/20s crowd and pubs are strictly in the City, while you're largely surrounded by families, kidlets, and grandparents. I'm guessing based on experience with OTHER suburbs of OTHER cities, not the one you'll be in, so I can't say for sure.

If you're within easy 30-minute commute to Nagoya City Center, then you'll have as much nightlife as you could care for. If you're in farmland more than an hour and a half from city center, you may find that there7s a distinct absence of 20-somethings, and neighborhood bars might not be the nightlife you7re looking for.

3) On the happy side, I've found that the deep country often has most-excellent community centers, called "kouminkan" (the big ones) and "shukaisho" (the small ones). Nagoya City has none of those, but perhaps the burb you'll be in does. If you're lucky enough to be near one or more, DEFINITELY check'em out, as they're chock-full of free or near-free hobby clubs, lesson groups, sports clubs, and so on-- everything from languages (including reading/writing/speaking Japanese) to arts and computers and music.

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Sethness is again not giving very good advice....

User N. Ame · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 222 Location: Kanto

suki_monster · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 15

thanks a lot for all of the responses, they were really helpful.

hahah, well, i don't think i will be mistaken or associated in any way with either the yakuza or the military. but perhaps i'm wrong on the perception of mixed-race foreign females. i have heard about the bathhouses situation, and as much as that's unfortunate, it's just something i guess i'll have to deal with. maybe i'll get lucky and find at least one lenient bathhouse. luckily, my tattoos do not go past my elbows, so i can keep them covered fairly well. in my jobs here, i always keep them covered without a hsassle.

my worry is the summer and when i am outside of work. obviously i don't want to wear a long sleeve, 3/4 sleeve shirt all the time, and from what i've heard about seto, everyone recognizes you. will that create an issue possibly?

another issue i am facing is perhaps the isolation i will encounter in seto. at the branch where i will be placed, i will be the only foreigner...and to be honest, i admit that is a bit unnerving. it would nice to at least have one other person to talk to that is also going through the same transition i am. is that unreasonable? i have to give AEON a response by the 10th about whether or not i want the placement, but i'm worried if i bring this up, i will lose the position. any advice?

dove · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Posts: 271 Location: USA/Japan

Maybe being the only foreign teacher at your school will be a good thing. You won't have to deal with the comparisons, the one-upmanship, the I-know-more-kanji-than-you-do b.s. I recommend, however, that you make friends at the cultural center in your community. Take the Japanese classes (in my town, they are on Sun. mornings) and you can make friends from all over the world (the students often hang out together after class).
You will also probably have lots of chances to hang out with your students at AEON. Being the only foreign teacher, you will probably be invited out--maybe to restaurants, on excursions, to Japanese cultural events. If you want that with your students, make it known from the beginning....but don't feel that you MUST hang out with your students all the time. I know some teachers who don't want to meet their students outside of class--it feels too much like work on their off-time. Figure out what works best for you. But I think overall, this opportunity sounds pretty good.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Actually I didn't address the tattoo issue because I didn't, and still don't, think it is an thing to be concerned with. Even as a woman (funny I picked up on that but few others did, 'cos like only guys are tough enough to get tatts right. Rolling Eyes

). Not that you won't get the odd comment but not from people that should worry you.

I'd suggest going for it, worst that can happen is that you'll have a slightly dull introduction to Japan.

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

just came across this website, not sure if you've already seen it. It's by the local international association.
www.setocic.jp

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

rai · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 119 Location: Osaka

suki_monster · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 15

first off, i want to again thank everyone for their responses, which have been very helpful.

"If you want that with your students, make it known from the beginning...."

-what do you mean by this? checking out the cultural center idea i think is a good one. not to just meet foreigners, but just the extra opportunity to explore more and force myself to adjust faster.

"funny I picked up on that but few others did, 'cos like only guys are tough enough to get tatts right. Rolling Eyes"

-hahaha actually yeah, I was a bit surprised that wasn't picked up either. my worry about my tattoos was them being seen by students outside of work and it creating tension or an issue in some way (wasn't sure if smaller towns were as lenient/accepting as the big cities).

"They've already offered you the position (I assume from the way your post is worded) so I don't think they'll take it back because you express some uncertainties about your placement. They know it's natural for new hires to have such feelings. "

-i have officially been hired. Perhaps I;m just being paranoid of offending them or losing a chance to go and being delayed until much much later.

"you should consider the worst-case scenario concerning your life during your first year here in Japan. If you're not committed to sticking it out no matter what happens (staying within reason of course), you might want to reconsider your choice to come here. "

-granted I cannot for-see all possible problems that I may encounter, I think I've done a decent job so far of thinking about my own personal insecurities and problems in coming to Japan. If anything, I think it shows my commitment to this opportunity. I want to be able to commit to my fullest potential in this, and I would hate to see that jeopardized. I'm sure i'll be fine, but once again, I'm considering these things from the perspective and likelihood that it will be difficult at some points.

"If you were to work with another foreigner, you might end up with someone who has been in Japan for awhile, has built a life, and has adjusted to life in Japan already. You might not have anything in common with him or her."

-perhaps I need to clarify: it's the fact that at some point or another we have both been in the same situation, which is an entirely new place. Granted, everyone's experience is different, i still think there is some understanding to some extent what it is like when you first come somewhere.

"It's the good friends you make here that will help keep you sane. And, if the best friends you make here are foreigners, what's the point of coming? "

-I totally agree with this comment, and I do not by any means plan on only making friends with foreigners. One thing I do like about this location is that I will not be surrounded by foreigners...but like I said before, it's just a nice convenience for there to be someone else to talk to locally that has also/is also going through the similar transition.

"just came across this website, not sure if you've already seen it. It's by the local international association.
www.setocic.jp"

-i had not seen this site, thanks very much!

"Don't worry about what anyone says, it's not a sign of weakness if you seek out other foreigners who are going through the same thing you're going through."

-hahaha, thank you! that is reassuring.