Job Discussion Forums

[muji]

Hi Guys

Nice community you've got here - you've all been very informative for me as a lurker, so thanks for that.

OK my plan is to go to live in Kyoto to teach english from this summer. I've got a friend there who can sponsor me for a working Visa, so I'm kind of planning on turning up with that and finding a job on the ground. Good or bad idea? I'm getting a CELTA through June, and I've got a 3 year degree behind me, plus about 7 weeks voluntary teaching experience in Peru. Im 22.

OK, so some questions:

I've got a very rosy picture in my head of turning up, quickly and easily getting an eikaiwa job, then finding a loving girlfriend, making great friends with some Japanese people, travelling a bit and generally living the high life for a couple of years... so, please - how likely is this to manifest? Am I creating a fantasy that is very far from the probable truth?

1) If I land in Kyoto, how long am I likely to spend before I have work?
2) Is it easy to get eikaiwa or ALT work in Kyoto (with my credentials)?
3) How easy is it as a gaijin to make friends with Japanese locals in Kyoto?
4) Women and girlfriends - is it easy to get a good girlfriend in Japan - are they shy with foreigners? Does the cultural supremacy I've heard about have any influence here?
5) Are there many "gold digger" women who target foreigners?
6) As a white person, will I naturally attract troublesome women?
7) In getting an eikaiwa job, would I be better off in a big company like Nova, or a small unknown place - and do they even exist?
8) If I got a job with Nova organised from England, once I'm there would it be bad/wrong/unacceptable to give them a months notice and immediately find a better job?
9) Is socialising and dating your eikaiwa students as heinous as it would be with high-school students?
10) Is there much of an ex-pat community in Kyoto?

Sorry if any of these seem like odd questions, but from my previous experiences of living abroad, I think they'll be extremely useful to know.

Thankyou very much for your help

[southofreality]

If you've been a lurker here for awhile, you should already know how your post is going to be received.

Enjoy the responses.

[muji]

I've actually been a very short term lurker, but any help and specific information comes much appreciated

[Glenski]

[Zzonkmiles]

I've had about enough of these types of threads.

[japanman]

I've lived in Kyoto for the last few years and I can't answer your questions because me all my mates have had such different experiences that you can generalise. a person's situation is often a direct reflection of who you are. If you are a fool, you will attract foolish friends and foolish women. That is just one of the obvious logical truths of the world no matter where you are.
One aspect though that I can answer. Finding a job in Kyoto is difficult. Many people have to commute to Osaka, which isn't too bad. I commuted to north Osaka for a year and it was fine.

[muji]

Thankyou very much Glenski and Japanman. That's extremely helpful.

Just so you know, I don't have a women-fixation. It's just that I haven't seen these specific questions answered before, and finding a long-term relationship in Japan is definately going to be a key issue in my enjoyment and integration with the place and the language. I've had enough women-problems from living in different countries due to my lack of understanding of the culture, and I wanted to learn about this aspect of Japanese culture before I get there. I wasn't aware that some women want a trophy gaijin boyfriend, so thanks for that - it's not what I want to be.

As for visa sponsorship:
http://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/en/visa/visa-certif.html
I have a British friend with Japanese residency who owns a business in Japan. Any ideas if he'd be allowed to provide a certificate of eligibility without the intention of employing me?

In regards to question 9 - what about socialising? If you want to go have some beers with your eikaiwa students, is this frowned upon throughout Japan? Or is this just a few of the big eikaiwa have a no socialising rule?

Thanks again - I appreciate your comments.

Japanman - how long is the commute? Are the buses/trains unbearably full? Or is it reasonably comfortable?

[japanman]

I think that it's best to keep students as students and friends as friends. I worked for a small school for a while and we used to drink with some students sometimes, me, the boss and the students. We lost a couple of students because they saw us more clearly. Not that we are are a couple of w**nkers, just that the shine came off when we were drinking. Told them a few truths about England and California and the students were gone. If you socialise with students they exoect to be socialising with the same person that they meet in class every day. Let the mask drop and it's trouble.

Depends what line you take to Osaka, there are three lines and vary in crowdedness. Busy trains don7t bother me as long as the person next to me has decent physical and oral hygiene.

[gaijinalways]

Zzonkmiles posted

[japanman]

On the whole though, you should try and have a laugh in Kyoto. Beers by the river in the summer are superb. there are very few places in Japan where you can get such an attractive place for a drink in the city centre.

[Gordon]

The gold digger question #5 made me laugh. You're an English teacher, or wannabe English teacher. You may be the poorest person she has met.

[jademonkey]

[muji]

[markle]

[Apsara]

In reply to your visa question, as far as I know you can only be sponsored by your prospective employer. They must put together the documents for your COE. Those documents include specific information about the company and your employment. I doubt very much your friend can do it unless he/ she also plans to employ you.