Job Discussion Forums

elliot_spencer · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 495

Just thought I'd try start a small survey to see who we are etc;

1) Where are you?

2) which type of school/establishment do you work?

3) Do you enjoy Japan?

4) How long you been in Japan?

5) How long you planning on staying?

Ok, me 1st -

1 - Tokyo

2 - One of the BIG 4

3- LOVE it

4 - 1 month

5 - Indefinatly

Jon Taylor · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 238 Location: Tokyo

elliot_spencer · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 495

sorry - it's been a long day!

5 - indefinitely

TK4Lakers · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 159

1) Where are you?
Ibaraki prefecture
Kamisu-shi

2) which type of school/establishment do you work?
ALT at JHS/ES

3) Do you enjoy Japan?
Of course. I enjoy the food, culture, peacefulness, good waves, and the language.

4) How long you been in Japan?
Since 03/2006

5) How long you planning on staying?
Another 2-3 years, until I gain some working experience and gain more fluency in the language.

Now I'm going to add a question:

6) What are your goals while in Japan?

Make some good friends.
Become more fluent in the language.
Work for an international company while living in Tokyo.

jademonkey · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 180

1) Where are you?
Currently, Melbourne. I lived in Tokyo.

2) which type of school/establishment do you work?
Was at NOVA, now a postgrad student in Australia.

3) Do you enjoy Japan?
Short answer, yes. I was there for 4 years and plan to return "indefinitely". The things that shat me were: waiting forever at train crossings, fascistic rubbish disposal systems and my company. I loved: onsen, travelling around, mountain walks, cheap movies, izakaya, sakura...so yeah, liked it.

elliot_spencer · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 495

6) What are your goals while in Japan?

I came to Japan for a new life. I am still young, mid-20's and I can't see myself living and working forever in Europe due to many factors - Low wages and high cost of living - everyone out to cheat everyone and society esp in the UK is the pits! I thought Japan offered the best life style long-term due to the visa ristrctions of OZ etc.

I currently work for Shane and it's shit - but, I hope to work my way up to maybe teacher trainer and/or go work in a JHS.

The only thing that worries me about Japan is one-year contracts!

Jademonkey - so, you too plan on living in Japan forever? Do you want to retire here and the works?

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

I'm currently in Oregon, USA.
I lived in Japan from 2002 until earlier this month, in Hokkaido and Chiba.
I worked for a medium-size eikaiwa.
I absolutely loved Japan, and miss it already, but realized that at age 40, I needed to make the transition back.

jademonkey · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 180

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

1) Where are you?
Kuwana, Mie (about half hour out of Nagoya)
2) which type of school/establishment do you work?
small but successful ekaiwa
3) Do you enjoy Japan?
Both my wife (not Japanese) and I do
4) How long you been in Japan?
2 years
5) How long you planning on staying?
End of 2008
6) What are your goals while in Japan?
With a rugrat due in December, it's all about the money, honey. Language, ability to cook a few dishes really well, a bit of hiking, biking, and camping would be a bonus but no longer a priority.

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

(Markle, congrats on the baby! are you excited or scared?)

ok back to topic...

seanmcginty · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 203

1) Where are you?

Canada (I used to live in Himeji and Akashi).

2) which type of school/establishment do you work?

I'm a student now. Spent my time in Japan working for GEOS, AEON and two years teaching on my own.

3) Do you enjoy Japan?

Yup.

4) How long you been in Japan?

I was there for 5 years.

5) How long you planning on staying?

I might go back to live someday, but I'd never do the Eikaiwa thing again.

Sherri · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:16 pm Post subject:

1) Where are you?

I used to live in Tokyo, now in the US

2) which type of school/establishment do you work?

I worked at a private language school, but not an eikaiwa.

3) Do you enjoy Japan?

The first 10 years were pretty good, I didn't enjoy the last 4 so much.

4) How long you been in Japan?

14 years

5) How long you planning on staying?

That was more than long enough. It was good while I was there, but I did what I could, learned what I could. I never want to live there again.

6) What are your goals while in Japan?
To develop myself professionally, meet people, learn about Japan, travel in the region
(I achieved all)

steveperkins1984 · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:57 am Post subject:

1) Moriya-shi, Ibaraki-ken

2) American Language School (eikaiwa)

3) We enjoy a love hate relationship..but most days it's more love than hate.

4) 3 years

5) For at least another 3 years

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

Well, at least you have the Asahi brewery in your town, Steve! Very Happy

Chris21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Posts: 366 Location: Japan

1) Where are you?
Just outside Yokohama

2) which type of school/establishment do you work?
full-time at University (previously worked at an eikaiwa and on JET)

3) Do you enjoy Japan?
Love it. Great job, safe & clean cities, good hospitals/trains/restaurants/etc, lots of Western ammenities... and then there's the ladies.

4) How long you been in Japan?
almost 8 years

5) How long you planning on staying?
at least another 35 years... I don't mind if I spend the rest of my life here - I'll be here at least until I retire.

6) What are your goals while in Japan?
Right now, my goal is to finish my PhD, followed by learning Japanese, and then getting a tenured position somewhere.