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| How long have you stayed in Japan? |
| I've stayed as long as I planned to stay (explain). |
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35% |
[ 5 ] |
| I couldn't finish my contract so I left early (explain). |
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7% |
[ 1 ] |
| I stayed until my contract expired, then left (explain). |
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14% |
[ 2 ] |
| I finished my contract and stayed 1 more year (explain). |
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7% |
[ 1 ] |
| I finished my contract and stayed 2 more years (explain). |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
| I finished my contract and stayed 3-5 more years (explain). |
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7% |
[ 1 ] |
| I finished my contract and stayed 6-10 more years (explain). |
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14% |
[ 2 ] |
| I finished my contract and stayed 11-20 more years (explain). |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
| I finished my original contract and I am staying for good (explain). |
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14% |
[ 2 ] |
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| Total Votes : 14 |
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| Author |
Message |
nonsmoker
Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 352
Location: Exactly here and now.
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 Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 4:21 am Post subject: The Length of Your Stay in Japan |
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| This is a serious question. Serious answers only, please. Before you came to Japan, you probably had a timespan in mind for your stay. How long have you stayed or overstayed in Japan as according to the plans you made before you left? Did you stay the amount of time you planned to stay? Did you stay less? More? WHY? |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 4:46 am Post subject: |
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Serious question aside, I seriously cannot answer this question seriously.
Only ONE of your poll options takes into account those people who STILL LIVE IN JAPAN! (And that option doesn't apply to me) because I'm not staying for good.
I can only then assume that your question/poll is aimed at those people who no longer live here. As far as I know, the majority of the active posters on this forum are still residing and working in Japan.
| nonsmoker wrote: |
How long have you stayed in Japan?
( ) I've stayed as long as I planned to stay (explain).
( ) I couldn't finish my contract so I left early (explain).
( ) I stayed until my contract expired, then left (explain).
( ) I finished my contract and stayed 1 more year (explain).
( ) I finished my contract and stayed 2 more years (explain).
( ) I finished my contract and stayed 3-5 more years (explain).
( ) I finished my contract and stayed 6-10 more years (explain).
( ) I finished my contract and stayed 11-20 more years (explain).
( ) I finished my original contract and I am staying for good (explain). |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 6:21 am Post subject: |
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| I'm with Jim here, most of us (japan forum) are still here. |
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markle
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 1316
Location: Out of Japan
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 9:19 am Post subject: |
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Yes, seriously flawed poll. I had my contracted cut short but I managed to get a new job and will be here until the end of next year.
If you want to know if and how long people stayed after their original contract why didn't you just ask that. |
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6810
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 309
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I'm reporting this nonsmoker thread to Canuck, who will probably dole out more than a few  . |
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wolfman
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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I'm halfway through my eikaiwa contract (one year), and I'm moving on when it's over. I love Japan and have had almost all positive experiences, but I can't stand working for a Japanese company for more than a year.
I was born in the States but I'm not going back to that place. My plan is to head to New Zealand on a WHV and travel there for a year and figure out what's after that.
I'm sure no one cares. So, sorry. |
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nonsmoker
Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 352
Location: Exactly here and now.
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| Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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| wolfman wrote: |
I'm halfway through my eikaiwa contract (one year), and I'm moving on when it's over. I love Japan and have had almost all positive experiences, but I can't stand working for a Japanese company for more than a year.
I was born in the States but I'm not going back to that place. My plan is to head to New Zealand on a WHV and travel there for a year and figure out what's after that.
I'm sure no one cares. So, sorry. |
No, actually, I care. Can you explain why you can't work for a Japanese company for more than one year?
Also, I am from the States too. Why don't you want to go back to "that place?" Is it that bad for you? |
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wolfman
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| nonsmoker wrote: |
| wolfman wrote: |
I'm halfway through my eikaiwa contract (one year), and I'm moving on when it's over. I love Japan and have had almost all positive experiences, but I can't stand working for a Japanese company for more than a year.
I was born in the States but I'm not going back to that place. My plan is to head to New Zealand on a WHV and travel there for a year and figure out what's after that.
I'm sure no one cares. So, sorry. |
No, actually, I care. Can you explain why you can't work for a Japanese company for more than one year?
Also, I am from the States too. Why don't you want to go back to "that place?" Is it that bad for you? |
Well, I work for an eikaiwa so it's quite different from university or high school work, I'd assume. I like my students and my co-workers to some extent, but working for an eikaiwa is like the movie Office Space with more bowing. I've never encountered such a unscrupulous money-grubbing entity in all my life. I think most people who've done eikaiwa work can back me up on this. You'll often find students who are in classes that are designed for students WAY above their level. What happens here is that some students are just crap, but the company would do anything to make/hold on to a buck so they move them into the next courses when they finish previous one's. And since there's no legitimate form of testing, the teachers have absolutely no say in this. Sure, they'll ask you what you think but it doesn't matter what you say. The school will do what it has to to get that student to fork over some more money. Thusly, you have classes with students who are so ill-placed that they slow down the other students with their need for over-explanation and complete crappiness. This is probably one of my biggest gripes, but it's the product of a problem at the very foundation of the eikaiwa business. The amount of phoniness and uptightness that you encounter in 5 minutes is astounding. This may not be ubiquitous in Japanese companies but it seems to be the Japanese approach to "serving up" English. That's why I say I can't take it for more than a year. Plus, I absolutely HATE wearing a tie.
All that aside, working here has definitely been a positive experience. For every bad student, there's 5 who are great. I've had a great opportunity to experience life in Japan, and for that I'm eternally grateful, but I think one year will be enough. I'm young and there's plenty of other places I need to see before I'm not.
To your second question... I don't hate the US as much as my previous post may have made it sound. It's home and it always will be. However, I just have nothing there for me. It's just that at this point in my life, I don't want to live in a country where NASCAR is the the second most popular "sport" and people will shoot you for disagreeing with their right to shoot you. Someday, I'm sure I'll go back to the states, settle into a fun lifestyle in one of the 3 livable cities (Chicago, New York, San Francisco, in my opinion) and have a life that's every bit as enjoyable as the one I have now. But Americans are too uptight for me, and I don't feel like dealing with it. |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 10:10 pm Post subject: Definition of livable? |
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wolfman,
New York City is livable?
Maybe...
But I agree with you about being young and wanting to see so many other places. I'm 33 and I still have a serious does of wanderlust.
Regards,
fat_c
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wolfman
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 1:35 am Post subject: Re: Definition of livable? |
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| fat_chris wrote: |
wolfman,
New York City is livable?
Maybe...
But I agree with you about being young and wanting to see so many other places. I'm 33 and I still have a serious does of wanderlust.
Regards,
fat_c
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New York is a great city. It can be dangerous, but that adds to the excitement! |
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gaijin4life
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 150
Location: Westside of the Eastside, Japan
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| Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 7:25 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I finished my contract and stayed 1 more year (explain). |
I came over intending to stay until I didnt want to stay anymore, or a few years or so. My last 2 jobs werent that great and present one is a bit up and down, so I dont know how long I will be staying.
Its more about the job for me now at this point, than the country and importantly, working with people I like and even respect. I dont ever want to work for another stupid company. By this I mean money-grabbing, philosophically bankrupt eikaiwa etc. that make it about money not teaching. I am interested in teaching not helping people make as much money as they can from their usually really pleasant - students.
I have friends working in China, Taiwan, Korea, UK etc. so I am interested in job opportunties in those countries too. And Im checking out other options..
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 10:28 pm Post subject: Re: Definition of livable? |
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| wolfman wrote: |
| New York is a great city. It can be dangerous, but that adds to the excitement! |
True that. I've been all over the world and in various dodgy situations and the only place I have been accosted and attacked has been right here in the City. And on both occasions at the same place! Egads...
But I do love New York City. Definitely not the place for me to be for the rest of my life, but I'm definitely glad that I got the opportunity to get as much as I can out of the place in my 3+ years here.
Regards,
fat_c |
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