Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

As I ponder moving to Japan I am wondering where all the bad stuff is posted? The Korea forums are full of negative stuff, how much better could Japan be, or is simply posted off of Dave's?

[nawlinsgurl]

Do a search and I'm sure you can find enough negative stuff about Japan.

While I think America is a great place to live and be from, I have really come to love Japan. So much that if I could get a job in Okinawa or Kyushu and move all my family and friends here, I would stay forever!!!

My "bad points" would prolly be:

-The difficultly in foreigners buying land, property, or doing legal stuff (like bank loans and etc) w/o being married to a Japanese person.

-Expensive city tax

-Deathly hot summers

-How hard it is to find a job outside of ESL/English teaching

But on the other hand I love Japan b/c:

-There's no war going on here, very little violence against foreigners, and almost no terrorism

-It's a pretty clean country and there are lots of parks to enjoy, almost in every neighborhood

-I can find almost anything I miss from the States at Costco or FBC

-I get nearly 80 days of paid vacation a year with all the Japanese holidays!

Hope that helps!

[southofreality]

For your daily supply of negativity, try GaijinPot or Japan Today.

Oh, was that a negative comment?

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

www.bigdaikon.com


Of course, there are people who think that that site IS part of the negative things in Japan, but I'm not really one of them.

[AndyH]

I had to chuckle when i read the initial post.

Reminds me of when I was an ESL teacher in Korea, and took my summer vacation, in Geongju.
I was staying at a hostel with about 20 other foreigners: North Americans, Europeans, Aussies, and Kiwis, and everyone was bitching non-stop about their work, hagwans in general, and life in Korea.
There was one exception: a Canadian woman who lived and taught in Japan, with JET. We all grilled her about the negative aspects to her work and life in Japan, and she just shrugged her shoulders and said she had nothing to complain about, she liked her boss, loved her town, and enjoyed life in Japan.
We all looked at her in disbelief, but it made me wonder if perhaps I chose the wrong country to go to.

Chaz47, if you go to Japan, you are bound to find negative things. There are eikaiwa (hagwan) owners who are just as dirty as those in Korea, and teaching in eikaiwas can be just as mind-numbing (especially if you teach kids) as in Korea, but I think most foreigners tend to have a better life in Japan, and are able to be in a situation where their job doesn't dominate their life to quite the extent that it does in Korea.

Just my $.02, for what it's worth. Good luck!

[AndyH]

One more thing: Most of the people who I knew as complainers in Japan were the types who let every little thing bother them: If they "only" got a one hour lunch break one day instead of the usual hour and a half, or perhaps they had to come in to work 30 minutes early because of a trial lesson. These types of things will annoy you to death-if you let them.
They would also make no attempt to make Japanese friends, and would do nothing to try to learn the language or grasp an appreciation of the culture.
Free time would be spent with co-workers in bars, and in the end, they'd bi tch about their year (if they lasted that long) in Japan being a "waste of time".

[gonzarelli]

I've recently moved back home after more than five years in Japan. I sometimes complained about Japan while I was there but now I simply miss so many things about it. It really isn't all that bad of a place to live for a while. However, the career opportunities are very limited which is why I had to get out.

I made a point of avoiding the whiners who complained about Japan and who would go out with their fellow gaijins for a piss-up. They would just sit around and moan about how much better life is back home and about work.

If you want to enjoy life in Japan, learn the language and make Japanese friends. Stay away from the whiners cuz it's too easy to get dragged down to their level.

[flyer]

I sometimes think us foreigners vent off a little frustrations etc in the form of critisims about Japan as we are often surrounded by Japanese in work etc and can't say much

Its a form of letting off pressure/frustrations? or just passing time

I think in reality if we didn't like it we wouldn't be here

what I am trying to say is ... we like Japan more than we let on (???)

[bshabu]

I have to agree with AndyH here. It's a death trap if you only hang out with other foreigners. I have been here for over nine years and see it all the time. I go to a bar and see the group of English teachers(mostly), sitting in the corner bitching about Japan and how it's different form their country. While other foreigners are mixed amonst the locals having a jolly old time. They are the ones who get invited to parties, trips to onsens,snowboarding, etc(good point).

I throw my own cooking parties. Invite Japanese friends and teach them to cook some of my favorite things back in the US. I also invite them for trational celebrations back hame, Thanksgiving, Christmas Diners. Not only do they have a great time, I also feel that I am not missing out from family back home.

If you come, it will be easy to fall in that trap. But with a little effort, you can get to know some fun and interesting people. Especially if you take up a hobby. Their are alot of new things to try that may not be available back home (good point) . The first hurdle will be the language barrier. But, with a little effort, you can learn.

I also agree with nawlinsgurl on the good and bad points. But include:
a kick a$$ transportation system
great food
Eventhough the summer are HOT, they do have 4 seasons.

Well, I think I will stop there.

[TokyoLiz]

What bshabu said - you hang with the locals and in mixed groups, and you'll likely learn more of the language and feel somewhat adjusted.

Good stuff in my world -

- Great food
- Karaoke!
- a culture that celebrates the seasons and has some great celebrations - first day of spring and fall and awesome festivals
- a slower pace of work in schools (compared to my old job in Canada)
- very convenient transporation system and bicycles are considered traffic
- polite service in shops and restaurants
- my school kids are soooo polite, my adult private students are sweet, dedicated and fun
- chance to learn traditional Japanese activities - tea, kendo, calligraphy, etc.
- gorgeous historical places and parks
- great shopping
- hot spring spas
- I feel safe in the street at any hour
- Not many reasons to feel homesick, as so many things are either familiar (Japanese things exported abroad) or available in foreign import shops
- friends both foreign and local who rock my world

Bad stuff

- good beaches and beautiful scenery are a bit far from Tokyo
- long days at work
- salarymen puking in your front street (second time this week)

Nothing really dire to complain about.

[taffer]

I am lucky, Japan is a place I came to after having a fairly bumpy/ eventful yet delightful TEFL teaching experience. I have taught in quite a few countries so far. 15 years on this path. Korea was the toughest place to deal with. From where I am sitting Japan is a cake walk. Having said that, when you come straight from the US to Japan, you might have a very different view. You might hate it. I met a newbie last night at a bar. I told him to hang in there and enjoy himself.

[fat_chris]

[Sour Grape]

[markle]

[AndyH]

Of course, I had fellow gaijin friends as well, but they were the types who appreciated Japan, and had plenty of Japanese friends.