Job Discussion Forums

[Wonder83]

Hi there

I have recently been offered a position with Peppy Kids in Japan, I have read some negative things and good things. I know that with Peppys u have to move around alot, I was worried that the places will be miles apart. I was also wondering if any1 knows what the teachers apartments are like in Japan? Can any1 can give me any advice as a lone western woman traveling Japan? I have heard the train or buses hav a problem with groping ? Does any1 know anything of this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the million questions I am very anxious but also very excited.......

[Hakushoon]

Hi Wonder83, I know people who worked at Peppy in the past and some liked and others hated it or were indifferent. They pay you on time and usually the staff are nice and will make some effort to help you. Japanese people, in my experience, are usually polite and helpful to foreigners but there is the occasional jerk that can ruin your day or make life harder. The people I knew that worked at Peppy were in a sort of rural area and travelled a lot by car with a Japanese co-teacher. They would travel to Community Halls through out their area by car and taught English there. The manager tried to schedule the classes so they wouldn't have to drive back and forth across the prefecture. As to your position this would be a great question to ask them? Also ask them where they plan to send you if they know yet?

Apartments in Japan? Here is a typical Studio:

http://www.leopalace21.com/apps/searchCondition/detail/apno6336.html

This is a 1K meaning one room and Kitchen, this is pretty much what my first aparment was like there are other options though 1DK, 2K, 2DK and so on. The number is, obviously the number of rooms, the D stands for Dining and basically gives you a little more space or an open room. The apartments are sized by tatami or "Jo" and 1 Jo is 1.53 sq meter. The one I linked, I think, is 8 Jo (my computer can display the text so I am not sure if that is the Kanji after the 8 ) which would make the room about 12.24 sq meters, that is small by North American standards; but who cares you will rarely be home anyhow;)

Train perverts, well during rush hour, in some areas, they have Women only cars usually around the middle and the platforms are clearly marked where to wait for them with the times. Outside of these times I have seen it happen (intervened when I could)and I have seen Japanese guys beat up the train sukebe (pervert) and a woman beat up another and call the police (I was in Osaka the women are tough!). In my five or six years in Japan this in total I probably saw it three to five times total, so while this should be a concern of yours I wouldn't worry too much. Most Japanese guys are shy around western women since they can't speak English. As for travelling alone as a women use the same caution you would at home especially when drinking and/or going out. I knew many women teachers in Japan and I think only one had a problem and it was just a student that had a crush on her and tried to follow her. I found Osaka really safe compared to where I live in Canada.

Cheers and have fun!

[Wonder83]

Hi Hakushoon,

I really appreciate ur detailed reply. Thank you very much I will take all ur comments on board. Unfortunetly Peppy hasn told me where i will be sent, I find out when Im in Japan...... Im hpoing it is somewhere busy tho but only time will tell

As for the perverts I will be more than prepared to wrap them round a pole if they try and do this to me lol only joking...... (sort of) haha

[Glenski]

Ask Peppy about the distance to schools and how they expect you to get there. It might be as simple as using local transportation or as tough as driving yourself (in which case find out about what they do to provide a car, and then you will have to get an international driver's license).

Don't know if Peppy uses LeoPalace21 or not. Those are fully furnished practically new places. Here is more info on other apartments.
http://www.spaciousplanet.com/world/show/topic/photo0/japanese-apartments.html
http://www.jobmonkey.com/teaching/asia/html/long_stay.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2207.html
http://jafnet.co.jp/manual/chintai/migigawa/apart.htm

Photos of real apartments here that teachers have.
www.markinjapan.ca/features/apartment/index.htm
http://vocaro.com/trevor/japan/home/index.html
http://ekhardt.com/tokyo/myapartment/Iapartment.html
http://www.skygawker.com/me/apartment-japan.html
http://www.spaciousplanet.com/world/show/topic/photo0/japanese-apartments.html
http://www.globalcompassion.com/home.htm
http://www.greggman.com/japan/apts/tokyo%20apts.htm

[Wonder83]

Hi Glenski,


Thanks for the reply!!! Some of those apartments are really cool!! I cant wait to get to Japan now

[Apsara]

I've never heard of chikan on buses- seems like it would be way too easy for people to see what they were doing.

In 12 years in Japan I once had my butt grabbed as I got off the train at a very crowded station, and that was it. Foreign women are less likely to be the victims of groping I think because the guys realise that we are more likely to react- this is not really something you need to put a lot of energy into worrying about, and it's not really as pervasive as the foreign media makes out either (like the train "pushers"- people coming to Japan for the first time often have the idea that they will be bodily pushed onto every train they get on, whereas in reality those staff are only at a few stations at the busy times and all they do is make sure people's coats and bags are not sticking out the door.)

In Tokyo at least "Women Only Cars" tend to be at the front and back of the trains rather than the middle- I often use them because most Japanese women are shorter than me so it doesn't feel as crowded! Those cars also tend to smell better

[Glenski]