Job Discussion Forums

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Has anyone had any first hand experience of living and working in Nagasaki? What's it like? Any and all info welcome. Thanks

A.S.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Has anyone at least been there on vacation? I'm considering moving there and taking up a position with Seiha Network... Teaching kindergarten and elementary school classes. Has anyone heard of this organisation? Thanks for any info.

A.S.

Buck Turgidson · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 96

I visited Nagasaki two years ago. It is a beautiful medium sized town. There were Quite a few tourists. I am sure there is information on the web about the city itself. As for living there I imagine it is no different from any other smaller town. It is kind of remote. However when I was at the train station there, there were signs advertising the Shinkansen. If they extend the Shinkansen to Nagasaki, then I am guessing it would be about 6 hours to Tokyo.

I don't know anything about this school.

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

Here's a site that has a lot of links for Nagasaki:
http://www-cc.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/nagasaki-city/nagasaki.html

I don't hear too much about teachers working in Nagasaki (or the schools you mentioned). I suppose that can be a good thing (i.e. not hundreds of complaints about a particular school or location).

I differ a bit on the characterization that Nagasaki is "isolated." You can access Fukuoka in 1 hr. 47 mins. by limited express train and 2 hrs. 20 mins. by highway bus. In addition, Nagasaki offers ferry services. Don't count on the Shinkansen coming to Nagasaki anytime soon. Also bear in mind that traveling in Japan is expensive, regardless of where you live.

Nagasaki's population is about 450,000, which by Japanese standards is considered somewhat smallish, but I think you'd have no problem finding some of the conveniences you'd be looking for. It is certainly not a backwoods outpost.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Thanks for the reply Homer... I actually had that link myself and a couple of others.

I've been living in Tokyo for the past two years so I'm aware of the cost of travelling... I've also saved a fair bit of cash in the time I've been here ... I'm not really looking to save anymore but would rather have a bit more quality of life now. And not too worried if I don't see a big city for a while.

I'm mainly interetsed in cycling, swimming and onsens. How far is the nearest decent beach to Nagasaki? Is there opportunity for good cycling? Presumably there would be gyms in Nagasaki, wouldn't there? What about access to onsens?

I'm going for the interview tomorrow and will find out more. The pay is kind of on the low side ( 230 000 ) but so are the teaching hours... only about 60 hours a month, teaching kindergarten and elementary in regular schools. How far would this go in Nagasaki? Like I said, I'm not concerned about money but at the same time don't want to be living hand to mouth. What are rents like? They'd have to be cheaper than Tokyo wouldn't they?

Any info appreciated. THANKS.

A.S.

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

Ange · Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Posts: 23 Location: F U K U O K A

I got offered a job from Seiha when I first arrived in Fukuoka. I turned them down for these reasons:

*the European man and the Japanese lady that interviewed me were stuffy and stern and both looked like they had something stuffed up their backsides. When I asked them what they expected in terms of teaching they answered that they didn't care if the students learnt anything. Just make sure they don't complain. I know this is true for many schools but the fact that they voiced this opinion to a potential employee really turned me off.

*The hours they said I would have to work excluded travelling times between schools. They said I would teach only 15 - 20 hours a week however I would usually leave home around 9.30am and return around 7-8pm as some schools would be 2 - 3 hours apart. This was for Fukuoka though which is a much bigger size than Nagasaki so I am not sure how this would translate to your situation.

*I was also going to have to work 6 days a week. They told me to think of it as 5 days a week though as I would get 1 and maybe 2 Saturdays off every month.

As I say - this was for the Fukuoka branch and just my opinion, things could be completely different in Nagasaki. I haven't worked for them so I can't say for sure. Nagasaki itself is a lovely city, hilly (I love hills because you can see more than just concrete) and it has a nice harbour. You will be able to find onsens there and it is close to Fukuoka if you feel the need for a bigger city. I had a friend who lived there for a year and LOVED it. Good luck whatever you decide to do!

Buck Turgidson · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 96

There is a popular beach in Miyazaki on the East side of Kyushu. Some of my surfer students used to go there. As for Onsens, you are not too far from Beppu which is a famous spa/resort town.

Buck

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Ange, Homer and Buck... Thanks very much for your responses... Much appreciated.

I went of the interview this morning... The lady was extremely nice, not at all stuffy ... BUT... She was from Nagoya and knew ABSOLUTELY nothing about either Nagasaki ( ie. location of the schools), the schedule or the classes themselves. On paper though, it didn't look too good... Basically the same as yours Ange for F u k u o k a.... 15 hours EXTREMELY spread out over 6 days. YUK!

You mentioned the attitude about not caring whether the students learn anything or not. Although I don't share that attitude, I find it is so prevalent in this industry in Japan, that you learn to work around it.

Before moving to Tokyo I lived in Shizuoka ken... I realise that the cost of things is basically the same everywhere... What makes living in Tokyo so expensive (apart from rent and having to catch the train everywhere ) is that there is almost nothing you can do for free. You can't really go for nice relaxing walks around central Tokyo ... Well you can, but it's not really relaxing... Same goes for riding your bike... It's not a whole lot of fun riding it round busy streets. A lot of your weekend entertainment revolves around hanging out in department stores... spending loads of cash. And Tokyo onsens are really expensive... usually around 2500 yen.

Anyway, have to wait and see... Nagasaki from what I've heard sounds beautiful... It might be worth it all the same.

Thanks for your help everyone.

A.S.

Ange · Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Posts: 23 Location: F U K U O K A

AS

Why dont you try looking for another school in Nagasaki? Try this website:
www.f ukuoka-now.com (no gap between f and u). It has the occasional job posted for Nagasaki, or you could put your own message up.

I loved Nagasaki when I went. It is just the sort of place where you can go for a nice quiet walk beneath some trees or alongside the river. I seriously considered leaving my job here and looking for another in Nagasaki (unfortunately I can be rather lazy at times).