[ SECRET POST #3150 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3150 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 032 secrets from Secret Submission Post #450.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Re: Working in Japan

[(Anonymous)]

Awesome! I taught English for three years.

Your experience is probably going to vary significantly based on whether or not you're placed in a rural area, or a big city like Tokyo. But as above poster said, the nicest thing about a big chain school is that you're going to almost definitely have a social circle of other foreigners, which is great, because if you've never lived in Japan (or a foreign country!) before, acclimating and figuring out the new culture can be very frustrating, especially if there is a language barrier.

To meet Japanese friends, I recommend signing up on a "conversation exchange" website. Do you speak Japanese now? Even if you don't, it's a free way to get Japanese lessons, usually you speak English for half the time and Japanese for half the time.

That being said, as someone who was fairly competent in speaking Japanese, and actually WANTED to speak Japanese, I was very wary of Japanese people who would want to be friends, who are basically just using you for English practice or as a "gaijin fashion accessory". This happens a lot, and unless you're totally happy to never learn a word of Japanese and have potentially shallow friendships, most Western foreigners complain of this. I would have people in the street invite me to coffee and such, and then only want to speak English. Even if my Japanese was BETTER than their English. Or they want to show you off to their other friends and brag about having a foreign friend, but when push comes to shove, they aren't interested in actually having you be a part of their life.

That sounded very pessimistic, but just as an English teacher, don't be afraid to tell people you charge money for English lessons. ;)

Honestly though, Japan is great to live for a year or two at least. Safe (as in crime, not natural disasters sadly), people are (generally) polite, the culture is fun. And to be extra honest, once your company issues your work visa, you're pretty much golden until that visa runs out. I knew people who came over with those big chain companies, didn't like it, quit and applied for other jobs, visa already in hand. I mean, be careful doing that, but still. Don't feel like you're tied to your company if you hate it. I knew a girl who stuck out a company she hated for two years before she finally had the courage to quit and try a different school, which she loved.

Re: Working in Japan

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for taking the time to write this. I can speak a little Japanese, but not enough to hold a conversation. I'd never heard of people using foreigners as fashion accessories, so that was definetely news to me! Thank you again.