Comments for Chibaraki Life http://chibaraki.wordpress.com Arts, culture and events from Matsudo to Toride and beyond Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:36:12 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on About Chibaraki by chibaraki http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/about/#comment-124 chibaraki Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:36:12 +0000 #comment-124 Ants, I was a JET Program ALT 10 years ago. I considered it a kind of scholarship - the chance to learn about Japanese language, culture, and pedagogy (high school) while sharing my expertise as a TESOL teacher (adult learners). There are a dwindling number of private ALT hires and JET is contracting. So-called recruiter companies do all kinds of illegal practices and exploit loopholes in labour laws. As a spousal visa holder, you have a wide range of industries you can work in if you speak Japanese. For language jobs, check out www.eslcafe.com for their international job forum where you can get a sense of the job market. Good luck, whichever way you go. Ants, I was a JET Program ALT 10 years ago. I considered it a kind of scholarship – the chance to learn about Japanese language, culture, and pedagogy (high school) while sharing my expertise as a TESOL teacher (adult learners). There are a dwindling number of private ALT hires and JET is contracting. So-called recruiter companies do all kinds of illegal practices and exploit loopholes in labour laws. As a spousal visa holder, you have a wide range of industries you can work in if you speak Japanese. For language jobs, check out http://www.eslcafe.com for their international job forum where you can get a sense of the job market. Good luck, whichever way you go.

]]> Comment on About Chibaraki by Ants connway http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/about/#comment-123 Ants connway Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:38:37 +0000 #comment-123 I wil;l be moving to Kashima with my wife next year and am very concerned about possible jobs. Of what I've seen and heard, you need to stay away from ALT jobs because you get royally screwed and I've heard that private institutions are not much better. I have been an ALT highschool teacher for five years and reading everyones horror stories makes me want to quit teaching and become a forklift driver like I did before I went to university. Does anyone have any advise? Thanks in advance. I wil;l be moving to Kashima with my wife next year and am very concerned about possible jobs. Of what I’ve seen and heard, you need to stay away from ALT jobs because you get royally screwed and I’ve heard that private institutions are not much better.

I have been an ALT highschool teacher for five years and reading everyones horror stories makes me want to quit teaching and become a forklift driver like I did before I went to university.

Does anyone have any advise?

Thanks in advance.

]]> Comment on Food Anomalies in Kashiwa by reesan http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/food-anomalies-in-kashiwa/#comment-119 reesan Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:30:08 +0000 http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/?p=442#comment-119 gotta love 'build-your-own' burger joints! and i agree, you can't go past the kua aina avocado burger. gotta love ‘build-your-own’ burger joints! and i agree, you can’t go past the kua aina avocado burger.

]]> Comment on Food Anomalies in Kashiwa by billywest http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/food-anomalies-in-kashiwa/#comment-118 billywest Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:19:58 +0000 http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/?p=442#comment-118 Looks good. For me, though, I just got back from the States, so I'm glad to be back to bland old Japanese food. Looks good. For me, though, I just got back from the States, so I’m glad to be back to bland old Japanese food.

]]> Comment on Secret underground passageway by Chibaraki http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/secret-underground-passageway/#comment-116 Chibaraki Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:08:31 +0000 http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/secret-underground-passageway/#comment-116 Oh, a few years ago, I stayed in LA for a few weeks and rode the subway a few times a week from North Hollywood to the downtown area. I rode with my bike and my knitting, which drew lots of friendly comments. I never encountered any rude people except cops... Oh, a few years ago, I stayed in LA for a few weeks and rode the subway a few times a week from North Hollywood to the downtown area. I rode with my bike and my knitting, which drew lots of friendly comments. I never encountered any rude people except cops…

]]> Comment on Secret underground passageway by Tornadoes28 http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/secret-underground-passageway/#comment-114 Tornadoes28 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:05:57 +0000 http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/secret-underground-passageway/#comment-114 I can understand how that commute would ware on you. Although on a much smaller scale, I have to endure pushy and rude people on the Los Angeles subway everyday as well. I can understand how that commute would ware on you. Although on a much smaller scale, I have to endure pushy and rude people on the Los Angeles subway everyday as well.

]]> Comment on 違法 Illegal working conditions of ALTs by chibaraki http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/%e9%81%95%e6%b3%95-illegal-working-conditions-of-alts/#comment-112 chibaraki Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:06:33 +0000 http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/?p=401#comment-112 Dendoo, Thanks for visiting! About your impending adventure - what a trip to be placed in a random town somewhere in Japan for a year. I did that on the JET Program in 1999. My then boyfriend had been on exchange in Nagoya, spoke fluent Japanese, encouraged me to go, and said he'd follow after I got settled. I never saw him again. I had the time of my life in rural Shikoku. Sure there were some difficulties but I made friends, learned the language, got hooked on some new hobbies (glass-blowing, tea ceremony, aikido) and got a great deal of insight from Japanese teachers about education values, classroom management, and Japanese culture inside and outside. Don't worry about being on your own - this allows you to learn about yourself. Dendoo,

Thanks for visiting!

About your impending adventure – what a trip to be placed in a random town somewhere in Japan for a year. I did that on the JET Program in 1999. My then boyfriend had been on exchange in Nagoya, spoke fluent Japanese, encouraged me to go, and said he’d follow after I got settled.

I never saw him again.

I had the time of my life in rural Shikoku. Sure there were some difficulties but I made friends, learned the language, got hooked on some new hobbies (glass-blowing, tea ceremony, aikido) and got a great deal of insight from Japanese teachers about education values, classroom management, and Japanese culture inside and outside.

Don’t worry about being on your own – this allows you to learn about yourself.

]]> Comment on 違法 Illegal working conditions of ALTs by dendoo http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/%e9%81%95%e6%b3%95-illegal-working-conditions-of-alts/#comment-111 dendoo Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:45:04 +0000 http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/?p=401#comment-111 I am in the midst of trying to find a teaching Job now in Japan. I have my TEFL and am still undergoing teaching training and other training in other areas that help me communicate, teach, and I also volunteer my time teaching in the local community. I know I'm not a teacher with years of experience but I know I can do the job. It's so nerve rattling to put your life in the hands of fate and move across the world to a place I've never been to, have only one friend and it's more than likely I won't even end up in the same town as him, and these kind of stories make me very nervous. I'm trying to learn as much about what rights I have in Japan as a (hopeful) "teacher". Articles such as this one and the video help bring a light to problems, and help educate the foreign workers about the situation. Great article and lovely blog! I am in the midst of trying to find a teaching Job now in Japan. I have my TEFL and am still undergoing teaching training and other training in other areas that help me communicate, teach, and I also volunteer my time teaching in the local community. I know I’m not a teacher with years of experience but I know I can do the job.

It’s so nerve rattling to put your life in the hands of fate and move across the world to a place I’ve never been to, have only one friend and it’s more than likely I won’t even end up in the same town as him, and these kind of stories make me very nervous.

I’m trying to learn as much about what rights I have in Japan as a (hopeful) “teacher”. Articles such as this one and the video help bring a light to problems, and help educate the foreign workers about the situation. Great article and lovely blog!

]]> Comment on 本土時の秋 Autumn at Hondoji by chibaraki http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/%e6%9c%ac%e5%9c%9f%e6%99%82%e3%81%ae%e7%a7%8b-autumn-at-hondoji/#comment-110 chibaraki Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:38:23 +0000 http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-110 Lately, all the images, unless indicated otherwise, are shot with my iPhone. Lately, all the images, unless indicated otherwise, are shot with my iPhone.

]]> Comment on Bike Rental in Kashiwa by chibaraki http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/bike-rental-in-kashiwa/#comment-109 chibaraki Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:34:36 +0000 http://chibaraki.wordpress.com/?p=417#comment-109 I was surprised, too, at how cheap the rental is. It is probably subsidized by the city. Abiko-Kashiwa local folks - keep your eyes peeled for more hired bikes. At Man Ten no Yu, the spa on Teganuma Marsh, there are rental bikes available for ¥500 for a few hours. That's still not bad. Apparently there are other rental services around Matsudo, Nagareyama... I was surprised, too, at how cheap the rental is. It is probably subsidized by the city.

Abiko-Kashiwa local folks – keep your eyes peeled for more hired bikes. At Man Ten no Yu, the spa on Teganuma Marsh, there are rental bikes available for ¥500 for a few hours. That’s still not bad. Apparently there are other rental services around Matsudo, Nagareyama…

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