My f*cked story

[Maths Dude]

Here goes. Graduated with a BTECH (Environmental Technology) in 1997 in Aussie. Didn't get a job in the field so slaved at a backpackers in Perth. Met a nice japanese girl there, she offered to let me stay in her dad's old factory (in Nagoya). I accepted (sweet deal hey). We finally got hitched, I was lucky(unlucky?) enough to land a eikaiwa job, where I worked for 5 years or so. Now I am back in Aussie doing an environmental engineering degree, set for completion next year! Now the reason I came back to this god forsaken country is that I thought all eikaiwa teachers have a 'used by date' and being 28 at the time was thinkin I was gettin too old for that sh*t. Anyway, is there such a thing as a used by date for teachers in japan?

Also, Ill be 30 when I graduate, so I dunno if that will ruin my chances of getting a job back in nippon as an engineer. I only have 3kyu level japanese, pretty dismal as I was there so long. But that was from never even studying it he he Anway, appreciate any advice!

[Taro Toporific]

.. all eikaiwa teachers have a 'used by date' and being 28 at the time was thinkin I was gettin too old for that sh*t. Anyway, is there such a thing as a used by date for teachers in japan?

Most of the regular posters on this forum who are eikaiwa bots (approx. 15 FGs) are over 28 years old. Having said that, STARTING OUT in eikaiwa over 30 years old has gotta be a pain.

As for "getting a job back in Nippon as an engineer" over the age of 30 is just like any other job in Japan, it depends on your UNIQUE skills you can offer as gaijin. Getting hired as a slave-shinjin regular employee being an over 30 gaijin is not gonna happen---and you're lucky it won't. You are gonna be hired for your special skills, ability to handle English-&-Japanese and "connections."

It would be a lot better if you had some experience in the field of BTECH before you came back to Japan. Then again, if you had some experience you wouldn't any possible reason to come to Land-of-Concrete(tm).

[Maths Dude]

I hear what you're saying man. Basically I have no choice but to move back as my better half(?!) doesn't want to stay here in Oz. So I gotta think of a way I can make make a living till I retire. The english teaching gig was ok, but I'd rather gas myself in a car than do that till I'm 65 And simply there is no respect in being an english teacher.

The BTECH I have is worthless because it's been so long since I graduated, that's why I'm doing the engineering degree. However now I have an important decision to make. I have the choice of doing what they call EIP and after graduation work in industry. An after a few years head to Japan as gun in my field OR do a thesis and (if I get decent grades) go straight on to a Phd program. I have seen a few environmental engineering firms in Japan, but there aren't many. I heard EA is still in its infancy, so I may be able to start my own business.

[kurohinge1]

... Met a nice japanese girl ... got hitched ... lucky(unlucky?) enough to land a eikaiwa job, where I worked for 5 years or so. Now ... doing an environmental engineering degree ...

... is there such a thing as a used by date for teachers in japan? ...

Welcome & Congrats. I like Nagoya - nice town and easy to navigate. Also rumoured to have the most lavish weddings in Japan - did you get hitched there? The city also features on a few previous threads you might get a chuckle from reading ...

Anyway, studies suggest that the answer to Q1 is "yes". Eikaiwa teachers do have a "use by" date, but no one has ever reached it yet. The more appropriate labelling for Eikaiwa sensei, they conclude, is "best before ..." and it depends on their mental qualities (crazy = durable).



What's an environmental engineer do? Do they build bridges only using driftwood? Or buildings that biodegrade after 5 years? In any event, I defer to Taro-san and the other experienced FG's for any job advice.

BTW, it's a shame your Mrs doesn't want to stay in Oz ...

vs

Either way, goodluck.

[Taro Toporific]

DP

[Taro Toporific]

I have seen a few environmental engineering firms in Japan, but there aren't many. I heard EA is still in its infancy, so I may be able to start my own business.

Grrreat biz plan! Japanese love the environment...in concrete.

...An after a few years head to Japan as gun in my field OR do a thesis and (if I get decent grades) go straight on to a Phd program.

I'd get on the gaijin graveytrain of a post-grad studies scholar$hip from the Japanese government.
Man-o-man, the life of all those Euroslackers at Tsukuba University is sweeeeet: free-or-near-free housing with free parking, 200,000yen/m tax-free grant, no supervision of your research, ungodly cute lab assistants that make tea....hot damn, I wanna go back to school.

[Maths Dude]

I can't beleive how fast you guys reply . An environmental engineer is a jack of all trades. We can do consulting work, for example in designing landfills, industrial pollution control equipment, culvert design, land (soil), ground water remediation, doing evironmental impact assessments etc the list goes on and on. We can do anything from water engineering to chemical engineering, well thats what my lecturers are saying. It's booming here in Oz, I'm guessing it will once japanese laws catch up with ours.

We got married in Komaki city for 250,000 yen. Sweet hey? It was a no frills ceremony, and the only Japanee I had to say was, Hai! Chikaimasu! or somthing like that. Then with all her relatives pay 30,000 yen per family we actually made money .

I lived in mostly in Kasugai up in New Town. Right near the bush so I could go hiking or thrashing through it on my dirt bike . I also loved the fact that i always did 100km/h or over on route 19 (60km/h limit ) on my ex-bozozoku bike and never got busted once! If I did that here I'd be in prison by now

[Skankster]

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work for yourself; You dont have any experinece.
You would essentially have to intern and start from 0.

Just start your own little venture.

[Maths Dude]

I dare say you are probably on the money Skankster. My Japanese Father-in-Law started has own successful engineering company. It's a different field to what I'm doing, but I'm sure he will give me some good advice on how to go about it. When I first got married he offered me a job in his company, I declined because I reckon thats a pretty wimpy way to make it in Japan. And all I would be doing is inputting drawings and shit into autocad.

I'll be going to Nagoya in november, can't wait to go visit my school and all the peeps I left there ))

[Taro Toporific]

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work for yourself]

The problem is, Maths Dude's field is considered CIVIL engineering in Japan...We all know how uncivil Japanese are about aliens taking civil service jobs.

consulting work, for example in designing landfills, industrial pollution control equipment, culvert design, land (soil), ground water remediation, doing evironmental impact assessments etc the list goes on and on.

Best bet for a consulting buisiness would be to start an independent soils/groundwater testing firm. Hey I'll be your first customer since I need to prove dixion poisoning of my ground water out my Rice Ranch.

[Skankster]

I dare say you are probably on the money Skankster. My Japanese Father-in-Law started has own successful engineering company. ))

You do it.
Your web savvy and these days NPO's can make lots of cash...
...and there is plenty of opportunity where that goes. You might wanna brush up on NPO management b4 you get here. Lots of grants and good money fundrasing.

[Maths Dude]

That sounds like an awesome idea Taro. Start with something small and simple, it might just work. I was just reading that one of the big problems with Japanese firms is that they try to be all things to all people which doesnt make for good efficiency. I got so much buzzing around in my brain I think I'll have to go lie down

Some problems I forsee. Funding for lab eq, space for lab eq. (though my father-in-law has a disused factory). How would Japanese deal/feel with a gaijin testing their shit. I'm guessing they would prefer a japanese firm.

[Maths Dude]

I always thought NPO's can't make money? I.e. they are non profit

[Taro Toporific]

T. How would Japanese deal/feel with a gaijin testing their shit. I'm guessing they would prefer a japanese firm.

Just the opposite: mega-Japanese firms like mine like gaijin consultants to point to blame (or take it) for ISO, quality issues, environmental tests, etc.

[Maths Dude]

Bugger, looks like I would need expensive indemnity insurance.

[mas]

Hey, Maths Dude: if you do start a consultant company and need some help, let me know. ;]

[Maths Dude]

Hey Mas, what are your skillz?

[Mulboyne]

I thought I'd read something about English teaching vs Environmental work before...
Mas started this FG thread. Sounds like you might have a few things in common.

[mas]

Hey Mas, what are your skillz?

Skillz? Why, I've mad skillz, as my resume will no doubt attest. Otherwise, I'm just interested in returning to Japan and working in the Civil/Environmental field.

[Maths Dude]

Hey Mas, why don't we just start a company. I have a few contacts . Just like any start up, we wont get a salary for a while, but if it works we'll be bloody rich.

[mas]

Hey, I'm down for it. Anything to get out of the boondocks...

[Mulboyne]

Time for you guys to swap emails by private message. Keep us posted if you get anything going. Might be some people who can help here.

[Oradea]

I'd get on the gaijin graveytrain of a post-grad studies scholar$hip from the Japanese government.
Man-o-man, the life of all those Euroslackers at Tsukuba University is sweeeeet: free-or-near-free housing with free parking, 200,000yen/m tax-free grant, no supervision of your research, ungodly cute lab assistants that make tea....hot damn, I wanna go back to school.

Taro, Where can I find out about buying a ticket for that particular train....

[aquamarine]

Maths'

If you need a landscape, architecture or environmental photographer, gimme a holler! I wouldn't mind a slight change of pace. Watching people get it on every day kills the libido!