How long to land a job?

[Caustic Saint]

Used to sell beer under the counter too. Knocked off about 9:00. Turned about 25,000 yen a day profit. Did great business when it was University Festivals and the like.

NB - This was in the seventies when 25,000 en for a day was very good money.

Wouldn't this still be decent money? The basic teacher's salary is 250,000 (with a few perks, to be sure), and you could make that in 10 days with the omelet van. 20 school days a month would double that and put you in pretty good stead I'd imagine.

Or am I missing something here?

[Steve Bildermann]

Guess so. It was seasonal of course.

I did that for about two and half years before passing it onto another judo guy.

Hey maybe they are still doing it! Sort of like a traditional family business handed down from veteran FG to newbie through the years.

Wouldn't that be something!

[soulkraka]

OK Thanks Taro

I dont feel having a "whatever's meant to happen will attitude" equates with being a "cho-baka loser". You can only plan your life to a certain extent as you should be well aware of Mr Taro. I just happen to generally have a positive outlook on life and have noticed that the best things in my life have come to me easily (eg. my girl ASKED ME out, the record label I'm signed to scouted me out etc etc.)

Should I apologize for not being as jaded and pessimistic as you??
(though you'll probably insist that after a year in japan i will be right?)

As far as her parents thinking Im a leech for staying with them for a while: Im supporting their non-working student daughter here on this side of the pond and ,yes, I will be a "gaijin who needs help" when I move there and Im not so full of pride that I cant admit that.

Dont get me wrong folks...I do see the wisdom in some of your posts and thank you for sharing it. As a result, she may go back a few months before I go so she can start working/saving and we'll get our own place shortly after I arrive.

The point about her parents trying to break us up is moot...her parents(who are aware of our plans to marry) were just herein LA and met my parents. This apparently was a big step for them according to my girlfriend. Besides that, my girlfriend is the kinda person that has been known to steal motorcycles and run from the police in japan so that should show you that, basically, she just doesn't give a fuck!

good times fellas

[AssKissinger]

her parents(who are aware of our plans to marry) were just herein LA and met my parents.

You're golden! Good luck.

[Taro Toporific]

I dont feel having a "whatever's meant to happen will attitude" equates with being a "cho-baka loser".... I just happen to generally have a positive outlook on life and have noticed that the best things in my life have come to me easily

Ok. Sorry about my stupid labeling. I've helped with the hiring of nama gaijin at an English school once a week for 10 years and Oh Lordy, the Woes I've Seen---- Hundreds and hundreds of 'travelers' and people adrift with "whatever's meant to happen". I've Thorazined-bagged-n-dragged to Narta several flipped out English teachers over the years. Tokyo is NOT a laid-back place and nothing good comes easy. Sure, you can come here a "paid vacation", hang loose, and you'll be in Narta by next summer with a "great experience."

Bottom line: Think hard-working immigrant or paid vacation but don't expect much from "whatever's meant to happen".

[soulkraka]

fair enough Taro

[Taro Toporific]

fair enough...

Now getting back to your original question: "How long to land a job?" My 10+yrs experience in veting 400-to-600 English teacher wannabes...

Average "traveler" nama gaijin: 6 weeks to 3 months (leaves Japan before 7 months)

Motivated nama gaijin: 6 weeks to 3 months (real positive cash flow in 6 months, and stays for more than a year)

Hardcore/hungry nama gaijin: 3 weeks or till money runs out

Best-case-in-the-worst-situation: working a couple of jobs 6 days after landing in Narta with only $50
(Kenyan, no college degree, no friends, no visa, willing to bust-his-butt working, positive vibes)


QUESTION FOR ALL: I've never got a good idea of the "success" rate of FG wannabes? After 2 years, I'm wildly guessing here, 95% have left Japan, if leaving a success or failure, right?

[jim katta]

after making many friends, meeting a lot of people, and doing a lot of online reading, two years does seem to be about the average. it seems that if the person makes it to year three they either become a long term resident, or leave briefly to back to their home country and then come back for another dose.

what I'm more curious about is what I'm going to term FG Syndrome. in other words, so many gaijin come and go in japan, and many have bad tales to tell. but it seems like soooo many, once they get back to their home country, truly miss japan in a big way. missing a place you thought you hated. what is the one dynamic (and please don't anyone say it's the women) that leads gaijin to miss japan and come back for more even after they've been a properly fucked gaijin?

[GomiGirl]

it's the women!!!

(Just kidding!!)

I think this is really on a case-by-case situation. People leave when they have had enough but if they never reach that point and there is no reason to leave then why not stay??? ie if it aint broke - don't fix it!!

Who knows???