Decisions, Decisions- advice please

[pragmatic]

I currently work as an ALT for a dispatch company in the Nagoya Area. I enjoy the job overall and was offered a new contract. However, I was also offered a job in a private school which pays on average an extra 50,000 yen per month + contract completion bonus. If I accept this job, this means I will have to move from Nagoya to Fukuyama which is in the country side of Hiroshima prefecture (Hiroshima is over 1 hour away by train). I am trying to decide what to do. Any constructive advice would be appreciated. Please, serious responses only. Thank you.

[wagyl]

Serious answer: only you can make this decision for yourself. Only you know what priority you place on being in Nagoya over being in Fukuyama. Only you know what your current work conditions are and how they suit you. Nobody knows what the work environment in Fukuyama will be.

[Coligny]

...in the Nagoya Area...

RUN !!!

[pragmatic]

Serious answer: only you can make this decision for yourself. Only you know what priority you place on being in Nagoya over being in Fukuyama. Only you know what your current work conditions are and how they suit you. Nobody knows what the work environment in Fukuyama will be.

I understand that. I was hoping for a more straight answer though.....

[Yokohammer]

Serious answer: only you can make this decision for yourself. Only you know what priority you place on being in Nagoya over being in Fukuyama. Only you know what your current work conditions are and how they suit you. Nobody knows what the work environment in Fukuyama will be.

I understand that. I was hoping for a more straight answer though.....

I really don't think you did understand. How on earth is anyone going to be able to advise you about this? What do you want to do?

~ Tapatalking ~

[Taro Toporific]

...what priority you place on being in Nagoya over being in Fukuyama.

Nagoya positives:
---More employment opportunities that will allow to escape engrish teaching hell
---Some cultural/social/shopping advantages of living in a big city

Nagoya negatives:
---95% of the gaijin I have talked to over my decades in the Land-of-Concrete(c) have always maligned Nagoya as Japan's crappiest "big city"
---Bigger cities are more expensive in rent, food, etc. as well as the waste of time spent commuting

Fukuyama positives:
---Roomier accommodations and cheaper living expenses
---More chances to use/practice your Japanese

Fukuyama negatives:
---You may need to buy--maintain--waste money on a car
---As a gaijin, you might find Fukuyama socially isolating

Nobody knows what the work environment in Fukuyama will be.

If your present ALT work environment is good, consider yourself lucky. Remember, most of the eikaiwa industry is wacked, full of sickos, and bizarre management.

Bottom line: If you need a change (or if you're just greedy) go for it, but if you don't need to escape a bad ALT job (or your present income is ok) stick with the little ALT-devil-you-know rather than the Beelzebub-eikaiwa-you-don't-know because no matter where you go in Japan you're gonna be a Fucked Gaijin.

[Coligny]

---Some cultural/social/shopping advantages of living in a big city.

Not even really... Nagoya is a city sized countryside shithole...

Nightlife... Sakae Philipino titi ars and Russian hookers... That's it...

[Wage Slave]

OP, I take it you are fairly young. In that case career progression is everything and trumps everything. Move to follow the work - you have to make the most of opportunities as they present themselves. If, as it sounds, this job offers progression then I would say you should take it and use it as a stepping stone to a more desirable posting later.

[Taro Toporific]

---Some cultural/social/shopping advantages of living in a big city.

Not even really... Nagoya is a city sized countryside shithole...
Nightlife... Sakae Philipino titi ars and Russian hookers... That's it...

Yeah, yeah...Actually, I never met face-2-face a gaijin who liked Nagoya. The daughter of the mayor of Nagoya's Secretary (the acting/administrative mayor of the city) used to hang out with me but even she did not have one good word say about the hellhole that is Nagoya (Nagoya-ben is nearly as as annoying as the Jersey Shore accent).

[yanpa]

---Some cultural/social/shopping advantages of living in a big city.

Not even really... Nagoya is a city sized countryside shithole...
Nightlife... Sakae Philipino titi ars and Russian hookers... That's it...

Yeah, yeah...Actually, I never met face-2-face a gaijin who liked Nagoya. The daughter of the mayor of Nagoya's Secretary (the acting/administrative mayor of the city) used to hang out with me but even she did not have one good word say about the hellhole that is Nagoya (Nagoya-ben is nearly as as annoying as the Jersey Shore accent).

I like describe it as the "Birmingham of Japan" (i.e. an armpit of a place vaguely associated with metal-bashing industries which you end up passing through from time to time due to its geophraphical location).

[Coligny]

Actually, there is ONE thing good in Nagoya. If you are a gearhead, the place is shockfull of historical car used as daily driver. Including Benz SL Gullwing from the 50' and nearly all rally cars from the 60' 70' and 80'.
In my first month there I found no less than 2 garages specialized in historical Renault that can rebuild and maintain anything made after the war including Alpine 110 Berlinette stripping it to bare fiberglass/Iron.

But once you got your oil change... Head somewhere else...

Toyohashi and Nagoya feels like polar opposite:
Nagoya: all the drawbacks of the countryside, all the drawbacks of crowded suffocating stinky cities. brutal weather, few parks and they are hobo tent cities.
the big T: more parks than there are pharmacies in Paris without any hobos, no tall building, better year round weather. (No Renault shop, and if you have a Renault, better have the mechanic on speed dial).

Aside from Tokyuhands (Nagoya)/Farmer markets (Big T) exact same shopping possibilities. also, in Nagoya I never had to worry aboot wild hogs/boar attack, stop to help turtles crossing the road... Or swerve to avoid running over snakes.

[Coligny]

(Nagoya-ben is nearly as as annoying as the Jersey Shore accent).

Thanks... Reminded me the planet is overdue for a mass extinction...
I'll be working on that in my workshop...

[pragmatic]

This would be a step up from being an ALT since it is a direct hire at a private school.
Then again if it doesn't work out, there are not a lot of opportunities in Fukuyama.
Then again, I have applied to private schools in Nagoya and did not even get an interview.

Thank you all for the advice

[pragmatic]

OP, I take it you are fairly young. In that case career progression is everything and trumps everything. Move to follow the work - you have to make the most of opportunities as they present themselves. If, as it sounds, this job offers progression then I would say you should take it and use it as a stepping stone to a more desirable posting later.

I am not that young. I just hit 40.

[pragmatic]

...what priority you place on being in Nagoya over being in Fukuyama.

Nagoya positives:
---More employment opportunities that will allow to escape engrish teaching hell
---Some cultural/social/shopping advantages of living in a big city

Nagoya negatives:
---95% of the gaijin I have talked to over my decades in the Land-of-Concrete(c) have always maligned Nagoya as Japan's crappiest "big city"
---Bigger cities are more expensive in rent, food, etc. as well as the waste of time spent commuting

Fukuyama positives:
---Roomier accommodations and cheaper living expenses
---More chances to use/practice your Japanese

Fukuyama negatives:
---You may need to buy--maintain--waste money on a car
---As a gaijin, you might find Fukuyama socially isolating

Nobody knows what the work environment in Fukuyama will be.

If your present ALT work environment is good, consider yourself lucky. Remember, most of the eikaiwa industry is wacked, full of sickos, and bizarre management.

Bottom line: If you need a change (or if you're just greedy) go for it, but if you don't need to escape a bad ALT job (or your present income is ok) stick with the little ALT-devil-you-know rather than the Beelzebub-eikaiwa-you-don't-know because no matter where you go in Japan you're gonna be a Fucked Gaijin.

This job is NOT an Eikaiwa job. It is a direct hire at a private school where you need a teaching license from your home country.

[Wage Slave]

OP, I take it you are fairly young. In that case career progression is everything and trumps everything. Move to follow the work - you have to make the most of opportunities as they present themselves. If, as it sounds, this job offers progression then I would say you should take it and use it as a stepping stone to a more desirable posting later.

I am not that young. I just hit 40.

A youngster! Well, maybe not but you still have lots of mileage left in you. I still think progression trumps everything at that age.

[pragmatic]

Thank you for all of your responses. This is a direct hire private school position, that is in the inaka of Fukuyama. It pays considerably more, although the location is very inconvenient.

I have been looking in Nagoya at private school positions. However, I have not been able to find anything successfully. I am kind of surprised actually since Nagoya is a very large city. I have a Masters and a teaching certificate. Maybe I didn't network enough? I am trying to look at this objectively. On one hand going to Fukuyama would be a career progression. Then again leaving Nagoya means lost opportunity costs of leaving a big city. The ALT job is not bad, but they just transferred me to a 9 month countract. With my other part time job I can get by, but I have to wonder if it wise to continue like that. My thoughts are to continue like this until something better comes along, or go for what I have in front of me.

Once again, any advice would be helpful.

Thanks!

[wagyl]

If it were me, I would take it. I, however, am not you, so your mileage may vary. I prefer to be a big fish in a smaller pond in any event, so the countryside does not frighten me. It may pay to search on Fukuyama on this very site: there may be some personal insight from a member or two.

Edited to add: I'm not sure if it is Fukuyama or not, but are we talking about the Seventh Day Adventist school?

[Coligny]

Took only 15 messages to understand the question...

[nikoneko]

I live in Fukuyama, not sure why you think it is inaka it isn't at all. It's the second largest city in Hiroshima and nothing like inaka. That said I hate it here personally, but I am coming from Kobe as a comparison which we loved a ton. Not sure what specifically you want to know about this city but ask me any questions and I'll be happy to help.

[pragmatic]

I live in Fukuyama, not sure why you think it is inaka it isn't at all. It's the second largest city in Hiroshima and nothing like inaka. That said I hate it here personally, but I am coming from Kobe as a comparison which we loved a ton. Not sure what specifically you want to know about this city but ask me any questions and I'll be happy to help.

Yes, actually there is something you can help with. What do you know about the private school called "Eisu Gakkan". It is located near Daimon station. For example, is there a large turn over in gainjins there? How do people like working there, etc.

Also, in case this job does not work out, are there any other opportunities in Fukuyama?

Also, is there a gaijin bar/ extablishment there?

How easy and or how long does it take to get to Hiroshima (without using the Shinkansen) Ex: express train, bus, etc??

How difficult and /or easy is it to meet a nice women there (either Japanese or gaijin)?

What made you move from Kobe to Fukuyama?

I appreciate you chiming in and helping

Thank you

[wagyl]

OP, I take it you are fairly young. In that case career progression is everything and trumps everything. Move to follow the work - you have to make the most of opportunities as they present themselves. If, as it sounds, this job offers progression then I would say you should take it and use it as a stepping stone to a more desirable posting later.

I am not that young. I just hit 40.

A youngster! Well, maybe not but you still have lots of mileage left in you. I still think progression trumps everything at that age.

But are the women easy????

[nikoneko]

Yes, actually there is something you can help with. What do you know about the private school called "Eisu Gakkan". It is located near Daimon station. For example, is there a large turn over in gainjins there? How do people like working there, etc.

That school is right close to where we live actually. It's not a bad part of the city I suppose it's good for families with lots of kids around and some modern housing mixed in with the old. I'm not an english teacher so I don't know a thing about that school or the giajin turnaround stuff but my wife says it used to be known as a really good school around here, but the quality went down and now they are moving back up again she's heard.

Also, in case this job does not work out, are there any other opportunities in Fukuyama?

Again I don't know but I would think if there are some they would be slim. I see maybe another gaijin or two a week in my neighborhood and usually a few more when I go down town who I assume are English teachers, but I don't know much more than that.

Also, is there a gaijin bar/ extablishment there?

Yeah believe it or not, great food too. I'm not much into the nightlife outside of with family and it's downtown so I don't get there regularly but when I go there will usually be gaijin in there, mostly Aussies it seems. Other than that place though I think it is pretty slim pickings. Downtown here kind of sucks there are isakayas and things but it's nothing like Kobe or Osaka or something that I am familiar with.
http://www.boogiebuns.com/Welcome_to_BOOGIE_BUNS.html

How easy and or how long does it take to get to Hiroshima (without using the Shinkansen) Ex: express train, bus, etc??

There are buses from Fukuyama station I think but I am not sure how frequent there are. No express trains. Shinkansen or car is how we go.

How difficult and /or easy is it to meet a nice women there (either Japanese or gaijin)?

No idea, I've been married 17 years lol. There are tons of young women downtown though all the time, maybe too young though half are usually high school girls.

What made you move from Kobe to Fukuyama?

Kansai with a young son and no support network of family got too be much and not to mention too expensive. Fukuyama is my wife's hometown so we came back here. We are hoping to leave Japan and move back to the USA but if we did stay we'd be moving out of Fukuyama as soon as we could. Not necessarily because of the city itself, it has some good points probably more bad than good, but some good. But we just liked Kobe and Kansai so much we'd go back there.

One thing I'd mention is I don't know about Nagoya but the Chinese dust is much worse in this city than it was in Kobe.

[Mike Oxlong]

Hiroshima Prefecture, eh. Prospects look good...

[nikoneko]

Here's some random pics from mountain tops looking over the city and Setonaikai. You can just barely see downtown through the dust in the first.

[nikoneko]

And here's a vid that first station is the next one from Daimon on the way downtown.

[Wage Slave]

Yes, actually there is something you can help with. What do you know about the private school called "Eisu Gakkan".

Isn't Eisu a huge and sucessful chain of juku rather than a school? Or do they do both perhaps? They are a "only" a juku, the biggest, round here.

[nikoneko]

No it's a full private school. http://www.eisu-ejs.ac.jp/english/index.html

[Wage Slave]

Ah yes. A different kettle of fish entirely. Between working there and as a contracted out ALT would seem to be a no brainer.

[Coligny]

Here's some random pics from mountain tops looking over the city and Setonaikai. You can just barely see downtown through the dust in the first.

Polition aside, looks quite good... Do they need ob-gy ?