I've made it so far....

[Bettlebob]

I posted a while back about moving to Japan, and now that I have been here almost a month I am slowly starting to get used to it. I live in the country, Kisarazu, and that took some getting used to (mainly because I was told I would be really close to Tokyo, about a 10 or 20 minute train ride) and I teach in an even smaller town, Futtsu. So I am about an hour from Tokyo and Yokohama by the Aqualine. Now I am starting to feel like I might be able to make it the full year, but damn those first couple of weeks sucked!!!! Nobody here speaks English and my Japanese SUCKS! But the town is getting used to seeing a bald American walking around and thank god there is a McDonalds when all else fails on getting food.

But life is getting better and NOVA doesn't suck that bad. Now that I finally have internet I will see if I can become more active on this board.

Bettlebob

[devicenull]

YAY ANOTHER NOVA 'TEACHER'

[AssKissinger]

Just ignore Devicenull. I don't think he's ever worked in Japan so he doesn't know very much about the culture. Sometimes you might run into a snotty student type. Usually the best thing for them is good solid beatdown. If you got any questions about soccermom suburbia or chainsaw juggling he's your guy.

An hour from Tokyo ain't inaka (countryside)! Don't even think about leaving before your year is up. The first year is just for checking everything out. The second year is little cooler because then you get to where you understand a little more about what everything's about. As new as you are to Japan I would try not to pass judgement on things. Just take it all in like a movie and do your best to have a good time.

Nova is a case by case thing I think. Some branches are terrible and some are just a job. I know a couple of folks from way back who've stuck with Nova for over five years and they both got pretty cush positions and make some decent cash. It's all what you make of it. One of the coolest things about Nova is they let people take long unpaid leaves and comeback to the job. You can unwind with a couple months to Thailand and have a job waiting for you in Japan. That's pretty cool! If you have any problems at work or in life you can get some good advice here at FG. Pretty much all the regs are longtermers.

Enjoy those BigMacs dude and don't get a sunburned dome.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Sometimes it aint the job, it's what you do outside of it.
Protect ya nut fella, baldies be strong!
Take the good and frig the rest.

[Bettlebob]

No I don't think there is anyway that I would leave before my year is up, Japan is starting to get better. Yeah I have heard some some people really getting screwed by NOVA and I totally agree that it is a case by case situation.

But right now I am trying to enjoy it as much as possible and have a great time.

[American Oyaji]

I've said this before, but I'll say this again.

NOVA ain't a bad gig. It just can get repetitive.

I've also said that If you work for NOVA, it's best to not work in the large cities but work in the smaller towns. Better/larger accomodations for a lower price.

[AssKissinger]

Better/larger accomodations for a lower price

What's your apt. situation, Bob?

[Bettlebob]

The apartment is not that bad, compared to some that I have seen other people living in. The complex was build about a year ago and I have one roommate. I think it is small but I have been told that it is a very nice size for a Japanese apartment.

Now I am being charged double what a Japanese person would be paying to live here (rents for 63.000 yen a month and my roommate and I are paying 65,000 yen a month each), but my utilities are included in the price. If I do stay longer then one year I will start to look for my own place to live and not a NOVA supplied apartment.

[/i]

[AssKissinger]

my roommate and I are paying 65,000 yen a month each), but my utilities are included in the price.

That, my friend, is called bending over.

[Taro Toporific]

my roommate and I are paying 65,000 yen a month each), but my utilities are included in the price.

That, my friend, is called bending over.

Nope, he's an official FG now. :P

[DJEB]

Labour is that dead? NOVA does suck that bad, you just have nothing good to compare it to.

[Big Booger]

hold on now, utilities included? I'd set up a makeshift (For Rent) Karaoke Bar in your apartment and rent it out during your work hours. Bring home some bacon without having to lift a finger..

That or make it a love hotel. You can get a neon sign with your telephone number on it.. stick it on the front door or if you have a balcony, maybe out there.

How big is this place that you are sharing between two people? 40m2? 50m2?

Is it a 2LDK? 1LDK?

I'd take baths out the ass, leave the lights on 24/7, throw wild ass parties, and all.. I'd even consider setting up a mini-cyber cafe during your days off... get an NTT Flets 100Mbit Fiber plan, or two or three.. maybe a coffee or cappuccino machine..

It also depends exactly where you live. If you are next to a train station or something like that, that price is decent.. and it depends on how wacky your roomy is.