Hey everybody! First post here, so be kind...
Anyway, I've gotten accepted for a JET ALT job and they just notified me of my placement: Hyogo-ken! I'm pretty excited about it because I really wanted to be in the Kansai region. But, they still haven't told me where exactly in the prefecture I'll be placed, so it could be up in the mountains or down by Kobe (hopefully the latter)... I noticed at least one person on these forums lives in Hyogo-ken, so do you think you could give me some info on the place? I'm having a hard time figuring out the distances... Is it a pain to get to Kobe on the weekends from the countryside (assuming I get placed out there)? What about Osaka?
A little about myself, I'm just finishing up a Japanese degree (with enough Psych undergrad to go to grad school if I get sick of Japan), and my spoken Japanese is at a pretty high level (I can hang out with my Japanese friends all night and not have to use any English). Since my dad was in the military I'm used to moving to new places, and as a big punk rocker in high school I'm pretty used to getting stares and not being "accepted", whatever that means. I think I'll make it pretty well in Japan... I love Japanese people and culture as a whole (not just anime/manga), and generally I'm pretty confident in getting through just about any situation... Now I've just gotta work on my Kansai-ben... Any good books/websites?
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Hyogo-ken
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by Caustic Saint » Fri May 21, 2004 1:18 pm
You're going to Japan, not Korea. Unless you look like you're from Alpha Centauri, you won't get stared at.
(And even if you were from AC, you'd only warrant a first glance, not a double-take.)
(And even if you were from AC, you'd only warrant a first glance, not a double-take.)
More caustic. Less saint. 
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by Evilhead » Fri May 21, 2004 4:25 pm
Well, that's good to know. I hear that if you out in the deep countryside (like northern Hyogo-ken) you are a bit of a curiosity, but I'm probably way off.
It seems like a lot of people say stuff like "you'll never be fully accepted" or whatever, and that just seems like an empty statement to me. What does it mean to be "fully accepted" into a society anyway? If you have friends, a job, and possibly a family in Japan as a gaijin, isn't that about as accepted as you can be? Living in a place like LA or New York, I'm sure one can feel just as much of an outsider as they might in Japan, even if you are native to that place.
It seems like a lot of people say stuff like "you'll never be fully accepted" or whatever, and that just seems like an empty statement to me. What does it mean to be "fully accepted" into a society anyway? If you have friends, a job, and possibly a family in Japan as a gaijin, isn't that about as accepted as you can be? Living in a place like LA or New York, I'm sure one can feel just as much of an outsider as they might in Japan, even if you are native to that place.
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Evilhead - Maezumo
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by Big Booger » Fri May 21, 2004 6:10 pm
I live in Hyogo-ken hehehe...
It's as good as you make it. Get a car if you are placed out in the sticks. It will cost you quite a bit up front, but in the end, your life would be over without one in the boonies.
I live in a small town about an hour from Kobe, Kyoto and Himeji... I could take the train or bus from my town to any of those destinations without much effort. The trainstations in the boonies generally are a bit far depending on where you live.
Bus stations/stops are very close generally you can catch a bus from anywhere.. That said, not all places, especially the deep boons, have access.. at least immediate access. If you are placed in the mountainous areas of Hyogo you'll be screwed.. You'll be an hour to an hour and a half from civilization, you probably won't have access to broadband internet, (remember in Japan you pay per minute for dialup and ISDN).. though DSL is spreading.. it all depends on where you are placed.
About shopping and things to do, out in the boons, good luck. I have to drive about 40 minutes to kakogawa to see a movie.. that blows. 40 minutes there, 40 minutes back.. LOL Just to see a 1300 yen flick.. By car. By train it would probably take longer because the station is rather far from my home. By bus it might be a tad quicker but then you have to pay bus fare each way.
About how you'll be treated. I'd say you'll never fit in, but never is quite strong. At first you may think you've become one with the "Sun" but look more closely. Every chance they get the inakamon stare at you like crazy. And even if you make eye contact they continue to stare (if you look away)... if you throw down the jirojiromiru on them, they look away.
People in the country I find are a bit slower and easy going. They take their time when driving (40 kph usually in most places = 25mph).. that took me a while to get used to GO SPEED RACER
Now take my advice and don't speed!!! But I mean it gets pretty bad when scooters go zooming past you.. especially on a 4 lane highway LOL
Now on to some of the good points about inaka (country) living. One, the pollution is less than in the city. Air, water, and even noise pollution are nearly non-existent.. unless you are blessed with what I like to call, the fire loving farmers. They burn grass, garbage, tires, furniture, whatever in the hell they are throwing away usually goes in their "farming fires".
People are kinder I think out in the docks. Especially if you join the internation association in your town, do the mattsuris, meet people, and join in carrying the huge town yatai (portable shrines) through the streets.
Living expenses are usually reduced because you don't have that much to do. If you are a party animal, and are placed in the docks, you might as well not come...
Cause there isn't much partying you can do out in the rice fields..
It is really quiet. So if you enjoy nature, peace and quiet and the like, you'll love your boony life. I do, sort of. But I try to go into Kobe, Himeji, Kyoto or Osaka 1-4 times a month.. and to smaller but still large cities more often like kakogawa or Akashi.
Oh about acceptance.. Just imagine you are an alien, just landed on Earth, and the people have heard about your species, have seen a few, but you are still relatively new to them.. that is what being a gaijin is like in Japan. Some people run for cover when they see you, some move their seat on the train to get away from you, some cross the street when they see you coming, but not all.
Some get up in your face and ask you questions (the concept of personal space is a joke here to some residents), some English you to death... where are you from (as if they even knew where the state or country was when you tell them), what do you like about Japan, can you use chopsticks.. the literal run of the mill questioning...
Some people get aggressive with foreigners, though it is rare. ANd then some people, though I have met less than a handful in three years, you can rely on, develop a decent relationship with and so on...
I have friends, family and a job in Japan but I am certainly not part of Japan. That much is clear everytime I walk out the door and the little neighborhood rats say "gaijin da" or "gaijin wa ookidesu" or something like that...
Living in LA or New York, you are American usually.. illegal immigrants and students are the exception.. the thing about America is the diversity... in Japan, 99.9% of people are black (dyed to brown sometimes) haired, brown/black eyed people... you will stick out like a sore thumb if you don't fit that bill. Then there's the language issue.. though Japanese welcome English into their daily lives much like America does with Spanish...
There is lots to do in Hyogo.. hiking, fishing, camping, mountain climbing, pottery, judo, taiko (japanese drumming), and so on.. Take up a hobby that is Japanese.. it will help you. That is one thing that I plan to do in the coming year as I move to my new job. I wished I would have started when I first came, but I kept putting it off and putting it off.
Also take Japanese courses as soon as you get here too.. find the local Japanese community course... they are cheap and work well.. but the volunteers who teach them are generally not trained teachers.. so if you want a professional Japanese teacher, pay for it!
Any other questions just ask.
It's as good as you make it. Get a car if you are placed out in the sticks. It will cost you quite a bit up front, but in the end, your life would be over without one in the boonies.
I live in a small town about an hour from Kobe, Kyoto and Himeji... I could take the train or bus from my town to any of those destinations without much effort. The trainstations in the boonies generally are a bit far depending on where you live.
Bus stations/stops are very close generally you can catch a bus from anywhere.. That said, not all places, especially the deep boons, have access.. at least immediate access. If you are placed in the mountainous areas of Hyogo you'll be screwed.. You'll be an hour to an hour and a half from civilization, you probably won't have access to broadband internet, (remember in Japan you pay per minute for dialup and ISDN).. though DSL is spreading.. it all depends on where you are placed.
About shopping and things to do, out in the boons, good luck. I have to drive about 40 minutes to kakogawa to see a movie.. that blows. 40 minutes there, 40 minutes back.. LOL Just to see a 1300 yen flick.. By car. By train it would probably take longer because the station is rather far from my home. By bus it might be a tad quicker but then you have to pay bus fare each way.
About how you'll be treated. I'd say you'll never fit in, but never is quite strong. At first you may think you've become one with the "Sun" but look more closely. Every chance they get the inakamon stare at you like crazy. And even if you make eye contact they continue to stare (if you look away)... if you throw down the jirojiromiru on them, they look away.
People in the country I find are a bit slower and easy going. They take their time when driving (40 kph usually in most places = 25mph).. that took me a while to get used to GO SPEED RACER
Now take my advice and don't speed!!! But I mean it gets pretty bad when scooters go zooming past you.. especially on a 4 lane highway LOL
Now on to some of the good points about inaka (country) living. One, the pollution is less than in the city. Air, water, and even noise pollution are nearly non-existent.. unless you are blessed with what I like to call, the fire loving farmers. They burn grass, garbage, tires, furniture, whatever in the hell they are throwing away usually goes in their "farming fires".
People are kinder I think out in the docks. Especially if you join the internation association in your town, do the mattsuris, meet people, and join in carrying the huge town yatai (portable shrines) through the streets.
Living expenses are usually reduced because you don't have that much to do. If you are a party animal, and are placed in the docks, you might as well not come...
Cause there isn't much partying you can do out in the rice fields.. It is really quiet. So if you enjoy nature, peace and quiet and the like, you'll love your boony life. I do, sort of. But I try to go into Kobe, Himeji, Kyoto or Osaka 1-4 times a month.. and to smaller but still large cities more often like kakogawa or Akashi.
Oh about acceptance.. Just imagine you are an alien, just landed on Earth, and the people have heard about your species, have seen a few, but you are still relatively new to them.. that is what being a gaijin is like in Japan. Some people run for cover when they see you, some move their seat on the train to get away from you, some cross the street when they see you coming, but not all.
Some get up in your face and ask you questions (the concept of personal space is a joke here to some residents), some English you to death... where are you from (as if they even knew where the state or country was when you tell them), what do you like about Japan, can you use chopsticks.. the literal run of the mill questioning...
Some people get aggressive with foreigners, though it is rare. ANd then some people, though I have met less than a handful in three years, you can rely on, develop a decent relationship with and so on...
I have friends, family and a job in Japan but I am certainly not part of Japan. That much is clear everytime I walk out the door and the little neighborhood rats say "gaijin da" or "gaijin wa ookidesu" or something like that...
Living in LA or New York, you are American usually.. illegal immigrants and students are the exception.. the thing about America is the diversity... in Japan, 99.9% of people are black (dyed to brown sometimes) haired, brown/black eyed people... you will stick out like a sore thumb if you don't fit that bill. Then there's the language issue.. though Japanese welcome English into their daily lives much like America does with Spanish...
There is lots to do in Hyogo.. hiking, fishing, camping, mountain climbing, pottery, judo, taiko (japanese drumming), and so on.. Take up a hobby that is Japanese.. it will help you. That is one thing that I plan to do in the coming year as I move to my new job. I wished I would have started when I first came, but I kept putting it off and putting it off.
Also take Japanese courses as soon as you get here too.. find the local Japanese community course... they are cheap and work well.. but the volunteers who teach them are generally not trained teachers.. so if you want a professional Japanese teacher, pay for it!
Any other questions just ask.
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Big Booger - Posts: 4150
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by Taro Toporific » Fri May 21, 2004 6:27 pm
Big Booger wrote:....pottery, judo, taiko (japanese drumming), and so on.. Take up a hobby that is Japanese.. it will help you....
GREAT POST Booger!
Good reminder 'bout the shumi/hobby. :P
Out of the Rice Ranch in Shikoku, just hanging at Matusuyama city's super-plush weight gym and pool in downtown is well worth the 30 minute drive in terms of sanity and socializing (plenty of babes). Likewise, on the Ranch the local Shrine old-farts are warming up to me as a 4-legged ShiShi puppeteer at the festivals. Getting involved, even though it's just during my vacations, has make a world of difference (and the ultimate language class).
_________
FUCK THE 2020 OLYMPICS!
FUCK THE 2020 OLYMPICS!
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by Evilhead » Sun May 23, 2004 10:06 am
Whoa, thanks for all the info and advice! I still don't know where I'll be placed, so hopefully it's not too far out in the sticks. I'll probably be taking the train to Kobe every weekend for a while. I do like to party, but my ideal party is getting together with a small group of friends and drinking/eating at someone's house, and I think that can be done just about anywhere on earth. As for picking up a Japanese hobby, that's something I'll definitely have to do! Hopefully I can find a willing teacher!
Yeah, I'm sure I'll stick out... I'm actually looking forward to it. I like getting approached by strangers and getting asked weird questions. And like I said, my Japanese is at a pretty high level at this point so I think that will help in making friends. My fluency is pretty damn good (especially in comprehension) and being in Japan for a couple years will really help me to become pera-pera...
Once again, thanks for the advice! It's exactly the kind of info I was looking for! Once I figure out where in Hyogo I'm being placed I'll post it here!
Yeah, I'm sure I'll stick out... I'm actually looking forward to it. I like getting approached by strangers and getting asked weird questions. And like I said, my Japanese is at a pretty high level at this point so I think that will help in making friends. My fluency is pretty damn good (especially in comprehension) and being in Japan for a couple years will really help me to become pera-pera...
Once again, thanks for the advice! It's exactly the kind of info I was looking for! Once I figure out where in Hyogo I'm being placed I'll post it here!
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Evilhead - Maezumo
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by Naniwan Kid » Sun May 23, 2004 10:27 am
Hyogo is a beautiful place, and although it is one of the bigger prefectures I think you'll find the people very open and friendly. There are some beautiful mountains and hiking and camping places. I beleive your first day you will go to Yashiro, which is a very small town in the middle of the prefecture (only one pachinko parlor) and from there you'll be transported to your new apartment. It's a stark difference from the party atmosphere of Tokyo. Please let us know where you go.
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by Evilhead » Sun May 23, 2004 1:49 pm
While I'm generally used to city (or at least suburban) life, I think being out in the country will have it's pluses. Living somewhere quiet and beautiful for a year or two might be exactly what I need! I'm planning to use JET as a springboard to another job in Japan if possible, so I'll be looking for a job in Osaka or some other large city while I'm staying in Hyogo.
As for a car, I'll have to research all the fees a bit more. Will I still have to rent a parking space if I'm out in the boonies? Is it cheaper to get a motorcycle? I've been deeply considering getting a bike in Japan to ride around the beautiful mountains and countryside, as well as for commuting to the city. As for the commute, a 40 minute to 1 hour drive for me is nothing. I live in Orange County now, which I find to be pretty boring, so I drive to the LA area often two times a week (about a 50 minute drive), and it's really nothing for me. Taking the train would be even less of a hassle because I can just sit there and read a book or something. Hopefully I'll be near a train station!
Once again, thanks for all the info! Although I was hoping to be close to a big city, I'm still very much looking forward to moving to Hyogo!
As for a car, I'll have to research all the fees a bit more. Will I still have to rent a parking space if I'm out in the boonies? Is it cheaper to get a motorcycle? I've been deeply considering getting a bike in Japan to ride around the beautiful mountains and countryside, as well as for commuting to the city. As for the commute, a 40 minute to 1 hour drive for me is nothing. I live in Orange County now, which I find to be pretty boring, so I drive to the LA area often two times a week (about a 50 minute drive), and it's really nothing for me. Taking the train would be even less of a hassle because I can just sit there and read a book or something. Hopefully I'll be near a train station!
Once again, thanks for all the info! Although I was hoping to be close to a big city, I'm still very much looking forward to moving to Hyogo!
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Evilhead - Maezumo
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by omae mona » Sun May 23, 2004 8:12 pm
Evilhead wrote:As for a car, I'll have to research all the fees a bit more. Will I still have to rent a parking space if I'm out in the boonies? Is it cheaper to get a motorcycle? I've been deeply considering getting a bike in Japan to ride around the beautiful mountains and countryside, as well as for commuting to the city.
My buddies who have lived out in the boonies swore by their motorcycles and always get natsukashii about the good ol' days roaming the countryside. When they became Tokyo transplants, they brought them along and still swear by them in the city. The downside (goes for countryside + city driving): rain & snow.
Bear in mind... the International Drivers Permit trick no longer works once you've passed a year of residence. You *must* get a Japanese driver's license within a year, according to the new law. When I picked mine up, a few of the other test takers had been ordered to the license center by very ticked-off cops.
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by Big Booger » Sun May 23, 2004 8:16 pm
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6631&highlight=shaken
That link will get you some info on the car situation. Take a look at my post and the hidden cost link.
As for a motorcycle, I really think that is a very economical way to get around in Japan. The downside is weather... it gets frigid in the winter here.. though if you are used to cold weather, it shouldn't be that bad. I see people all the time bundled up riding mopeds and bikes in the dead middle of winter.
I'd go with a kei class car. I drove one for the first two years of living here. It is small.. (think Geo Metro/Storm), but the shaken is cheap, tolls are cheap, and it is simple to park. You can squeeze a kei-car into almost any nook or cranny.
I am sure with a positive attitude you'll have a blast. The thing I would be most worried about would be your co-workers.. if they are crap, you'll want to leave. But if they are great, your time here will be butter. Some teachers are anal.. it all depends on the school and the teachers.
Good luck and keep us posted.
That link will get you some info on the car situation. Take a look at my post and the hidden cost link.
As for a motorcycle, I really think that is a very economical way to get around in Japan. The downside is weather... it gets frigid in the winter here.. though if you are used to cold weather, it shouldn't be that bad. I see people all the time bundled up riding mopeds and bikes in the dead middle of winter.
I'd go with a kei class car. I drove one for the first two years of living here. It is small.. (think Geo Metro/Storm), but the shaken is cheap, tolls are cheap, and it is simple to park. You can squeeze a kei-car into almost any nook or cranny.
I am sure with a positive attitude you'll have a blast. The thing I would be most worried about would be your co-workers.. if they are crap, you'll want to leave. But if they are great, your time here will be butter. Some teachers are anal.. it all depends on the school and the teachers.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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Big Booger - Posts: 4150
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by Evilhead » Mon May 24, 2004 6:05 am
Hey thanks for the info! As much as I would love to have an old Skyline, I'd probably stick to a Kei car or a bike due to the costs. Now, I found a pretty good FAQ about bikes in Japan (http://www.thejapanfaq.com/bikerfaq-toc.html), and even if it's outdated the shaken fees still seem pretty small. So do you guys think it's definitely cheaper to get a bike as opposed to a kei car? There are some real benefits to having an actual car, so if the costs are about the same I would probably get one of those, but if it's much cheaper to get a bike there are also some very good things about having a bike. As for the cold weather, that is indeed a good thing to think about, so thanks for pointing that out... I've lived in pretty damn cold places before (Iowa in the winter is a lot colder than you would expect... -20F wind-chill was pretty common), but I still don't like it. I guess if I had a bike on snowy and rainy days days I would just be stuck at home or I'd take a bus... Still, if I end up in the sticks (which seems likely), the more I think about it the more I'm pretty sure I'll get some means of transportation.
And how does this International Drivers Permit thing go? I didn't even realize you could do something like that...
And hopefully my coworkers will be cool! I was just talking to an acquaintance of mine about Hyogo-ken, and she said her friend did JET there and LOVED the school she worked at. So hopefully I'll luck out, too!
And how does this International Drivers Permit thing go? I didn't even realize you could do something like that...
And hopefully my coworkers will be cool! I was just talking to an acquaintance of mine about Hyogo-ken, and she said her friend did JET there and LOVED the school she worked at. So hopefully I'll luck out, too!
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Evilhead - Maezumo
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by Big Booger » Mon May 24, 2004 10:31 am
shaken is the mandatory insurance (JIBAISEKI HOKEN) and weight tax (JYUURYOUZEI). These, plus a few miscellaneous fees can come to as low as about 35,000yen. However, in order to get the bike to pass the rather picky inspection, a lot of work might be required. Or at least required in the eyes of the bike shop (more work means more yen for them). It seems average costs are about 70,000 yen.
I got my keicar shaken done for 80,000 yen by a shop. If I did "user shaken, it would have been considerably less.. but you have to be able to speak Japanese fluently and have an understanding of automotive Japanese.. (though most components are katakanized).
But if you go with a scooter, it should be very cheap. If you want a larger motorcycle it will prove more expensive.
As for the international license, it is good for 1 year here. It used to be unlimited but back in 2002 the law changed.. and now after 1 year you have to get a J-menkyosho:
About Menkyosho:
http://www.geocities.com/naganokenaetpa/License.html
About International License:
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+4701
It really depends on where you live. If you live near a train station, I'd get a bike. If you lived out in the docks, get a kei car. That's what I'd do.
With a car you can carry friends around too. I've loaded my kei down with 6 full sized gaijin.. it was hilarious looking at 4 grown men squeeze into the back of a kei car.. It was a tight fit like a double stuffed oreo cookie. LOL
I got my keicar shaken done for 80,000 yen by a shop. If I did "user shaken, it would have been considerably less.. but you have to be able to speak Japanese fluently and have an understanding of automotive Japanese.. (though most components are katakanized).
But if you go with a scooter, it should be very cheap. If you want a larger motorcycle it will prove more expensive.
As for the international license, it is good for 1 year here. It used to be unlimited but back in 2002 the law changed.. and now after 1 year you have to get a J-menkyosho:
About Menkyosho:
http://www.geocities.com/naganokenaetpa/License.html
About International License:
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+4701
It really depends on where you live. If you live near a train station, I'd get a bike. If you lived out in the docks, get a kei car. That's what I'd do.
With a car you can carry friends around too. I've loaded my kei down with 6 full sized gaijin.. it was hilarious looking at 4 grown men squeeze into the back of a kei car.. It was a tight fit like a double stuffed oreo cookie. LOL
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Big Booger - Posts: 4150
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by Evilhead » Mon May 24, 2004 10:53 am
Thanks once again for the info! So basically I come to Japan with my California driver's license and I get a international driving permit there?
As for the mode of transportation, I'm still making up my mind, but I'm leaning toward the kei car... Although I've still got to find out what my town is like. If I ever in up in or near a big city, I'm definitely getting a scooter or a bike, just to get around town and maybe to take out joyriding sometimes, but at this point the kei car seems like it would be the best for me. I'll want to take passengers at some point I'm sure (like you said), it will keep the weather at bay, and it seems to be about the same price as getting a bike. Plus, if I wanted to drive a longer distance a scooter would be a pain, and I don't know that much about bikes anyway. Plus I really like the kei cars themselves... I saw a ton of them in Italy (well, their European equivalents anyway) and they have their own coolness factor. I've always been a fan of tiny cars. Once again, thanks for all the very helpful info!
I think you said somewhere you have three cars... do you have any pictures?
As for the mode of transportation, I'm still making up my mind, but I'm leaning toward the kei car... Although I've still got to find out what my town is like. If I ever in up in or near a big city, I'm definitely getting a scooter or a bike, just to get around town and maybe to take out joyriding sometimes, but at this point the kei car seems like it would be the best for me. I'll want to take passengers at some point I'm sure (like you said), it will keep the weather at bay, and it seems to be about the same price as getting a bike. Plus, if I wanted to drive a longer distance a scooter would be a pain, and I don't know that much about bikes anyway. Plus I really like the kei cars themselves... I saw a ton of them in Italy (well, their European equivalents anyway) and they have their own coolness factor. I've always been a fan of tiny cars. Once again, thanks for all the very helpful info!
I think you said somewhere you have three cars... do you have any pictures?
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Evilhead - Maezumo
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by Big Booger » Mon May 24, 2004 12:40 pm
You'll need to get the AAA international driving permit in the US. It costs about $10. You'll need to fill out the form and submit 2 passport sized photos.
http://www.csaa.com/travel/internationaldrivingpermit/0,1445,1003040700,00.html
That link should help. It's good for 1 year, non-renewable in Japan.
http://www.csaa.com/travel/internationaldrivingpermit/0,1445,1003040700,00.html
That link should help. It's good for 1 year, non-renewable in Japan.
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Big Booger - Posts: 4150
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by AssKissinger » Tue May 25, 2004 9:00 pm
Here's an example of one of the fine schools in Hyogo
http://search.mainichi.co.jp/cgi-bin/mdn/search.cgi?keyword=teacher%20student&no=0&id=200403-17-0317m006.dm0&article=7
It wasn't you who took the beat down was it BB?
http://search.mainichi.co.jp/cgi-bin/mdn/search.cgi?keyword=teacher%20student&no=0&id=200403-17-0317m006.dm0&article=7
A teacher bashed by a student while others cheered on has returned to his school, but is spending his days locked away in a reception room because other teachers are afraid of fresh trouble
It wasn't you who took the beat down was it BB?
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by Big Booger » Wed May 26, 2004 11:16 pm
AssKissinger wrote:Here's an example of one of the fine schools in Hyogo
http://search.mainichi.co.jp/cgi-bin/mdn/search.cgi?keyword=teacher%20student&no=0&id=200403-17-0317m006.dm0&article=7A teacher bashed by a student while others cheered on has returned to his school, but is spending his days locked away in a reception room because other teachers are afraid of fresh trouble
It wasn't you who took the beat down was it BB?
Damn, I've be caught. Alas, that bastard put the hurting on me.
He had the audacity to bang me in my kintama... ouchie.
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Big Booger - Posts: 4150
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by Evilhead » Thu May 27, 2004 5:23 pm
Ah, well, I could only hope to have students as fiesty as those. If they started shit, I'd put my Ninjutsu (Budou-Taijutsu) training to good use! It would only be a matter of what bone to break first. Hehehe...
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Evilhead - Maezumo
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by Mulboyne » Fri May 28, 2004 9:43 am
Guess you already checked out the Hyogo Ken AJET Website
Pics of your colleagues: In Action on a Pub Crawl
At the Love Party
Meet the new Jets 2002
FG alert! FG alert!
Pics of your colleagues: In Action on a Pub Crawl
At the Love Party
Meet the new Jets 2002
FG alert! FG alert!
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Mulboyne - Posts: 18608
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by Father_Moo » Tue Jun 01, 2004 1:32 pm
Hello!
First time here. All this stuff has been very, uh, informative. A friend of mine and I will be posted in Asago and are amazed at all the info that seems to be flying around concerning Hyogo-ken!
Still trying to work out motorcycle vs car vs nothing. I have to find out how Canadian graduated motorcycle licensing carries over into the Japanese system. Any of you guys near Asago? How easy is it to get around into surrounding towns? Weekend jaunts to Osaka?
First time here. All this stuff has been very, uh, informative. A friend of mine and I will be posted in Asago and are amazed at all the info that seems to be flying around concerning Hyogo-ken!
Still trying to work out motorcycle vs car vs nothing. I have to find out how Canadian graduated motorcycle licensing carries over into the Japanese system. Any of you guys near Asago? How easy is it to get around into surrounding towns? Weekend jaunts to Osaka?
- Father_Moo
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by Big Booger » Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:13 am
One of the funniest guys I've ever met while on the JET programme. Craig "the mac" . His DJ impressions are a riot, and he knows quite a lot about sickening sexual moves.. "Donkey Punch" "The Jersey Devil" and "The Tony Danza"
Crazy.
I'd say Asago is about 1 hour and 30 minutes or so by train to Osaka, probably an hour and 10 minutes to Kobe (70 kilometers). It's mountainous in that area. Should be fun if you like peace and quiet.
I'm not sure if I have been to Asago or not.. I know we drove up to Tottori through Northern Hyogo and to Fukui (though we took the expressway).
Hyogo has a lot of Jet participants, something on the order of 243 participants. Though I barely see 1 or 2 of them at the most. So it should be easy to find other gaijin to get into a mix if you so desire.
http://town-asago.jp/
there's the asago town page in Japanese.
http://town-asago.jp/torikumi/NIB_E_1M.asf
a film in English should give you grand idea of what it is like.
Also make sure to get in touch with the person you are taking over for. Settle any monetary arrangements for the handover of a car, apartment furnishings and so on. I got to see my predecessor and actually hang out with him for a while. It was good but in most cases you'll send them money in advance. Just make sure you are clear on what you are paying for.
I spent about $1200 when I came on a car, telephone line, couch, table and chairs, tv, CD player, several cabinets, washing machine, refrigerator, oven, oven toaster, gas range, and so on.
That was something you need to be ready for. Glad I got in contact early on with the former ALT. I would never even dare trying to purchase all that stuff brand new, it would have cost much more probably 4-5 times more. But be careful about being ripped off.
I know one guy who spent close to $2000. Was told he was getting lots of furniture, and this and that. He paid in advance and when he got to his apartment it was plastic lawn furniture, his refrigerator was broken, the washing machine was about 12 years old..
I found out all this during our mid-year seminar, as he was violently upset about it. He asked the question during the Q&A session about being conned by a predecessor. Just be careful.
Last bit of advice, bring some crap from your hometown to share with coworkers, superiors, and the like. I totally forgot and had to go into Kobe to get crap and felt like an idiot.
No one told me about the gift giving crap. I'd also bring photos of your town, of your family, of your life. Just to share with students and teachers and so on. They get a big kick out of it and enjoy it.
Any more questions just ask.
ANd the Cream of the Crop thing to remember ESID!
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Big Booger - Posts: 4150
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