Getting prepared for living in Japan.

[ScottB]

[Mulboyne]

You will have no problem getting into a program with your qualifications. As you will have picked up from searching this forum and others, though, there are widely differing views about whether that would be the best thing to do.

I am also interested in writing, but need something to write about and fell that a long voyage to Japan would spur me creatively

You aren't alone in thinking that. There are actually a number of foreign writers who have found some measure of success after writing their first work in Japan.
Off the top of my head, David Mitchell (teacher), Mo Hayder (hostess), Barry Eisler (lawyer), Sujata Massey (navy wife), David Peace (teacher), Susannah Jones (teacher) all came to Japan and now are full-time writers. David Peace still lives here and David Mitchell only left recently. That isn't to say you are being unoriginal. Quite the opposite. It can't be a complete co-incidence that these six different people all found the time, inspiration, discipline, whatever, here.

Good luck with your choices.

[jingai]

I would say try JET or the municipal programs that hire ALTs (language teachers) and skip the factory English schools. Wouldn't you rather have evenings free to explore and work normal hours? Thought so.

Bigdaikon.com is the JET bulletin board if you're interested. I considered doing this program at one point and JET gives the strongest deal in terms of housing, salary, benefits, working conditions, etc as far as I can tell.

[ScottB]

I would say try JET or the municipal programs that hire ALTs (language teachers) and skip the factory English schools. Wouldn't you rather have evenings free to explore and work normal hours? Thought so.

Bigdaikon.com is the JET bulletin board if you're interested. I considered doing this program at one point and JET gives the strongest deal in terms of housing, salary, benefits, working conditions, etc as far as I can tell.

I was thinking about that, but with an English school I would have the abilities to interact with fellow foreigners and would have some aspects of my own culture still intact, while still being immeresed in Japanese Culture.

Also the hours for some programs such as Amity (AEON's child program) don't seem too bad (especially if one isn't a morning person, like myself); 11:00am - 8pm. However, a regular work schedule would allow me to see more (as you said).

[Taro Toporific]

[ScottB]

[Taro Toporific]

My telecom degree has nothing to do with IT. .... I am in the video production section. I am only in TC because I started in computer programming, which I hated, and needed something else.....

Oh I hear ya about hating programming studies. But actually the start/base/founders of the folks on this forum are people in video production. Obviously there must be some of the work around here....I'd loooove to intern at Sony's R-&-D Center for video post-production.

Ok, ok, I know, you wanna "write." Well, if you can SPARKLE on paper, copywriting is the gig you wanna get here. Working at Peewee's Playhouse and Engrish Culture Happy Center(tm) is only something you wanna do till you find creative employment.

[ScottB]

My telecom degree has nothing to do with IT. .... I am in the video production section. I am only in TC because I started in computer programming, which I hated, and needed something else.....

Oh I hear ya about hating programming studies. But actually the start/base/founders of the folks on this forum are people in video production. Obviously there must be some of the work around here....I'd loooove to intern at Sony's R-&-D Center for video post-production.

Ok, ok, I know, you wanna "write." Well, if you can SPARKLE on paper, copywriting is the gig you wanna get here. Working at Peewee's Playhouse and Engrish Culture Happy Center(tm) is only something you wanna do till you find creative employment.

That's always possible. I have to get over there in the first place, though. :P

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

Bring Shoes

[Mini_B]

The term 'video production' is too vague...what part of video production are you interested in? (do you consider writing vid. production?)

You might want to contact a US based production company where you're living now and let them know that you're heading to Japan to live. You could shoot video, produce...etc. for them in Japan. With the right planning you could obtain a journalist VISA.

I suggest thinking it through before you dive into the 'teaching Enrish' gig. I went that route and would advise you to avoid if at all possible. There are so many options in Japan. If you put a lilttle thought into it you could live comfortably...as opposed to being a NOVA teacher with a little Japanese guy holding you by the balls.

[Mini_B]

Bring lots of condoms...

[Marked Trail]

Mini_B said: "Bring batches of condoms... "

Hey, don't scare the virgin.