The old biddies of Osaka are ruthless. And shameless
I have had several encounters, but the last one just takes the cake. And yes, Osaka biddies are just different. Way different than Kyoto. And I cant really comment on Tokyo or other places, but you will know what I mean.
So first of all, you need to know how to spot them. They look like cougars. And I don't mean the 40ish old women in America who have an affinity for young men, I mean they dress themselves head to toe in leopard print. In fact, while perusing the recent H&M fashions in Osaka, one of my friends commented on how the Osaka ba-chans must love this shop with all their animal print. Usually it is leopard, though on occasionally your standard zebra or tiger print is also acceptable.
Next you need to know their demeanor. This is no easy thing to describe. If you are accepted by them, you will know it, but if you are not, you too will know it. If they don't outright confront you, because remember,they are still Japanese with all their politeness burdening them, they will mutter or cast those glances at you or possibly talk about you with a nearby person while casting those side-long glances in your direction. But there are the few that will approach you. They will just chat with you and possibly invite you into their home and make you drink tea and talk with them for hours and promise to teach them English. Oh boy. And then keep heckling you to come back and have dinner or go to events, and at this point it is like you have a whole new mom!
But the best and most fun scenario, is to involve yourself in an event. Go to whatever event Osaka is advertising, be it a craft fair, flea market, mini festival, open air arts event, and you will find them. Recently I went to one such event and there were tables set up for arts and tables set up for vending wears and there was a table set up to talk to biddies. And they would accost you in the promenade to come visit their store and once you got close enough to their booth, they would just reel you in. They hunt you, they find you, and then they sit there and chat with you. You would think you would normally make some empty promises and then be about your way, but these ladies don't let those promises go. And you would think to just avoid their booth, but it is right at the entrance, perfect for easy prey.
So they get you sitting down at their booth and there is maybe like 10-15 ladies there and a chair for every ladies' companion. And then they just sit there and have what you would think would be the most awkward conversation ever, but just them sitting there in their crazy cougar outfits and their over the top make up and electric purple eye shadow and wild hair and them asking you about your love like...it is just so hilarious that you can't help but laugh the entire time. Of course if you aren't laughing they are probably berating you for not having a girlfriend or not keeping yourself clean and handsome looking etc. For me, who doesn't speak much Japanese, it was even more hilarious. Imagine a bunch of old biddies fighting over themselves to shake my hand and touch my hair and skin. For some reason Japanese people almost as a whole have gotten it into their heads that we are so different. But I suppose I can understand. I might have been like that in first grade... My kids really love to touch my hair especially. So these biddies were trying to ask me all these questions using English with the easy words and then the hard parts would go off into Japanese. Luckily I have my friend and translator handy. Some of their questions were like Have you found the one yet? Make sure to invite us to your wedding! Get married soon OK?! How old are you (a little rude to ask in Japanese culture)? Who is most beautiful among us? etc. It was really funny. And then came the pictures and everyone clamoring to shake everyone's hands as we left.
I would totally do it again. I also recommend it in this kind of setting. The lonely biddy who has nothing but time is nice occasionally, but remember, they have nothing but time and always want to see you so it becomes a bit burdensome as you make and arrange plans around them.
It was these ladies here.
Showing posts with label Osaka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Osaka. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas in Japan
You know I think that it really is slowly and surely becoming a bigger and bigger deal in Japan. I feel like I am seeing more lights this year. And they sure as hell play all the Christmas songs, and there are even some in Japanese that they play. I am even pretty sure that some of my students get presents.
Funny story actually, I asked my students when they thought about when they thought about Christmas, and you know I got Santa, and presents and Christmas trees, but probably the fifth thing someone yelled out was KFC. I lost it. I laughed so hard. I told them that we didn't have KFC for Christmas, but maybe they did and that that was a tradition all of their own.
In addition to their own traditions. Strawberries are grow for exorbitant prices out of season just to make their little Christmas cakes. Like 700 yen for a basket. And yet people buy them. Gotta have them some of that Christmas cake. No Christmas is complete without it.
So last Christmastime I went to both Osaka and Arashiyama for seeing the 'Christmas lights' they put up at this time of year. In Arashiyama, this counts as throwing up some green and blue accent lights accenting the bamboo forest, well it also has a few excessive flower arrangements as well. In Osaka it was that amazing light show and their Chirstmas wonderland which was a (kind of sad looking) Christmasy light display on that little island between the two rivers. Osaka also put on one of my Christmas favorites, German Christmastown. A really fantastic set up over at the Umeda Sky Building with mulled wine, a big jolly Santa and lots of imported German goodies: wood workings and carousels and clocks and Christmas ornaments, even the people, they shipped some people from Germany over just for this occasion.
This year I went to Kobe. I got to see the grand luminarie which is really in honor of the earthquake victims from a decades and change back. They put on this really grand illumination every year and it is free. The line is so long to see it, it goes on for kilometers and is heavily patrolled by police with metal blockades Pretty impressive in that alone. One you arrive to it, it is over actually pretty quickly or it would be if you and everyone else would quit taking pictures. This is no parade of lights you see, it is a much quicker event than that...though perhaps a little more grandiose. This event doesn't actually cost anything, but they would really like you to donate 100 yen. There are places set up all over to accept it. The 100 yen is to cover the cost of electricity for the event, or so it is said. Sadly they come up in the red every year. But Good Guy Kobe continuously puts it on year after year, because it just isn't Christmas in the Kansai area without these symbolic lights.
Another thing I got a chance to see this year was a luminary out in the mountains around Maibara Kyoto (so you have to have a car to get there). It primarily consists of a little stream and a bunch of trees decked out to each and every twig with some white and blue LED lights. There was also a waterfall that they illuminate and a castle like structure they build out of a bunch of blue LEDs. This one also costs money, but instead of a donation, they require you to pay 500 yen. And for what it is, and the fact that you have to drive out to it. That is pretty over priced, but romantic, so it happened anyways.
But by far the best Christmas adventure viewing you can see is free and it is at Kyoto station. They have a wonderful color changing Christmas tree set up on the upper levels of the outdoor terrace, above Cafe du Monde and Mister Doughnut. But it is not just that that is magical. Their enormous staircase, just in front of the tree. All of the stairs are decked out in LEDs and will put on a light display every so often. And apparently a fairly long one as I sat there for 10 minutes and it had yet to loop back around.
Funny story actually, I asked my students when they thought about when they thought about Christmas, and you know I got Santa, and presents and Christmas trees, but probably the fifth thing someone yelled out was KFC. I lost it. I laughed so hard. I told them that we didn't have KFC for Christmas, but maybe they did and that that was a tradition all of their own.
In addition to their own traditions. Strawberries are grow for exorbitant prices out of season just to make their little Christmas cakes. Like 700 yen for a basket. And yet people buy them. Gotta have them some of that Christmas cake. No Christmas is complete without it.
So last Christmastime I went to both Osaka and Arashiyama for seeing the 'Christmas lights' they put up at this time of year. In Arashiyama, this counts as throwing up some green and blue accent lights accenting the bamboo forest, well it also has a few excessive flower arrangements as well. In Osaka it was that amazing light show and their Chirstmas wonderland which was a (kind of sad looking) Christmasy light display on that little island between the two rivers. Osaka also put on one of my Christmas favorites, German Christmastown. A really fantastic set up over at the Umeda Sky Building with mulled wine, a big jolly Santa and lots of imported German goodies: wood workings and carousels and clocks and Christmas ornaments, even the people, they shipped some people from Germany over just for this occasion.
This year I went to Kobe. I got to see the grand luminarie which is really in honor of the earthquake victims from a decades and change back. They put on this really grand illumination every year and it is free. The line is so long to see it, it goes on for kilometers and is heavily patrolled by police with metal blockades Pretty impressive in that alone. One you arrive to it, it is over actually pretty quickly or it would be if you and everyone else would quit taking pictures. This is no parade of lights you see, it is a much quicker event than that...though perhaps a little more grandiose. This event doesn't actually cost anything, but they would really like you to donate 100 yen. There are places set up all over to accept it. The 100 yen is to cover the cost of electricity for the event, or so it is said. Sadly they come up in the red every year. But Good Guy Kobe continuously puts it on year after year, because it just isn't Christmas in the Kansai area without these symbolic lights.
Another thing I got a chance to see this year was a luminary out in the mountains around Maibara Kyoto (so you have to have a car to get there). It primarily consists of a little stream and a bunch of trees decked out to each and every twig with some white and blue LED lights. There was also a waterfall that they illuminate and a castle like structure they build out of a bunch of blue LEDs. This one also costs money, but instead of a donation, they require you to pay 500 yen. And for what it is, and the fact that you have to drive out to it. That is pretty over priced, but romantic, so it happened anyways.
But by far the best Christmas adventure viewing you can see is free and it is at Kyoto station. They have a wonderful color changing Christmas tree set up on the upper levels of the outdoor terrace, above Cafe du Monde and Mister Doughnut. But it is not just that that is magical. Their enormous staircase, just in front of the tree. All of the stairs are decked out in LEDs and will put on a light display every so often. And apparently a fairly long one as I sat there for 10 minutes and it had yet to loop back around.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Tat Tat Tat it up
Here is something that pertains exactly not at all to myself, and yet still manages to infuriate me.
Tattoos.
I am not going to say I am for or against them because personally I don't really care. But what I can't stand is the blatant racism towards people that have them. Recently in Japan, a man employed by the city of Osaka showed his tattoo to a child. What the tattoo was, they never said, but what entailed...After hearing of this story, the Osaka mayor demanded to know who on his force, employed by the government anywhere, in any position in Osaka, who had body ink. Now this already infringes upon the rights of people. And to take it a step further the Osaka city mayor, Toru Hashimoto, just said they may as well quit now. It is currently implied that he is looking fire anyone with a tattoo, but of course there is a certain legal battle. How will he get his workers to survey as to whether they have tattoos or not? He is holding promotion above their heads. He states that anyone who fails to answer the survey will be withheld from all promotion possibilities.
Toru Hashimoto is probably the most active politician in Japan and does do some decent things for Osaka, and then apparently some radical things: tattoos, ending relations with the red cross which provides much of the disaster relief to many victims, such as for Fukushima last March. And additionally he is an advocate of dismantling the Tokyo government. He feels it holds too much power and that to dismantle it and start afresh would be in its best interest as it can't but last another 3-5 year (quote).
So what is next?
They have now put forth a motion where any teachers in the employment of Osaka government will have to answer if they have tattoos or not. Remember this does not affect me or my job. I am tattoo free. But the blatant criminalization for freedom of expression is so overwhelming that one cannot help but to be infuriated with the closed-mindedness of the Osaka government. The movement for teacher is luckily facing a lot of opposition from the board for good reason and is in an unpassing stalemate currently.
Tattoos have long been a source of stereotypes and even fear in Japan, as they have long been related to the yakuza, the gang population in Japan. I can't tell you much about gang related tattoos other than that apparently they exist. The situation is probably highly similar to tattoos in the American gang scenarios. Regardless, the yakuza inspire fear in much of the Japan population. And seeing tattoos only increases the knowledge of the person, the affiliation and that fear. And the best way to see tattoos? Get naked. No really. As people began to take notice of these tattoos at public bath houses and onsens, their clientele began to express their worries and take their patronage elsewhere. Action was taken, a rarity for Japan. The public naked places put a ban on anyone entering with tattoos. This means regular Joe with a MOM tattoo can't go either. Why? Because they had to make it fair. They cannot just ban the yakuza that is illegal and infringing upon rights, so they had to make it everybody to be politically correct. At least they got that bit right.
The above is an example of some Japanese yakuza body art. There isn't necessarily one image they stick to but more over a style of images.
AN UPDATE!
So 6 people who admitted that they had tattoos on the survey were recently fired from their positions.
Tattoos.
I am not going to say I am for or against them because personally I don't really care. But what I can't stand is the blatant racism towards people that have them. Recently in Japan, a man employed by the city of Osaka showed his tattoo to a child. What the tattoo was, they never said, but what entailed...After hearing of this story, the Osaka mayor demanded to know who on his force, employed by the government anywhere, in any position in Osaka, who had body ink. Now this already infringes upon the rights of people. And to take it a step further the Osaka city mayor, Toru Hashimoto, just said they may as well quit now. It is currently implied that he is looking fire anyone with a tattoo, but of course there is a certain legal battle. How will he get his workers to survey as to whether they have tattoos or not? He is holding promotion above their heads. He states that anyone who fails to answer the survey will be withheld from all promotion possibilities.
Toru Hashimoto is probably the most active politician in Japan and does do some decent things for Osaka, and then apparently some radical things: tattoos, ending relations with the red cross which provides much of the disaster relief to many victims, such as for Fukushima last March. And additionally he is an advocate of dismantling the Tokyo government. He feels it holds too much power and that to dismantle it and start afresh would be in its best interest as it can't but last another 3-5 year (quote).
So what is next?
They have now put forth a motion where any teachers in the employment of Osaka government will have to answer if they have tattoos or not. Remember this does not affect me or my job. I am tattoo free. But the blatant criminalization for freedom of expression is so overwhelming that one cannot help but to be infuriated with the closed-mindedness of the Osaka government. The movement for teacher is luckily facing a lot of opposition from the board for good reason and is in an unpassing stalemate currently.
Tattoos have long been a source of stereotypes and even fear in Japan, as they have long been related to the yakuza, the gang population in Japan. I can't tell you much about gang related tattoos other than that apparently they exist. The situation is probably highly similar to tattoos in the American gang scenarios. Regardless, the yakuza inspire fear in much of the Japan population. And seeing tattoos only increases the knowledge of the person, the affiliation and that fear. And the best way to see tattoos? Get naked. No really. As people began to take notice of these tattoos at public bath houses and onsens, their clientele began to express their worries and take their patronage elsewhere. Action was taken, a rarity for Japan. The public naked places put a ban on anyone entering with tattoos. This means regular Joe with a MOM tattoo can't go either. Why? Because they had to make it fair. They cannot just ban the yakuza that is illegal and infringing upon rights, so they had to make it everybody to be politically correct. At least they got that bit right.
AN UPDATE!
So 6 people who admitted that they had tattoos on the survey were recently fired from their positions.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Demon Days
Setsubun, also known a Bean Throwing Day, is celebrated on the 3rd of February.
This whole ritual is done just before Risshun, or the beginning of spring. Thus Setsubun is the separation between winter, and spring. Ideally this day would be considered New Years eve in accordance with the lunar calendar; however as with most holidays in today's Japan, this is now a fixed day of the year and does not always coincide with the lunar New Year ( which was January 23rd this year).
Other ways that this holiday is celebrated is through their food culture. Common dishes on this day are a grilled sardine, of which everything is to be eaten, and a large type of sushi roll called, ehomaki, and of course the roasted soy beans. Ehomaki is a funny little tradition. It contains 7 lucky ingredients ( these tend to vary or be eaters choice) and then is eaten in a particular direction. This direction changes every year. This year it was North NorthWest. You then eat this entire engorged sushi roll without chatter or distraction. You are not really supposed to pause, but that does not mean that you are supposed to choke the whole thing down either. Once accomplished, your luck is now certified. Edo-maki, by most accounts, has originated in Osaka. This being the case, it is largely a kansai tradition. The accounts by which edo-maki seems to have originated tend to vary, some involving geishas or farmers and others stills involve samurai, nevertheless the point remains the same at the end of all these tales. They all obtained their luck from eating this roll.
Next the sardine is eaten from head to tail, bones and all. Personally, I could not quite achieve this. This is eaten because it is said that the oni cannot stand the smell of it and will forgo devouring you.
Lastly, after eating all this fun food and chasing my demons away, I went to a huge bonfire.
There are many festivities on this day, most located at large temples. Such festivities could include huge bean throwing events, and concerts, and at Yasaka-jinja, near the Gion district in Kyoto, you will have the fabulous opportunity to see geishas and maikos perform a dance for the gods.
Also in Kyoto, Yoshi-da Temple (吉田神社) is a shrine that hold a massive Setsubun event. They compile a huge sacrifice, arrows, wood plates, bamboo, or anything thing that you wish to sacrifice to bring you luck. These items are then strapped to this massive barrel shaped bamboo structure. At exactly eleven, the pile is set fire ( with many fire fighters on guard). It will continue to burn for quite a while and smolder for longer after. This year the flames got so high the firemen had to chase them down a bit. If you wish to see this make sure you are there half an hour in advance, as the security guards stopped entry just after I arrived. Apparently those beans gave me better fortune than I warranted!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Halloween!
HAPPY ﾊﾛｳｲﾝ EVERYONE!!!!
Halloween, my favorite holiday, is not too widely celebrated in Japan. However this is not to say it is not celebrated at all. There are many places that love to put up decorations in their windows and I got to see a handful of trick or treaters this year as well. So that is to say it is celebrated MUCH MUCH more widely than I noticed in Korea.
This year Halloween was on a Monday. I did not decorate my classroom like I did last year, simply because I have more than one classroom...also if I just celebrated with one class, all my students would get jealous (my classes are in a rotation where I will see every kid once every 4 weeks...that just won't do). What I did do was dress up a bit. I bought a witch hat and wore some fall clothing and a skirt and to the thrill of my students I was a witch-teacher for Halloween. Unfortunately I am not allowed to give out candy much to the disappointment of everyone who came up to me and said trick-or-treat.
What DID happen was after school on my way home I discovered that my favorite bakery was having an event and giving out free cookies to anyone who was dressed up. Guess who got a cookie! Also I got like 50 photos with these adorable kids who were dressed up.
Japan is not a big celebrater of Halloween, but there are a couple of certainly noteworthy events that draw a crowd in the spirit of Halloween. Here are a few events that take place in the Kansai area.
One really important activity that I would encourage everyone to go to, is the festival held in Kitayama, with pumpkin carving masquerades and music! This is a truly fantastic spirited festival! You can find out more and see pictures at their home page here: http://www.kitayama-halloween.com
Another odd-ball gaijin event that I find amusing in a only-a-gaijin-would-do-this sort of way, is The Loop Line Party. There is a loop line around Osaka. This means that there is a train that makes a full loop, returning to the start point, Osaka Station. Every year, for it seems a number of years, a bunch of costumed gaijins make this a party train. Quite a large number of them meet up and get on a specific train and proceed to drink and make merry. Seems like a good time right? Well don't worry it won't get too out of control because the city has taken extra careful precaution since this event started and have employed a number of train station personnel and officers to keep it in hand. As you may have guessed, with the ruckus that follows such a happy crowd, there are many of less than content citizens trying to proceed to more mundane tasks.
If you are more into the scary aspect of Halloween: the one that follows you hidden in the dark, but never to be seen sort of way; the one that has you looking over your shoulder on empty streets; or the one that makes your hair rise and chills run down your spine when a rustle in the leaves only reveals a rabbit. Then! you just might be interested in Universal Studios Japan. They put on a classic Halloween event much similar, yet very toned down to the ones you might know, such as Knot's Scary Farm, or Hallowscream, or Scare-o-winds.
Other than these few modifications, and the few dressed up for the occasion, you hardly notice anything differing from the norm until after sundown, when half the park becomes infested with zombies, in what they declare as Zombie Nation. At 6 pm zombies out pour from a few special entrances for the general entertainment and scaring thereof, the public. In addition to those meandering around, getting a good scream out of their particularly susceptible victims, there are also two rides that are overtaken for the festivities as well: one of these is Space fantasy, a recent ride that is much like an indoor roller coaster, which they turn off the indoor lights and add a zombie soundtrack; and the other featured one is the age-old classic, Jaws, which is done up in eerie blacklights with a few added zombies. These modifications to the rides is not the only scarezone they add to their park however, they also add three walking 'scarezones' which are much like a very shortened version of the haunted walking tours at Scare-o-winds and Hallowscream.
One thing that I certainly applaud them on is that all of their zombies have themes and jobs, for instance, fisherman zombies with fishhooks coming out of their mouths, or firemen zombies with axes, you get the idea.
Of course if you find none of this entertaining enough for you, there is always a private costumed party at a specific house or bar that is always easy to find and be a part of.
Speaking of costumes~
Halloween, my favorite holiday, is not too widely celebrated in Japan. However this is not to say it is not celebrated at all. There are many places that love to put up decorations in their windows and I got to see a handful of trick or treaters this year as well. So that is to say it is celebrated MUCH MUCH more widely than I noticed in Korea.
This year Halloween was on a Monday. I did not decorate my classroom like I did last year, simply because I have more than one classroom...also if I just celebrated with one class, all my students would get jealous (my classes are in a rotation where I will see every kid once every 4 weeks...that just won't do). What I did do was dress up a bit. I bought a witch hat and wore some fall clothing and a skirt and to the thrill of my students I was a witch-teacher for Halloween. Unfortunately I am not allowed to give out candy much to the disappointment of everyone who came up to me and said trick-or-treat.
What DID happen was after school on my way home I discovered that my favorite bakery was having an event and giving out free cookies to anyone who was dressed up. Guess who got a cookie! Also I got like 50 photos with these adorable kids who were dressed up.
 |
| I really love the wizard with the wand and the adorable ninja! |
 |
| My cookie!! |
Japan is not a big celebrater of Halloween, but there are a couple of certainly noteworthy events that draw a crowd in the spirit of Halloween. Here are a few events that take place in the Kansai area.
One really important activity that I would encourage everyone to go to, is the festival held in Kitayama, with pumpkin carving masquerades and music! This is a truly fantastic spirited festival! You can find out more and see pictures at their home page here: http://www.kitayama-halloween.com
Another odd-ball gaijin event that I find amusing in a only-a-gaijin-would-do-this sort of way, is The Loop Line Party. There is a loop line around Osaka. This means that there is a train that makes a full loop, returning to the start point, Osaka Station. Every year, for it seems a number of years, a bunch of costumed gaijins make this a party train. Quite a large number of them meet up and get on a specific train and proceed to drink and make merry. Seems like a good time right? Well don't worry it won't get too out of control because the city has taken extra careful precaution since this event started and have employed a number of train station personnel and officers to keep it in hand. As you may have guessed, with the ruckus that follows such a happy crowd, there are many of less than content citizens trying to proceed to more mundane tasks.
 |
| This picture is from the 2002 Loop Line Party, with hundreds of people participating in the revelry. You can see the train in the background. |
If you are more into the scary aspect of Halloween: the one that follows you hidden in the dark, but never to be seen sort of way; the one that has you looking over your shoulder on empty streets; or the one that makes your hair rise and chills run down your spine when a rustle in the leaves only reveals a rabbit. Then! you just might be interested in Universal Studios Japan. They put on a classic Halloween event much similar, yet very toned down to the ones you might know, such as Knot's Scary Farm, or Hallowscream, or Scare-o-winds.
   |
| The entrance and railcar for Universal Studios Japan, in Osaka. |
Universal Studios decorates their Hollywood themed entrance with pumpkins and classic autumn decor, as well as a face-painting area with many getting their faces made up in glitter and paint in honor of the festivities.
Other than these few modifications, and the few dressed up for the occasion, you hardly notice anything differing from the norm until after sundown, when half the park becomes infested with zombies, in what they declare as Zombie Nation. At 6 pm zombies out pour from a few special entrances for the general entertainment and scaring thereof, the public. In addition to those meandering around, getting a good scream out of their particularly susceptible victims, there are also two rides that are overtaken for the festivities as well: one of these is Space fantasy, a recent ride that is much like an indoor roller coaster, which they turn off the indoor lights and add a zombie soundtrack; and the other featured one is the age-old classic, Jaws, which is done up in eerie blacklights with a few added zombies. These modifications to the rides is not the only scarezone they add to their park however, they also add three walking 'scarezones' which are much like a very shortened version of the haunted walking tours at Scare-o-winds and Hallowscream.
One thing that I certainly applaud them on is that all of their zombies have themes and jobs, for instance, fisherman zombies with fishhooks coming out of their mouths, or firemen zombies with axes, you get the idea.
Speaking of costumes~
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Interac Application Process
Interac is a Japanese company which recruits ALT's and places them in public schools in Japan. I currently work from them as an English teacher over in Japan. Here is a little how my timeline and hiring process went with Interac. I got this idea from Jennie over at Kawaii 5-oh and her blog, http://jennieinjapan.wordpress.com whose blog provided me with all the details I was so desperate to have when I was in my own process of applying to Interac.
Please note beforehand that I was situated in Korea at the time of my application; therefore, I had a slightly different experience.
And to anyone who is wondering, I have nothing but the fondest things to say regarding Interac Osaka. I relly love the staff there. They are really working with you on a personal level and really care about their employees. They really provided me and hopefully everyone in my little orientation group (about 12 people - there was a later one with about 60 people) with a wonderful experience and an equally grand impression of the company as a whole. So it may be nerve wracking waiting for your placement but it will come. And regarding the many deferred, many of them later got placements for october dramatically reducing the number of deferees.
Additionally I am inexplicably happy with my location and schools. They really found me the perfect setting.
Here is my demo video to give you some ideas on your own!
I will post more things about getting an alien registration card and other important things about getting settled later. But if you want me to address any specific issues or answer any questions, espcially about the application process, please don't hesitate to ask.
Please note beforehand that I was situated in Korea at the time of my application; therefore, I had a slightly different experience.
- April 12th: registered with the Interac Network online.
- May 27th: submitted Interac online application (note there are two short online essays - I think 500 words?)
- June 2nd: received correspondence from Interac requesting a phone interview
- June 3rd: Short 20 minute phone interview with Interac recruiting office.
- June 8th: Notice that I passed the phone screening. Obtained information about next process ( sending in required documents, 6 minute lesson demonstration video and secondary interview session)
- June 14th: Uploaded finished demo lesson video.
- June 16th: Sent in application package to Interac head office.
- June 17th: Online interview with recruiter ( please note that because I was located in South Korea, my interview took place online; however when I talked to almost everyone else, either from America, the U.K. or Japan, they all had in person and often group session interviews)
- June 22nd: Application package received by Interac.
- July 1st: References submitted forms to Interac.
- July 1st: Offer of Employment email. This certifies that I do work for Interac, but does not specify employment.
- July 1st: Criminal Background Check sent to the State Bureau of Investigation (from within the states)
- July 4th: emailed camera photos of signed copies of the Offer of Employment
- July 6th: Application for Certificate of Eligibility sent off. Expected to receive it around August 9th
- July 11th: Father recieved clean Criminal Background Check from the State Bureau of Investigation and sent off to Interac Japan.
- July 11th: address update for delivery of CoE
- July 11th: submitted online resume which is used as a profile to introduce you to the schools. (after I finished this I copied it via that printing to another page option but the words were cut off but after emailing I learned that it was just my image but the actual document was intact)
- July 12th: Placement Introduction email. An email stating important information concerning insurance and apartment and health checks.
- July 12th: emailed scanned copies of my TB test required by Interac. I had an x-ray test. Also since I lived in Korea, I had to have them translated.
- July 18th: Interac received original copy of State Criminal Background check.
- July 18th: Received Placement: Ibaraki-shi, Osaka
- July 19th: Best mate Ben Brannan ( http://risingdaikon.blogspot.com/ ) and many others received deferrals for spring semester. For more information on deferral and his own experience that took place on the Stateside then please check out his blog.
- July 27th: Apartment offer for a Leopalace and free internet
- July 28th: Apartment offer accepted
- August 2nd: CoE sent by Interac
- August 4th: Booked one way flight with Expedia to Japan KIX
- August 8th: Received schools ( 2 elementary and one junior high) and year schedule.
- August 19th: Flight to KIX and Arrival in Osaka.
- August 21st: Entered Osaka City Plaza Hotel for training
- August 22nd: First day of orientation
- August 24th: Met Board of Education and last day of training
- August 25th: Got apartment key and moved in.
- August 25th: Applied for Alien Registration Card
- August 26th: Obtained temporary Alien Registration Card
- August 26th: Applied for Post Office Bank Account
And to anyone who is wondering, I have nothing but the fondest things to say regarding Interac Osaka. I relly love the staff there. They are really working with you on a personal level and really care about their employees. They really provided me and hopefully everyone in my little orientation group (about 12 people - there was a later one with about 60 people) with a wonderful experience and an equally grand impression of the company as a whole. So it may be nerve wracking waiting for your placement but it will come. And regarding the many deferred, many of them later got placements for october dramatically reducing the number of deferees.
Additionally I am inexplicably happy with my location and schools. They really found me the perfect setting.
Here is my demo video to give you some ideas on your own!
I will post more things about getting an alien registration card and other important things about getting settled later. But if you want me to address any specific issues or answer any questions, espcially about the application process, please don't hesitate to ask.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Presently
I work for Interac.
Interac is a private contractor for Assistant Language Teachers (ALT's) for a variety of places in Japan. By far and large they mostly supply to public schools; however there are also other opportunities they provide as well.
For my part, I work as an ALT teaching English in a middle and an elementary schools. For future reference, in Japan they call middle school, junior high schools, or JHS. I work in correspondence with the Osaka branch, and in fact, live in Osaka prefecture. I have been living here since late August.
And for those who ask, I have nothing but good things to say about this company and this branch in particular. They have always been over accommodating, making sure I get along, well with good support and help with some of the most basic yet essential needs.
Interac is a private contractor for Assistant Language Teachers (ALT's) for a variety of places in Japan. By far and large they mostly supply to public schools; however there are also other opportunities they provide as well.
For my part, I work as an ALT teaching English in a middle and an elementary schools. For future reference, in Japan they call middle school, junior high schools, or JHS. I work in correspondence with the Osaka branch, and in fact, live in Osaka prefecture. I have been living here since late August.
And for those who ask, I have nothing but good things to say about this company and this branch in particular. They have always been over accommodating, making sure I get along, well with good support and help with some of the most basic yet essential needs.
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