Just Checking In – 12/4
Its December already? Wow, this year has gone by pretty quickly.
Anyway, this is not an actual, content-filled update. I’m just stopping by to say that I’m here and not neglecting the site. While I actually have quite a bit to write about, currently I’m not really in a good state of mind to write. At least, not something coherent/entertaining that I would be comfortable with posting. I have this personal policy about not throwing up crap, so I’d rather do nothing rather than put up a sub-par piece. With any luck, next week I’ll be back on track and can write again.
Since I’m here, I guess I can give you all an update on the Sour Apples saga, since I wouldn’t want to make a new entry (Part 9?!) just for this. I met up with some of my former coworkers earlier this week for lunch, and I was surprised to find that there had been huge layoffs – at least 10 employees. That may not seem like a lot, but when you are talking about a small company (maybe 30-40 people tops), its quite a chunk. On Monday, the president made the announcement, and for all those laid off, their last day of work was the next day – talk about no warning!
Also, apparently at some point, regarding my last paycheck, the president openly admitted that he withheld my pay specifically just to piss me off. Yeah, he’s a charming fellow, ain’t he? At this point, I can only laugh about it and pity him, really.
But anyway, I’ll get back on track with entries when I can actually write something worth reading. Thank you for your patience.
Gaijin Smash 
Dude! Well, it’s nice that leaving was your decision instead of the instability of a badly-managed company. Enjoy your Christmas.
Actually, that is quite a bit of warning. I guess you’ve never had a real job in the States but the usual procedure is you’re packed up and escorted out just after they tell you you’re fired. That way you can’t come back the next day guns blazing.
Lookin’ forward to your next post…
Hey Az, fellow black guy here coming to Japan in April 2009 to teach English. Shoot me an email, maybe we can hook up or somethin. (no homo)
Shitty boss is shitty. Maybe he’ll lose a ball or something in the near future.
Also, I’m very much looking forward to your next real update. Much love to you.
Is sudden firing like that even legal?
“The Labour Standards Law states very simply that except in the most extreme of circumstances (you punch your boss, an earthquake destroys your workplace), an employer must give 30 days’ notice or thirty days pay in lieu of notice.”
Can’t wait til you get back! Hope everything is going well.
Charming fella isn’t he, hope you find work soon. may you have a merry Christmas.
Dude, if you can get your co-workers to testify you can totally sue your boss’s ass! He has no right to do that, and you should get your money.
Feel better man.
At least it was you decision to leave and you were prepared (if perhaps only mentally). Getting downsized out of the blue must suck bigtime.
Is Japan having a recession too?
Dude, no problem. I hate it too, when you’re fan of a good series and the author suddenly has all the pressure from the editor and he has to write a chapter every month and the story becomes crap and repetitive like Detective Conan, which was a great series when it started, but now it’s just blah, and this sentence is too long anyway.
i’m not saying your blog has become crap and repetitive ! It’s just normal not to force it when it’s not the time.
hope the “choice” Tshirt leads you toward making the good ones in your job search 😉
salut
Steve wrote:
Well, it’s nice that leaving was your decision instead of the instability of a badly-managed company.
This brings back memories of my short time with Nova. In the end, only good things came from the collapse of that heap of sadness for me.
Steve wrote:
Well, it’s nice that leaving was your decision instead of the instability of a badly-managed company.
This brings back memories of my short time with Nova. In the end, only good things came from the collapse of that heap of sadness for me.
Long time reader, first time poster here. After reading the Sour Apples saga, I have to say… You have the patience of a saint. What the hell? Seriously, I’ve been in situations that are waaay less aggravating than that, and didn’t put up with them half as calmly as you did. Major respect from me, man.
Also, “Also, apparently at some point, regarding my last paycheck, the president openly admitted that he withheld my pay specifically just to piss me off.”
Holy shit. I would have paid a special “hey guys, how’s it goin’?” visit just to punch him in the face for that.
Hang in there man! Your editorials have been inspiring me for years now. Im sure things will be looking up for you soon my friend. Ganbatte!!
As much as I love the comedy, Az, that’s not why I come here. Your (mis)adventures in a foreign land are just damn interesting.
How’s the progress on your money-making brood coming along?
Hope the holiday blues don’t stress you out too bad. I remember Christmas and thank god you’re not single is all I’m gonna say. 😛 You can walk outside, maybe pass by some trendy shop that’s playing the Mariah Carey song yet again, and not feel bad looking at all the couples out there walking around. lol Happy Holidays dude.
He withheld the paycheck specifically to get you upset? Well then it all makes sense. Every crappy thing that happened at that company can be directly blamed on the president of the company trying to compensate for an incredibly small penis.
Every time I read about that “ex-boss” of yours, it kinda freaks me out just to think that in the future, I might meet somebody like him.
you could always go the political route and say what your opinons are on the fact we are getting a black president finally.
I know the feeling. There were more layoffs where I work, too. 5 people out of less than 30 is a lot. I was very nearly one of them, but my boss fought to keep me, so I appreciate the value of a good boss.
Of course, my job description just got a lot worse, too, so it’s not all rosy either, but it’s just due to the bad economy. I know my boss did what he could. Still, I’m not thrilled at going from computer tech to factory worker, even if it’s supposed to be temporary…
So, hard times all around, and I wish you the best of luck 🙂
Hey Az!
Good to know that you are alive and checking in. 10 people your boss laid off! That’s a lot! At my old job, they had laid off 11 out of 20 staff members(not includign myself) on the same day and had to have two policemen present to make sure that my co-workers didn’t go postal. Anyways, take care
Nice guy. Send him a box of fire beetles for me, would you?
Also, as a site note, there’s some weird code error that shifts the right side menu (And the part of the image at the top) down a bit. It also causes the site to constantly load (The main page. Comment pages seem to work fine.)
At least they got one day…
We had layoffs very recently where I work, and the layoffees got to go to a meeting a couple of hours after lunch with a VP of the company. Those of us who didn’t get laid off were sent home early so that the layoffees could pack up their personal belongings without a fuss from everyone else. That meeting was part of their last hour of work.
Now that I think about it, going back to work for one day is kinda pointless since you’ll never be going there again. Why put in any additional effort? For the programming department, it’s a huge security risk to bring people back into the office when they just lost their career. We have access to SO MUCH data and code that help the company run… Ohhhh, there are so many ways to fuck things up for the ones left with jobs or to screw the whole company over and give info to the competition. Flash drives hold a lot of info nowadays and they’re particularly easy to hide.
Anyway, good to hear you’re around!
Dude, ur old boss sounds like a total douche bag. You should completely own him just to get even
(Hugs) Take care of yourself dear, we can all wait to read your new stories untill you get yourself taken care of first.:)
Dude,
You better let go and move on otherwise youll be in a world of shit unless you get back into teaching English. Even teaching English aint what it used to be, Japanese just dont have the income to throw away like they used to. Sounds to me your just being lazy and dont want to work. Dude I work out in the cold everyday and its shitty at times but Im glad to have a job. You better craft up some shit and get out there and find something. how are you living? on your inlaws? Damn, that just proves the sterotypes that Japanese have about us gaijin all right-that is if we marry their daughters, their life will become hell.
Dude, ur old boss sounds like a total douche bag. You should completely own him just to get even
Talking about laying off…
Have you heard of Aloha and ATA airlines? When they went down this year ALL of the employees in both rather large companies suddenly found themselves with no job. They woke up, went to work, found out the companies would go out of business THAT DAY, and that was it.
For some reason “two weeks notice” just bugs me, c’mon they can fire you right on the spot, but you HAVE to give THEM courtesy?
Bullshit
To Mike,
Congratulations on making a complete ass of yourself. If you actually read the editorials, you would realize that Az’s situation was NOT a case of his being lazy. I firmly believe in doing what is necessary to get by, but I also believe in not taking shit just to do so. I am pretty sure that Az is self-sufficient enough to provide for himself and not mooch off his in-laws as you have “nicely” implied.
“Congratulations on making a complete ass of yourself. If you actually read the editorials, you would realize that Az’s situation was NOT a case of his being lazy. I firmly believe in doing what is necessary to get by, but I also believe in not taking shit just to do so. I am pretty sure that Az is self-sufficient enough to provide for himself and not mooch off his in-laws as you have “nicely” implied.”
How should I address this salutation. I think Ill try this:
Dearest Moron,
My referance was to Az present situation, not his past one, dummy. Please reread my post, slowly. I have lived in this country for over 14 years (not counting military time) so I know what Im talking about here. There are plenty of translation jobs out there, so I know this guy isnt trying. I was fired and had a new job the next month. You say you firmly believe he is doing what he needs to do to get by. Well how sweet of you. What he is doing is living off his inlaws and collecting paypal donations. How else could he be making it? Do you live over here? The average cost of living is at least 2 jumon a month. Unemployment dont pay that much. If he wants to be a mucher, he should of stayed back in the states with all the rest of the clowns that post here. Japan has no sympathy for gaijin, and even less for those who are lazy. So before you post, do the time and get some authority on the subject or risk making an ass out of yourself. Bye now.
This is my first time posting here. I actually just discovered your site about a week ago, and it’s taken me that week to read the entire archives and reach here. I regret not finding this place sooner.
And now, I’ll be checking back at *least* once a day. So good luck getting a job and making babies! 😉
Ah, Mike.
You know, I publish your comments, no matter how far out there they may be, because I believe in free speech and not trying to censor things just because they don’t fit with your own personal views.
I have to say though, for someone who’s been here for so long, you’re way off the mark on a lot of stuff.
No, I’m not living off my in-laws. Even if I wanted to, they could not support us financially in any way. No, I’m not living off donations either (donations have been extraordinarily helpful, but I’m not depending on them yet).
And where are all these translation jobs that I’m supposedly not looking for? Can you recommend some sites/resources that perhaps I have overlooked somehow?
Hey Mike, I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather believe a post that is well written and not pretentious rather than one that looks like it was written by a teenager on a power trip.
If you want people to take you seriously, put some effort in submitting respectable comments.
P.S. Using “Dearest Moron” makes you look oh so smart.
“I have to say though, for someone who’s been here for so long, you’re way off the mark on a lot of stuff.”
Oh? In what way? you say your not living off your inlaws but fail to mention how your living or where. Then you tell me Im way off the mark..lol…but then you ask me to help you find a translation job?????
I think Im on the mark bro..I got work and you dont. But since Im such a nice guy, Ill give you these pointers. For somebody so “smart” and witty with your writing, I think at least you could of found these links, but I guess thats what I get for thinking like that. I think Ill stay on my mark. Experience has taught me that much about people.
http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/info/tinfo-jobs.html
English language editor (translator)
http://www.gaijinpot.com/job_search.php?keyword=translation&action=search
I see translation jobs on here everyday
http://job.japantimes.com/search_e0c.php?prm_little_cd_r=900
https://www.daijob.com/en/jobs/search?pg=0&kw=translation&ns=0&xs=0&la=&lb=&hs=0&hx=0&jl%5B%5D=4&li=0&submit.x=56&submit.y=10
http://www.ecentral.jp/jobs_si.php?keyword=translation
http://hro.cnfj.navy.mil/
http://seekjapan.joblet.jp/jobs/725-Project_manager_for_Japanese_to_English_financial_translation_projects
http://www.jobsinjapan.com/jobs/general.html
http://www.careercross.com/en/092320167_careercross.html
So there. I spoon fed you some links, thats more than anybody ever did for me. I noticed not one of these people here linked you anything meaningful. Looks like you need to do less blogging and do more job searching. I found all this in less than 10 minutes. You can turn up more by searching for recruiters in Japan. The scene back in the states aint going to do shit for you here, its a different game.
Here are some more links:
http://tenshoku.jacjapan.co.jp/
http://www.job-japan.jp/cgi-bin/shop/main.cgi?class=5&word=
http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/language/english/list/country/japan/
I suggest you put together a good resume and hit up all the recruiters. There are legions of them. Most Japanese companies and even gaishiki companies dont advertise locally, instead they go through recruiters. Japanese put allot of emphasis on experience but there are many IT companies that are desperate for bilinguals. I dont know your Japanese level. There is allot of shit out there, you just got to get motivated to find it.
To Mimi, Stan, Hello, & Azrael (and anyone else who can relate):
We can all agree that we would prefer Mike keep his rude, know-it-all comments to himself, but as Az has stated, freedom of speech is important. In reading over all his comment responses, I can tell you from personal and professional experience that one of the following applies:
1) He’s bipolar and can’t admit that his view of the world doesn’t match up with what’s really happening, because he can’t see past his own opinion. This disorder would make it outside his own control, and make him worthy of sympathy and toleration. In a way, I’m hoping this is his case.
2) He has some other psychiatric disorder, in which case the above still applies.
3) He is a manipulator who likes twisting other people’s words to sound as if the dissenter is a fool and he’s a genius, not realizing that when you do that long enough, everyone else recognizes who the fool actually is. This could easily have come about because of his own insecurities, stemming from a source unknown to the rest of us. In this final case, he is to be pitied but ignored and not tolerated, as to make comments only drives him to comment back. He has to win the argument.
I am quite certain he will blast me for everything I have stated here, especially since my “food for thought” comments on another blog post were taken to be an attempt to continue an argument, when I was actually only giving input AS A PROFESSIONAL IN THE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT as something for him to think about, not argue about. However, I intend to let his further comments go unanswered, as I have better things to do with my time. And now, I am off to use the rest of my scheduled day off to take care of some things here at home.
Hi Az.. glad to see you still kicking. I’ve been a long-time reader, and I think I may have posted a comment or two in the past.
Just wanting to say I hope things look up for you and the Mrs… I can’t think of anything that doesn’t sound trite, other than I hope in spite of all your hardships, you still have a merry Christmas and all that.
Take care of yourself.
“If you want people to take you seriously, put some effort in submitting respectable comments”
Oucch! I guess Im different than you, I never cared about what others thought here. I guess I dont need to. I was just trying to help the dude out. Its more than you did.
Mike, thank you for the links. Many of them were resources I check regularly, but a few were not, so I have sent out a few new applications.
My search is limited in that I can only look for jobs here in Kansai at the moment. Why not Tokyo? Aside from a whole bunch of other issues there, the big one is – you asked how am I getting by if not mooching off in-laws? Right now I’m doing business eikaiwa in the evenings. I only have a few classes, so its enough to barely scrape by at the moment. Barely.
But the problem there is that I’m under contract now, so breaking contract to go off to Tokyo would be bad. Not to mention that Tokyo isn’t really possible right now for a number of reasons.
So that limits the search, but I have been looking for anything I can find within the Kansai region.
Az,
Your going to be extremely limited down there. Whats so heartbreaking about breaking off a contract with an Eikawia school? Dude, fuck them, those are everywhere. I mean its your world, but out in the countryside, man there aint shit. Like I said, hit up the recruiters. I know many, Ill post you some links latter.
Az,
Here are some more links to hit
up.
http://www.nic-nagoya.or.jp/en/dailyliving/employment/findingemployment.htm
Sorry to be a troll but u know I gotta take care of this:
To Mimi, Stan, Hello, & Azrael (and anyone else who can relate):
We can all agree that we would prefer Mike keep his rude, know-it-all comments to himself, but as Az has stated, freedom of speech is important. In reading over all his comment responses, I can tell you from personal and professional experience that one of the following applies:
1) He’s bipolar and can’t admit that his view of the world doesn’t match up with what’s really happening, because he can’t see past his own opinion. This disorder would make it outside his own control, and make him worthy of sympathy and toleration. In a way, I’m hoping this is his case.
2) He has some other psychiatric disorder, in which case the above still applies.
3) He is a manipulator who likes twisting other people’s words to sound as if the dissenter is a fool and he’s a genius, not realizing that when you do that long enough, everyone else recognizes who the fool actually is. This could easily have come about because of his own insecurities, stemming from a source unknown to the rest of us. In this final case, he is to be pitied but ignored and not tolerated, as to make comments only drives him to comment back. He has to win the argument.
I am quite certain he will blast me for everything I have stated here, especially since my “food for thought” comments on another blog post were taken to be an attempt to continue an argument, when I was actually only giving input AS A as something for him to think about, not argue about. However, I intend to let his further comments go unanswered, as I have better things to do with my time. And now, I am off to use the rest of my scheduled day off to take care of some things here at home.
So now your a psychologist as well as a HRO professional. You just got it all covered now dont you. Speaking of psychology, I was wondering why you felt the need to type
PROFESSIONAL IN THE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT in all caps? Seems your getting a bit defensive to something I said? Maybe I called you a dumbass. Typing a long intellectual post dont change nothing, your still ignorant as to what goes on over here so your still a dumbass. You need some boots on the ground experiences, then you can type with some authority on the subject.
Most helpful troll ever!
Well, he did say Tokyo wasn’t really possible right now for a number of reasons. None of us really know the situation, but it sounds like he’s actually stuck down there, from what we’ve been told.
“but it sounds like he’s actually stuck down there, from what we’ve been told.”
The way I look at things, the only thing that keeps you stuck somewhere is yourself. Ive been there done that (actually doing it now) and I know that in the end its me that makes the final decision, even if its tough. Now I dont know Az situation, but I suspect it has to do with family so Im not suggesting that he make any sudden moves. But I must say, after two marraiges in Japan, Ive learned that sometimes sacrificing for somebody else isnt always the best thing. Feel it out for yourself and go with what you feel.
“Shane!”
Awesome wedding pics Az, congrats! Your wife is gorgeous.
I hope things will take a turn for the better for you soon, job-wise and financially.
Please talk about Christmas in Japan.
Christmas cakes?
Kentucky Fried Chicken Christmas meal?
Christmas eve is #1 romantic dating night?
How does your new family celebrate Christmas day?
Please talk about Christmas in Japan.
Christmas cakes?
Kentucky Fried Chicken Christmas meal?
Christmas eve is #1 romantic dating night?
How does your new family celebrate Christmas day?
Az,
What about taking your blog to Youtube and becoming a partner? Heck, all you’d have to do is read what you already have written – maybe with a telepromtor type device?
Check out this recent article in the New York Times describing people making money from partnering with youtube, essentially allowing advertising on their youtube sites.
Gambatte!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/business/media/11youtube.html?em
And I thought my last job was bad. Yea, new reader and 1st post. But at least you left on your own terms.
this week four people lost their job at the callcenter where I woork. one got fired and she deserved it, she rarely answered th phone. two people heard a few hours or less before their shift ended that they didn’t have to come back. and one of them is a single mom! the last one heard it a day before it happened. they didn’t get a contract and a least 2 of them were good at their job and they need people at the callcenter. the next day there a group of people walking around that might get a job here. this place really needs to improve their policy and I’m being very polite here.
I’d like to point out something that no one else has seemed to mention here. Everyone suggests going to Tokyo, but the cost of living in Tokyo is even higher than it is in places like Kyoto and Osaka. I’m not sure about last year’s stats, but a couple of years ago Tokyo was actually the most expensive place to live in the world. I’m sure Az has his own reasons, but remember finding work is about more than just having a job. There may be more available in a big city like that, but there are also plenty of employed businessmen living in manga cafes because they don’t make enough money to actually afford a place to stay. And yes, Japan is in a recession as well, and has been in a declared one for longer now than America has been. The only advantage to living here is that being an English speaker is a more easily marketable skill and means that, as Mike said, there are always people looking for bilingual people. Unfortunately, we are also extremely limited in the kinds of jobs that are available. Finding something not directly related to English is very, very difficult. And even things like JET are cutting back positions at the moment. Nova went under a year ago. Things are difficult everywhere right now.
I’m out in Kanto, but seriously, Az, if there’s ever anything I might be able to help out with please let me know.
So did you find anything yet? Dude, you might have to go back to translation or English teaching. So many people getting laid off right now. Look hard first though, sometimes shit is hidden out there, because its the same thing on the headhunter side, they dont know where to look for that perfect person. They cast a net on some site that nobody has heard of. Thats how I got my job. Networking helps, but with so many other foriegners out of work here, Im sure most of them are stabbers.
I’ve got a few resumes out and I’m waiting for the results on some other stuff. Things are in motion at least.
I have set an ultimate deadline, and if I don’t find a job by then I will go back to English teaching. I’m doing corporate lessons now, so its possible I can take on more contracts and make an income that way, or just go into a public school or an eikaiwa.
“I’d like to point out something that no one else has seemed to mention here. Everyone suggests going to Tokyo, but the cost of living in Tokyo is even higher than it is in places like Kyoto and Osaka”
You dont have to live in Tokyo to work there, dummy! Ive never lived in Tokyo but have worked there at several jobs. You commute from Yokohama, Machida, or even as far out as Hachioji where the rent aint so bad. On the right kyuko trains and at the right time the commute is bearable. People sleep in the manga places because the missed the last train. Ive done it while partying in Roppongi. Nobody lives out of them. how long you been in Japan? I smell another dumbass.