An Englishman in Okinawa needs a job! [Archive]

View Full Version : An Englishman in Okinawa needs a job!

soldave

05-14-2009, 12:39 PM

My Japanese high school teaching contract expires at the start of August after 5 years, and despite my school and the prefectural board of education wanting me to continue in my position, rules dictate that I can't. So am trying frantically to find employment that will keep me here in Okinawa. Should note initially that I'm not SOFA status.

I would ideally like to do more teaching, and have 5 years experience of teaching at the high school level at Japan, and one year of teaching at elementary and JHS level in the Maldives. So I have the experience but no formal qualifications. I'm a certified PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer, and have submitted an application to Kadena Marina, but am waiting to hear back from them. I also have pretty good computer knowledge as regards to building & IT support, but no formal qualifications. My Nihonglish is just about understandable, but rather Tarzan-like ("I go Naha... eat food... need woman" that kind of thing).

Any ideas of places I can try to find employment of some sort that will help keep a roof over my head here in Okinawa? Job hunting at the moment seems a depressing thing. I looked at Naha BoE but they hired foreign teachers back in April and aren't looking to hire again in 2009.

Many thanks to anyone who can offer me some leads or advice.

05-14-2009, 12:52 PM

Here dude:

http://www.mccsokinawa.com/rss/jobs.aspx?Type=RSS
http://www.japanupdate.com/classifieds/english/?s=HELP

Jazz

05-14-2009, 12:54 PM

My Nihonglish is just about understandable, but rather Tarzan-like ("I go Naha... eat food... need woman" that kind of thing).

LOL, never really thought of it that way but so is mine. I usually say mines elementary/intermediate but I definitely can say some Japanese that elementary kids wouldn't. I'll use Tarzan (cave-man) from now on. Thanks.

Good luck on the employment issue. If I hear or think of anything I'll let you know.

soldave

05-14-2009, 01:10 PM

Here dude:

http://www.mccsokinawa.com/rss/jobs.aspx?Type=RSS
http://www.japanupdate.com/classifieds/english/?s=HELP

Thanks for the links. Checked the Japanupdate one but will keep going back. As for the MCCS one, I tried submitting a profile and it seems like I can't unless I have some sort of affiliation with the military, which is not the case.

LOL, never really thought of it that way but so is mine. I usually say mines elementary/intermediate but I definitely can say some Japanese that elementary kids wouldn't. I'll use Tarzan (cave-man) from now on. Thanks.

Good luck on the employment issue. If I hear or think of anything I'll let you know.

Thanks man. Appreciate it.

Jazz

05-14-2009, 01:22 PM

You could put an ad in the paper to teach 'real' English to Americans. Just a thought..:)

DJ Tak

05-14-2009, 01:28 PM

You could put an ad in the paper to teach 'real' English to Americans. Just a thought..:)

wHATCHU BE TALKIN BOUT?

macker

05-14-2009, 01:29 PM

How to make tea and scones...

soldave

05-14-2009, 01:35 PM

How to make tea and scones...

If I tried doing that then expect the JUBot to be finding a story on a gaijin involved in a mass food poisoning!

05-14-2009, 05:04 PM

Thanks for the links. Checked the Japanupdate one but will keep going back. As for the MCCS one, I tried submitting a profile and it seems like I can't unless I have some sort of affiliation with the military, which is not the case.

I got hired, er, on-base as a true civilian. :thumbup1:

commando

05-14-2009, 07:16 PM

Dunno if this will be of any help, but might give you an idea of what else is out there...

http://www.totalokinawa.com/blog/category/jobs/

soldave

05-14-2009, 07:20 PM

I got hired, er, on-base as a true civilian. :thumbup1:

What did you put as your "Priority" on the registration form? None of those apply to me.

thistle

05-14-2009, 10:56 PM

soldave

05-14-2009, 11:32 PM

So, what kind of visa do you have now?

You should talk to Muku........or me. No, on second thoughts just
Muku, I am always job hunting. I can tell you about the staff
agencies which have temp jobs on base.

Very few other civilians on here.

I've got an Instructor visa which is valid through August 2010.

Might hassle Muku then with a PM and see if he can help me. Please do tell me about the staff agencies that may hire a British civilian on base.

commando

05-15-2009, 12:03 AM

Since your visa is valid for over a year, why not enjoy some part-time work at various eikaiwa, dive shops, and resort hotels, and hook yourself a beauty for a just-in-time marriage visa?

soldave

05-15-2009, 12:18 AM

Since your visa is valid for over a year, why not enjoy some part-time work at various eikaiwa, dive shops, and resort hotels, and hook yourself a beauty for a just-in-time marriage visa?

Tried Eikaiwa but most are trying to cut costs at the moment and not looking to hire new teachers. Dive shops won't hire someone who can't teach courses completely in Japanese (apart from military dive shops, and I have an application to Kadena Marina being processed so my fingers are crossed for that one). Same for resorts - I wish it was but my Japanese is not good enough.

As for the beauty, I have one, and she's one of the main reasons I want to stay here in Oki.

05-15-2009, 02:21 AM

What did you put as your "Priority" on the registration form? None of those apply to me.

Not English teaching, lol....

soldave

05-15-2009, 02:47 AM

Not English teaching, lol....

Not sure what you mean there. The choices I have are:

Spouse Preference Applicant
Military Transition Assistance Applicant
Veteran Applicants
Current Employees and Dependents
All Other U.S. Citizens

DoctorP

05-15-2009, 03:06 AM

Not sure what you mean there. The choices I have are:

Spouse Preference Applicant
Military Transition Assistance Applicant
Veteran Applicants
Current Employees and Dependents
All Other U.S. Citizens

I think dk assumed you were a US citizen. :scratchchin:

soldave

05-15-2009, 07:39 AM

I think dk assumed you were a US citizen. :scratchchin:

Ahhh... could be. I thought that including the word "Englishman" in the title might have given a clue to my nationality!

05-15-2009, 07:56 AM

I'm not very bright! My bad! :D

macker

05-15-2009, 07:59 AM

You finally came to that realization??

Sex Wax

05-15-2009, 08:00 AM

dk is a little slow.

thistle

05-15-2009, 08:14 AM

I am sending you a pm. You can probably get some kind of work
with the staff agencies on base if you are not too fussy what you do
for a while.
But you will have to wait until JUNE.......that is when they are
expecting some more jobs to come in.
Seems that is when many people PCS and more jobs will become
available. As it is with the $-yen rate as it is they are trying not to
hire locals.

socalheart

05-15-2009, 08:22 AM

Have you tried DoDDs/DoDEA (http://www.pac.dodea.edu/supportservices/personnel/Vacancies/bydate.htm)?

"Nihonglish" is now my new word for what I speak. In school we called it OCS dialect, which mixed English, Japanese and Hogen in some bizarre teen language. heh. :D

Crazysix

05-15-2009, 08:24 AM

Ahhh... could be. I thought that including the word "Englishman" in the title might have given a clue to my nationality!

lmao ...to dk that could mean an American that speaks proper english

thistle

05-15-2009, 08:34 AM

Are you an outdoor person?

How about the Forest Adventure park up in Yomitan?
My friend from the UK used to work there. Again the pay is not
good, but I know they need an english speaker to help as they
do get a lot of American visitors.

thistle

05-15-2009, 08:39 AM

socalheart

05-15-2009, 08:54 AM

Socal, how could he apply for a DODDS position? Non-US citizens cannot apply unless they have a green card!!

I didn't even think about the green card thing... :o No need to yell at me, thistle... :crying: heh. I don't know any other thing he can do on a teaching visa though. Perhaps they can wrangle a green card for him to teach. I can only recommend that he send his resume to every school in the prefecture then.

soldave

05-15-2009, 09:06 AM

lmao ...to dk that could mean an American that speaks proper english

They exist?!?! Just kidding, folks :D

Are you an outdoor person?

How about the Forest Adventure park up in Yomitan?
My friend from the UK used to work there. Again the pay is not
good, but I know they need an english speaker to help as they
do get a lot of American visitors.

I can be an outdoors person if my job asks me to be! If they are looking to hire someone it might be worth a visit.

I didn't even think about the green card thing... :o No need to yell at me, thistle... :crying: heh. I don't know any other thing he can do on a teaching visa though. Perhaps they can wrangle a green card for him to teach. I can only recommend that he send his resume to every school in the prefecture then.

Well, teaching visa can be changed if I can find other work, or can be "worked around", so to speak. As for sending resumes to every school, I've done that to every high school (over 40 including outer islands). I got a single response, and that was 3 lines saying no.

P_chan

05-15-2009, 09:45 AM

Wish I could give you some advice but I can't:D. So I'll just wish you good luck!:thumbup:

soldave

05-15-2009, 10:03 AM

Wish I could give you some advice but I can't:D. So I'll just wish you good luck!:thumbup:

Appreciate the good wishes. Am hoping these boards of education that are rumoured to be hiring teachers in August start getting information out about it so I can apply and know if I should be preparing to go back to the UK in just over 2 months or not!

commando

05-15-2009, 10:53 AM

Checked the Amer-Asian school?

abonifi1

05-15-2009, 11:07 AM

What is your education and background?

OIST has been hiring for English teaching positions, but not English teachers.

05-15-2009, 12:29 PM

Checked the Amer-Asian school?

Shoot, they can barely even afford Oxygen.....

commando

05-15-2009, 02:42 PM

True, but they do hire from time to time, and the kids deserve a good teacher. With his experience, soldave might be a good fit. It could keep him employed long enough to stick around a while, and find something else the next hiring cycle. Seems his main goals are keeping gainfully employed and staying in Okinawa.

05-15-2009, 02:55 PM

In that case, definitely go for it. I just wouldn't recommend working for a broke-ass company. I've personally done that too long, but hey, he's welcome to take a swing! :D

soldave

05-15-2009, 03:33 PM

Checked the Amer-Asian school?

I'll send a resume and cover letter off to the AmerAsian school and see if I can get any joy out of them.

What is your education and background?

OIST has been hiring for English teaching positions, but not English teachers.

Decent grades out of SHS and then a BA Hons in Economics at the University of Durham (the #8 uni in the UK), before teaching for one year in Maldives and then coming up to 5 years here in Okinawa.

Blues

05-15-2009, 07:20 PM

I need some old episodes of Top Gear, I'd be willing to buy from a Brit :D

Richard Burns

05-15-2009, 07:25 PM

Off topic but I think Amerasian schools are the dumbest thing in the world just another stupid barrier deciding Japanese and other Japanese my kids will never go there and I think parents should never send their kids there

05-15-2009, 08:24 PM

That's very interesting, Richard.

thistle

05-15-2009, 08:36 PM

Crazysix

05-15-2009, 08:36 PM

05-15-2009, 09:04 PM

Richard has a lot of strong opinions. :rolleyes: lol

05-15-2009, 09:06 PM

Definately, the Amerasian school is a good idea. I've seen them advertise quite a few times.
Yes, I have heard that the pay is not great and the hours are pretty long,
but it would be a rewarding job.

Certainly better than washing dishes all summer on Camp Cockatoo:rolleyes:

Web development is also very easy to learn and rewarding. So is networking. A lot of guys I've known just sort of stumbled into IT/networking jobs. I'd give that a shot if you don't feel like eating moyashi every night for dinner.

Crazysix

05-15-2009, 09:06 PM

Richard has a lot of strong opinions. :rolleyes: lol

nothing wrong with that because richard isn't a dick

DoctorP

05-15-2009, 11:10 PM

Richard has a lot of strong opinions. :rolleyes: lol

He has even stronger beer! :D:rolleyes:

Blues

05-15-2009, 11:41 PM

Web development is also very easy to learn and rewarding. So is networking. A lot of guys I've known just sort of stumbled into IT/networking jobs. I'd give that a shot if you don't feel like eating moyashi every night for dinner.

I use to do HVAC until I figured out it would be smarter to work inside the buildings with air conditioning instead of outside :D Although the experience taught me how much cooling is required for a server array :D

soldave

05-16-2009, 02:48 PM

I need some old episodes of Top Gear, I'd be willing to buy from a Brit :D

I've got seasons 9 through 12 and the Polar special.

Web development is also very easy to learn and rewarding. So is networking. A lot of guys I've known just sort of stumbled into IT/networking jobs. I'd give that a shot if you don't feel like eating moyashi every night for dinner.

I'd love to do some IT-based stuff and it's something I'd like to think I'd be decent at, but have no formal qualifications in it.

05-16-2009, 03:29 PM

I've got seasons 9 through 12 and the Polar special.

I'd love to do some IT-based stuff and it's something I'd like to think I'd be decent at, but have no formal qualifications in it.

I don't have a single certification. I am a self-taught web developer. I do have a few degrees, though, but none of them really taught me much in regards to web development. So, what I mean to say is, if you want to try something, just do it. You don't have to have certs/experience to be hired for an entry level IT spot... You just have to be able to learn fast and stay up-to-date.

Richard Burns

05-16-2009, 04:01 PM

damn and yall call me a pessimist

well i look at it this way. I use my kids as an example. My son goes to real Japanese elementary school and is FINE. My kids will stay in Japanese school. They are Japanese and have every right to a good Japanese education.

I think the existance of amerasian school is like telling the world that they are somehow less Japanese than everyone else because their hair color maybe be a brown vices black or eyes slightly rounder.

My point is imo it creates segregation and teaches kids that they are second class citizens which is piss pour and if it was up to me they would all close down.

05-16-2009, 04:05 PM

I actually do agree with Richard on this one. Always have. But that's a personal choice.

soldave

05-16-2009, 09:03 PM

I don't have a single certification. I am a self-taught web developer. I do have a few degrees, though, but none of them really taught me much in regards to web development. So, what I mean to say is, if you want to try something, just do it. You don't have to have certs/experience to be hired for an entry level IT spot... You just have to be able to learn fast and stay up-to-date.

I would actually love to start a career in IT as it's something I've had an interest in since I was a kid. I just need to find an opening of some sort here in Okinawa (if you hear of anything then PLEASE let me know - I would be eternally grateful). Web development, well I'm learning php quickly running my own site and having to play about with it.

Muku

05-17-2009, 11:45 AM

well i look at it this way. I use my kids as an example. My son goes to real Japanese elementary school and is FINE. My kids will stay in Japanese school. They are Japanese and have every right to a good Japanese education.

I think the existance of amerasian school is like telling the world that they are somehow less Japanese than everyone else because their hair color maybe be a brown vices black or eyes slightly rounder.

My point is imo it creates segregation and teaches kids that they are second class citizens which is piss pour and if it was up to me they would all close down.

The name AmerAsian itself conjures up an image of orphaned children living in the streets of some Vietnamese or other SE Asian ctiy, dirty, sick, without hope of any future. While the name is accurate, the image is far from that.

It is known here that I have a history regarding the Amerasian school and from personal experience the manner in which the school was founded and brought to where it is today is due to the manner in which the "owners" choose to publicly attempt to make it appear that the children there were just like the kids that I referred to in the first paragraph above here. That is of course a bunch of bullshit as well.

Noone of the kids at the Ameriasian school had it that bad. Yes many have it hard, one parent, bullying problems, being discriminated against because of their dual heritages and because of a lack of opportunity to succeed here.

If the end justified the means then they have succeeded, however not without burning a shitload of bridges along the way, and leaving bad feelings amongst a host of people as well.

These kids there are Japanese as well, and deserve a right to have access to the same education as any other child here. Yet the kids, AmerAsian that is, that succeed here have solid families backing them up. Even the one's with single parents too. Sounds familiar doesnt it?

The parents that take an active part in their childrens lives have no need of the AmeriAsian school to keep them separated from other children they are fine.

The Amerasian school is necessary in my opinion for those that can not, or do not know how to raise their kids and not to have them play off on their heritage as a means to make people feel sorry for them, but just like any other child in distress or need here, a safe environment to learn and be nurtured and become a valuable member of society here.

Get this...even within the Amerasian school itself their was and probably still is a hierarchy amongst the children, even though they all are "half":rolleyes: some get better treatment and better opportunity due to their parents/owners being the ones footing the bills for the "extra" education they need to advance into Japanese universities. Not funny at all, but the discriminated are discriminating or have discriminated against their own. :scratchchin:

05-17-2009, 11:48 AM

I would actually love to start a career in IT as it's something I've had an interest in since I was a kid. I just need to find an opening of some sort here in Okinawa (if you hear of anything then PLEASE let me know - I would be eternally grateful). Web development, well I'm learning php quickly running my own site and having to play about with it.

PHP is a good place to start. That's where I got my beginning--on my own hobby site. Then somehow I fell into webmaster here and eventually evolved into a complete web developer. :p

I will let you know if I hear anything. Maybe go ask Sunny-Net if they have any openings or at least drop off your resume. They don't pay horribly--just no benefits (medical, etc) and their management sucks--but they're a decent place to start.

proudtobnotpc

05-17-2009, 11:58 AM

He has even stronger beer! :D:rolleyes:

could that be where all the strong opinions come from?:scratchchin: perhaps there is a trend here

soldave

05-17-2009, 01:45 PM

The name AmerAsian itself conjures up an image of orphaned children living in the streets of some Vietnamese or other SE Asian ctiy, dirty, sick, without hope of any future. While the name is accurate, the image is far from that.

Strange. When I hear Amerasian I think Lily Thai, Lucy Lee and more ;)

PHP is a good place to start. That's where I got my beginning--on my own hobby site. Then somehow I fell into webmaster here and eventually evolved into a complete web developer. :p

I will let you know if I hear anything. Maybe go ask Sunny-Net if they have any openings or at least drop off your resume. They don't pay horribly--just no benefits (medical, etc) and their management sucks--but they're a decent place to start.

People - go look at my site in my signature and see my work. Hire me!!!

Appreciate you keeping an eye out. Will drop off my resume with Sunny Net and see if anything comes of it.

commando

06-02-2009, 02:24 PM

The name AmerAsian itself conjures up an image of orphaned children living in the streets of some Vietnamese or other SE Asian ctiy, dirty, sick, without hope of any future. While the name is accurate, the image is far from that.

It is known here that I have a history regarding the Amerasian school and from personal experience the manner in which the school was founded and brought to where it is today is due to the manner in which the "owners" choose to publicly attempt to make it appear that the children there were just like the kids that I referred to in the first paragraph above here. That is of course a bunch of bullshit as well.

Noone of the kids at the Ameriasian school had it that bad. Yes many have it hard, one parent, bullying problems, being discriminated against because of their dual heritages and because of a lack of opportunity to succeed here.

If the end justified the means then they have succeeded, however not without burning a shitload of bridges along the way, and leaving bad feelings amongst a host of people as well.

I'm curious about Muku's thoughts regarding two of the founding mothers having children at OCSI, and that school being built on land formerly used for industrial waste. I've heard the heat in the school office was so bad that they needed fulltime a/c, even in winter - the floor was always too hot to walk on in stocking or bare feet. Fumes causing headaches and other health problems to staff and students. What is Muku's take on the environmental issues. His stance on the social issues is well known, and needs not be rehashed.

commando

06-20-2009, 09:02 PM

Getting harder and harder to keep a job, let alone find one! Two young crackheads just got busted for trying to import stimulants from online dealers. One JHS teacher in Itoman (private hire), and a HS teacher in Naha (JET program). 22 and 23-years-old. Both foreign, both stupid enough to thing that non-prescription ADHD drugs could be slipped through customs... :rolleyes:

Muku

06-20-2009, 10:12 PM

TheGroaner

06-20-2009, 10:14 PM

The woman from Itoman was a JET.

WFT!?! Muku i thought you ran away or something....? writing letters and shit.

Muku

06-20-2009, 10:33 PM

Muku

06-20-2009, 10:37 PM

WFT!?! Muku i thought you ran away or something....? writing letters and shit.

Tells me anyway how much you "know".

What I choose, or when I choose to post anything here has nothing to do with you or anyone else.

But just watch all the people that come out of the wood work and reply to what I have posted.

Asshat

06-20-2009, 10:42 PM

But just watch all the people that come out of the wood work and reply to what I have posted.

Hi Muku! LMAO!!!!! Is OSCI the same organization that used to be OCS which was located within the Catholic church near Ojana?

Muku

06-21-2009, 06:49 AM

Hi Muku! LMAO!!!!! Is OSCI the same organization that used to be OCS which was located within the Catholic church near Ojana?
Good Morning, No, OCSI, when it was known as OCS, was located in Machiminato in Urasoe.

OCS added the I when they made the move to Yomitan.

06-21-2009, 07:59 AM

Hi Muku! LMAO!!!!! Is OSCI the same organization that used to be OCS which was located within the Catholic church near Ojana?

Wasn't that Maranatha?

Asshat

06-21-2009, 07:59 AM

No, OCSI, when it was known as OCS, was located in Machiminato in Urasoe.

Well hell's bell's, I must have been dropping my niece off at the wrong school then!

Asshat

06-21-2009, 08:00 AM

Wasn't that Maranatha?

Maybe dk. I was always stoned then.

Muku

06-21-2009, 08:05 AM

I think DK is right about Ojana, and Maranatha

There is another Church right on HWY 58 where one would turn to get to the old OCS. I think it is called the Central Baptist Church. At that light after the turn you would go about 100 meters and turn left up a rather steep incline to get into the grounds of the old OCS.

06-21-2009, 09:05 AM

Yep, that's Central Baptist Church. I walked to that school everyday for many years and went to that church on Sundays.

OCS is now apartment buildings, but the "mama-san store" is still there. That's one of the few locations I know of that still have a beer machine outside. I always thought it funny that one could buy a beer right outside the school.

commando

06-21-2009, 03:48 PM

Commando, if you take a look at today's Ryukyu Shimpo or Okinawa Times front page you will see articles about the "who".

Our mutual friend knows the one from Itoman. It was shocking to say the least.

I can think of a couple of mutual friends of the top of my head - but I think I know who ya mean.:)

Nice chatting again...see you around.