I am 38 years old and considering moving to Japan

[RealJames]

Originally Posted by MMM

I realize different programs are different, but I wonder how headache inducing it was to have a bunch of teachers at NOVA who pull out upon arrival.

I met one of the regional organizers of Jet, and yeah it's an entirely different program, with a lot of work and support, which is wonderful.

I did the nova job too, for me and for everyone I worked with it was as simple as walking into an interview, showing up to a day of training at the nearest branch that had a senior teacher (no need for shinkansen, more of a 200y ticket heh).
I think that it's exactly because so many left as quickly as they came that so little effort went into getting them or training them, which is why most of them seriously suck at what they do but that's a different topic.

I think you hit on the right idea, there are different levels of loyalty owed to different companies depending on how much of the effort of getting you in the door is shouldered by them. With JET I'd feel guilty running with their visa and going to another place right away, with nova, not at all lol.

[MMM]

I wonder if it is a self-fulfilling prophecy, to a degree. By going cheap on the intros did NOVA not encourage teachers to exit?

[Sangetsu]

Even a school like Nova a lot of expense is made for new teachers. The biggest loss when a teacher quits suddenly is housing. A one year lease is signed, and if a teacher leaves early a large penalty is paid by the school.
Eventually a new teacher will fill in the spot, but the process takes up o 3 months. That said, I don't have much sympathy for Nova, but these new hires who jump ship as soon as they get to Japan are the reason why schools often require teachers to travel to japan at their own expense. The next new teacher who has to shell out a thousand dollars or so to start his/her job now knows who to thank.

As for work in Japan, there is a demand for nurses, but nurses in Japan earn much less money than their American counterparts. You will make as much or more by teaching English, and you will only have to teach 20-odd hours per week.

[GoNative]

We hadn't planned on leaving so quickly. We were placed in Gunma and we arrived in June. Those who've lived on the Kanto plain in summer know how ridiculously hot and humid it gets. I knew it was going to be like that but never having lived in a climate like that before neither of us were really prepared for it. We both absolutely hated it. Summer for me is about getting out hiking, camping and enjoying the outdoors. 10 mins outside there in July doing anything physical (like breathing) and you were completely saturated in sweat. It just wasn't for us. We had spent the previous winter up in Niseko working (without a valid visa!!) and called our previous employer to see if he had any jobs going and luckily he did. And what a relief it was to get back to Hokkaido. Little humidity, and temps a good 10 degrees or more cooler than down in Gunma and we didn't have to teach english which neither of us enjoyed. Life was good again!

[Digsy]

Originally Posted by GoNative

We hadn't planned on leaving so quickly. We were placed in Gunma and we arrived in June. Those who've lived on the Kanto plain in summer know how ridiculously hot and humid it gets.

LOL. You can't be an Aussie then, Gunma summer is nothing compared to the hot dry stuff we get down here. :P

In my case I didn't get a chance to leave. Arrived in Japan and not a month later NOVA went bust, so they told me to get on my bike. Luckily I got a much better job at a kindergarten around the corner, must have been the awesome skills I picked up in the one day training session.

Anyway my advice would be if you're going to teach English teach kids and definitely don't work at NOVA.

[Sangetsu]

I spent my first summer in Tokyo wearing a full suit every day, compared to summer in Miami, Tokyo is cool and dry. My first winter in Tokyo was not a pleasant experience, I didn't own a piece of winter clothing (there is no winter in Miami).

[RealJames]

Apparently　I got the shaft from Nova, no paid housing or anything, all I got was paid train fees

[BokiB]

Originally Posted by RealJames

2 - Be a nurse, Japan is in dire need of nurses and with your light Japanese language experience you're a better option than the other nurses that come here from abroad.

This is pretty good advice. They are mass-importing nurses from Indonesia and the Philippines, so you should have no problem finding a nursing job

[RealJames]

Originally Posted by BokiB

This is pretty good advice. They are mass-importing nurses from Indonesia and the Philippines, so you should have no problem finding a nursing job

thanks,
and that reminds me, I should have put a side-note on that.

"if you like geriatrics!"

[spicytuna]

Originally Posted by dxr

I'm simply looking for advice and/or experiences from people living in Japan at my current age or older. In any way you see fit. From jobs, to social life to any other tips.

Go for it!

I'm also around your age (アラフォ as the Japanese call it) and I've considered moving overseas as well, just to try something different.

While vacationing 2 years ago, I casually looked around for work and was able to find several companies who were willing to hire me as English teachers. (Mind you, I don't require a sponsor for a work visa.)

I would've taken a huge pay cut so I decided to stay in Canada. However, if I ever get a buyout package from work, I'll probably be on the first plane to Narita.