Anonymous
2001-09-28, 02:48 PM
FOR ANYONE THINKING ABOUT LIVING/WORKING IN OSAKA,
In response to a message about the pros and cons about "NOVA living,"
I would agree that if you can get together your own group of even
two, if not three people to share an apartment, even in SIX months,
you would come out ahead, over the ridiculous prices NOVA EXTORTS
from its very own work-force. Really, if you consider that you can
find plentiful 2-bedroom apartments for 60,000, and GREAT 3-bdrm
places for 70-90,000, one need only do the math and discover that
even considering the initial investment of 3 months deposit (of which
half or more is generally refunded, let's remember), in only a few
months you come out cheaper than going with a NOVA DUMP.
Further, on "gaijin-houses," or guest houses: I have lived in two
and visited another two. At OSAKA ENGLISH HOUSE, the place
was kept SPOTLESS by two full-time housekeepers, and years
ago I paid 60,000/month -- with two meals/day included, 6 days
a week. I stayed there for 18 months. Okay, that WAS years ago.
Now, I think you can have your own nice room with no meals for
60,000 or therabouts. I prefer BANANA HOUSE. I have stayed there
twice, once for 2 years, the second time for six months. Actually,
I get a considerable amount of email from people thinking about
coming to Japan to work. When they are thinking Osaka, I always
suggest BANANA HOUSE. Why...? Well, when you just arrive in a
new country, the LAST type of place you want to stay in is one
(i.e. an apartment) in which you are isolated. In Banana House,
you pay 17,500 for a week or 55,000 Yen for a month, with only
a 10,000 Yen deposit -- which is 100% refundable, and they DO
give it all back to you. For that, you have your own large room,
with closet, table, futon, aircon, utilities included, and now, most
rooms have their own refrigerator and bed, as well! Then, you
share free showers, a kitchen, two common rooms with large TV's
and CABLE (incl. English-language movie channels!), and now,
a computer area with free internet access! Plus, easy access to
TWO train lines AND the extremely important MODOSUJI subway
line. But, for the "Japan-newbie," I cannot overemphasize the
value in living at such a place for the chances to meet other
foreigners... have people to hang with... hear about jobs, learn
where to shop, what mags/papers to buy for job-leads... and
basically, quickly learn how to enjoy life in Japan from the very
start -- whether one speaks Japanese or not.
Oh, and whether you wind up working for NOVA or any other
English school, do you REALLY want your accomodation dependent
on your remaining their employee...? Stay at B-House or another
such "gaijin-house," or guest house, as they are alternatively
referred to, and when you move on to a better job -- which the
overwhelming majority of NOVA teachers do, before the end of
their Japan stay -- and you need not be told to "be cleared out
of the school's flat THE DAY YOU RESIGN!"
I hope that my opinion is of use to those considering a stint in
Japan. Banana House may be found on the web, by the way.
SHF
> This message was sent from: Living in Japan.
> <http://www.gaijinpot.com/phorum/read.php?f=3&i=528&t=469>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> SHF has explained clearly many of the scamming processes that take place in
> the NOVA corporation, especially re: health insurance. But consider my case
> - when I was 21 and fresh out of university I came to work at NOVA for 10
> months - that was all I needed to know about Japan for a while, I went home
> with savings etc, but enough was enough. It's hard to get an apartment in
> Japan with no deposit, key money or commission required - usually at least
> three months rent is required. And then you have your utilities and
> furnishings and domestic appliances to get a hold of. In a nova apartment
> you pay a flat rate - regardless of how much gas, electricity, hot water etc
> that you chew up - of course NOVA makes a killing with three people paying
> 55,000 or more a month. But the point is that I saved money by staying in a
> NOVA apartment for 10 months. They provide you with some very basic
> furnishings, kitchenware, toaster, tv and video, washing machine air con etc
> - stuff that had I bought and been paying the electricity for would've cost
> me a big whack of cash. If I had moved out with one or two other people,
> found a place with little or no deposit, and intended on staying for a year
> or more, then, yes, it would've been worth finding your own joint. And,
> hey, it's cheaper to stay in GAIJIN houses, though I'm not sure how long
> you'd want to do that, having never stayed in one myself. But 10 months in
> Japan couldn't justify the start up costs of an apartment.
>
> Having said that (and presuming you're staying longer than a year) you will
> probably be happier choosing your own roommates or your own joint, and
> stepping beyond the embrace of the people you deal with from NOVA - if not
> for financial reasons (in the short and medium terms, at least) then for
> spiritual ones. If you're moving out with friends it becomes financially
> worthwhile a lot sooner. If you're living alone, it'll take a year or more
> before you will have saved money on your NOVA set up. But that independence
> may well be worth paying for, especially when it's time to quit.
In response to a message about the pros and cons about "NOVA living,"
I would agree that if you can get together your own group of even
two, if not three people to share an apartment, even in SIX months,
you would come out ahead, over the ridiculous prices NOVA EXTORTS
from its very own work-force. Really, if you consider that you can
find plentiful 2-bedroom apartments for 60,000, and GREAT 3-bdrm
places for 70-90,000, one need only do the math and discover that
even considering the initial investment of 3 months deposit (of which
half or more is generally refunded, let's remember), in only a few
months you come out cheaper than going with a NOVA DUMP.
Further, on "gaijin-houses," or guest houses: I have lived in two
and visited another two. At OSAKA ENGLISH HOUSE, the place
was kept SPOTLESS by two full-time housekeepers, and years
ago I paid 60,000/month -- with two meals/day included, 6 days
a week. I stayed there for 18 months. Okay, that WAS years ago.
Now, I think you can have your own nice room with no meals for
60,000 or therabouts. I prefer BANANA HOUSE. I have stayed there
twice, once for 2 years, the second time for six months. Actually,
I get a considerable amount of email from people thinking about
coming to Japan to work. When they are thinking Osaka, I always
suggest BANANA HOUSE. Why...? Well, when you just arrive in a
new country, the LAST type of place you want to stay in is one
(i.e. an apartment) in which you are isolated. In Banana House,
you pay 17,500 for a week or 55,000 Yen for a month, with only
a 10,000 Yen deposit -- which is 100% refundable, and they DO
give it all back to you. For that, you have your own large room,
with closet, table, futon, aircon, utilities included, and now, most
rooms have their own refrigerator and bed, as well! Then, you
share free showers, a kitchen, two common rooms with large TV's
and CABLE (incl. English-language movie channels!), and now,
a computer area with free internet access! Plus, easy access to
TWO train lines AND the extremely important MODOSUJI subway
line. But, for the "Japan-newbie," I cannot overemphasize the
value in living at such a place for the chances to meet other
foreigners... have people to hang with... hear about jobs, learn
where to shop, what mags/papers to buy for job-leads... and
basically, quickly learn how to enjoy life in Japan from the very
start -- whether one speaks Japanese or not.
Oh, and whether you wind up working for NOVA or any other
English school, do you REALLY want your accomodation dependent
on your remaining their employee...? Stay at B-House or another
such "gaijin-house," or guest house, as they are alternatively
referred to, and when you move on to a better job -- which the
overwhelming majority of NOVA teachers do, before the end of
their Japan stay -- and you need not be told to "be cleared out
of the school's flat THE DAY YOU RESIGN!"
I hope that my opinion is of use to those considering a stint in
Japan. Banana House may be found on the web, by the way.
SHF
> This message was sent from: Living in Japan.
> <http://www.gaijinpot.com/phorum/read.php?f=3&i=528&t=469>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> SHF has explained clearly many of the scamming processes that take place in
> the NOVA corporation, especially re: health insurance. But consider my case
> - when I was 21 and fresh out of university I came to work at NOVA for 10
> months - that was all I needed to know about Japan for a while, I went home
> with savings etc, but enough was enough. It's hard to get an apartment in
> Japan with no deposit, key money or commission required - usually at least
> three months rent is required. And then you have your utilities and
> furnishings and domestic appliances to get a hold of. In a nova apartment
> you pay a flat rate - regardless of how much gas, electricity, hot water etc
> that you chew up - of course NOVA makes a killing with three people paying
> 55,000 or more a month. But the point is that I saved money by staying in a
> NOVA apartment for 10 months. They provide you with some very basic
> furnishings, kitchenware, toaster, tv and video, washing machine air con etc
> - stuff that had I bought and been paying the electricity for would've cost
> me a big whack of cash. If I had moved out with one or two other people,
> found a place with little or no deposit, and intended on staying for a year
> or more, then, yes, it would've been worth finding your own joint. And,
> hey, it's cheaper to stay in GAIJIN houses, though I'm not sure how long
> you'd want to do that, having never stayed in one myself. But 10 months in
> Japan couldn't justify the start up costs of an apartment.
>
> Having said that (and presuming you're staying longer than a year) you will
> probably be happier choosing your own roommates or your own joint, and
> stepping beyond the embrace of the people you deal with from NOVA - if not
> for financial reasons (in the short and medium terms, at least) then for
> spiritual ones. If you're moving out with friends it becomes financially
> worthwhile a lot sooner. If you're living alone, it'll take a year or more
> before you will have saved money on your NOVA set up. But that independence
> may well be worth paying for, especially when it's time to quit.