Paulh is right; it would be an idea to get the English degree, but I'm guessing if you've already got a degree in something else then you're not going to be up for another 3 years study just to get a...

I think there are a few options for you. On workdays I used to sometimes wear a t-shirt and take my work shirt in a bag, not very practical but stopped me turning into a sweaty lump on the 15 minute...

person is right I think. Who cares anymore? The sooner we can get away from the corporate ladder mentality then the better for all of us! So what if you choose a job, or several part-time ones, that...

Kurogane,

Ahh yes, Western Woman, I seem to remember. . . . .

I think you have a point; we are all a bit, how shall I put it . . . "Charismatic" over here. Perhaps there should be some sort...

Believe me "ordinary" would be a comparatively high standard amongst gaijin here. Have seen some terrible examples strolling around with some pretty attractive Japanese girls. Not so much a gene pool...

I had the same problem (and the same charges) a while ago. When I tried to do it the Japanese bank told me that the charge was all theirs, they weren't splitting it with the issuing bank, which is...

If you have problems then the ATMs in the post office will be ok. I used to use these a fair bit with my British card and they were fine. As the previous poster says, the bank ATM's are hit and miss.

Are you sure you're only going to be staying for the year? The reason that I ask is that many people say that (me included) and end up staying for longer. I'm in HK now but it took the best part of...

Me and my wife are just sorting this out too. We're just waiting for my deed poll (name change thingy) to come back from England before she gets hers changed on the family register. Not sure if it's...

I can't remember the exact amount and I think it depends on your visa type also. However, I think most foreigners on employment visas pay between 5 - 7 % in income tax, so that's not going to knock...

I'm with Glenski on this one. If you want the job badly enough then you'll put in the effort to get it. Are internal flights in Canada expensive then? I've not been so I don't know what the prices...

And you can easily bump that 280000 up by doing a bit of overtime or some privates, or both. I did this and was sending back about 160000 a month to cover the stuff that Glenski mentions. Admittedly...

Can you read? Isn't that what I said? Just that it might be slightly better than Tokyo.

It's true, Japan is the land that fashion forgot. I read recently that the Germans and Americans were considered to be the worst dressed nationalities in the world but I'd have to put Japan higher...

Osaka is better but neither of them are very special. Tokyo has to be one of the least impressive capital cities that it's possible to go to. Osaka is perhaps a more interesting place to go/live but...

Hi Peter,

A tricky one I think. If you haven't got a lot of cash and would like to get a bit behind you then I would do the Nova thing first, just to get yourself a little nest-egg. After that you...

I don't think it should have too much of a negative impact on your chances with conversation schools. I worked for Nova and there were plenty of people who could speak Japanese (to varying standards...

tivotal, I don't mean to appear dim, but surely if you don't tell them then they're not going to know. As Welesley says though, some of the more interesting gigs out there will maybe want a bit of...

You're right Geoff. I don't know how much they cost but I think I heard someone say 1200 US dollars which is what?.....about 700 GB Pounds. So don't bother doing it. I've heard people say that it's...

Bloody Hell Glenski, I think Geoff realises that it's not a "killer resume" hence him using the words "short of ........". Are you trying to set up your own little pedant's corner?

"Land of the free" my arse! When will the idiot nation wake up? Best of luck with the visa thing. I'd change your plan and stay in Japan if I were you. The more people fuelling the US ego by saying...

Hey Geoff,

I'm thinking all of the big schools will bite your hand off, don't worry about the Master's etc. If you had a Master's then you should be looking at high schools or above anyway. The...

Similar experience to above really. The kids can't be arsed and it will make you angry for a bit but, as above, just think of them working at the conbini in a few years time and have a little chuckle...

Geoff, big employers for what industry? If you're talking about eikaiwa then I know that Nova will usually put people in Tokyo/Kanagawa unless they ask for something else (although asking for...

Why did you tell them about your pre-exisiting conditions? You don't want to start telling the truth about stuff like that; where would we all be then?! Sorry, no positive advice for you; only to be...