Writings

Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

Home

Who am I?

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO WORK IN JAPAN?

“Every year thousands of young people, not quite conscious of the bravery they possess, jump on a plane and temporarily set up home in countries and societies very distinct from their own. They may or may not be aware of what they are letting themselves in for in terms of the job, the language, the location and the culture at large” [graduatecareeronline.com, the University of Manchester and UMIST careers service]. I was thinking that broadening horizon and having fun might be the reasons what they do. My friend is ready going abroad permanently to the new country together with his family. When I asked why? He believes: if not started from him, the new land he’s going in, will give a better life for his child, grandchildren or maybe the fifth generation of bla bla bla family. I do believe, but isn’t it going to be like walking in the dark? Wish I have gut like him. How about you? Some of you have been living in Japan for several years. I bet you know a lot about Japan, if so, then you may not feel walking in the dark. “Do you really want to work in Japan?” That’s my first question to the interviewee. Most said ‘yes’ and others said ‘no’, but still I can say the score is fifty-fifty. Let us forget the statistic value cause I did not count, thoughts behind ‘yes’ and ‘no’ are more interesting to heard and put forward here.

Soo Zi Hua Samuel (Singapore, Naval Architecture and Marine System Engineering, Kyushu University)

“No, I am not. I have some kind of agreement with Singapore.” Yes, most of scholars should return to their own countries after graduated. Even Samuel is not intended for working in Japan, he follows a lot about job here. Worth knowing that “The system is like this … at the end of the third year, they (undergraduate students) start sending application to the companies. Follow the interview and so on, as a result, before graduated they know where they’re going. Quiet opposite with what we have in Singapore, we start looking for job after graduated.” For those who intend to settle their life in Japan “be ready … working in Japan is very stressful”.

Jeong Jae Ho (Korea, Aeronautic Engineering, Kyushu University)

We all know that Korea is located very near to Japan, somehow that’s not the main reason why Jeong would like to get a job in Japan. “If I work here, I can get more money”. He continued ‘demo I will work here only for 5 years, not more, then return to my country. After that (It) would be easy for me to get new job there (Korea), they will value me higher because of my working experience in big country”. He turned our conversation into Japanese. I was amazed, he speaks nihon go fluently only in 14 months. Even it’s too early for him to think about job meanwhile, he has confidence that someday he’ll be able to get job in Japan. To keep up date the working condition, Jeong urged FOSA to continually hold Job Seminar at least once in a year.

Cao Haixiao (China, Earth Resources Engineering, Kyushu University)

People who are working abroad can be separated into three groups: temporary work, working from the own country base but with some overseas travel and being based overseas full time. Cao is in the second group. “I’m looking for Japanese company which has collaboration with China”. He hasn’t started looking for the company yet, but he is sure there are many. “I can easily find those (companies) by internet. No need to be hurry. I will start looking for it in January 2004”. It’s nearly one year to his graduation. He recognizes working in Japan will be stressful but “indeed, I like that kind of environment … btw when will FOSA hold Job Seminar again?” It sounds that many foreign students are waiting for the Job Seminar. We haven’t decided yet, but we are happy to provide it for you.

Sandy Kurniawan (Indonesia, Earth Resources Engineering, Kyushu University)

Sandy just arrived in Fukuoka 1.5 months ago. He is studying Japanese now. I can clearly see his big effort in learning Japanese. “I’m interested in doing business in Japan and hardly looking for it now. Language is still a barrier for me to communicate ideas”. Kind of business he’s going to enter is still flying in mind, “as time goes by, hopefully I could find one”. Yes, it takes time to build bridge.

Clariza ‘Beng’ Florez (Philippine, Global Environmental Conservation, Kyushu University)

Beng has been living in Japan for 6.5 years. She completed PhD in March 2003. After she packed her things and sent back to Philippine, acceptance letter of post doctoral research from Kyushu University arrived beyond her expectation. In addition of making research, she is responsible in arrangement of International Special Course on Environmental System Engineering (Doctoral Course). “Having experience to work at Kyushu University is great opportunity for my professional advancement. And the good is I’m working in the same field as I did before. The truth is … I am ready to pack my things once again and send them back to Philippine as long as I may have work in my field at university.”

How about you? Where are you standing now: Yes, No or have no idea? Jya, ganbatte mina san!

Fukuoka, November 21st, 2003

NETWORKING, LUCK AND CAPABILITIES

Summer has passed in Fukuoka and it is November already. Seems that time is running so fast. Be thankful if you feel that way, cause some said it means that you have a very fruitful life. As the summer heat fade away and momiji leafs start changing their color, now is time for coming inFOS. For some good reasons, we, all inFOS members have to say sorry for the late printing. We were hardly thinking about what would be the best to fill in this sweet November issue. As words of sweet November, unfortunately no romantic places are highlighted, not even romantic movie is reviewed; we decided to talk about job finding and how FOSA stands within.

Worth telling that words “Networking, Skill, and Luck” first came from our president thought, Win Min. Once she wrote us “a combination of networking, luck and skill should ultimately land of job”. Skill and luck are two very different aspects that we all should prepare before and be sincerely accepted afterward. We are not going to talk about these further. Networking is one that FOSA can bridge between foreign students who intend to work in Japan and the companies especially located in Fukuoka. Networking is the key of hidden information. While it would make the introverts, the meek, the shy, and the novices awfully happy if the newspaper classifieds contained all job openings, that is simply not the case. In fact, some of the best jobs are not listed anywhere except in the mental catalogues of CEOs and managers. Some call it the hidden job market. So how do we apply for jobs that are not advertised anywhere, that exist only in the seemingly inaccessible minds of working Japan's movers and shakers? We meet people who might have insight into our job search. We talk to people who know people who could help us out. We chat it up with strangers at parties. In short, our network is our way into the hidden job market.

Many events have been made by FOSA and still there are more in store, that we all can get advantage for building up the network. Slowly but sure and promises, immediately started by making the worldwide accessible home page (www.fosanews.net), now FOSA intent to up-load and link the list of companies in Fukuoka Prefecture at the home page. So everyone can immediately start conversation with company that she/he would like to enter. We do realize as a foreigner, it can be a daunting task to communicate with companies. Don’t give up, keep the pressure on, and don’t get discouraged by the bureaucratic bumbling. Keep looking and keep expanding the network ring with us, FOSA. Hope we can be a right person in the right working place at the right time, here in Japan. Ganbatte mina-san!

More guide for foreign nationals working in Japan can be found by visiting http://technicaljobsearch.com/guidance/networking-1.htm.

Fukuoka, November 14th, 2003

JAPANESE ONSEN

In my dictionary, Onsen means hot spring. I do not know why Onsen became so popular in Japan, Is that because a large number of hot water manifestations or just because the Japanese like to bathe in hot water. Well I do not know, something I know for sure that there are more than 2000 hot spring areas dotted across this country. My first experience with Onsen is Beppu. I was lucky because some say that the best places for Onsen in Japan are located in and around Beppu. Since I got there with a group of students and sensei-s from Kyushu University, again I have to say that I was lucky. First the University fully covered our accommodations, and second I believe that as a first timer in Japan, it is better to travel within this country in a group (how many of you can read Chinese character or speak Japanese?)

My geothermal-sensei said that there are many types of hot springs, and he called Beppu as a source of beautiful water. Why? Because they believe as our skin gets in touch with the water, suddenly we may feel more beautiful than before. Strange huh! Not really, in some cases you may believe this. I learnt in school that alkali water wash out oil from our skin. That is a reason why we may feel more beautiful. Yes, the same reaction with soap when we just have shower (hope I am right).

Ok then let us continue with this Onsen experience. After along, boring of sitting in bus, we finally arrived at the inn. hmm I forgot to write down the inn’s name; anyway if I mentioned the name you may think that I am making an advertisement here. No worries you can find many resorts in and around Beppu with its own Onsen spring. Cold and windy, we were all ready for some heat. First, we must wash ourselves before slipping into the pool, an essential part of Onsen etiquette. I slowly waded outside into the mixed garden pool where the water just got more steaming as it came closer to the spring. The view was stunning. I'm lying on my back in a pool continuously fed by slightly odorous piping hot water from the surrounding volcanic range of central Kyushu, Japan's southern island. “You move, you burn”, something that we all should know in Onsen. Sit dead-still and the water on my skin seems to cool down just a little. Move and I hit new currents of heat. I would even cringe when another bather moved at the other side of the pool. All this pleasure-and-pain stuffs make Onsen bathing an unforgettable experience.

Let’s go Onsen!

Fukuoka, April 14th 2003

FROM THE SEMPAI FOR NEW COMERS

New semester means new faces of foreign students of those who just arrived in Fukuoka, and FOSA has regular event to invite them all in FOSA’s welcome party. This is a good event for the new comers to know each other among the new comers, and more if they are lucky they can hear advices from those who have been living in Fukuoka for years. Yes advices, although many things in different countries are very similar in terms of campus life, there are a few things that all should get used to when moving into Japan. On the day of FOSA’s welcome party, inFOS had the wonderful opportunity to interview some of the sempai. Instead of words please study hard, enjoy the new life in Japan and ganbatte kudasai, let’s hear others worth telling messages from the two selected sempai for our little brothers and sisters.

“In Japan, the research environment is very good. Good facilities and high tech computerize system” Suddenly I was very proud being a research student in Japan to hear the opening words from Stefan Ivanov Getov, who speaks fluent Japanese. No wonder cause he has been living in Fukuoka for years. So anything you can say for the new comers. “Yes, the relation between supervisor and students is quite different here. The professor will not come back to university everyday. Don’t be surprised if one day you’ll feel there is a wall between supervisor and student in Japan”. What do the professors do then? “Cooperate with some commercial companies to do some researches”. Recently, the economics condition in Japan is bad. The professors need to get research fund from commercial companies. “Students need to follow the direction of their supervisor, otherwise ……” Stefan is still thinking looking for the words.

I have met a few numbers of students, who tend to spend most of their time in their dormitory room or spending most of his or her time in the library or some solitary places. These are usually the students who come from place where Japan is simply starting the relationship, which means a very small number of students of a certain country, usually 2 or 3 students or even less are permitted to come and study. “Do not shut off and isolate yourself”, this was the comment from Nafa Abderahmane, the one and only student from Algeria, who has been living in Japan for 5 years. “On the first year, most of the new overseas students were located in a dormitory for international students, which is physically isolated from Japanese society”, Is this a complaint? “No, don’t get me wrong. This is good environment indeed for a first timer, with a relatively low proficiency in Japanese, to have their own community, not to be a loner”. From our dialogue I just realized that for those with no or a basic set of Japanese language skills and with little experience on Japanese culture [which I have noticed, quiet surprisingly, in a huge number of new comers], a separate study and living place from the ‘regular’ Japanese students is an ideal environment to set up ones own sanctuary away for the ‘outside world’.