Alec in Japan

Life in Japan through the eyes of Alec, a teenager on a working holiday gap year.
« Moving House from Okinawa to Tokyo
24th Dec 2007

Sorry for not updating in so long! Here’s my latest video documenting my job search over my first few weeks in Tokyo. Did I get a job quickly or did I struggle for a long time? You’ll have to watch the video to find out.

 


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20 Comments »

Comment by Han
24 Dec 07, 3.50am

too bad you didnt get the job that youve wanted, i hope your plan for next year goes as plan ! :)

Comment by Alec
24 Dec 07, 11.38am

Hey, thanks Han. I was a bit disappointed but I suppose I wasn’t ready. =)

 
 
Comment by Moka
25 Dec 07, 8.13am

Hi Alec, you did well even if you didn’t get the job you wanted first. Next time you’ll do better ;)

Comment by Alec
25 Dec 07, 12.42pm

Thanks for the encouragement, Moka. =D

 
 
Comment by Firebird
25 Dec 07, 9.58am

Hi Alec
I wish you a merry Christmas from Germany.
Around how much did u get in you Restaurant Job?
And do you think teaching english will be possible as a “non-native” speaker? My english should be alright, i traveled 1 year in Australia and i also like to use the language.

Comment by Alec
25 Dec 07, 12.41pm

Hey, Merry Christmas to you too! =)

I get paid 1000en/hour, which is higher than average. I also get 250en per shift to cover travel expenses. Even though I walk, I still get that. I also get meals included!

I think if you wanted to teach English as a non-native speaker, you’d have trouble getting a job at a school. You could do private teaching but I think you’d have to charge lower than native speakers to get students. Why not teach German? I’m sure there’s a market for it.

 
 
Comment by Aima
25 Dec 07, 12.08pm

Hi Alec!!
I just came across your website. The blogs you posted are all very interesting, definitely something to check out for. I REALLY enjoyed reading them.

Please keep on updating. Good luck!!

Comment by Alec
25 Dec 07, 12.41pm

Thanks for the comment, Aima! I hope to see you on YouTube and my site more often. =D

 
 
Comment by Yin
25 Dec 07, 11.36pm

Happy Christmas!

Nice update. ^^ Very informative.
By the way, This is your year out before Uni right? IF so, what UNi are you applying to next year [IN 2008]

Just wondering. LOL.

keep up the good work ^^

Yin x

Comment by Alec
26 Dec 07, 1.11am

Yes, this is my gap year. I’ve applied and been accepted to SOAS (University of London). =)

Thanks again for the comment.

 
 
Comment by Rick
10 Jan 08, 1.41am

Hey Alex,
I expect I’ll be heading that way in September most likely.
In China right now, and looking forward to job prospects in Tokyo.

Thanks for dropping by Lost Laowai, by the way.

It’ll be interesting to compare the China and Japan experience once I get there.

Rick

Comment by Alec
10 Jan 08, 1.55am

Hey, Rick

I’d really be interested to read your impressions of Japan and how it compares to China! The reason I read your blog (and I’m subscribed to RSS feeds by the way) is because when I go back to England I’ll start a university degree in Economics and Chinese; thought it would be good to read some China-related blogs for a few months to get a feel for today’s China before studying it and eventually living there for a year.

Thanks for coming by here and commmenting :D

Alec

 
 
Comment by Amanda
31 Jan 08, 11.08am

I’m a Japanese student (as in I’m studying Japanese, I’m not a student in Japan), and I discovered your website fairly recently. I just wanted to thank you for posting (even if you get busy and can’t post all that often) because it’s really inspiring to see a foreigner living and working in Japan the way you are.

Take care!

Comment by Alec
1 Feb 08, 3.00am

Thanks, Amanda. I really appreciate comments like this. =)

 
 
Comment by Syl
8 May 08, 2.41am

I really enjoyed watching your videos and photos. Travelling around the world must be fabulous … but kinda got me thinking why I am still stuck in one place.
Good luck in Japan and at the uni back in London :)

Greetings from Poland

 
Comment by Christine Gilbert
12 Jun 08, 4.00am

Great site! We need more posts though! ok, thanks. :)

 
Comment by James
3 Jul 08, 5.09am

Hey Alec,
You probably don’t remember me but I wrote you ages ago.
You advised me to take part in the JLPT to help towards getting a VISA.
I will do that in December but I won’t be going anytime soon. I’m going to Drama school first and then I’ll go. I was just wondering if you were okay. Every week or so I look on your website and find that nothing has been posted. Are you okay? One does worry… Hope to hear back from you.
Kind Regards,
James
x

Comment by Alec
3 Jul 08, 9.30pm

Thanks for the comment, James. Yes, I’m doing perfectly fine! I left Japan last week and am now in Italy studying Italian. I know I’ve been really bad not posting updates but I’m so busy and it takes time to make a video (>_

Comment by James
4 Jul 08, 4.47am

Wow, what does it feel like to be back? When I go back to visit my parents home in Germany I get bored really quickly. Does it feel like a drag to be away from 日本?
Take care,
James,
x

(Comments wont nest below this level)
Comment by Alec
7 Jul 08, 12.40am

Well, I’m not sitting around doing nothing so I’m not bored. I’m glad to be on the next thing; at the moment, like I said, I’m studying Italian in Milan which is fun. Next I’ll be starting university in England, so nothing’s boring yet!

 
 
 
 
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