cheekymonkey Posted May 17, 2007 Author Share Posted May 17, 2007 Jeesus! After reading this thread I am thinking of going to Japan too! Is there much a demand for lazy sales reps...... Haha! Nice one. I've actually always wanted to go, at least for a holiday, but it's so far away and different that I'd imagine there's not all the much point going for less than a few months. I guess the most important thing to find out, is if foriegners are allowed to drive native supras on their uk licenses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 What is Roppongi?? Lots of things are cool in Japan. But if you want a good night out, Roppongi is something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbonut Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 That's all great advice. Must have been a great experience. What made you want to come back? Ran out of money but tbh, being a willful, independant woman is not what they're used to over there and some attitudes towards women really cheesed me off, they're still a bit antiquated in some ways - not that I'm a bra burning feminist I could have stayed and worked but there are so many other countries to sample, why stick to one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 What is Roppongi?? A district of Tokyo. Lots of bars - many open all night. A very good atmosphere - targeted at westerners really but very little trouble considering the quantity of alcohol consumed. Lots of lovely girls around as well, many of whom want to jump into bed with you and if you're lucky you might even find one that doesn't charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Lots of lovely girls around as well, many of whom want to jump into bed with you and if you're lucky you might even find one that doesn't charge. I don't mind paying.... Do they have women who will do the sex for free but charge for the ironing and cleaning?? I would be missing my wife you see!! H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheefa Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Feck it I could do with getting away too.........for good! I'll ask my mum (travel agent) and see if she can sort us a group buy on one-way tickets to Japan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathew Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 some guy in work went to japan and from what i heard a 'wash and wank' is higly recomended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted May 18, 2007 Share Posted May 18, 2007 I got your PM Cheekymonkey. It sounds to me like you're in a similar position to me 8 years ago. I wouldn't give it a second thought. Even if you don't come to Japan then look at other counties too. I've worked in a few different places but this is by far the best experience I've had, I love it here. It's very different to anywhere else though, the culture is very unique. Like marmite you'll either love it or hate it. Sounds like you've been to a few different places too so you're not an idiot when it comes to traveling and will work things out if you get stuck. You've also experienced a few different cultures so appreciate that to a certain degree you need to adapt your behavior to get along. As a foreigner you're given quite a bit of slack, but you need to read up on the culture so you understand why people do what they do if nothing else. I've been here a year now and taking Japanese lessons for the last 9 months. This has helped immensely, and has gone down very well at work too. This is the first time I've made a serious attempt at learning a second language, suppose I could have chosen something a little easier You get plenty of chance to practice though as outside of Tokyo not many people speak English. In my office I'm one of only two foreigners. What IT experience do you have? I can ask around, see if anyone is looking. There is a very strong work culture here, and what's nice is people actually do their job and do it properly. What's crazy though is the hours people work. It's not about how much you do, more how long you stay in the office. My boss usually gets in at 9.30am and leaves between 9/11pm. I've had mails from the guy at 4am I'm lucky, my boss doesn't really care when I come and go as long as the job gets done. Everything is very well planned, but they do NOT like mistakes. You would not believe the level of politeness in the work place and especially at business meetings. You need to have the right attitude. There's a hell of a lot of paperwork involved for getting a work visa and living here in general but it's worth it. You just need to be patient and takes things as they come. A Japanese girlfriend also helps You can drive here for a year on an international drivers permit, and after that you need to get your license transferred. The car scene is good here, got a few friends here with different tuned cars and there's plenty of events to go to. D1 at Fuji speedway, time attack at Tsukuba etc. Next month we're doing another day of driving in the Izu mountains. No traffic, no cameras and no police. Roppongi. I don't really like the place, full of tourists and Nigerian touts trying to get you in vastly expensive hostess bars. I've been a couple of times for an all nighter, good laugh, but far better places to go in Tokyo IMO If you're hard working and have an open mind then you'll like it here. If you have an specific questions I'll try and answer them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toyotasuprauk Posted May 18, 2007 Share Posted May 18, 2007 Interesting read, would be amazing to at least try living abroad for a bit. The Japanese work culture is mad though, 12 to 14 a day everyday! Don’t think I could cope with that for long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted May 18, 2007 Share Posted May 18, 2007 Interesting read, would be amazing to at least try living abroad for a bit. The Japanese work culture is mad though, 12 to 14 a day everyday! Don’t think I could cope with that for long. Best thing I ever did, but you have to take the rough with the smooth. I did 12-14hr days in Saudi, 5-6 days a week for a year. Non stop stress from the second I got in the office to the second I left and it didn't do me any good. Useless f*ckers couldn't organise a p*ssup in a brewery. The Japanese culture is long hours but a more sedate pace. Work is done, work is checked and then work is checked again. Things are discussed over and over to make sure everything is 100% correct. Can be frustrating, sometimes you just want to throw a firecracker in there and get things moving!! I've noticed more and more people are asking me to do things because I'll have it finished before the other guy even reads the mail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted May 18, 2007 Share Posted May 18, 2007 Jeesus! After reading this thread I am thinking of going to Japan too! Is there much a demand for lazy sales reps...... H. Nah you need to move to Holland mate. Its the only place in the world I have been that on commision salesmen give you half an hour then offer you a cup of coffee and then come back half an hour later I can honestly say my descision to BIN the UK was the best I have ever made. I wanted a more rural life but with that advantages of a big town but an affordable house and found just that in holland. I get to come home at weekends should I choose (its a 7 hour drive from holland to bournemouth so no biggy) and I am at the hub of ridiculous amounts of F1 tracks. I have access through the local car enthusiasts to every track day on every F1 and ex F1 track within 3 hours of here. Its great. Not only that but cars like mine are so rare companies will pay for me to put my car on their stand at these events. Yup if you want to see new technological advances then head to the orient. If however you want your IT qualifications to reap huge benefits in tax bonuses (30% tax law in holland is great) and want a more laid back life then roll up a spliff and sit on down here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted May 18, 2007 Share Posted May 18, 2007 Where are you in Holland Dangerous? I can't remember. I'd had enough of the place when I left, mostly because of the huge amount of tax I was paying and peoples attitude in general. I gave notice to come to Japan. I was in Breda and found most people assumed you were a football hooligan if you were English, and few people at work gave a toss about doing their job properly. I was also there for a year before they changed to the Euro and it was SO much cheaper than it is now. Really enjoyed it the first time around, but the second time just wasn't the same. I've been told that Den Haag is a great place to live though. Glad you're enjoying it over there though, I remember when you posted you were going to move. The Supra certainly gets some attention so I imagine so does the Aristo ! Late night driving to/from the UK is also fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted May 18, 2007 Share Posted May 18, 2007 Where are you in Holland Dangerous? I can't remember. I'd had enough of the place when I left, mostly because of the huge amount of tax I was paying and peoples attitude in general. I gave notice to come to Japan. I was in Breda and found most people assumed you were a football hooligan if you were English, and few people at work gave a toss about doing their job properly. I was also there for a year before they changed to the Euro and it was SO much cheaper than it is now. Really enjoyed it the first time around, but the second time just wasn't the same. I've been told that Den Haag is a great place to live though. Glad you're enjoying it over there though, I remember when you posted you were going to move. The Supra certainly gets some attention so I imagine so does the Aristo ! Late night driving to/from the UK is also fun I'm south of breda just north of antwerpen. I dig where you are coming from on the people not giving a rats ass about their work but being from Ireland origionally I knida flow with it Yup at times the attitude can stink but hey I earn way more than they do for the same job so I can see their point Tax is a bitch unless you get the 30% ruling then its top bollox. Aristo or supra driving on dutch roads aint great these days as nearly everywhere has speed cameras or truck ruts like would make the maginot line look shallow but I have for sure the only aristo in holland or belgium which makes me happy Beer is still pennies despite the euro robbery (they still whinge about that lol) and food is relatively cheap just don't go buying any furniture here As far s upping and moving is concerned I now have designs on Canada until I decide on somewhere else. Whats the money like in Japan for helicopter engineers???? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted May 18, 2007 Share Posted May 18, 2007 As a contractor I'm used to being able to get tax efficient solutions, and the 30% ruling is anything but. I've also only just got my 2004 tax rebate ! Still, much better than PAYE in the UK and a better standard of living too. It's a nice country, and I had some great times but I doubt I'll go back. The cost of living in Japan is quite high but probably not as much as you expect. Drinking out and accom are the only things that are very expensive. Buying fresh fruit and veg in supermarkets is also pricey, as are the dam toll roads. Still, petrol is cheap and higher octane than the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted May 18, 2007 Share Posted May 18, 2007 Japan would be a great place to live, I love the place. I suspect it would be a difficult place to move to and adapt to though. Culturally it is very unique, it is also not an easy place to go without speaking Japanese. Hong Kong maybe worth considering, loads of opportunities here and huge number of people come here to work from the UK and other countries. Being a former British colony it is also a relatively easy place to live without speaking/reading the language. I came here 11 years ago at the age of 26, I'd saved up some money and like yourself wanted a life change. I knew a couple of people here, so came out to see what it was like and if I could get work out here. I've not really looked back since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey Posted May 18, 2007 Author Share Posted May 18, 2007 Guys, Read Nick's post with interest this morning, and I've have started putting feelers out to see what's out there work wise. Not sure why I didn't think of this before to be honest but it's not too late to give it a go in my case. Will you let all know what happens! James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey Posted May 22, 2007 Author Share Posted May 22, 2007 Hi All Well I've booked a 2 week holiday in Tokyo, going to bum around, see the sights and hassle various tuning shops! Oh yeah and meet up with the gtr.co.uk boys for the mountain driving Anyone have any suggestions where I should go / what I should see? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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