Are you interested in knowing more about living in Japan? There is no better way of getting information about living in Japan and working for AEON than hearing from other teachers who have worked for AEON. Here is some advice from some of our current and former teachers. "Patience! Everything is new and strange and different. It is delightful at times and frustrating at times. Just don't be too quick to judge or criticize. Remember you are the guest here, and for anything you don't like, give it a year, and you will probably realize you do like it." "Leave your mind totally open, and don't take too seriously what everybody tells you to expect, because it's different for everyone." "Be on time! It is amazing how punctual everything and everyone is. Back home, getting together at 2:00 p.m. meant that everyone would arrive between 2:10 and 2:30. In Japan, it means being there 5 or 10 minutes early!" "Prepare to adjust to a different type of lifestyle, and have an open mind. Friendliness is most important when dealing with anyone. Be prepared to be led around - at least at first - until you are familiar with the area." "Keep a journal while you are in Japan. Not only will it serve as an invaluable record of what you've done and seen but reading past entries will be really eye-opening in realizing just how many things that were so different before have become normal to you." "Things will be different. Just remember that just because something is different doesn't mean it's bad or that it calls for an opinion. Keeping this in mind will keep you out of a lot of trouble." "I know that if you fill in the right forms before your leave your home country, you can save a lot of bother when you return!" "Check with your bank on charges for receiving money by wire transfer before you leave your home country." Teachers send money home for a variety of reasons. The two most common ways that teachers send money home are through postal money orders or through certain banks which offer money transfer by wire. Sending money by postal money order requires you to bring money to the post office in cash and there is a limit to how much you can send at one time. It will take longer than wire transfer, but it is cheaper. Sending money by wire transfer will be faster and can be done through a registered account but will be more expensive. Banks in your home country will also charge you for receiving money by wire transfer, so take that into consideration if you decide to send money home. "Try to apply for your Alien Registration Card (ARC) as soon as possible. You will need it when you try to get a cell phone." "There are lots of fancy phones around - ones with cameras or even ones you can watch TV on, but one function that you should make sure the phone has is a bilingual language function." Many teachers get a mobile phone in their first month in Japan. Most cell phones now can send and receive e-mail messages and can receive international calls but cannot make them. When getting a cell phone, you should consider which system provides the best services for your area and for your needs. There are also a number of companies that will allow you to make overseas calls through their service from your cell phone. Land lines may be rented or purchased. Renting a land phone line can cost anywhere from 2,500 yen to 3,500 yen per month. Purchasing a phone line can cost from 40,000 yen to 70,000 yen. If you decide to purchase a phone line, it can be re-sold when you decide to leave Japan. "There are a number of providers in Japan. Get someone to help you research them." "Some providers will not available if you are renting a phone line. Check on that before you decide to get a phone line." DSL is becoming the most common route for Internet connections in Japan. Dial-up is becoming rarer and cable is not yet as common in Japan as it is in some parts of the world. Getting information on Service Providers is easy once you get to the branch school. The big providers will have English-speaking staff to help you get set up. "Study Japanese on the train. You can make good use of your commuting time by studying Japanese." "The quality of the Japanese lessons at the prefectural community center will really depend on the teacher. There are some good teachers around and then there are some that are not very good." Many teachers try to make most of their time in Japan to learn Japanese. A variety of options are available to teachers. In many cities, Japanese lessons are offered at the local community or international center for a nominal fee, and even in some cases, free. Most often these lessons will be taught by volunteer Japanese teachers. For people who would like to study more intensively, there are a number of Japanese schools offering both short-term and long-term courses. "Find a community gym in your area. There are some nice fitness clubs around, but they are pretty expensive to join." "If you are planning to go snowboarding on a day trip, book the bullet train and lift ticket together. There are a number of packages around that will save you a lot of money." "Keep in mind there are many ways to stay fit in Japan. You can go hiking, take up a martial art or even join a rock-climbing gym. And don't forget jogging and doing yoga." Most cities have fitness or health clubs which offer aerobics, swimming pools, and the latest in weight equipment. There are usually yearly membership fees in addition to monthly user fees. Monthly fees may cost from 6,000 yen to 13,000 yen and allow you to visit as often as you wish. A less costly alternative is going to the local community gym. Although it's more reasonable - often around 250 yen a visit - the equipment can be limited and be outdated. Most community gyms have swimming pools. Tennis is very popular, but it is often hard to find an open court on the weekends. If you are an avid player, most likely one of your students will invite you to play. Joining a tennis school is another option for people who want to play regularly. Monthly fees will be about the same as joining a fitness club (8,000 yen to 12,000 yen per month). Both skiing and snowboarding are very popular winter sports. You can rent equipment and ski wear if you don't have them. The cost of a day on the slopes will be expensive though - usually between 10,000 and 15,000 yen for lift tickets, rental equipment and lunch. If you are planning to do a lot of snowboarding or skiing, you might want to buy used equipment, which is available at very reasonable prices. "Bring lots of socks and an extra pair of shoes if you have large feet." (larger than 27 cm for men) "Bring deodorant. You won't be able to find what you want or need in Japan." Contrary to popular opinion, larger sizes are becoming more readily available in Japan. More and more stores are stocking larger sizes of both men's and women's clothing and shoes. Men should not have much difficulty in finding clothes that fit but finding larger sizes of dress shoes will be a problem. Tall women may also have difficulty finding clothes and shoes that fit properly. Keep in mind that the summer humidity in Japan is much higher than in most other countries. Avoid fabrics that don't breathe well. Bring clothes that don't wrinkle easily or you will find yourself spending a lot of time ironing. Furthermore, most Japanese apartments are not equipped with central heating so having thick socks for winter is a good idea. Japanese people take great care to dress attractively and tastefully. Neat, clean and pressed clothing is the norm in the Japanese work environment. The basic emphasis is on conformity, not on individualism. Dark suits (with the exception of black), white or pale shades for shirts and subdued patterns and colors for ties will go a long way in Japan.