Job hunting in Japan

So, quite a few things have happened over the past few weeks.

Though it was a difficult decision, I have decided to leave my job as an ALT in Hokkaido and try my hand at job hunting the "normal" way in Japan.

To date, I have applied for about 10 positions, with two call backs. I am using LinkedIn, Gaijinpot, and Hokkaido Insider for ideas for jobs. I have also made a few applications directly through company websites.

The job situation for a former JET is not an easy one, as most positions start in March or April, whereas the JET calendar usually begins in July. As such, I am fully prepared to leave this position early (termed "breaking contract") should a job opportunity present itself that I deem worthy of this blow to my Board of Education and, potentially, my reputation.

A former JET, who now manages a recruitment firm, has offered to call me to discuss my options. He is calling on Tuesday.

I have applied for:
ALCOA
STEP (eiken test-makers)
3 recruitment companies
4 part-time positions

I am looking into applying for:
Amazon
Rakuten
Robert Walters
Sapporo Securities Exchange
BNY Mellon
more recruitment companies

Milo

Milo. In a tissue box. With a carrot. Adorable.

Haircuts in Japan...

Yesterday, I chopped off all my hair. Snip, snip, gone.

My salon, called, appropriately enough, "INSANE," recently got Swartzkopf hair dye. They were extremely excited about this, because it has a better red spectrum than Japanese dyes. They didn't seem to realize that this is a very common dye overseas, and hence thought it was BRAND SPANKING NEW. I was the first person to try it in the red spectrum, and it turned out really well.

Also, I think all the guys there (aged mid-20s to mid-30s) like to flirt/talk with me so they pass the gauntlet (hair dryer) so frequently I think it's a relay race. Plus I got a free head-spa-massage-thing. Woo!

Milo, the piggy.

So I caved and bought a guinea pig last month. They are called モルモットin Japanese (morumotto). Not sure where the hell that name came from, but people insist that they are two different animals when wiki clearly states otherwise. And as we all know, wiki is always correct.

Anyway, his name is Milo and he's a spazz.

Day 1: Gaijin Smashって何?!

I was intending to start this blog at the top of the New Year, but what the hell. I caved. It's the night before I take JLPT N1 (for those out there who don't know what that is, it's the Japanese Language Proficiency Exam), which I am sure to fail.

This blog serves a few purposes:

• Introducing my current life in Japan to people living back home (and anyone else who wants to read it) with pictures and anecdotes.
  
• Teaching a little bit of Japanese grammar or vocabulary daily as I study with the intent to pass the top-level N1 exam. Teaches you, helps me review :)
• Sharing occurrences of gaijin-smashing-ness. Gaijin Smash is what a lot of foreigners (exchange students, lifers, etc) call "bending the confines of Japanese society to an outcome that is favorable to us because of our supposed lack of ability to communicate in Japanese." Basically receiving a pass because you aren't Japanese. These stories may be recent or reflections upon stuff that has happened in the past.

Things may change, but for now, that's the idea!

宜しくお願いします！