Season 2: Day in the life working in Japan! I have a couple other series already posted as shorts (check them out!) and we have a couple more long videos already in the works! We want to start with one a month :)
This is a prime example of social media making things look better than they really are. You see a single highlight of someone's day every day so it looks amazing. But the other 23 hours and 59 minutes of the day are filled with struggles, issues, and boredom. Even I fell for it a few times and would have to remind myself that what you post is only a small part of your life and probably the best parts because that's what's most interesting.
I mean, she complained about that, but it's also what she did and a part of why why her videos were so popular. I've been doing ESL abroad for a decade and it's not for everybody. Programs like Westgate, JET, EPIK, and GEPIK are all pretty trash because you just don't know where you'll end up before you sign a contract. Also, she quit mid -contract, I guess? I'm impressed they were able to even do a visa transfer...
I mean, living in ANY country is not easy. Especially compared to how you see it when you’re travelling. I live in Italy and yes, it’s a terrible place to live in, yet so many people fantasise it.
@@JamesWright1919 Yeah I wanted her to go into details about visas because I don't understand how they can stay living in Japan if JET is no longer sponsoring their Visa. Especially since she has content creation going on which implies she is her own employer? because this does illuminate the JET program process but not the visas which seems like the biggest obstacle to creating a life in japan.
@@P0rk_Sinigang thought it was more of an exaggeration. People tend to exaggerate things about other states or stereotype them as a whole so when I heard it I thought it was some truth but overall not entirely true. I don’t think Japan is “hell” but that statement does feel a lot more accurate after watching this video.
@squigeon7959As someone who lived there I agree, but I see wayyyy more creators over romanticizing it and pretending it’s heaven on earth than actually showing the issues (like any country) that it has.
@squigeon7959 funny enough when researching about Japan this is exactly how I felt. I’ve been thinking about moving or working remotely on Japanese media and finding **genuine** information from people who’ve had that experience working in Japan and it is very hard. Luckily I did end up finding some and I’m glad Megan and Ben made this video so if I do decide to move (which I most likely won’t, give it like 75% chance I won’t move to Japan because I don’t want to abandon the people I’ve known here). I at least have some more information to better predict my experiences moving there and the cultural shocks of course.
i lived in tokyo for 16 years and im currently living in fukuoka, self employed selling software online (9 years now). Back when i taught english in tokyo, my company couldn't have been happier for me to quit my english teaching job because my contract was one of the old ones that locked in a higher salary, less work and more time off... The newer contracts were/are much much more horrific in terms of salary and hours, but they were legally obligated to keep my old contract. They were more than happy to accept my resignation a day before I quit.
@@thehitobito good luck! But please do not push better help. They are a terrible company who has been found to allocate unqualified fake therapists with full knowledge.
Fun fact. I am doing exactly that this week. Sad part is that they were warned, treat me well you'll have a hard working dedicated employee treat me poor I will not stick around long. Guess my "new" boss forgot that.
This!! You deserve better treatment and I'm so proud of you for moving on from something that wasn't a fit, and super grateful you're willing to share what you learned along the way.
"our existence confused and disrupted them" exactly the life of a medical student. You have generations of students working at the same hospital every day for years. But every time when you show up they're so confused and act like they've never seen a student before. Bro you WERE the student before
It’s less than 5 years since I graduated med school and I remember what it’s like but sometimes it’s hard to find time for both working and teaching if your schedule has not been adjusted for it. In the beginning I used to skip doing the paperwork during the shift to help the students, and then stay a couple of hours overtime to finish up my work. I think most doctors would be happy to work with medical students if they would be given the resources. Also, this has been a thing at least since the 70s: ”Give me a [medical student] who only triples my work and I’ll kiss his feet” - Samuel Shem, House of God
@@aaron4820 This, plus if you do your job well and try hard you probably think "okay new people aren't so bad, after all I'm not so bad" and then you become the boss and you realize 90% of new people are absolute mouth breathers and you wonder how they even made it out of grade school and/or they are lazy as shit.
As someone who left my dream job (in a very different field) I feel for you! The feeling of having exactly what you want and then it doesn't make you happy is SO traumatizing and hard to recover from.
I am a 21 year old Japanese university student. Working in a public school means experiencing all the bad aspects of the Japanese working environment. I have grown up in a public school all my life, so I understand how difficult it is for foreigners. I would like to say that many students love their foreign teachers and their classes, and I am sure the fact that ALTs and JETs have worked so hard is having a huge impact on the next generation. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors and thank you for your efforts! お疲れ様でした🎉
@@thehitobito wonder how the Japanese feel about non natives working for their rail network? I also have experience in Automotive and engine machining.
I never realized how good my experience with my Ekaiwa was until I watched this. I was just outside Tokyo in the late 2000s. Doing things at the government building and the bank seemed impossible without help. I also visited Japan before moving there and the difference being a tourist and a resident are SO different. Glad you are in better place (physically, emotionally, and socially!) now.
It was fun while it lasted, Megan! I really, really, REALLY wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Thanks for leaving us with what you did. Thank you so ,so, so much!!
@@YurimoHikashi Do you know of a similar service that does online therapy that's better? I want to do therapy, but I would prefer to do it online. I have heard about the negatives of Better Help, but haven't heard of a good alternative.
Telling your experience is absolutely valid. People that are mad you quit were never with you in the first place. Thank you for being authentic and true to yourself
They are angry out of ignorance. They want her life and see her as "Throwing away" THEIR dream but it was HER dream and she lived it and realized, it wasn't really what she DREAMED it to be, and it's her right to dream something else now.
@@polishpipebomb let me sum it up. american milleanials went to japan and got disappointed that it's nothing like america and also nobody was impressed by them. I don't think her dream is a realistic one lol
I was someone who absolutely loved being on the JET Programme and left after the end of my second year. After building a happy life there with my apartment, my school, my favourite bars and restaurants, amd friends, returning home was a real shock. I wasnt happy really for another couple of years.
I am glad to hear someone say this. I have had many friends that did the JET Programme and loved it, honesty I haven’t heard a ton of complaints about it other than in RU-vid. I am so sorry she had such a bad experience with the setup, but it isn’t the norm. I am glad they found a better situation for them there in Japan! Can’t wait to see more adventures now they are better settled.
@@Simplyhere22 good question. I think I recognised that it couldn't go on for ever, and would have to get a job back home one day. I suspect that a third year wouldn't have been the same and I left on a high, rather than getting bored of the job
As a Japanese person I am sorry that your experience ended up like this. The work culture is the legacy from Japan’s economic golden age where competition was intense and the company was seen as something as a “team effort” in a bit of a bad way. some old people and even some young people here see their Job as something to do for a life time, or even to do as if their life depended on it. I really hope the work culture and attitude toward not just people from out side of Japan but also people who are from Japan but not locals change in the coming years. Anyways I really hope u guys enjoyed the other aspects of Japan which has allot of beauty to offer and best of luck.
@@centoroanti2198 Why? He's Japanese so if he wants to see change he can start right where he's at. Say if he has family there and doesn't live there he can talk to them. Nothing will change unless you start
@@erikmac182 The problem is that one, or even a hundred people aren't gonna be the change. The government makes it hard for people who want to break the cycle
Im a Japanese grew up in a super rural area in Japan(no highway no railway no restaurants...). I still remember that the first opportunities to meet "Non japanese people " was an ALT teacher (like you guys) from Canada... Since then I started to have interests out of japan and now I study in a university in Europe... When i watch your blog vides and reels, I get nostalgic. Good luck for your next stage !!!
i was working in a very rural area and there were only two foreigners in the whole city. i was teaching kindergarten and primary school and meeting each other every day was such a happy day both for my students and for me. they have never seen a foreigner before. and i was 21 back then and that was my first time working abroad. i really miss all of them and i hope i had some influence on them just like in your story❤ 🙏 thank you for sharing
I hope you have an amazing time! I'm from Europe as well (Germany) ^-^ There's definitely a lot of foreigners here so it's something we're used to so I hope you had an easy time adapting to your life abroad wherever you went~
Thank you for making this video. I'm applying to the JET program this year, and while I will still go through with my application, I appreciate your honesty and trying to make the best out of an unpleasant situation.
One of the bravest things you can do is to say no to something you love to put yourself first! In my late twenties, I finally achieved my dream job but it was horrible for my mental health. I was overworked and severely underpaid compared to my colleagues, had panic attacks and an evil boss that was abusive. I remembering feeling like I failed when I left. Now looking back, I should have left sooner and prioritized myself. I am so impressed that you are so wise to do what is best for you. You can love something and know it is not right for you. This old lady is proud of you and so impressed by your courage! Congrats on this change and know that you can achieve anything with your mindset.
I love this comment. I have a job that pays very well right now but I'm miserable. I really want to do the jet program and have been planning it for 5 years. I'm finally able to apply.
When I quit my ESL job in Korea, after a year where I was treated mostly well, my director called me the wrong name for the reminder of my contract. It was such a flip and then she had the audacity to act shocked when I refused to stay past my contract end to help clean the school when the semester ended.
Thank you for being so transparent about your experience as an ALT. I had romanticized teaching English in Japan or in South Korea and got certified to teach English abroad. After watching countless other westerners discuss the good and bad parts of their experiences in Japan, it reminded me not to romanticize any country.
I don’t fully understand why East Asian cultures treat willfully quitting a job so seriously, like you are renouncing your citizenship or forever sullied the good name of their establishment
Not all east asian countries. In China, it is ok. I quited 2 of my jobs in the last 10 years and it was a lot of easier. Chinese employers do not care that much.
Unfortunately, this was a video i was expecting. ESID, sure, but there's also A Lot of similar experiences that all have a unifying aspect or common denominator : Japan. I don't know if it got any better or worse after covid, but I've heard from so many people on RU-vid and a couple in person the last bunch of years just how much "walking through mud" it can be against such long standing restrictive conservatism and bureaurocracy and expectation (no wonder younger generations keep trying to rebel and carve out their niches for as long as they can before being crushed). I'm glad the two of you have weathered their storms, and hope the worst of it all is behind you. Best wishes, and thank you for choosing to share so much of yourselves and your lives with us. ✨️
Hey Megan and Ben! I wanted to share my own, extremely brief, English teaching experience in Japan. It started before I ever arrived. First, my Visa took 3 months longer to be processed than they said it would. I had quit my job in December because I was supposed to start in January, but I had to get a part time job to make ends meet during the 3 extra months I was waiting. Once it arrived, I was told I should wait till May because they were already mid semester, but I managed to convince them to allow me to start right away. When I arrived to Japan, I was immediately driven straight to the school to observe other teachers at the job. All my bags were still in the car and I hadn’t even eaten anything. Later, I finally had lunch and was driven to my apartment late at night. I had no idea how to work the heat, how to set up the internet, or where to get groceries or any food. I went to bed hungry and cold that night. Next morning, I was told to get to a school that I had never been shown how to get to. I had no car or gps, but I managed to make it to a train station. Everything was in Japanese and nobody spoke English so I got confused and took the train in the wrong direction. I ended up arriving late because of it, even though I explained my circumstances, and they immediately had me start teaching classes. I was then pulled to a meeting the next day where they informed me I was being fired and needed to leave my apartment right away, unless I was willing to pay them $200 for a week’s rent. I was so distraught about the whole situation and had nowhere else to go so I agreed. A friend of mine, who was an English teacher in the same company, allowed me to stay with her until I could find another English teaching job. Unfortunately, my choices seemed limited at the time since my employer had lied to me about my Visa status being revoked the moment I was fired. I could’ve easily found a job had I known I still had an active work Visa. Sadly, I applied for work as someone who needed a Visa, which didn’t get me hired fast enough to stay in Japan for long. I left Japan feeling defeated and very bitter over my experience. I lost a lot of time and money in the process. It was one of the worst experiences of my life.
@@mariabeatrizlopezperalta5681 ty! If nothing else, I ended up studying education in order to improve my odds of making it in Japan. I got my degree and am now teaching in a school in my hometown. It's not as exotic as Japan, but I'm far more appreciated here.
@@leefairweather5772 Tysm, I never expected so many people would care to read my story. This is the first time I've shared it. It was a very dark time in my life.
Megan you did the right thing. As a former redhead (now white) and at 63 years old I can say never stay in a miserable job. I did and almost let those I worked with ruin my joy. Have fun, live life, explore. Life goes by in a blink.
Come try Vietnam next! Friendly relaxed people, good salary, nice food, cheap living and housing, understanding and laid-back work ethic. Been teaching here for 3 years now and it's lovely.
Re: your predecessor, I canNOT understand how some people can be so thoughtless. Especially since they themselves were once in your shoes, and probably also feeling a little anxious & lost in a new, very foreign country at first. They should’ve been helping you start off on the right foot. Or at the very least, just been polite enough not to scam you & leave you a trashed apartment, and then be upset that you were upset. That part of your story just upset ME, someone who was raised by a mother who drilled it into me from a young age to always be conscious of others, and to treat them how I’d want to be treated. Obviously some people didn’t get these early life lessons🙄
I know right!! I thought it was crazy that they just did all of those things with no regard to Megan and Ben. It definitely left a horrible first impression!
@@Silly1336 yea that's true but my point still holds true, they can. It's just that I don't really understand how people think they can tell others what they should've done and what not, if they are/were not obligated to. Everyone can choose to be an asshole if they want to, isn't that real freedom?
This is common in Japan, usually its not what most foreigners expect. Its best to have realistic expectations of Japanese life and culture, as its usually difficult for foreigners at first. I have heard that they can be weary of foreigners in Japan, so its more difficult to find a job, housing, and even make friends. I hope the both of you keep positive in this new journey and I wish you the best.
@amusing4000 because we all be gaijin lol. On a more serious note, a very isolated country from the world throughout history with incredible patriotic pride and unique view of society. It leads them to being one of the more xenophobic countries in the world.
As someone who's actively studying Japanese with the goal of becoming an ALT while working a local highshcool, I really appreciate having another perspective on the life It's good to know that it's never perfect, and I'm so sorry y'all had to struggle so deeply thank you none the less for honest and thorough video
My son just started his JET experience and while everything she said is true as it relates to the JET process - here's how he made it easier for himself: first he learned Japanese as well as he could (double-majored with math), second he got a study abroad in Japan as an undergrad so was able to live a year there and do a lot of the things with university support Megan had to struggle with (bank account, etc). While not a requirement, being able to speak, read, and write Japanese helps a ton. His prefecture (education department) seems to be better than the one she got...ESID.
@@HadronFlux yeah my own experiences will tell even if they accept me I can only hope getting a TEFL will cover for just an AAS in comp sci but c'est la vie Life is full of fun stories and strange avenues
@@HadronFluxid almost call it a requirement, or you're bugging someone who you need to trust that can read and write. Otherwise you cant do any official documents like bank stuff. Unless that's changed since covid, I k ow they are putting up more english signs. But generally you needed to k ow the language to set up a bank account and rent apartments.
Same. I want to become an ALT with my friend and I always have to remind myself to keep my expectations low but still have an interest so I literally don't cry if a situation gets out of hand.
I appreciate the honesty. That's actually about how I would have expected it to be. Not terrible but nothing like the amazing fun life you were promised either. I always assume claims like that are best-case scenarios if they're even real at all. I recently bought a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone and I plan on starting learning Japanese with visiting there being on my before I die bucket list. I wish you two the best of luck in the future!
I was an ALT for 7 years. I worked for dispatch companies, not JET, so my experience was a little bit different but the same in a lot of areas. I spent one year in a small town before switching companies and moving to one of the major cities. Good on you for getting out of English teaching. It is a good job when you're fresh out of college, but it definitely isn't something you want to stick with for more than a few years. Unless you put in the work and become a real teacher, getting trapped in the ALT/eikaiwa grind is soul crushing.
1000% Agree, as someone who currently is stuck in that soul-crushing grind. I had a wonderful school with lots of great teachers and wanted to travel Asia...so I stayed. Unfortunately, career-wise, it's tough to get out. Be wary young people.
@OP Went scrolling to see how long it would take to see someone mention basically what you said. I was a dispatch ALT for 3 years as well. I try to tell everyone even remotely interested in the job that its the equivalent of burger flipping. Its a dead end job that has no long term growth. The big issue is that it _looks_ like it could be a legit career because of where you are working, but if you look at the real teachers and pay attention to the guys (other ALTs) that have stayed around way longer than they should have; you can see the truth. After 3 years I left and went back to the states and got a software engineer job making 4 times what I made as an ALT (and twice the salary of a lot of Japanese programmers) and had career prospects. It really does suck how much downward pressure on salaries there is in general in Japan.
Hey, in case any wants to teach in Japan you can always do DoDEA with the US government. You get a US teacher's salary plus the cost of living pay as well. You will teach in government schools in Japan (or other foreign countries) that are for military family kids. You will teach in English with the subject you learn in college, but with this program, you have to have everything, a normal teacher in the States has. My mom's best friend did this for 17 years in Italy and she enjoyed it because it was basically teaching in the States while being in a foreign country.
I’m interested in doing this! But is it true that if you join the dodea that the placement is flexible and you won’t necessarily get to teacher in the country you want?
Most of the time those jobs are reserved for spouses of military stationed in Japan. How do I know is because I was military stationed in Japan and my friends wife worked at the local school on base.
That’s crazy your mom’s best friend could have been my teacher. Although the Italy school was way bigger then the Japan school so maybe not. Shout out to ms Osaka to being the meanest teacher out there.
I'm teaching in Korea through EPIK (Korea's JET program) and I relate so much to this! I have a rural placement with a tiny bus terminal and no train station. It's been isolating to say the least and it's hard to make friends with fellow foreigners because people come and go all year or live in other towns/cities. I like living and somewhat traveling Korea, but there is also so much struggle!
They do have a bad record, they're selling the users private data e.g. If someone was depressed and told their counselor that the user e would get ads to buy antidepressants.
Some therapists on betterhelp are shit. I've had shit ones there. I've also had shit therapists irl, they just exist. At least on BH I could switch until I found a good one. And yes, the selling user data is annoying af, but in the end the therapist I ended up talking to made my life a whole lot better.
I really can't believe people are still out here taking better help sponsorships when they have been sued for selling patient data and are known for shady business practices
ohh, never knew about this tbh maybe she also doesn't know I think? but letting them know and look it up could be helpful thank you so much for your contribution!!
Congrats! As an expat in Asia myself, keeping the dream alive that brought you abroad is so hard when you've had a terrible first impression or when promises have been broken. Good for you both for not giving up and best of luck with phase 2 of your Japanese lives ❤
As a recent former JET myself (in Tokyo believe it or not), despite some key differences in my experience, there's still so much that you talk about that I or others close to me can relate to, and I really admire you for illustrating your whole experience in Japan, with the good, the bad, and the in-between. Your videos always make me smile, bringing back fond memories but also making me see how some things have already changed quite a bit there in such a short amount of time. Living in a foreign country AND working as a teacher there is not a walk in the park no matter how much you're into the local culture. High emotional intelligence and being adaptable are crucial skills to allow you to thrive. ESID is very real, and a lot of people are scared of it, but it also puts a lot of power in your hands, some can use it productively, others struggle. Some become too enamored in the lives they've found themselves in or built from the ground-up in Japan, others can't quite square the new reality they find themselves in and become embittered with the world around them. Some become too focused on living their lives in Japan while forgetting they have to do a job there, others just teach and can't or won't accept they live in Japan. Living long-term in Japan forces you to grow up fast but also to do your best to fully optimize your experience there. I also spent my time off studying Japanese, traveling, making friends, doing karate, and pursuing other hobbies and interests, and I'll always be so grateful for the things I've learned, what I've experienced, and the people I've met along the way. But here's the thing: JET is SUPPOSED to be temporary! It's designed for younger people straight out of college with relatively little work experience and responsibilities. It alone CANNOT support a family or even a single person long-term. I've met many people who stay on JET for 5 years, some even more, and struggle mightily to move on from it professionally and emotionally, whether they're in Japan or came back to my home country (the USA). I myself chose to move on from JET after 3 years, and return home. It was perhaps the most difficult decision I've ever made-- there was so much about my school, my city, my life, and the culture I appreciated so much, and still do. But I felt I had accomplished everything I could at my school, and since my school was SO good to me (I still consider myself one of the luckiest JETs in the country at the time) I knew that anywhere else I would go wouldn't be nearly as good and it would be difficult to adapt. The hold Japan had on me, and will probably always have, would fade. Add on other factors, like wanting to develop my career, see my family more, and understanding how difficult it is for foreigners to make a good living in Japan (I'm no content creator), I chose to leave on a high note. It was difficult to do, but it was the right decision. Shout out to those foreigners who found a way to make a decent living in Japan, including my successor, who actually ended up becoming a full-time staffer at my school and is on his way to permanent residency, someone who's fully personally and professionally dedicated to his life there. He did what I could not. TLDR; the same qualities that can get you into JET (adaptability and emotional intelligence) will allow you to move on from it when the time is right. Life in Japan should neither be idealized nor demonized, it is what you make of it. I'm really proud of you guys for all that you do-- sharing your experience, teaching others about Japan and its culture, and for showing the maturity and drive to know when to move on from JET. I wish you guys all the best on your next chapter in Japan! 頑張って！楽しんでね！
@@tantuce If you are referring to the quitting process, like she said, she is from a country where people can write resignations on napkins, so was caught off guard by standard Japanese work culture. Japan is a country of paperwork, so her BOE has to ask those questions because it is a matter of administrative procedure for them to get administrative documents (employment-term based national pension, health insurance, etc.) issued for her. She said she actually enjoyed her work at her assigned school, and the issues were mainly with her douchebag predecessor, expectations that their BOE would be way more supportive, and expectations related to living in rural Japan.
You know what? That's why I like being Mexican, Because if or when I go to Japan, I don't have to think like others about developing my career, I don't care and many Mexicans I've seen, don't care about being this six digit earners, we are more focused on creating good relationship with others, we don't mind living in small spaces too so we don't have the need for this suburban home with garage and car, for what I seek in life, I think that Japan may be a great combination of meeting people and living a slower life in the country-side, I have seen I can buy homes for cheap and I can put my hands to work for them, I also think that Tokyo is hell on earth so I wouldn't go and live there, I would go and live in prefectures where people are kore open to meeting others, where life is cheaper and life has a more relaxed pace so I think it depends on what our goals and culture are but that's why I'm so grateful for being mexican, because my values and culture I think can make my time in Japan a good ride, I feel confident in my abilities too to handle difficult situations as México is also no easy place to live in.
@@TsugMt My understanding isn't that people want 6 figure jobs, it's that the program ends after 5 years, full-stop and it's hard to get any sort of job after that if your only work experience is being a teaching assistant. Maybe you can become a permanent teacher, but that's not a gauruntee, so you'd need some other skill-set to set you up. I actually think the better plan would be to find the field you like/are good at, and then try to get a job in Japan in that field. Also, just so you're aware, buying a house in Japan is not as cheap as some vidoes make it out to be. Japan doesn't consider owning a home to be a long-term investment, so most families don't buy a house and pass it down. Instead you purchase land and pay for architects to build your house, which will still really only be for your generation. The cheap houses for sale people are seeing are abandoned houses that would need to be gutted and rebuilt to make them livable. If you're handy you could maybe do a lot of that work yourself while only paying for materials. But there's a lot of bueracuracy surrounding code-enforcement and permitting you'd have to deal with, and it'd all be in Japanese, too. Plus you'd have to live elsewhere while you bring it up to code. I think the most important skill in immigrating anywhere is being adaptable. So if your culture instilled that in you, you will have an easier time than people who don't instinctively think, "how can I salvage this?" every time something goes wrong. But it's also important to know what you'll have to adapt to, so if Japan is your long-term goal definitely looking into all the little realities to plan before going. It's definitely do-able, but money is only a small part of the problem keeping people from doing so.
Being an advocate for yourself is such a power move. Leaving a situation you're not happy in is the best thing you can ever do for yourself. Congrats on being in a better situation!
My sister taught for six years, Tokyo, not JET. She learned fluent Japanese. What eventually drove her bonkers was the parents. They absolutely could NOT give their kids a break and let them be kids. Constant pressure to conform, to get good grades. Constant apologies if their kids weren't doing well. "The nail that sticks out gets pounded down". Some of these kids had obvious emotional and abandonment issues, and the parents Did. Not. Care ...Crazy.
Oh that's really too bad... they need to realize that every situation is different (like she said) and not just try to get them to conform "just because."
Honestly, as someone who taught English in Japan through the Interac company, I’m SHOCKED this is how you were treated at JET! Interac set us up really well. Of course there was Japanese bureaucracy stuff that was frustrating at times, but I had an amazing location (I was able to give requests on placement), apartment and car! I’m so sorry you went through this!
Yeah I've had a very similar experience. For as much as people on reddit talk about JET being the best, it really seems like aside from the ever so slightly better pay, you'll end up having just about the same experience.
I love that you were brave enough to take such a chance and then even when it didnt end up being what you thought it was you made the most out of it and ultimately the optimism is what got you into a better position! You are an inspiration!
True but when you're born in a third world country japan is a more better opportunity than staying in a country that has no hope and future (Philippines)
Meh. I worked in Japan and had both and amazing experiences. Sadly there are too many English teachers interested into Japan for too few positions so some really really scummy private schools or badly run public schools can still mistreat and use foreigners since they know they get another teacher soon. Also met such a case while in Japan and it’s very sad to see motivated people end up in such shitty positions.
I’ve always found it weird that content creators still partner up with better help and ignore the overwhelming data of them being a really bad company.
that is the issue with social media , it only shows you the good and positive sides , but you will never see the behind the scenes of how things really are , until you experience things for yourself
I've just started as an English teacher in AMERICA and I'm already having a rough time, this experience on top of your story has led me to reevaluate this dream of teaching in Japan and also decide if it's something I truly want to go through with. I'm happy you two found more comfortable footing though and hope your days are ever brighter!
JET Program might be the biggest, but it’s far from the only way to get here. I recommend getting a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certificate. You’re looking to be a real teacher in Japan, if you come here, not an Assistant
After reading way too many comments that were left under this video, I would def look into other programs besides JET. I saw a few people mention a specific one, which of course I can’t remember the name. But from what it sounds like everyone should stay far away from JET and go with one of the others. I know for some people even mentioned they got to list the places they preferred to be placed at. You might not get your top choice but at least you have a much better chance of landing somewhere you want to be at instead of ending up somewhere you’ve never even heard of.
I was a JET 6 years ago in Wakayama Prefecture and nearly everything you said in this video happened to me too from the day I was picked up at Kansai airport to when I left a year later. At the time I wondered why my situation felt so much worse compared to what my friends got to experience in their placements, but in the end it led me to exactly where I needed to be which was Tokyo. Wishing you both all the best in your next adventure and just know you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be too. ❤
Thank you so much for this video. Going to Japan has always been my dream, and I thought JET was the only way I could reach it, but your video showed me otherwise. Now I've started looking into other alternatives that will make me happier then teaching. Good luck for your future endeavors!
Wow, the original lady that scammed you was pure trash… also what kind of dungeon dweller are you to say they’re going to send crows your way to bomb the car? When they just did everything wrong, not to mention living in a trash heap. 🤮 keep up the great content. I miss Japan. Every time I see a short of yours I watch and I smile. 👊🏾🤘🏾
Great video! I have lived in Japan for about 20 years now, starting as an English teacher, and I have gone through a lot of the experiences you spoke about. In the end I had to move back to the US to get out of the “box” and start my profession, but I was able to eventually come back to Japan as a professional and all the experiences I had in Japan before that combined with my new professional experience led to me fitting into a unique niche where I actually add value. I never could have planned it. I think it’s great you too were able to work your way into a career that combines your love of the country with a valuable expression of yourselves. This is a great channel, and as a “veteran” of Japan it’s both nostalgic and inspiring to see. Keep going - you guys are awesome!
My experience was pretty much the same, but from the perspective of a minor. My mom got a contract to work in japan, and decided it was an amazing idea to bring all of us along. Imagine being randomly told "I got a job in japan, pack a few boxes you want ship, and a bag we've got a flight in three days." I thought I'd be homeschooled, nah I was thrust into a school into some Senior HS, I didn't speak the language, and was only told to wear some weird goofy ah uniform, and bring an extra pair of shoes, apparently it was a 'special case' a foreigner would be added so late into the year. I've never experience teachers so brutal. The ONLY teacher I enjoyed was the like English teacher, who was still Japanese. They were the ONLY person I could converse with at all throughout my entire day. Students quickly learned I didn't speak ANY japanese, and still tried to socialize. My entire first year was smiling, giving a thumbs up, and still passing classes because my english teacher stole my classwork from me, and helped me through it. I had school during the day, tutor at night, any sort of 'off day' was spent with a tutor. Finally in the middle of my second year something clicked in my brain, and the language started to like auto-translate itself. I'd hear a sentence, and go "Oh, yeah that's what they said." then I'd fumble a non-coherent but okay enough sentence to pass enough that I'm competent. It was horrible, imagine spending an entire year, and your family is the ONLY white people you see. The other teachers pretty much picked on me, I'd always get stuck with afterclass stuff, they'd poke fun at the way I spoke, or used chopsticks, or dressed despite the only difference in my appearance was I was white, have blue eyes, and considerably taller. It's true that the nail that sticks out the most gets hammered down. At least the students didn't really pick on me all that much, of course there were jokes, but I could respond and we'd all laugh. Some people tried to be bullies, but it's hard to bully someone who's a foot taller than you, and can't understand what you're saying. My experience outside of school sucked as well, going out was possible but you get treated like some sort of albino elk like a once in a lifetime animal because you're wearing a school uniform with the gang at an arcade or cafe. I've been harassed by teachers at school, and then have had GROWN WOMEN assault me because I was 'cute' or 'sexy' in my uniform. Grabbing me for pictures, trying to take my phone so they could force their number in, trying to get me to go drinking with them, OR in some cases attempting to bribe me with CASH to go to a hotel. I'm not even that attractive. My three years in japan sucked. Only cool thing about the place was the pokemon stores, and the insane amount of arcades. Summer was hot, but I'm from the southern US so it wasn't horrible. Summer Break was the only time I was treated like a tourist, which is immensely better than being treated like a foreign student.
Sounds awful! Re shoes, in Northern Europe pupils need to change their shoes too (you know, snow boots etc won't work well indoors for 8 hours) in winter or other weather that's not summer dry.
Currently stationed in Yokosuka and your experience isn’t much different than mine. The vibe of “you’re barely tolerated here” is definitely real. It’s very apparent that you’ll never truly be accepted. The most cold polite culture ever. 😂
I was stationed at Yokota from 2020-2023, it was so great. after you get through the first hurdle of social life in Japan, you start feeling accepted into society. i was part of many airsoft circles and rc drifting circles, as well as goofing around with Japanese skaters and car guys. more people know english than they let on, they are just scared to say something wrong.
@@sir.airman.traineereports.3687 oh I agree it’s better once you get used to it and know some Japanese. I love it here and don’t plan on going back to the states but there will always be a social barrier between me and real Japanese people.
Stationed there from ‘17-‘21 Definitely get away from base, the Honch, etc. I was lucky to get into the anime/Pokemon scene and make a bunch of connections with other collectors and hobby store owners before I got my orders to go elsewhere. It’s probably the biggest influence into starting and ultimately growing my business which resells imported goods from Japan. I still visit Japan and Korea once or twice a year and feel like I’ve never left. I have plans on moving there via Japan’s investor visa once my contract with the Navy is done next year.
@@justinhamilton8647The average person won’t have morals. You telling me you ain’t gonna talk about a company most people won’t buy into for big bucks?
As a French person who worked in China over a year, I can relate regarding the mess you feel you're diving into. And I think your decision making process is completely valid. I could feel that what you had to undergo at work was overwhelming through your shorts and I'm thankful to you for putting this out there with a whole video. Your content is amazing, you're super sweet and I'm obsessed with it. 🙈👉👈👏
I like his screen-presence, voice, and personality, but if Matt talks into a lav mic one inch from his mouth one more time, I will unsub and campaign everyone to unsub. Thank you Megan, for wearing and using a lav mic properly.
You have 1 life to live. Don't waste time on anyone who doesn't care about you. No apologies necessary. If they don't like it, that's a problem that they decided to have.
Came across your videos based on searches for information to support an exchange student from Japan who was living with us in Michigan. I have really enjoyed your content but never watched one of your longer videos. I appreciate this one as it gives me some background into the who/what behind the 30 second shorts I came to enjoy. Best of luck to you; keep making videos (especially content for midwesterners wanting to visit and see their previous exchange students!) 😉
Thanks for being so open about it. I think it's good to show the other side of things as 99% of the Japan content I watch on youtube tends to only focus on the positives.
i did not not imagine that your life was the difficult, it is not that apparent from only watching your videos , thanks for showing us the other side of life in jaban , best of luck out there . Love from Germany ❤
Hiii american with german family. I love my german culture and my family has shown me that it would be lovely to live in germany again. Counting my days (or maybe years) until I can get to live there again.
@@azzajohnson2123not "for views." Social media is always putting your best stuff forward and being authentic if it aligns with your brand. People don't want to put anything out there if they know people wouldn't like it.
Loved this video. You guys radiate positivity. So glad that you turned things around and an even brighter future awaits you. Keep us posted with your adventures!
I honestly stumbled across your channel like a happy accident. My boyfriend and I want to visit Japan and I have a best friend who used to live there and visits every chance she gets. I absolutely love the architecture of Japan and it seems like a dream. I am happy I came across your content. Also, on the journey of quitting your job, good on you! No need to feel bad about putting your health first. You are not a slave, you are a human being with freedom. Live your dreams guys! I’m so happy for you.
Finally, I took the same decision, will finish my PhD there, and see where the wind goes. I am grateful for the time there, but too many things were not making me happy. Cheers to you for the experience, and good luck for your next chapter of life ❤👏🙌
I would have a hard time with being in a society that can be so strict. On the other hand, I’m always complaining about how rude people are in Canada now lol so the politeness would be a nice change
@@Cafeallday222 people are rude in Canada? They were so friendly in Toronto when I went there! I should see Italy ahah! I believe that, like every society, there are pro and cons. In Japan you will find polite people (but just polite, do not expect meeting many friends), a safe environment (yo ucan even leave your wallet and phone on a Starbucks table to go to the toilet) and many services work well. On the downside, lot of paperwork (they still use fax), 70% did not want to rent me a house in Tokyo because I was a foreigner (and I have a government scholarship), people come up with trivial excuses not to meet up with you, you experience a level of loneliness you cannot imagine (although leaerning language helps, but... you will not get integrated in their society). After this experience, I really look forward to go into an English speaking country, Fun fact. The few Japanese friends I made are in their 60/70, they helped me everytime I was in trouble, and they tried their best not to make me feel alone. I think it depends a lot on the support system you can create around you. I would say this is a country to lieve one or two years to explore, experience, see the difference. But not to settle down.
Hi both, please do not take the BetterHelp sponsorship, they are known to be a less than reputable company with providing suitable healthcare for people due to lack of controls and using suitable people to provide such care.
Mad respect. It can be hard to give up something when you were so set on it previously, even if it's not what you were expecting there's always that lingering thought of "but this is my dream, I worked hard to get here" looking forward to seeing where you guys go from here
Thank you so much for this video and your warm, honest, and heartfelt content that you share. I have recently experienced a disability where I'm paraplegic and videos like you show help me get away from my situation and learn new things and I so appreciate you for sharing!
I really appreciate the fact that you share the honest truth. I see people romanticizing Japan and English teaching to a degree that I can't really comprehend to see as a realistic future prospect for many people. Japanese worklife is such a different experience and while visiting here is a dream to many, living (and working) here is a complete different reality. Wishing you well in all your next endavours!
I was a JET ALT for 3 years out in Niigata. The apartment situation sounds like deja vu. Took me almost a full year to throw away all of the trash my pred left me. But ESID is true. Loved Niigata so much I married one of the locals. Raising a head strong little girl now.
That's one of the saddest things I've heard. Going out of your way to fulfill one of your dreams just to be met with disappointment. Wish you guys the best!
I guess I dodged a bullet by not choosing this profession. Like you, I wanted to become an English teacher in Japan but had a horrible college experience and dropped out for my mental and physical health. Since then, I have met my soulmate and married him back in May, so I am now super happy. I loved what I learned in college and would still love to visit Japan someday, but I don't know if I would ever live there or try teaching. Wishing the best of luck to you both!!
You never really know people’s lives behind the camera. I’m glad you guys made this video and i look forward to seeing different content from you guys ! 😊
As someone who loves Japanese culture and was once upon a time considering moving there myself after I went for my first time in 2015 I appreciate you both being so candid about your experience living in there through the JET program, wishing you both luck in your endeavors and I hope we get to see more of what it's like to live in Japan!
My son just started his JET experience and I just got back from Japan to see his apartment, car, etc.. His prefecture and assignment seem pretty good - his apartment is old, worn down, furnished by 20 year olds with no money. The money he spent for his car and the leftovers wasn't a disaster - but everything you talked about is real. In his case, he studied in Japan for a year in undergrad and does speak/read Japanese. The study abroad was helpful as he's gone through the bank account and all that stuff before. Like you said, ESID. I worry for him being social and it appears his prefecture has a university program to help people like him get a grad degree in teaching (I'm a teacher in the US). So I guess I'd say that I'd like to echo your experience description - it wasn't overblown at all, although his predecessor did "clean" his apartment and the car isn't as bad as what you got. Plus he's not on an island but is kind of rural (70k people).
70k people would be a big city in my country. Always interesting to see what rural means to people from different countries. Rural and kind of rural to me would be 10k and less.
A town or city of 70k is a good number in Japan - that's the size of place I did JET in. Big enough to have some other JETs around, and usually sone nightlife or sorts, but not so large it becomes anonymous.
Congrats Megan and Ben! 🎉 After hearing your story and all the craziness you went through, I am glad you guys are finally getting to live your dream you always wanted! 😊
This feels like the end of an era... I've been watching your shorts for what feels like forever now, have an awesome time in the next chapter of your journey!
I'm sorry you two had to go through what you did, but I'm glad it worked out in the end. I've really enjoyed your "day in the life" series and hope to see more content in the future.
Will look forward to your next chapter, whatever that brings! I have loved watching your shorts and longer videos. I literally just lost my job in social work after 15yrs so feeling rather stunned and lost myself atm. Have no idea what my future will bring and its scary as I am a Mum and 4 ppl and a needy cat rely on me! Much love and respect from the U.K.🧡
