Well, as much as I hate to do it, sometimes I need to pass on the bad news as well as the good news. Everyone loves a happy ending, but sadly real life doesn't always work that way.
My new employer, G-Communications, does not want to sponsor my visa. They are concerned that it might be rejected by the government, and that this would somehow damage their reputation. Basically they don't want to sponsor my visa unless they are 100% sure it will be accepted. Even though I got a letter from my college, saying that my programs are of university status, they complained that the letter is 'not specific enough' so they won't accept it.
And just like that, I watched my dream crumble in front of my eyes. This actually happened a few days ago, but it's taken time for me to come to grips with it.
In a way I feel like they lied to me. I was very honest about my academic credentials in my job interview, and at that time I was told "Well I guess we can send it to immigration and see what they say". And when they asked me for a letter from my college, they told me that even if I can't get the letter, they'll still sponsor me and apply for the visa. But now suddenly they're whistling a different tune.
So, my visa is up on Sept 15th. I'll try and extend it from inside Japan, and if that fails it's another visa run to Taipei. And I guess I'll keep trying to get a job here.
But to be honest, fatigue is starting to set in. For five months, I've been fighting the system, trying to find a way in, and trying to get help and advice for my situation. And after five months, I'm really not any closer to landing a job than I was when I first arrived. The money I saved is all gone, and time is no longer on my side.
In short, on the line between hope and despair, now I'm clearly on the side of despair.
Sometimes I feel homesick. I think about my friends in Toronto, and I want to see them. Sometimes I think about how much I've learned, being here, and how I could apply it to a life in Toronto. Maybe I could learn to be happy there.
And sometimes I think about returning to Toronto, and doing some work to prepare for another trip to Asia. I could get a job, then take a class and get my MCSE. Or I could try to complete my university degree. I read that my degree is worth 60 credits (two full years) at an online university in Calgary. If I did 3 courses per term part-time, I could finish maybe in seven terms.
But when I think about Toronto, it reminds me of all reasons I left. I don't know if I can explain it well, but in Toronto I just don't feel like I fit in well. Here in Tokyo, I can just relax and be myself. In Tokyo, things like eating omelette rice, brushing your teeth in front of the TV, and listening to Ayumi Hamasaki aren't considered weird or eccentric, they're actually pretty normal. And my 'Canadian' habits, like showering in the morning, or speaking very casually to someone I just met, are just kind of expected, since I'm a foreigner.
So even though I feel homesick sometimes, I can't say I really want to go back to Toronto long-term. But I might not have a choice.
I've been trying to decide what options I have... but I decided that if I can't get some kind of legal status by the end of my next visa extension, which will probably be in December, then I will move.. somewhere. And wherever I go, I want to be able to work legally.
Sometimes when the simple things are taken away from us, we learn to truly appreciate them.
3 件のコメント:
I told you that you'd fail if you insist on trying to find a job from within Japan, especially given your lack of a bachelor's degree. I know I'm a total pessimistic dick, crass and blunt, whatever. Time to suck it up, move ANYWHERE BUT JAPAN, and spend a week talking to recruiters from international companies and you'll see what a stupid endeavor this has been. It's so ridiculously easy as there are recruiters desperate for people willing to go to Japan. They know the visa process, they know how to grease the gears if you don't match 100% of the requirements. How do you think there are so many people here in the IT field with no degree, but phat expat packages? There is a HUGE labor shortage in Japan, in almost every field. EXCEPT ENGLISH TEACHERS. These are a fucking dime a dozen. No one wants to jump through hoops for a degree crippled one when there are 20 more around the corner aching to take on more hours. If you leave, Japan isn't going to go anywhere. It will be right here, huge labor shortages and all. I recruit foreigners for a living, I know what I'm talking about. Japanese career fair in Boston coming up at the end of the year. Go there, wear a tie, bring a CV, don't say anything too retarded, and you are all but guaranteed to get offers.
To see how far you've come from your ultimate goal, doing tourist runs to Taipei and getting worked up over a visa to teach English. Is that what you're really after? I know, I know, it's all neccessary steps. You're trying to climb a mountain in sandals when just around the corner there is an escalator straight to the top.
/asshole
My condolences. Japan is far too harsh on visa requirements and it will only end up biting them in the ass in the long run.
Jyona-san. I have been reading your blog for a while now. I actually found you via youtube (another story) anyways, I must agree primarily with flinchfire. I used to be one of those eikaiwa teachers several years ago and got my visa,etc. But without a visa you will be at the mercy of well.. not having a job. You must get a visa-period!!!! If you dont go to Boston, which is the absolute best advice for hitting so many companies, then perhaps look into becoming a student. I know you have burned most of your money but if you have friends, parents that can spot you 10K-15K U.S. or so, you can go to a language school that will sponsor you for 1 year. During that time you can study Japanese FULL time and speak level 2. Then you can get an even better job when next year runs around. In 1 year you will speak good Japanese and can stay in Japan for 1 year.
Do NOT TEACH ENGLISH- this will only allow you to stay in Japan but your Japanese will only marginally improve.
On the other hand, perhaps you can find another recruiter while you are IN japan. try daijob.com workinjapan.com, etc. (you prob have already but I dont know)
Anyways, I wish you the best. Please keep everyone up to date with your struggles. But one part I disagree with flinchfire, some companies want local candidates and you have shown them that you are serious and not some American dreamer that doesnt have the balls to actually go to Japan.
Last option- get married to a Japanese girl- yep it sucks but since you have plenty of friends there maybe....(this is the last option)- or go back home.
Get that stupid MCSE if that is the path you want--note: you can buy those tests anyways- MCSEs are a dime a dozen these days.
I think your bachelors would serve you better than a msce but whatever.
Best wishes
Thanks guys for the replies. It's cool to know that people are out there reading. I'll have to look into it further, but it's quite possible that I can get 3 years' worth of credits from Athabasca university in Canada. So if I can't find a stable source of income by early October, I'll come back to Toronto and get an IT job. If I can get my credits from Athabasca, I should be able to work in Toronto and finish my degree by distance. In the meantime I could talk to recruiters while I'm there. If a recruiter hires me then great, but if not then I can come back to Japan after I have my degree. This way I can keep my IT skills fresh, in case I want to continue to work in IT.
コメントを投稿