PsyGuy wrote:
> @sanaanddaddy
>
> Yes, because one (Beijing) is a real environmental hazard, and the other
> (Japan) just sounds like one in the media. It would be equivalent to
> comparing the impact of riding a bicycle into a really heavy bumble bee,
> and riding a bicycle into a train (this argument assumes you are NOT living
> in Fukushima, though even if you were the train in Beijing is still bad no
> matter what). I'll break the science down for you into a really easy to
> understand tidbit.
>
> 1) Radiation kills most effectively by ingestion or inhalation.
> 2) All the radioactive particles you need to worry about are heavy, they
> dont stay suspended in the air very long (dont go randomly licking things
> around Fukushima).
> 3) All the damaging particles in the air pollution in China are pollution
> because they are light enough to stay suspended in air.
> 4) The air pollution in China is mostly chemical.
> 5) Chemicals are much more lethal than radiation.
>
> Humans handle radiation pretty well, we have to theres a a big orange
> fusion reactor in the sky all the time. There are two types of damaging
> radiation ionizing and non-ionizing. The ionizing stuff is bad, the damage
> to cell DNA and organ failure type of bad. Non-Ionizing not so much, it
> mostly ends of in the thyroid gland and destroys that leading to dieing
> (your thyroid is pretty important), we can treat that with iodine (this
> moves the particles away from the thyroid to be excreted out of the body).
> Of course your body can only handle so much of this. The great thing about
> the Fukushima radiation is your not inhaling it, youd have to go around
> licking things and putting rocks and other stuff in your mouth (I assume
> you dont do this anyway). Beijing is a lot harder because you have to
> breath and you need to do it pretty constantly. The problem with that is
> there are so many compounds in the polluted air, we cant effectively treat
> them, the only practical solution is filtering them, which you have to do
> constantly, and short of a hazmat suite isnt 100% effective. Essentially,
> you can control for the radiation hazard in Japan, its MUCH harder to do
> that for Beijing.
>
> Lastly, Japan actually cares about the effect and fixing it and the damage.
> Beijing just cares about reduced productivity.


I think you greatly underestimate how serious and unstable the reactor is here! Abe`s dirty law prohibiting it being properly reported on doesn't help either! My friend`s parents farm in Chiba (very far from Fukushima) was quietly, forcibly, shut down last year due to high levels of radiation. There is a really high number of thyroid cancer cancer cases in teens, and its been questioned why that is the only type of cancer that has been publicly researched and reported on. The reactor is still leaking great amounts into the ocean and is beyond repair. Just the other week they sent a set of robots in to do assessments. The robots were supposed to be able to withstand conditions for at least three hours, but didn't even last 30 minutes.

I was initially joking about the pollution and radiation comparison. But in all seriousness, Japan is one semi big earthquake in the northern regions away from being a disaster beyond repair!

> The package sounds very solid for Beijing. It sounds very similar to a school in town
> in Chaoyang. If it is that one then the housing near the school was generally thought
> to be very good and right across/down the street.
>
> You can't really compare radiation in Japan to pollution in Beijing. The radiation is
> something to consider but it is open to much interpretation and discussion how much
> (if any) it will significantly impact your life.
>
> The pollution in Beijing is a fact that even the gov't can't ignore. It will impact
> your health and quality of life to some extent. The extent of the impact is debatable
> but it is real. We were there for two years and could have stayed a couple of more
> but not beyond that. If you can get past what it might be doing to your health (and
> don't have anyone in the family with respiratory issues) then you could live nice
> life in Beijing on that package and still probably save some money. The city has lots
> of good restaurants, shopping, cultural experiences etc and some interesting travel
> opportunities in area/in country (e.g. Great wall a couple hours away, Xian by night
> train, etc, Harbin Ice Festival).
>
> It's not someplace I could imagine moving my family to for an extended period of time
> (as opposed to Japan that we love and don't plan on leaving anytime soon).


Its more so leaving with the intention of returning to something better. Schools in Japan just don't seem to want to hire from inside the country. Im just lost with the whole lot, and tired of the BS that goes along with it. Having kids and PR doesn't help either. I keep seeing people with 2 years experience hired over me, and then complain that they can't read curricula... I haven't even been able to get an interview with another school for the past 2 years and kind of shot myself in the foot this year by not being able to hold my tongue about the new heads drinking problems......

International schools in Japan have never really recovered from the big shake, just look at how inexperienced the majority of the coordinators and head of departments are in most of the schools!

i am concerned with the pollution but then again should i really be considering the nuclear air of japan?!

working hours are the standard 8-4:30. waiting for the official calendar but seems plenty of holidays.

Would like to stay in Japan but the schools here are....... might have soured my name here after blowing the whistle on a head coming to work drunk and a variety of other indiscretions.....

Would love to hear from some teachers living in beijing!

has a summer holiday RMB10,000 travel allowance, US$1000 relocation, RMB 2000 in cash settling in allowance, Medical is world wide coverage for me and family- they said same as other schools use but will look into it a bit more.

Wasn't considering China or Beijing but was contacted by the school and then offered the job, after being in Japan for so long I'm a little nervous to move.

Do not go to one of the smaller schools thinking that it will help to get into the bigger schools!! Unfortunately it doesn't really work that way, being female and big breasted might help, as most schools like to hire from overseas as its a free holiday for the principals. Also due to most schools not offering much in terms of PD they like to get teachers from either home countries or schools that provide multitudes of PD.

If you are thinking career, then there are few schools worth coming to Japan for. Those schools would be Yokohama, ASIJ, St Mary`s and possibly Seisen or Sacred Heart. The British school is also ok but extremely stuck up in the elementary section but with poor facilities.

Some of the other schools are ok to work at but are very profit driven and don't offer close to the kinds of packages that they should be able to.

In all honesty, international education in Japan is becoming quite a cesspool with most schools cutting costs and going with younger inexperienced teachers over experienced new hires. Ive been here for 12 years and the past 4 years Ive seen the experience and quality at most of these schools drop quite a bit.

Have been offered a job in China, Beijing and was wondering if anyone could help me out with the standard of the package offered.
It is a start up school with a monthly salary of RMB 33260, free furnished accommodation or RMB 8000 per month allowance. Free schooling for my kids and a 15% (from second year salary, salary goes up each year) bonus at completion of 2 year contract and free medical.

Is this a good salary and package for Beijing?

Thanks

wrldtrvlr123 wrote:
> Congrats on the offers (maybe some day you can entertain and amaze us with
> how you come to have 3 offers dangling out there at the same time)!!
>
> I taught in Japan a few years back (and was involved with the Japan Council
> of Int'l Schools) and never really heard of any of the 3. I do see that the
> YMCA school IS a member now, which is a decent sign but no guarantee of a
> good to great situation for you. The YMCA school in Tokyo was quite the
> mess at the time and not really a place a would care to teach or send my
> child.
>
> So, based on the limited info. (including the review of Amicus on the paid
> side), I would rank them, 1-Osaka, 2-DS Kobe and distant 3- Amicus. Amicus
> gets the 3 based on the review combined with being in Okinawa. I think
> Okinawa is not necessarily a bad place based on the things I hear from
> DoDDS teachers but I think it would be a very different experience if you
> are not with the military or DoD in some capacity. On the upside, obviously
> the area is very westernized/western friendly if that is a concern for you.
>
> Kobe and Osaka would both be excellent places to live, but would require a
> decent package and a reasonably decent place to teach. Osaka also offers
> the IB which would be good for your resume for future moves.
>
> So, sorry no first hand insights for you but I do think these schools are
> all a bit under the radar. Let us know about packages and maybe we can help
> you figure out what that would look like. Good luck!


I live in Japan so that probably helped with the small crap schools. The bigger schools are much tougher, unless your wife is buddy buddy with the right people!

I have offers from these three schools but am having trouble finding much information on them, apart from the one in Okinawa. I will have to relocate my family for all, which is quite expensive, so don't wish to get stuck somewhere bad.
Any information would be appreciated!

What schools offer the best salaries in Japan?

So I would like to stay in Japan for at least another year or two but want the excellent salary I get (6.5 mil yen). What would be the best schools to contact/keep an eye out for??

Edited due to it getting back to work and being hunted down

Thank you

Ive just now actually been asked to reccommend a few schools in Singapore to one of my current student's parents. Big help knowing which schools teachers also prefer

Will add the American school to my list!

Am thinking about exiting Japan and heading possibly to Singapore. What are the best international schools in Singapore?

Does anyone have much information about this school? salary, benefit and basically is it a top school?

Ive been invited to interview with them next month but make good money where I am (6.5 million yen). Only reason I am considering leaving is because Ive been told Nishimachi just under ASIJ an Yokohama as the best schools in Japan.

Thank you