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Post by 𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒽𝒾𝓂𝑒 on Jun 28, 2018 17:41:10 GMT 9
hohoEMIsen they literally replied like half an hour after I sent my email saying something along the lines of 'I was just thinking of emailing you so I was happy to get your reply', so either that's a big coincidence or they were actually waiting for my reply and being polite about it ^^;;; This email told me they're planning to send me a letter with rules and acceptance letter or something [in English and Japanese, which is great since I struggled to read a fair few of the kanji in the email TwT] and that they're gonna send me a welcome letter from the mayor on Friday, but still no mention of a pred yet? They're also asking me about what kind of apartment I want [and how much rent I want to pay!] so they can start looking for one for me.
I honestly don't know what to ask for [because I don't want to ask for too much], I think my dorm apartment on my year abroad was 1DK? It was like one [pretty big] bedroom, shower room, toilet and tiny kitchen/corridor. I mean, that was fine apart from the kitchen being tiny [1 hob, 1 sink, 1 small fridge, microwave in bedroom] but I'm guessing it's probably going to be like that in most apartments? ^^;;
I don't even know what a reasonable amount of rent is, the example in one of my textbooks says ５万円 for a 1DK but I don't know if that's a good amount or not. Well, looking at the guideline of rent costs I had written down [３万ー７万] it's kinda right in the middle...which is fine I guess, but if I ask for less will I probably end up with a bad apartment? Sorry for asking so many questions  And you will never know whether it is a coincidence or they were being polite because of the all so awesome tatemae culture. Your CO isn't really obliged to tell you whether you have a pred or not, and if you really do have a pred, I think it's up to the pred whether they want to contact you. However, most JETs I know are overly excited to contact their successors, so you most likely don't have one. Either that or your CO won't give your contact details to them, which again is highly doubtful. Another reason why I think you don't have a pred is because they are offering to search for an apartment for you. If you do have a pred, the chances that you take over their apartment is high. If you're unsure about how much you want to pay and how apartments would be like in general, and don't want to ask for too much, why not keep it vague? Tell them what you prioritise and what you don't mind not having. For example, "I prioritise a cheap rent and preferably an area that is near to public transport / near to workplace. I don't really mind if my house is old, and if the kitchen is small - because I don't really cook" etcetc and then let them decide what's best for you  OR If you want to base your house on a budget, you can ask "with a budget of 5万, what sort of a house would I be looking at?" Yeah, I thought what with them searching for an apartment for me it was looking like I don't have a pred, but I guess I'll see ^^;
Ah, that's a good idea, I'll probably try a kind of mix of the two, something along the lines of 'ideally I would like an area that is near to workplace and public transport if possible, as I can't drive. Since I only lived in a dorm on my year abroad I don't know much about proper apartments, so with a budget of 5万, what sort of a house could I get?'
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Post by hohoEMIsen on Jun 28, 2018 18:42:08 GMT 9
If you're unsure about how much you want to pay and how apartments would be like in general, and don't want to ask for too much, why not keep it vague? Yeah, I thought what with them searching for an apartment for me it was looking like I don't have a pred, but I guess I'll see ^^;
Ah, that's a good idea, I'll probably try a kind of mix of the two, something along the lines of 'ideally I would like an area that is near to workplace and public transport if possible, as I can't drive. Since I only lived in a dorm on my year abroad I don't know much about proper apartments, so with a budget of 5万, what sort of a house could I get?'
Sounds good! All the best! |
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Post by Pierson on Jun 29, 2018 9:45:08 GMT 9
𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒽𝒾𝓂𝑒 I would also guess that you don't have a predecessor, but I don't think there's any harm in asking your CO whether or not you do.
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Post by 𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒽𝒾𝓂𝑒 on Jun 29, 2018 10:00:49 GMT 9
𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒽𝒾𝓂𝑒 I would also guess that you don't have a predecessor, but I don't think there's any harm in asking your CO whether or not you do. Yeah, that's the impression I get tbh. I dunno how to ask without it coming off as a bit random though ^^;;; |
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Post by Pierson on Jun 29, 2018 10:05:04 GMT 9
𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒽𝒾𝓂𝑒 I would also guess that you don't have a predecessor, but I don't think there's any harm in asking your CO whether or not you do. Yeah, that's the impression I get tbh. I dunno how to ask without it coming off as a bit random though ^^;;; I would just say something like 「ちなみに、前任者はいらっしゃいますか？」 It might come off slightly random, but they understand that you have lots of questions about your new job/life. Or if you wanna frame it around the apartment conversation, you could be like "Hey just for reference, what kind of apartment did my pred live in?" |
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Post by 𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒽𝒾𝓂𝑒 on Jun 29, 2018 10:17:59 GMT 9
Yeah, that's the impression I get tbh. I dunno how to ask without it coming off as a bit random though ^^;;; I would just say something like 「ちなみに、前任者はいらっしゃいますか？」 It might come off slightly random, but they understand that you have lots of questions about your new job/life. Or if you wanna frame it around the apartment conversation, you could be like "Hey just for reference, what kind of apartment did my pred live in?" Ah okay, sounds like a good idea, thanks~ at least if I ask them I'll find out for certain I guess =3 |
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Post by Ham on Jun 29, 2018 11:59:43 GMT 9
So, incidentally (and I just looked this up because I wasn't sure of it myself), I think you'd use ところで instead of ちなみに there.
Apparently ちなみに is like 'incidentally', and you use it when you're adding something related to what you were just talking about.
ところで is more like 'by the way', which you can use if you want to change the topic to something different.
TILTIJ
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Mumblesnore
Dead Stargod 
’Tis the season (for Eggnog)
Posts: 16,154 
CIR Experience: Former CIR
Location: Tokyo
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Post by Mumblesnore on Jun 29, 2018 12:00:11 GMT 9
I saw the email where my successor asked if they have a pred (I'm not allowed to contact them yet) and they phrased it "先輩のＣＩＲがいますか" which probably isn't the ~best~ way to ask, but no one cares and it got the point across.
My advice is not to stress to much about finding the perfect phrasing and keigo for everything.
Your CO knows that you're not a Japanese native, and they've seen your CV so they know if this is your first time working in a Japanese office. They're not expecting perfection.
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Post by Ham on Jun 29, 2018 12:07:02 GMT 9
^ This
I was just curious because I wasn't sure of the difference myself.
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Post by Pierson on Jun 29, 2018 13:22:08 GMT 9
So, incidentally (and I just looked this up because I wasn't sure of it myself), I think you'd use ところで instead of ちなみに there. Apparently ちなみに is like 'incidentally', and you use it when you're adding something related to what you were just talking about. ところで is more like 'by the way', which you can use if you want to change the topic to something different. TILTIJ I feel like I remember being taught the same thing and I used to use ところで for my topic-changer, but everyone in my office always uses ちなみに in their emails, so I've since made the switch. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |
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Nurkiras
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Post by Nurkiras on Jul 2, 2018 9:46:28 GMT 9
これまで外人おったかね？ is also a good way to ask! The jiichans will give you mad respect for your dontgiveaふｃｋ語
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Post by Sheepy on Jul 2, 2018 15:11:22 GMT 9
Y'all but let's be real though... you could literally say anything like "HOKA NO GAIZIM TYAN ILU?" or be super keigo about it and your office will probably reply the same way and just be impressed that you know the name of this country. The bar really isn't that high. hue
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Post by Ividia on Jul 2, 2018 15:54:45 GMT 9
Y'all but let's be real though... you could literally say anything like "HOKA NO GAIZIM TYAN ILU?" or be super keigo about it and your office will probably reply the same way and just be impressed that you know the name of this country. The bar really isn't that high. hue ok let's not disillusion the newbies too much hue
there are some offices that don't really know what to expect of the CIR, but there are also others that are very respectful, may even have other CIRS and definitely don't ask if you can read hiragana (although there may be those people in other divisions, even in those places)
No one will judge you for not knowing perfect KEIGO, but I'm sure they'll appreciate you making the effort to reach out in Japanese, and it's a good opportunity to introduce yourself and set your own bar!
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Post by Sheepy on Jul 2, 2018 15:59:25 GMT 9
Of course, don't mind me being a little salty. |
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Mumblesnore
Dead Stargod
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Posts: 16,154
CIR Experience: Former CIR
Location: Tokyo
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Post by Mumblesnore on Jul 2, 2018 16:00:22 GMT 9
Yeah, I don't recommend willfully GAIZIM smashing your way though the CIR job (that's what ALTs are for) and I think once you arrive you really should try to get your keigo game up to snuff and try to respect your office and your colleagues as much as possible.
But a lot of that is hard/impossible to prepare for before arriving in the country and at your office, and during this stage of the process I think it's just best to go in with a clear and open mind and not put too much pressure on yourself to be mega YUUSYUU right out of the gate.
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Post by 𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒽𝒾𝓂𝑒 on Jul 2, 2018 21:32:09 GMT 9
Thank you for your advice everyone~ ^^
I still haven't asked yet haha, but I will at some point ^^;;
But yeah, preparation-wise I'm mostly trying to get my kanji knowledge back up to scratch since it's kinda plummeted since my year abroad [which was like 3 years ago] but I might try to do some listening/speaking practice if I can to try to get used to using Japanese again, and go over keigo a bit 'cause I'm not very confident with it ^^;;;
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Nurkiras
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Post by Nurkiras on Jul 3, 2018 9:09:05 GMT 9
Being able to use juuust the right amount of keigo/ politeness when talking is a big goal of mine. At first I was too polite, now I'm too relaxed...but one day I will be smooooth
But yeah smashing through this job is how you end up with some third generation successor reading your ancient salty emails (or hearing ancient salty lore from coworkers) and discovering you are an infamous problem child known throughout the area for their geoduckish behavior.
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Post by Ham on Jul 3, 2018 9:29:07 GMT 9
𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒽𝒾𝓂𝑒 I wouldn't worry too much about the kanji. I'm essentially illiterate, but they haven't fired me yet! Nurkiras Whereas I am on (bad) KEIGO CRUISE CONTROL and can literally not TAMEGUCHI to save my life. It's a source of hilarity for people around me every time I try.
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Nurkiras
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Post by Nurkiras on Jul 3, 2018 11:30:10 GMT 9
yeah i got teased for forgetting to yobisute my hulemdos so I worked hard on sounding as laidback and countrified as possible ....aaand now I get teased for that. Like the other day, completely without thinking, I said でもよー, which apparently sounds VERY local/inaka, whereas Hyojungo would be でもね or something. Same as when I once unthinkingly said もろうて instead of もらって in eikaiwa and everyone had a nice belly laugh at me I give up
tldr just speak katakana english, it's the best option really. |
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Post by Sparkles on Jul 3, 2018 11:34:09 GMT 9
I have been spoiled by a bilingual team at my new job, so lately I've either been on KEIGO cruise control or the TAMEGUCHI express, and I'm just sitting here like "ugh where did my intra-language code-switching go...?"
Feeling very spoiled now I don't have to articulate practically every thought into 100% Japanese orz
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Post by ことしも魚ろしく on Jul 3, 2018 16:22:41 GMT 9
i sometimes use super exaggerated slangified american pronunciation with my soup and kakaricho as a way to remind them "hey i might not speak perfect japanese but be glad that at least im at a serviceable level and not talking like this. YOROSHEEKZ"
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Nurkiras
Dead Stargod
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Post by Nurkiras on Jul 3, 2018 16:31:02 GMT 9
im honestly worried that joke wouldn't land if I did that and everyone would just politely smile while thinking "wow he sounds like even more of a moron today"
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Post by Aya Raincoat on Jul 4, 2018 9:23:52 GMT 9
My office is all TAMEGUTI all the time (except when we speak English). My keigo is not improving, which is not good for the rare occasions I need to do interpretation.
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haru11
Straight outta Narita
Posts: 39 
CIR Experience: 2nd year
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Post by haru11 on Jul 17, 2018 16:06:27 GMT 9
Question to incoming and current CIRs: do/did we have to fill out a residence card application form BEFORE arriving in Japan? Or fill it out (and receive the card) at the airport when we land(ed)? Can't remember at all. Thanks!
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Post by Miscreative on Jul 17, 2018 16:58:34 GMT 9
good question. i have no recollection 0x0
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Post by Aya Raincoat on Jul 17, 2018 17:04:28 GMT 9
If I remember correctly, we filled everything at the airport. They take our prints on that weird machine and everything. We may or may not have gotten the form on the plane, though.
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haru11
Straight outta Narita
Posts: 39
CIR Experience: 2nd year
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Post by haru11 on Jul 17, 2018 17:09:53 GMT 9
Hmm yeah I thought so too, but my CO is very insistent that that cannot be correct...
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Post by zztop on Jul 17, 2018 23:09:36 GMT 9
We just got instructions with our plane ticket but it says you’ll receive the forms on the plane.
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Post by dr. pussy popper on Jul 18, 2018 3:21:55 GMT 9
Aaahhhh discussions about not cramming and just going with the flow here are certainly helping with my mental health :") I've been trying to cram as much keigo into me and read as many useless NHK articles over the past two months and because it makes me nervous I realize it's just diminishing marginal returns. I'm going to try to....chill out and just stay a positive genki bean so I don't drive myself insane.
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Post by Leilo on Jul 19, 2018 13:53:00 GMT 9
My CO seems a bit slow at replying... I emailed them about apartment stuff some weeks ago and didn't get a reply. Now I've tried again a few days ago, waiting for now. :\
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