Japan Meets Andrew Marston

Today a lot happened.
So let’s back this tale up to last night at 7pm when I check my e-mail and incredulously discover a non-bulk (as in personal) e-mail from GEOS Language Corp. inviting me to a group interview on the 13th of June, today. After rushing to print my resume and other key items of the professional world, I depart at 9pm for Tachikawa where a I am gladly received by the Loewens (Brad’s parents… Brad from my videos… great). Also, I shaved before I left camp. This wouldn’t be worth mentioning were it not for the fact that I nearly at full-beard status and my only available razor was dull. This left me with me with Brad’s electric face hacker and about 45 minutes of torture.

In the morning I awoke to some most welcome french toast and well wishes from the Loewens. The trains to Yokohama were easy enough to negotiate and in under 90 minutes I found myself at Kamiooka Station with time to spare. I meet the representative from GEOS and the other two interviewees and we walk to our interview location.

I actually stood at this spot today.

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All in all I think I did fairly well considering the time crunch. Toward the end of the interview the interviewer told all three of us that we were “very employable.” This is encouraging for someone seeking employment. The position is in Matsumoto I believe and would be an amazing experience. For those interested in GEOS, I highly recommend them. As far as I can tell they are a very above board operation and really take care of their employees. They already have housing when you arrive, have an insurance package, pay some or all of your transportation to and from teaching and even take out taxes from your pay check as you go. These are benefits that could potentially make my life better.

I really hope to get the job. The other two guys I interviewed with seemed quite capable as well and so hopefully GEOS would offer me another position somewhere else if Matsumoto didn’t work out in my favor. Pictured are the two gentlemen I got to know during the interview. They are hilarious dudes that I had the pleasure of swapping stories with on our joint train ride back to Yokohama station where they departed for Chinatown and I back to Tachikawa. If my memory serves me correctly they are Tom from Indiana and Joe from England. Tom mentioned he had a blog about his Japan experiences which I will post a link to if I get one. Gambatte gentlemen, may the best candidate go to Matsumoto.

Final short story/confession: I literally ran out of money in Tachikawa. I started with 3000 yen and after snacks and trains had only 280 in coin. Presented with the unenviable dilemma of buying a dishonestly cheap ticket back to my home station or begging natives for change, I admit I opted for less morally sound choice and bought a 130yen ticket and a cheap carton of chocolate milk. This lesser fee ticket would usually cause a commotion upon arrival at the station; however, there is no fare adjustment machine or attendant at my station. So 130 yen will pass this time… unless the JR railway admin read my blog and find it worth their time to corner me for their 300 yen.

Took a lot of video, so expect a nice summary video soon. For other videos, my youtube page is here.