elgreengeeto 0 Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Hi all! I'm thinking about coming to Japan, probably Hokkaido, for a couple months of snowboarding this winter. Does anyone have any idea if it's possible to find short-term work as an English teacher anywhere near a good resort? I have teaching experience and would be very flexible in doing private lessons, etc... Anybody think I'd have a chance of finding anything like that? Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites
me jane 0 Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 If you want to just do privates for a few months then check out findateacher.net Don't know how many students you'd get in a ski resort. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I'd guess though if you base yourself in Sapporo then you'll pick up students cos its a pretty big city. That'd be your best bet IMO rather than in a resort town, just have to do a bit of train/ bus jumping around Hokkaido Link to post Share on other sites
samurai 0 Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 just a few months of privates sounds like wwaaaay more of a headache than I would care to indulge for a few months of riding. Just save your cash, budget yourself and skip all the research, set-up, scheduling, management, blah, blah and do it right. You're not going to come out ahead by working a few hours a week to ride everyday. Just do it like the broke pros do it, save and budget. 99% of the guys on the world tour aren't rich or have any financial support. I know, that was me. and I see people pull off entire seasons abroad all the time. "But I just want a job to cover the bills." Are you really willing to lose at least half of your riding time because you spent so many months preparing for a part-time job? when you could have been saving and planning? If you don't have a job lined up now for this winter, you're not going to have one. Unless, your primary motive is to outbid 5000 ex-nova teachers and establish a teaching career. (Oh wait... you said snowboarding.) Yeah, come to Japan to ride, just don't f around with teaching english as a means to subsidize it... at least now, anyway. Now, in October, you should be focusing your energy on how to best save your finances and minimize your expenses. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 There are also many jobs up at ski resorts as well. Sometimes theyre listed here, through word of mouth, and sometimes you just have to go knocking on doors Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 It takes time to hook up jobs, and if you find yourself working = less time on the Mountains as mentioned. Long gone are the days of rocking up and getting easy 10,000yen an hour privates. These days with no exp you'd be lucky to get 2,000 fresh off the boat. If you are desperate get a resort job in the evening so it doesn't affect your snow time. Best advice I could give is stuff the work and just come here to play. Link to post Share on other sites
AK 77 0 Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Originally Posted By: samurai just a few months of privates sounds like wwaaaay more of a headache than I would care to indulge for a few months of riding. Just save your cash, budget yourself and skip all the research, set-up, scheduling, management, blah, blah and do it right. You're not going to come out ahead by working a few hours a week to ride everyday. Just do it like the broke pros do it, save and budget. 99% of the guys on the world tour aren't rich or have any financial support. I know, that was me. and I see people pull off entire seasons abroad all the time. "But I just want a job to cover the bills." Are you really willing to lose at least half of your riding time because you spent so many months preparing for a part-time job? when you could have been saving and planning? If you don't have a job lined up now for this winter, you're not going to have one. Unless, your primary motive is to outbid 5000 ex-nova teachers and establish a teaching career. (Oh wait... you said snowboarding.) Yeah, come to Japan to ride, just don't f around with teaching english as a means to subsidize it... at least now, anyway. Now, in October, you should be focusing your energy on how to best save your finances and minimize your expenses. WORD. I couldn't have put it better myself (plus I can very rarely be arsed to write such long and accurate answers). Link to post Share on other sites
elgreengeeto 0 Posted October 25, 2007 Author Share Posted October 25, 2007 Originally Posted By: Indo These days with no exp you'd be lucky to get 2,000 fresh off the boat. I have more than a year's experience, and if it was in the evening and convenient, 2,000 seems it could be worth it. Originally Posted By: Indo If you are desperate get a resort job in the evening so it doesn't affect your snow time. What kind of resort jobs are available for non-speakers of Japanese? If I were to just stuff work (which doesn't sound too terrible), how much would I have to budget for, say, two months of riding at the best mountain in Hokkaido? Assuming I don't go out too much at night, have a small room, eat cheaply, etc...? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 you can make beds, do fetch and escort people to/from the airport, a general dog's body for the many fine Australian establishments in Niseko. Where do you feel the best mountain in Hokkaido is? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Most of the main companies in Niseko would have filled their winter positions already (or are currently scrambling to do so) so if you want to try that route you'd better send in an application real soon. Many people do pull out last minute for various reasons, some get visa applications knowcked back, so it's worth a try. That is if you really want to work. I agree with the others saying save, save, save and just board everyday. Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 i agree. just do 2 months of solid riding. lots of places rent out rooms long term for pretty cheap Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 Originally Posted By: elgreengeeto Originally Posted By: Indo These days with no exp you'd be lucky to get 2,000 fresh off the boat. I have more than a year's experience, and if it was in the evening and convenient, 2,000 seems it could be worth it. You'd be spending more than that on lunch. Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 Originally Posted By: elgreengeeto If I were to just stuff work (which doesn't sound too terrible), how much would I have to budget for, say, two months of riding at the best mountain in Hokkaido? Assuming I don't go out too much at night, have a small room, eat cheaply, etc...? 55,000 a month for room and ??? for lift tix. The rest depends on how povo you can live. I used to be able to do the cup ramen lifestyle but I aim a little higher these days! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 100 yen ramen x 3, 150 yen beers x 10, 4500 yen a day lift pass. Link to post Share on other sites
me jane 0 Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 Lunch 500 to 800 yen for lunch from the convenience store or 800 to 2,000 in a restaurant. 500 to 600 yen for a Macdonalds "meal" Dinner 1,500 to 3,500 for dinner out (or back to the convenience store) Beer 100 to 800yen each. Average about 4 or 500 yen. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 if you have enough 150 yen beers, there would be no need for lunch, or breakfast for that matter. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 or the lift ticket!! Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Money saver no.467. Wake up late head to the hill at 11am and buy a ticket from someone that is going to have lunch and retire. Watch me get burned down for saying that Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 no, that is perfectly reasonable as the ticket HAS BEEN PAID FOR. Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 I'm glad you see it like I do mate.. been plenty a heated convo on here about the practise! Link to post Share on other sites
elgreengeeto 0 Posted October 28, 2007 Author Share Posted October 28, 2007 Thanks for all the advice guys. After some deliberation, I've decided that if I'm not going to be trying to work while riding, I'm going to go do some back country riding in Kamchatka instead. Any of you guys ever head up there or to Sakhalin? Link to post Share on other sites
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