One of the interesting aspects of working in the Eikaiwa industry is observing employers inventive attempts at grabbing more market share. Several years ago the idea of classes for 2 year-olds accompanied by a guardian was introduced. I have no stats to back me up, but I get the impression that this market share was just too thin and exclusive (most parents just want to dump their kids and take advantage of the two-birds-with-one-stone English and babysitting hour) to really be profitable. Now my main employer has introduced a geriatrics element, err... senior citizens class. Smart move considering Japan's ageing population.

Another trend that effects teachers is the small school effect. As competing companies move into smaller areas, in Japan terms - smaller stations, the one or two teacher school is in vogue. When I moved here in '99 I spent five days a week in the same branch. Some of the smaller employers would farm their teachers out here and there, but not the big guys. Times have changed. Next month I will be working at three locations a week for my main employer. Personally, I like the variation in a job where monotony seems the biggest challenge. My second job is at what I would term a "boutique conversational school" (just to be trendy and a touch precious). The experience is much more personal and unique, but the downside is the predictability.

As to whether the efforts to garnish more customers through expanding age ranges or geography have translated into a positive change for teachers is largely subjective, but that may be highly academic as teachers have little choice in who or where they teach.

Money Money Money Money...money

Interesting days for yen holders. The yen/dollar exchange rate has gone from 120 yen to the dollar down to 115 in the course of several days. I am not displeased at this turn of events as I send a lot of money back to the US to pay back debt and make investments. The Economist has a take on the currency situation here for anyone as boring as I am. One issue that any career teacher in Asia has is that of what to do with any extra money - assuming that there is any extra money. I wouldn't feel comfortable investing to much money in Thailand, nor do the almost non-existent interest rates offered by Japanese banks appeal to me. As for trying to invest money in securities in either country I would have to have much better language skills to piece through the offerings, but who would I be kidding - the US is rife with financial services and information... why would I invest through a foreign intermediary?

There are several ways to send money out of Japan. The cheapest way is through a postal money order. This only costs a thousand yen, but requires paperwork, standing in line and most dauntingly - dealing with postal bureaucrats. A less painful solution is to use Lloyd's banking services to transfer money simply using an ATM and bank card, although there is an initial application process. It costs an extra thousand yen, but it may well be the best use of a thousand yen I make in a month.

Of course, in addition to working, I also take donations and the countless hours I put into this blog come at the expense of my time and health so if you'd like to throw some mullah my way contact me about options for money transfer in the other direction ;)

It's been well over a year since I posted last, begging the question why. Well, one reason is that I was without Internet until September of last year - an experiment in primitive living that included residing in a house without hot water (don't ask). Another reason is that my 7 day week work schedule is hardly conducive to creative enterprise or, for that matter, any enterprise beyond eating and sleeping. But recently I have found myself with some extra time in the mornings and have batted around the idea of re-starting this here blog. One of the difficulties that I face with this endeavour is material. Life in Japan is certainly more comfortable than in Thailand, but not a lot going on, at least with me. Also Japan isn't as picture-worthy as Thailand. In fact, this big Buddha snapshot was taken in '05 before my Thai adventure began. So what will be the premise of Asian Alien in the future? Hard to say, but I think I will try to focus on how the larger world affects/effects my life here in Japan with my Thai wife. I will focus more on world events and less on myself, not in an zany zen attempt to lose the egotistical self, but rather as a means to keep content here interesting because my day to day life is about as bland as plain tofu. So welcome back, my apologies for the long hiatus and I plan to post a minimum of once a week so keep tuned.