WILL TEACH ENGLISH FOR FOOD

[Ichirou]

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/420960

Nova teachers offer lessons for food

TOKYO — A labor union representing teachers and staff at the failed Nova Corp said Thursday it will set up a relief fund for the teachers and a program whereby students can take their language lessons from their Nova teachers in exchange for basic food items or a meal.

The National Union of General Workers Tokyo Nambu said at a press conference in Tokyo that the program called "Lessons-for-food" is to support the non-Japanese instructors, many of whom have been left penniless after Nova, Japan's largest foreign language school chain, filed for court protection from creditors after several months of delays in paying wages to its instructors.

"We know there are people who desperately need this. There are people who don't know whether the next meal is coming," said Bob Tench, president of the Nova branch of the national union and instructor at Nova's Shinjuku Honko school.

"No one is taking responsibility so the teachers have to do it themselves," Tench added.

The union will try to match up students with the instructors to have language lessons at places such as welfare facilities and the teachers' homes, or even in a park, as Nova has closed its classrooms, it said.

The union said it has also set up the "Nova Relief Fund" in order to solicit donations from the public and give transportation expenses to those instructors giving such lessons.

Louis Carlet, deputy general secretary of the national union, said it is hoping to expand the fund to organize a food program for those teachers and staff in need.

"We know, in a few months, the food problem will prevail more among the non-Japanese Nova employees," Carlet said.

The union also plans to make visits to the embassies of the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada and France starting next week to ask for help for the non-Japanese instructors.

Nova's collapse has left some 4,000 non-Japanese instructors jobless and nearly 300,000 students unable to retrieve their tuition fees.

Meanwhile in Osaka, where the industry giant's headquarters is based, a labor union representing Nova instructors there said that a group representing Nova students will be formed soon.

The union, which has been helping to form such a group for the students, many of whom are unable to retrieve their hefty tuition fees, will hold an explanatory meeting for the group of Nova students, it said.

The Osaka union, meanwhile, submitted to the Osaka municipal government a request for emergency measures for Nova instructors who had been dispatched from Nova to the city's education board to teach at elementary and junior high schools as assistant language teachers in the city.

The city announced Thursday that it terminated a contract with Nova on Oct 31, in which Nova's non-Japanese instructors were sent to the schools for language classes.

The union asked the municipal government to hire the teachers directly as they had lost their means of earning a livelihood.

Katsuji Yamahara, the leader of the union, said, "If the city hires the instructors and they are able to continue teaching, everybody including the students, parents and the instructors will be happy. The city government should make the decision immediately."

[criminal]

Have to move weight

STREETS IS HARD!

[Ichirou]

We're about to see a surge in homeless aussies wondering the streets trading English lessons for BEEEAHH.

[Beezy]

Japafags need to learn when it's time to go home.

[Phoenix Dark]

Japafags need to learn when it's time to go home.

why go home? japan is so awesome. well it's arcades are cuz that's all sporksks has seen

[Rman]

Here's hoping all those instructor get back on their feet. 

[Van Cruncheon]

i will send one lucky former nova employee my copy of "inhuman rampage" by dragonforce to inspire them to lift themselves up from the street and do battle in the shadow mountains for the greatest of glories

[Phoenix Dark]

i will send one lucky former nova employee my copy of "inhuman rampage" by dragonforce to inspire them to lift themselves up from the street and do battle in the shadow mountains for the greatest of glories

is there a song about being an outcast on the album? or fighting a dragon that's actually a clever cocaine metaphor? 

[Ichirou]

A lot of the instructors knew this was coming (months and months ago, back when NOVA was still paying them) and didn't bother to save money.  They were being interviewed on TV the other day and one of them said he had like $273 in the bank, he couldn't afford to pay rent or a plane ticket home.  Someone else said all he had in his pocket was enough for that night's dinner and he didn't know what he was going to do for food the next day.

[Van Cruncheon]

i will send one lucky former nova employee my copy of "inhuman rampage" by dragonforce to inspire them to lift themselves up from the street and do battle in the shadow mountains for the greatest of glories

is there a song about being an outcast on the album? or fighting a dragon that's actually a clever cocaine metaphor? 

a) all the songs are about being an outcast and prevailing over the dark one when all else have fallen; and b) "dragon" is a not-so-clever metaphor for opiate abuse, not cocaine

[zeergoth]

A lot of the instructors knew this was coming (months and months ago, back when NOVA was still paying them) and didn't bother to save money.  They were being interviewed on TV the other day and one of them said he had like $273 in the bank, he couldn't afford to pay rent or a plane ticket home.  Someone else said all he had in his pocket was enough for that night's dinner and he didn't know what he was going to do for food the next day.

Soo...What will happen if they can't find another job and their visas expire?

[Howard Alan Treesong]

ippai tabete
ippai lololoru

[Howard Alan Treesong]

A lot of the instructors knew this was coming (months and months ago, back when NOVA was still paying them) and didn't bother to save money.  They were being interviewed on TV the other day and one of them said he had like $273 in the bank, he couldn't afford to pay rent or a plane ticket home.  Someone else said all he had in his pocket was enough for that night's dinner and he didn't know what he was going to do for food the next day.

Soo...What will happen if they can't find another job and their visas expire?

THE WOODSHED

[Ichirou]

A lot of the instructors knew this was coming (months and months ago, back when NOVA was still paying them) and didn't bother to save money.  They were being interviewed on TV the other day and one of them said he had like $273 in the bank, he couldn't afford to pay rent or a plane ticket home.  Someone else said all he had in his pocket was enough for that night's dinner and he didn't know what he was going to do for food the next day.

Soo...What will happen if they can't find another job and their visas expire?

I actually have no clue, but I assume their embassies will send them home and then charge them for the plane ticket later on?  I know Qantas (the Australian airline) was offering discounted airfare for NOVA employees who wanted to go home, but a lot of them can't even afford tickets after the discount.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Are there any hot female Aussie ex-NOVA instructors in need of room and board?

I have a proposal for them.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

[Madrun Badrun]

So let me get this right, say some hot Japanese 15 year old wants to "learn English", she can do so by taking her teach out for dinner?   This will end well. 

[Van Cruncheon]

they could rent out their thick gaijin cocks to frustrated housewives and office ladies

and aerobics instructors, right patel

[FlameOfCallandor]

What self resprecing person would do Nova? I have read lots of horror stories from people who worked for them and other english companies.


Its JET or nothing

[zeergoth]

What self resprecing person would do Nova? I have read lots of horror stories from people who worked for them and other english companies.


Its JET or nothing

The same reason someone would vote for bush.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

they could rent out their thick gaijin cocks to frustrated housewives and office ladies

and aerobics instructors, right patel

PATEL REGRETS NOTHING

[Phoenix Dark]

we need a dragonforce lyrics challenge thread.

[Van Cruncheon]

pm me, robby, and i will mail it to you in my next evilbore shipping wave

[Phoenix Dark]

i'll download it. i wouldn't want something that tainted in my house, and i own jane austin novels

[Van Cruncheon]

if you listen to inhuman rampage, pd, you WILL become white just like you've always wanted

[demi]

http://purevolume.com/dragonforce

[Van Cruncheon]

http://purevolume.com/dragonforce

hahahahaha, metal / progressive / rock

progressive

the fuck

[Phoenix Dark]

if you listen to inhuman rampage, pd, you WILL become white just like you've always wanted

i will download it to my ipod tonight. REVIEW TOMORROW

saw goodbye madame cj walker, say hello higher IQ possibilities!

[Van Cruncheon]

correction: it will make you into a stupid white person. hello, iroc-z with a "my other car is a felsteed" bumper sticker!

[Phoenix Dark]

 :'(

but at least i'll be able to see myself in the dark

[Van Cruncheon]

you'll also be able to smell yourself in the dark since an allergy to soap is part of the deal

[Madrun Badrun]

:'(

but at least i'll be able to see myself in the dark

But will you be able to see your self in the light, say like, at noon?

[Phoenix Dark]

you'll also be able to smell yourself in the dark since an allergy to soap is part of the deal

my wash cloth is in the trash as we speak. how will i clean my ass  :'(

[Ichirou]

LORENZOOOOOO

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/420857

Stranded foreign teachers left penniless after Nova's fall

TOKYO — With only 1 yen left in his local bank account, Lorenzo Lewis has no means of paying his water, gas or electricity bills, nor his apartment rent, in one of the world's most expensive cities.

With food disappearing fast from his fridge, he and his wife have welcomed the pieces of chicken and other leftovers given by their neighbors and friends.

This was not what the 46-year-old American from Los Angeles envisioned when he arrived in Tokyo three years ago, excited at the prospect of living and teaching English in a foreign country for the first time.

"I don't know what to do. I don't think 1 yen is quite enough to pay my rent which is coming up on Nov 1," Lewis said.

But then again, how could he have imagined that Nova Corp, Japan's leading player in the booming foreign language teaching industry, would suddenly crumble, leaving some 4,000 non-Japanese instructors jobless and nearly 300,000 students unable to retrieve their hefty tuition fees.

Lewis, who has taught at Nova since 2005, said the foreign language school still owes him about 500,000 to 600,000 yen, two-months worth of salary plus overtime pay.

And he is not likely to get that money back any time soon.

With estimated debts of 43.9 billion yen, the Osaka-based Nova filed for court protection from creditors on Oct 26 under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law and shut down about 900 classrooms scattered nationwide.

The industry giant fell into a financial quagmire after the government ordered the company to suspend some of its operations in June for misleading students in flashy ads that promised classes whenever they requested.

Nova, notorious for its overpriced lesson packages, was also plagued by a series of lawsuits by students seeking refunds of tuition fees.

Lewis is now left in a state of limbo as he weighs his options of staying at Nova, finding another job in Japan, or heading back to the United States.

Currently, two court-appointed receivers are scrambling to find a sponsor for Nova's rehabilitation within one month. If Nova fails to find a sponsor during that period, it will begin bankruptcy procedures.

But that one month will be too long for Lewis and many others desperate for their unpaid wages and unemployment benefits to secure basic needs like food, transportation fees and rent.

If a sponsor is found and Lewis stays on as an employee at Nova, he is entitled to receive his unpaid wages plus 60% of wages during the period when the classes were closed.

If Nova goes bankrupt, he can immediately claim 80% of the unpaid wages by applying for state-backed unemployment insurance benefits. Even then, union experts warn it will take at least six months for Lewis to actually see that money in his bank account.

Members of a union in Tokyo representing some of Nova's instructors said they had foreseen Nova's demise from a while back, given the inadequate labor conditions of its employees and the short-handed management style of the company's former president, Nozomu Sahashi.

Sahashi, known for aggressively expanding his "empire" with an iron fist, has disappeared from public view and was dismissed from the board in late October.

"We feel that the reason Nova is collapsing, more than anything, is the way they treat their workers and the way they treat their customers," said Louis Carlet, deputy general secretary of the southern Tokyo branch of the National Union of General Workers.

Carlet, who has fought a labor dispute with Nova for more than three years, slammed the company's treatment of people as "brutal," saying "they treat customers and employees as nothing but money."

Bob Tench, vice president of the Nova Union of Staff and Teachers and a Nova instructor for 13 years, also warned that the company's fall was an industry-wide problem that could create a domino-effect in Japan's profitable foreign language teaching business.

"If the biggest player can go down, any of them can go down," Tench said.

Government figures showed that foreign language schools in Japan saw annual sales of 136 billion yen in 2006, an increase of about 14 percent from the previous year.

Union leaders said smaller, no-brand language schools across the nation have murkier labor conditions and irregular wage systems, suggesting Nova's failure may only be the tip of the iceberg.

The union said, however, that it hopes to see Nova rebuild itself and has demanded that its rehabilitation plan include guarantees of job security — the abolition of temporary one-year contracts — and full health and pension benefits for the foreign instructors.

Fearing damage to the reputation of Japan's foreign language industry, the Japanese government is pledging vague support despite still taking mostly a hands-off approach to Nova's chaotic collapse.

"We think it (Nova's failure) must not cause the industry as a whole to fall into disrepute," Vice Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takao Kitabata said.

The government set up a special consultation booth on Oct 26 at the "Hellowork" public employment office in Shinjuku in Tokyo for Nova instructors seeking advice. As of the end of Oct 29, the office had received 369 phone inquiries and 193 visits by Nova instructors.

With little help from the outside, instructors gathering for a union meeting on the evening of Oct 28 in Tokyo called for emergency measures like a relief fund for those who can barely make ends meet.

"People are not able to meet their rents. They don't have money for food," said Efron Hirsch, 32, a Nova instructor from New York who proposed creating the fund.

"It's a very real situation," Hirsch said.

Even with the looming possibility of becoming homeless, Lewis said he wants to do all he can to stay in Japan, not so much because he loves the country but because he wants his money back.

"I don't want to leave the country because I'm afraid I'll never see my wages. That's my biggest fear," he said.

[Rman]

I was thinking to becoming a Nova instructor at one point.  I heard they were really sketchy from an alumni and decided to pursue other opportunities.  I was also a big japafag at the time and I wanted to make my japafagish pilgrimage to the Land of the Rising Sun. 

[bork]

If I were in this boat, I would have gone home months ago.  These people are crazy...they're likely never getting that money back, and instea of leaving, they want to stay in the country, penniless, in the hopes that they might get their wages MONTHS later??  Jesus.

And don't these people have FAMILIES?  Fuck, contact them, and get them to get you a ticket to get the hell out of there and go back home.

Also what the fuck ever happened to saving money?  I don't have much, but I am able to save around 40,000-50,000 yen a month, pay all my bills on time, AND still have enough left over to buy games and shit.  Is Nova's pay significently less than JET's?

I just want this situation to be taken care of by next summer, so just in case I don't get a fourth year on JET, and I end up staying here, AND I have no other alternative but a language school, that it's not a problem finding a job. 

[bork]

I was thinking to becoming a Nova instructor at one point.  I heard they were really sketchy from an alumni and decided to pursue other opportunities.  I was also a big japafag at the time and I wanted to make my japafagish pilgrimage to the Land of the Rising Sun. 

I thought it about too, after I had applied for JET and was an alternate waiting to find out if I was going to get in or not. 

Then I read all the horror stories (there was one where a guy swears he was followed by two thugs and pushed down some stairs after quitting) about Nova and crossed that one off the list.

[Madrun Badrun]

Also what the fuck ever happened to saving money?   

They're are probably Evilbore members that prominently post in the "what did you buy" threads.

[CajoleJuice]

Jesus fucking Christ, Father Mike... you basically just typed "They are are." You know I think you're awesome, but shit.

[bagofeyes]

lol, how could those nova fuckwits not saved any money?
And man that union is hilariously useless.

[Madrun Badrun]

Jesus fucking Christ, Father Mike... you basically just typed "They are are." You know I think you're awesome, but shit.

I'ma going to teach English though NOVA some day!  Tis my dream. 

[pitohui]

lol, how could those nova fuckwits not saved any money?
And man that union is hilariously useless.

That's what I don't understand. I've been doing Nova for the past year, and I've got enough in the bank to live for the next two months, plenty of time to find a new job. Shit, people, it's not difficult to throw a couple hundred bucks in the bank every month.

I mean, I want my pay too! Fuckers owe me ¥300,000. It's looking pretty clear that that's not going to happen. But I'm not about to beg for food because I was too distinguished mentally-challenged to realize that saving money is good idea.

[demi]

i will send one lucky former nova employee my copy of "inhuman rampage" by dragonforce to inspire them to lift themselves up from the street and do battle in the shadow mountains for the greatest of glories

Fuck them I want it

my gaijin cock puts them to shame anyways

I can vouch for this, he has a nice cock

[zeergoth]

If the Japanese didn't kill dolphins none of this would happen!
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=7487

[Ichirou]

That's what I don't understand. I've been doing Nova for the past year, and I've got enough in the bank to live for the next two months, plenty of time to find a new job. Shit, people, it's not difficult to throw a couple hundred bucks in the bank every month.

I think it was pretty obvious Nova was going to go bankrupt as soon as the government made it stop offering services because they had defrauded customers with the "English lessons at any time" promise.  If I'd been a Nova employee I would have either started saving up or started looking around for another job at that point.

[Ichirou]

LORENZO LEWIS, PENNILESS NOVA TEACHER RESPONDS!

(he was featured in the article I posted earlier in the thread as one of the teachers who hadn't saved any money and was basically penniless and relying on charity)

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/comment/1188

Nova teacher Lorenzo Lewis responds

Howdy everybody. This is Lorenzo Lewis, the subject of the article entitled “Stranded foreign teachers left penniless after Nova's fall” — Japan Today, Wednesday, October 31, 2007 -– about which there has been so much ballyhoo.

After reading the article, and its many posts that followed, I debated whether or not to respond. After much deliberation, I decided to post my response and opinions. 
First, let me begin by expressing my gratitude and appreciation to all of those people who had kind words to say about me and were supportive in their postings. I really appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

Now, I think it is great for people to express their opinions. My family members, friends, colleagues and I have always enjoyed healthy and lively debates on many different topics. As the quote says, “Opinions are like . . . everybody has one.” Not that I agree with all of them (see my many comments below) but hey, this is a free country. Japan? USA? Freedom of speech . . . 

I am not going to go into the details about my personal life nor give all the details of my personal financial situation to strangers on the Internet. I don’t think it’s appropriate.

Some corrections, updates, and facts: I have been in Japan for just under 2 years and 5 months. The interviews I gave to the media were after the union meeting on Sunday, Oct 28, which was only two days after Nova filed for protection from creditors. I was still teaching classes for Nova as of the previous Wednesday (my last working day), and I am, as of this moment, still employed by Nova. Since the interview, I have applied for more than 10 different jobs. Both of my parents are deceased. I don’t want any sympathy, nor did I ask for any. 

I also feel very, very sorry for the rest of the Nova teachers (those still employed and those who recently left because of all the problems — who could blame them?), the Nova staff (they have gone longer than the teachers without pay, and they were paid late on more than one occasion), and also, of course, the students, numbering in the hundreds of thousands who really got shafted during this whole mess (I’m not sure what will happen to them next). I didn’t ask for, nor do I want or expect, any special treatment. After the union meeting, I was simply stating to the media the facts about my personal situation. Of course, I take responsibility for my current situation. But Nova is definitely at fault for not paying me and all the other teachers and staff, and for their situation with their students, too. 

Re: “the only people I know in Japan like this are gaijin alcoholics.” — I am not a gaijin alcoholic. In fact, I rarely drink. And I don’t smoke or do drugs either. 

There are many proverbs that I find apropos to this discussion. For example, “Where there's a will, there's a way.” I strongly believe that this is true, especially for me. I also like “As you sow, so you shall reap” and “Every one can find fault, few can do better.”   

Re: “For those who insult Lorenzo, you have no information on his true finances, financial obligations, or lifestyle” and “Nothing this story says should provide you with any basis for passing judgement on him, his character, or his life.” — Thank you very much.

Re: (why) “doesn't Lorenzo Lewis just call his mommy and ask her to send some money? — As I said earlier, my “mommy” is no longer with us.

Re: “it's not that bad [calling my mommy], more embarassing is teaching english at 46.” I personally don’t think that teaching English at 46 is embarrassing at all. Why would it be embarrassing? It is an honest job. Just because I am 46, does that mean that I should have a specific type of job, such as a lawyer, doctor, engineer, or CEO of a major corporation? Would that then make me successful? Believe it or not, I actually felt a great sense of accomplishment teaching at Nova, and I got a lot of satisfaction out of it. In addition, I would like to, and do, think that the majority of my students also learned a lot from me, not only about English, but also about many other things that were discussed in the classroom or in the voice room. And was I not providing a service that these people wanted and paid for? 

Re: “This is not a job for a family man. That's for sure. I have no clue what a 46 year old is doing over here on Nova even starting three years back.” — What is a good job for a family man, and why is Nova “not a job for a family man”? If a “family man” or woman wants to work for Nova, and they are happy teaching there, then I think that it IS a job for a “family man” (or woman). There are many married men and women working for Nova. Some of them have children. Isn’t it their right to work where they want? Again, it is an honest job. Also, do you know anything else about me or my life, or about any of the things that I have seen and done in my life? And don’t forget, “One man's meat is another man's poison.” 

Besides, I came here because I thought that working for Nova would be a very interesting and unique job. And I don’t regret, for one second, my coming here. It has been an invaluable experience. I have met many wonderful people in Japan. And I have learned a lot about life, myself, and others while living here. And my wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time here. I have often told my friends, family, and students that, personally, I don’t care whether someone works at McDonald’s, flipping patties, or is the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, as long as he or she is making an honest living, that’s all that matters.

In addition, I don’t care how rich someone is or what the title is on their business card, I judge people primarily by how they treat other people. Do they treat them fairly? Do they treat them as fellow human beings? Are they kind, considerate, and generous? Are they warm, and do they treat their family, friends, and others with respect? These are some of the qualities that are important to me. So, if a 32-, 57-, or 86-year old man or woman wants to work at Wal-Mart as a “greeter,” then I say fine. Let them do it. Why not? 

Re: “I like this guy, Lorenzo Lewis, and you jerks who disparage him are the real losers, IMO” and “Those of you that have come to this site to criticize, sneer at, and gleefully bash away at Lorenzo Lewis know absolutely nothing about him, his motivations, or lifetime experiences. And I for one will not pile on and kick him while he's down... there seem to plenty of you all already lined up for that opportunity... grow up !” — Again, thank you for the very nice (and true, IMO) remarks!

Re: “To any 20-something teacher who has been riding the ‘gravy train’ — wake up to yourself and get a real career.” — Does this mean that the 20-something teachers who work at Nova don’t work hard at their job, or that they are lazy? Or do you mean, that the teacher’s life “looks good and seems to be pretty easy, as far as the other person is concerned” and that “people may feel that” these teachers “attract opportunities or that things just fall into their lap”? Or are you using it to describe their “ability to make a lot of money with a minimal investment of time, effort, or resources.”? And what exactly is a “real career?” In my opinion, the majority of Nova teachers care a great deal about teaching and their students, and they work hard. And they are (were) doing the job that they were paid to do, were they not?

Re: “I suggest your wife find a new husband.” — I really take umbrage to that remark. It was uncalled for. In fact, I asked my wife about that and she said “absolutely not.” She doesn’t want to “find a new husband.” And she said she doesn’t care if I have 1 billion yen or 1 yen in the bank. She loves ME, and not my money. We love each other. Money is absolutely NOT the most important thing in our lives. Neither my wife nor I are materialistic. We place love, family, friendship, honesty, respect, politeness, courtesy, humility, generosity and many other virtues FAR above money. In the long run, after our physical beings cease to exist on Earth, what will our legacy be? That we were rich? Or that we led an honest life, worked hard, were concerned about our family and friends, and honestly cared about other people? “Money can't buy me love.”

Re: “An English teacher with a family having only 1 yen in his account after missing his pay for only 2 months? Did he go to college? No knowledge of what savings means? He gotta be kidding.” — No, I am not kidding. And I still have only 1 yen in the bank. I’m not proud of this fact, but I’m certainly not embarrassed about it either. Yes, I went to college. In fact, I graduated Summa Cum Laude. And I DO know what savings means. 

Re: “As for savings... I try to keep at least 30 to 40 man in the bank, but it isn't always easy with friends who make more.” — I’m glad that you are able to keep this much money in the bank. Congratulations! Fantastic. I am very happy for you. But, we are different, and our lifestyles, financial obligations, and burdens are different also. I have many financial obligations, both here in Japan and back in the United States. My family and friends know what I mean.

Re: “Why he didn't start looking for new work the minute he went unpaid the first month.” — Because I was hoping that I would get paid. In addition, I was doing the job that I was (at one time) being paid to do. In fact, I worked up until the very end (as many other teachers also did) because I was providing the service that my company hired me to do and which our customers (students) wanted and paid for. I could have easily quit the company, as many other teachers did (and I don’t blame them), or just stopped coming in after we didn’t get paid, but I didn’t. I decided to wait and see what happened. Sure, many people may say that I was foolish for doing this. But it was my decision. And, by the way, it was a decision that I still do not regret, even at this point. Neither my wife nor I have ever gone hungry or been homeless. No matter what I have to do to pay the rent, put food on the table, pay the utilities, etc., I will do this now, as I have always done in the past. And this always means getting an honest job(s) and working hard.

Re: “might cut him some slack if he had only been here one year, but three?!? At 46? No. He is complete fool. At 46 he should know what a sinking ship feels like by now and he should know the procedure for getting off one.” — Please see above comments. Also, are you absolutely sure that I am a “complete fool?” Fool: “unintelligent person: somebody considered to lack good sense or judgment.” How well do you know me?

Re: “What are the chances of Mr Lewis fleeing the country after he receives the money leaving with an unpaid rent?? Anybody??” — After receiving what money? My unpaid wages, which I might get after 5 or 6 months? No, I am not going to skip out on my landlord without paying the rent. That would be irresponsible. They WILL get their rent. And I will bet you on that.

Re: “idiots. no wonder they're teaching english for a living.” — Idiot: “an offensive term that deliberately insults somebody's intelligence.” Are you calling me or the other Nova teachers idiots? Why? Is teaching at Nova a dishonorable job? Is teaching English a dishonorable job? What if I or the other Nova teachers were teaching English in an elementary school, junior high school, or senior high school? Would that be better? What about a private school? What about a university? Harvard?

It seems to me that some posters here feel that, at age 46 and working for Nova, I am not successful. Let’s look at the word success: “a state of prosperity or fame; ‘he is enjoying great success.’” Personally, though, I don’t consider wealth synonymous with success. For example I have known some people who are filthy rich; but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are happy or treat others with respect. There are many different definitions of success.   

Re: “Some have financial obligations at home like student loans, sick parents or families to give money to. They don't make much and it doesn't go that far. Especially for those supporting a spouse and or children. Plus remember these people have not had income for a while now. So savings can dry up quickly in an emergency.” — Thanks a lot. This is very true.

Re: “And I know I will never, ever be done to 1 yen and cry about it.” — Never? Can you guarantee that? Can you foretell your future? It is true that I have only 1 yen left in my Japanese bank account, but I never said I was crying about it; just stating the facts.

Re: “There are 100s of jobs I could do if I had to, all it would take is enough energy to get off my butt instead of crying.” — I am not crying and I am not sitting on my butt looking for sympathy. But I AM sitting on my butt as I type this post (it’s easier and more comfortable than standing). I WILL get another job. And besides, I have more energy than people half my age. 

Re: “I guess our American friend is too good to do ‘menial’ work. They are looking for a parking attendant at the department store right now” and “It will never happen to me! There is always work if one is willing. If he has been here for 3 years his Japanese should be good enough to get a job working the night shift at 7/11.” — It will never happen to you? Never? Can you guarantee that? Can you foretell your future? And no job is beneath me, before or now. Though you don’t see too many westerners working the night shift (or any shift) at the 7-Eleven. Guess what? I once had a job working the night shift at a 7-Eleven. I also once had a part-time job (in addition to my full-time job at the time) as a parking lot attendant in America. In fact, at that time, I was also working a part-time (night/graveyard) job at Dodger Stadium, in addition to my full-time and part-time jobs. So these statements are absolutely NOT true. In fact, they couldn’t be further from the truth. 

I was born into a middle-class family. Both of my parents (may their souls rest in peace) always worked for a living. They were hard workers. They worked every day. They had very strong work ethics. In fact, it was probably my parents who instilled in me the idea of working hard to survive and to get what you need or want. I have NEVER (knock on wood) called in sick to work. If I have a job, it is my responsibility to go to work. Like my parents, nothing has ever been given to me. I have always had to work for anything I wanted. I wasn’t born with “a silver spoon in my mouth.” I have always been able to support myself and my wife (after I got married), almost always without help from others. Besides my working in many “office jobs” (office does not necessarily mean easy), I have also worked in many “menial jobs.” And some of these jobs were nighttime or “graveyard” shift jobs. 

I have been working since I was a teenager. I have almost always worked in full-time jobs and, many times, part-time jobs at the same time, even while putting myself through university. I have worked as many as 16 to 20 hours a day. I have never been one to ask for charity. I don’t beg for money. I earn it. I have worked as many as 30 to 35 days straight, without a day off, both here in Japan and back in the U.S.

Good luck to all of the Nova teachers, staff members, and students out there! 

[bagofeyes]

who gives a shit about some 46 yr old nova loser

[Ichirou]

lol, yeah.

I was gonna bold the most important stuff, but it's honestly all tripe.

Working nova at 46 years of age...oh man, that's sad.

[pitohui]

I don't know if it's worse that he's 46 and working for Nova, or that he took the time to list and respond to every blog comment that got his panties in a bunch. serious business.

[Synbios459]

Or that he doesn't know how to save.

[Ichirou]

I don't know if it's worse that he's 46 and working for Nova, or that he took the time to list and respond to every blog comment that got his panties in a bunch. serious business.

lol, well, it's not like he's got anything else to do.