Michael Cash wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 19:08:43 +0900, "kuri" <cc@dotmel.cam> brought
> down from the Mount tablets inscribed:
> 
> 
>><declan_murphy@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>>
>>>Depends on the latter. The Irish restauranter
>>>http://www.tadgspub.com/
>>>was a chef in Ireland,
>>>and his first job in Japan was also as a chef.
>>
>>I know, that's the case for certain professions that the Japanese agree to
>>import. There are many French cooks too. But if your specialty is not
>>concerned, that takes many years to restart another career and get the
>>required experience.
>>At mc-kaiwa, or outside, I've met over 5000 persons that were
>>lawyer/chemist/nurse/maths teacher/travel agent/accountant/etc and had no
>>perspective of doing their job in Japan, even in a remote future. The
>>linguistic aspect is one reason, but not the major one as language can be
>>learnt. Many jobs are just not open to foreigners, not even to Japanese
>>older than 22, no matter the skills.
>>Certainly a number of posters here (most ?) have managed to avoid or get
>>away from the eikaiwa world, but that's not representative. The others (4500
>>of the 5000) have packed their things and went back, most didn't last 2
>>years.
> 
> 
> But how many of the people even TRIED to break out of the McEnglish
> mold and exercise their profession in Japan? It's easy to just
> complain that there are too many barriers and not even try. I've
> personally been rejected by many trucking companies in Japan, and have
> been clearly and explicitly told that my foreignness was the reason
> for the rejection.
> 
> I sometimes think about the gaigins who bitch and whine about not
> receiving fair and equal treatment with Japanese when it comes to
> hiring. My opinion is that while they may want *fair* treatment, they
> wouldn't tolerate *equal* treatment.

I agree.  I certainly wouldn't want equal treatment.  At my current job, 
I am the lowest of the low, a mere intern, but there are people with the 
same qualifications as me who work on a much longer-term basis as 
contract researchers.

We all exploit our gaiginness from time to time to get out of routine 
work that we don't want to do, such as serving on safety committees, and 
having to stay late and putz around your desk for an hour or two just to 
look good, etc.  I'm sure in the longer term this hurts everyone's 
chances for advancement etc.  But it really wouldn't be right to 
complain about it not being fair.  The "equal" part has to come before 
the fair, as a simple practical matter.

-- 
Curt Fischer