In a recent survey conducted by ECA International a human resources firm specializing in expatriates and which operates in 71 countries, Kobe and Yokohama both rank in the Top 10 best locations in the world for Asian expats.
The survey takes into account things like safety, cleanliness, crime rate, housing, health etc. For Asian expats, Singapore took the number 1 spot with Sydney 2nd and Melbourne tied with Kobe in 3rd place. Yokohama also made the top 10 in 8th place. The other cities in the top 10 are Copenhagen, Denmark 5th, Canberra, Australia in 6th, Vancouver, Canada in 7th, Wellington, New Zealand in 9th, and Dublin, Ireland in 10th place.
That Japanese cities rank so highly says a great deal about the relative safety of Japan, and those cities in particular. It also says something about the level of general cleanliness in the cities… The two cities chosen are also two of the busies port cities in Japan as well as two of the earlier ports opened to Western commerce.
Are there any other reasons why you think these cities are so popular among Asian expats? What other cities in Japan should have gone ahead of them? Any reasons why these cities should not be in the Top 10?
Japan Probe
I think this is an REALLY important story. Anyone involved in the ESL world should take notice of what can happen to those unfortunate to be injured abroad.
Foreign Teachers Campaign for Colleague Injured in Fire
Korea Times
William Kapoun, 26, loved teaching kids. But the young, confident American will not be able to continue what he loves ― at least for a long while. About 10 days ago, a fire broke out at his apartment at dawn and left him with third-degree burns over 70 percent of his body.
The part-time teacher at Bulam Elementary School in northern Seoul is now in intensive care. He will have to endure reconstructive surgery on numerous occasions and a lengthy recovery. Despite the will to live, however, he lacks the means to fight the brutal battle.
The blaze not only altered his body and dreams but also laid bare working conditions that are void of shelters or insurance schemes against such terrible accidents. His full treatment is estimated to cost roughly $130,000.
His parents flew over immediately. They are also shocked by the staggering costs as he has no health insurance under his contract . ``He lived in an unsafe apartment. There was no sprinkler system or fire alarm and he had only one exit, which was blocked by the fire,’’ Dan Kapoun, 53, father of William, told The Korea Times at the hospital in Seoul.
The father lamented the absence of any clear insurance policy. ``I think whoever hires someone should take responsibility for making sure there is insurance,’’ he said.
He said his son was very happy when he decided to go to Korea. ``My son was very adventurous. He thought it would be a very good thing to teach English here, not only for him but also his students.’’
Kapoun Burn Fund
Bulam Elementary School, the employer of the victim, said that the school is not obliged to provide any insurance coverage to employees working less than 15 hours a week in line with the Labor Law. The school has some 10 other part-time foreign teachers working under similar conditions.
William initially started to teach at a hagwon before transferring to the ``after-school’’ English programs that paid him some 2.2 million won a month. He has worked here for 14 months. He holds a double-bachelors degree in history and economics from Indiana University, his home state school.
With his parents in a difficult financial situation, his friends and colleagues are joining hands to launch a campaign to raise funds via the Internet at http://www.billkapoun.com
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Misuda Shakes off Koreans'(Tries to!)Prejudices against Foreign Women
The women who appear on the KBS2 TV show “Chat With Beauties” — also called “Misuda” — are shaking off the prejudices that Koreans have regarding foreign women.
On the February 25th episode of Misuda, the topic of discussion was “myths Korean men believe about foreign women.”
The women said that Korean men think that foreign women “are glamorous”, “Japanese women are obedient”, “blondes are ditzy”, and “we came here to marry Koreans or to work”.
Australian Kirsty used herself as an example. “In Korea and Australia there is prejudice against blonde women. People think that blonde girls have cute looks but empty heads.” Kirsty, by the way, recently got married to a Korean man.
Next, Uzbekistani Guzal said, “in our country people think that blondes are dumb and sexy, and act slutty. But that’s not true. I have a lot of blonde friends and they’re really smart.”
Emi spoke about prejudices about Japanese women. “People think Japanese women are submissive but that’s not true. A lot of Korean guys think so and meet me and get disappointed.”
She added, “it might be just me but in Japan I was kind of like that and when I came to Korea and saw women doing things for men and didn’t want to be that and became a little less obedient.”
Guzal said that because of the prejudices held by Koreans about foreign women, “when I came to Korea people asked me a lot if I had come to work or to mary a Korean. But they were surprised when I said I was a student.”
Daria, of Russia, said, “it seems when Koreans see a pretty foreigner they think she is Russian. And most of them ask if you came here to work. Korea and Russia are having increasing exchanges, and lots of people are becoming international students or going to Korea for cultural exchanges so I hope people don’t have such misconceptions any more.”
Korea Beat Asianoffbeat
Big breasts help actress to get conviction overturned
Mainichi
Actress Serena Kozakura's conviction for willful destruction of property has been overturned by the Tokyo High Court because her large breasts revealed flaws in the testimony against her.
Reconstruction during an appeal hearing of the 38-year-old actress's alleged crime of breaking down the door in a man's apartment showed her breasts prevented her from climbing through a door as the man testified she had done, casting doubt on his reliability.
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