SENSEI ! ! !

NOVA の FRANCESCO 先生

August 29th 2010: I officially finished working for Nova and then came back to Italy for good. I had arrived in Japan on the 27th September 2007 and since the moment I set foot on Japanese land I had encountered all sorts of problems with work, accommodation, holidays...everything! So, with such a terrible start, who could have said that I could fullfill my dream of living in Japan, and not for one but for three years?!?

Everything started with my job interview in Paris. It was the 10th of January 2007. I was interviewed inside this nice palace close to the Opera. I had a terrible flu, I was shivering, I couldn't swallow a thing and had a running nose. Oh, and the voice of a transexual. Nevertheless, I passed the interview!

I recall that the cold notwithstanding, I was walking a bit in wonderful Paris when my mum called. She thought I was still in  London with the high temperature. I had never mentioned about my job interview in Paris of course since I was terribly sick and she was worried, so I told her I was in my neighbourhood going to buy some herbal treatments! Ahahah! What a liar! Better than Pinocchio!!!

I went back to Italy in September and waited for the visa. AHHHHHH! The courier had soaked it in gasoline!!! I was so scared the embassy in Rome wouldn't accept it, but in the end they issued the visa in a day or even less. Japan, here I come!

Problems started from the very first moment I set foot on Japanese soil. At the airport a lady welcomes me with a cardboard saying "Mr. Sechi". Ooooh, so nice of them, they came to pick me up!!!! Well. In reality they had lost my suitcase in Frankfurt. No harm though, they delivered it the following day to my apartment.

Then I went to the Nova office where I got the keys to my room in the shared apartment, where two American guys lived already. My room, no windows, warmer than hell. Nobody had cleaned the apartment in ages, there must have been 20 cms of dust, I'd better get in on a horseback.

After a few minutes the two Americans came in.

-"Are you the new guy?"

-"Yes"

-"We have to leave soon. We've been evicted. Nova hasn't paid the rent for months!"

-"Ehhhhh?"

-"Yes, Nova is almost bankrupt"

-"Ehhhhhhhhhhhhh #2???"

That's when I discovered that Nova was going to go bust very soon. What to do then? I decided to stay to see what was going to happen, also because I was hoping for another company to take over. Here's  the former Nova office in Namba.

That was my first welcome message to my students! Horrible!!!

And that was the reception on the 15th floor. Kawaii Kowaii!!!

On the 26th of October I went to work as usual but there was a surprise. Nova had just imploded. For real this time! That was the press conference.

Many American or English teachers saw it as just another opportunity to get drunk, a habit they had even in Nova's hey-days. Many of them had to return to their homecountries as they had spent all their money clubbing. The Australian government even had to pay for some teachers to return to the land of Oz, as they were pennyless!

Bye bye Nova! Welcome to the G.com era!

 

The first period under the G.Com kingdom we had to help with the boxes full of Nova stuff: Diplomat books, flash cards, Nova Usagis of every kind and size. The Chinese managed to take a TV from Nova president Sahashi's apartment. The Chinese know stuff.

Finally in December I received my first salary!

Then we were sent to the streets to hand out tissues with Nova campaign coupons. With an euphemism, this was called "Jinji", or admin work.

Then we moved to a building close to Nakazakicho, in the north of Osaka. The building is entirely dedicated to the various G.Com activities.

This is a typical teaching booth.

We had a laugh at these sings, even though tears would have been more appropriate! Ahhaha!

From bad to worse...

They finally changed it to 3rd! At last!

The years passed by quite quickly and without further troubles, more or less. G. Com was able to regain some students and there never was a free period. But it's better to have a lot to do than stay at home with noting to do and no money. My last day arrives in no time, or so it seems now.

As usual I walk from my apartment to Hanaten Station. It's Sunday and no one is around.

I stop by the temple for a few moments and prey the gods not to have challenge students nor five-way lessons!

Last train to work :-(((

 

Hanaten station and Osaka Business Park in the far distance.

At Temma station I buy my breakfast: a croissant and a coffee. I need energy as I start with five lessons in a row.

 

Kansai TV building and the depressing street along the railway.

I can't stop today.

The magnificent G.com Palace.

The glass walls are very useful in the summer when it's too hot to knot the tie at home. So I can do it just moments before starting. I am ready for the last day.

Time cards.

Last clock-in

I indulge on my breakfast, as there are still 20 minutes left.

Last day's schedule. It will eventually change during the day. At 3 pm there will be two students instead of one. The last lesson will be booked by a student challenging up from the bottom level. My last lesson truly was a horrible lesson. The gods didn't listen to me in the morning!!!

My screen, thankfully the picture had been removed a long time ago.

At 13.10 I go to the nearby restaurant, "Dio". For 850 yen you get an appetizer, pasta, and coffee. Oh, and some bread. Water is free as it is always the case in Japan.

Appetizer.

Main course.

Espresso coffee.

Unfortunately their business card doesn't show neither Sardinia nor Sicily! Two islands forgotten by God!!! :-(((

It's over!

Clocking out for the last time.

Walking to the station, I walk by a pseudo French shop, where I have never seen a customer! Well, how can you possibly open a shop under a railway in a street where emptiness reigns?

Last sunset from Hanaten Station.

Sayonova!!!