October 10th, 2006
Attention Max Ali San
JAL, Tokyo 197-0011 Fussa, Fussa shi,
691, Daei Itchi choju BLD, 203
Tel: 042-530-9057 / 03-6765-7229 Fax: 042-530-9058
Email: jal@silkroad.ne.jp
I am looking forward to your response by the latest October 25th, 2006.
Copy to: The Ichihara Board of Education; The labor office; The ministry of justice; The ministry of labor; The Director of immigration and others.
On April 20th 2006, a friend of mine from Australia introduced Max Ali San. After we had a talk to each other, Max Ali San showed interest in offering me a job as a teacher. He even told me that there would be a meeting (instead of saying interview) in Ichihara with the Board of Education on April 27th 2006. He asked me how much money did I expect? I told him about 280,000 yen per month. Max Ali San told me that that would be too much but he would give me about 230,000yen plus the train fare which could be around 30,000 or 40,000 yen. He even told me that there could be some overtime and that I would get a bonus if my attendance was good. He even added that the bonus would be about one month salary. Therefore, if we calculate everything, the total amount of salary would be around 280,000 yen per month that I expected. I would like to add that I happened to see the mail that Max Ali San sent to another ALT stating clearly the amount of salary x 12 months. Max Ali San called and sent me several mails before the meeting/interview to make sure that I would attend.
After the meeting/interview with the Ichihara Board of Education, Max Ali San left in a hurry stating that the city office was to close down. I asked him to give me the contract paper but Max Ali San said he would send that to me by post that evening. Several days went past but I did not receive the contract paper. I asked him and sent the mail for the same on May 7th 2006. Max Ali San even told me that the coordinator would bring the contract paper to the school; however, I received the copy of the contract by post. I would like to add that the principal of Futaba junior high school confirmed that no one from Jal Haken came to school to give my contract paper.
When I received the contract paper, I was surprised to see what Max Ali San added later on about one month 70% and one month 75% of salary and that Ft including commute. I asked the explanation by sending him a Email on May 15th. I did not get any reply. Before May 15th he responded to me for all the Emails that I sent to him. I sent him several mails and I tried to call him several times but could not reach Max Ali San. I was rather polite and had great patience. I even sent him an Email stating that I was spending about 28,000yen in fuel costs and he should do something instead of asking him for the train fare (which is much higher). Which Max Ali San had actually promised me at the start.
On June 30th 2006, I had a talk with the English teacher regarding the low salary I received, because I could not contact Max Ali San and did not get any response. She told me that many ALT through Jal Haken are not getting paid properly. She suggested me to speak strongly with Jal Haken. She contacted Ishi San, at the board of education. Later I received a call from Ishi San. She gave me some phone numbers to contact Max Ali San and I was able to leave a message.
On July 1st 2006, Max Ali San called me. I told him that the salary I received is different than he had actually promised. I also mentioned him that during the meeting with him and while signing the contract, Max Ali San did not write or talk about one month at 70% and one month at 75% and Ft including commute. Why was it written later on? I also mentioned to him that in the beginning Max Ali San told me that I would be getting the train fare. I requested him to do something about it. Max Ali San told me that he did not make up the salary and that he would talk to the accountant and that I would hear from the account or would get a mail on Monday. But neither had I heard nor I received mail. Max Ali San further added that he heard from the school that my voice was not clear in the class, everything thing else was fine. I told him that I never heard anything like that but any way I would find out through the English teacher as he suggested.
On July 3rd 2006, I asked the English teacher if my voice was not clear in the class. She told me she never said anything like that. She further added that I must ask Jal Haken strongly to pay me properly. She spoke to the vice principal (chief) Tanaka San and they said that they would ask the principal to write that I worked very MAJIME NI (Japanese word).
I received calls and mails from Jal Haken asking me strange questions. I remember I received mails asking me if I was going somewhere out of Japan during summer vacation even after informing them that I was not leaving Japan during that time. On August 30th 2006, I received call from Jal Haken asking me about my postal address. She told me that she wanted to send some new schedule, whereas I got something different. I asked her as to what had happened, as, I was not being paid properly and that I did not hear from the accounts person. She told me that she would tell the concerned persons. On September 5th 2006, I received two mails from Jal Haken. In one mail Morishita San asked me if I wanted another school from October. With this, my mail that I wrote on July 8th regarding my salary, was attached, (Is this an answer to my question?). In another mail, asked me if I need another job after October. I am already working with Jal Haken as a full time teacher, I do not understand as to why they wanted to offer me another job. I have happened to see their strange attitude to many foreign teachers, so, I thought of asking them on 25th of September after checking with my bank about the money I received from Jal Haken. My bank is not nearby and I had to travel far. In the mean time, the vice principal/the chief Tanaka San expressed his deep desire in me and rather he added that they all needed me. He even told me not to worry and that I would be teaching at Futaba junior high school only. I did not even mention to him about the mails that I received on September 5th. On September 20th, I received call from Jal Haken to my cellular phone but I could not answer because it was on silent mode. I would like to add that my school is about 60 km. I need to sleep well to make sure I do not make any accident. I get up 04:30 in the morning, do Yoga, get ready and leave the house by 06:30. I am not a slave. Max Ali San happened to tell me to take care about accidents but he was practically showing a great amount of irresponsibility. The same day, September 20th, I got a mail asking me to call Max San, good news. Before I could ask them about the strange mails, on September 21st, the vice principal/the chief (Tanaka San) told me that there was a call from Abe san and asked me to talk to her. When I picked up the phone, it was Max Ali San and he told me to disregard the mails and that I would continue working in Futaba junior high school only. He did not tell me anything about the salary they did not pay me.
On September 25th 2006, I informed the school through fax that I would be late. I went to the bank and updated my passbook a new passbook was issued to me. Looking at the passbook I came to know that not even once, I was paid properly. I sent a mail and copy of the same by fax addressed to Max Ali San. I called Jal Haken to confirm if they received it. Kiyoko San told me that Max Ali San was in the meeting and would not be coming back. I tried the other number and Mayumi Abe San picked up the phone and told me I could speak to Max Ali San. Max Ali San told me that I have the copy of the contract, so, how could he write something later on it. May be he forgot that he sent me the same later on by post. During that conversation, I realized that he sent me the copy of the contract and not the original. Max Ali San further told me to take action from that day and not to wait for the next day.
On September 26th, I informed the vice principal/the chief Tanaka San and others that I would not go to the classes as I was very upset because of not being paid properly. I asked him to tell any one he felt like. Ishi San from Board of Education called me and I told her about the problem. She even confirmed that they have heard of lots of problems with Jal Haken. She told me that she would come to see me and talk to me that day but she did not come. Max Ali San also called me and told me not to go to school if I would not teach. I told him that I had been teaching and I need to be paid for that. I was very upset for not being paid properly. I would like to add that when I talked through the phone in the teachers room, it was not clear as from calling from the principals room, where the conversation was be better.
On September 26th, Max Ali San called me again. He asked me as to why I told a lie that I taught that day. I told him there was no reason for me to tell a lie as I told everyone that I would not go to the classes as I was very upset for not being paid properly. I told him that I was working for the problems he had given me. He told me that my school was until the end of September. I asked him to give me the termination letter with the reason. He said that he sent me termination letter on August 27th, and that I signed for that. He told me a lie as I never received any termination letter, so, how could I sign? He told me not to go to the school from the following day and he denied giving me any termination letter or the reason. He even added that he was saying so and that was all. He said that I would not be paid from that day (September 26th). He told me that he sent me the fax and that I could go to any labor office and he would show them. He told me not to do personal things. I told him that I was not doing personal things; rather, I was working on the problems he gave me. I was very upset. He said he did not care.
On the Same day September 26th, Mayumi Abe San called me. She told me that Max Ali San consulted the lawyer and he would go to the immigration. They would ask me for the copy of alien registration card and that it would not be good for me. She told me to solve the problem with Max Ali San before they would go to the immigration the following day. I told her that I myself wanted to solve the problem and I had been writing to them for months. Just pay me properly. She kept telling me that the immigration point would not be good for me. I told her that my moral character is much higher than many big personalities. If they wanted to go to immigration, court or wherever, go ahead. Then she started saying that I was shouting or fighting. I was simply saying clear so that later on they should not say they did not hear me. What I understood through her conversation was that she threatened me. I would rather ask you how you would feel if you happen to come across the same situation. I was talking to her from the teachers’ room and it was very disturbing. Further when I had a conversation with the principal I found his voice was louder than mine. Rather the principal and the rest of the teachers could realize and understood my problem.
On September 27th, as I entered the school, the vice principal/the chief Tanaka San told me that Ishi Sensei, who is in-charge of ALT’s, at the Board of Education informed him that my work had finished with Futaba junior high school on September 26th. He said he was helpless and that he was not in a position to let me work. He said he was very down to see the sudden cease of services of Rohtash san. I asked him to give me in writing my notice. He went inside and after coming back informed me that Ishi san would come to talk to me and that I should ask her to give me in writing my notice. He asked me to wait in the Principal room. I was further told that Ishi Sensei would come with Abe San of Jal Haken around 10 AM. He told me that I worked quite well. He asked me what had happened and if I got any call from Jal the previous night? The principal also expressed his helplessness.
Around 10 AM, instead of Ishi Sensei, Maeda Shuichi San and Akita Hidehiro San from Board of Education came along with Mayumi Abe San. The principal and the vice principal/the chief Tanaka San also joined the meeting. Maeda San asked Mayumi Abe San to translate. Mayumi Abe San translated that I did not attend the school. I asked her as to why she was interpreting wrongly? Mayumi Abe San confirmed that she interpreted wrongly but denied to apologize. She even told me that I was shouting at her whereas I was speaking normal and loud enough so that they could hear me well. I would again like to add that the voice of the principal and Maida San were louder than mine. Maeda San favored Mayumi Abe San and he did not ask Mayumi Abe San to apologize for the wrong interpretation. Looking at this and various other aspects, I had the feeling that the Board of Education was also discriminating foreign teachers. Maeda San asked me to apologize for that but I said no for that as everyone is free to feel and think the way one likes and he agreed to that. We discussed on various aspects in Japanese without Mayumi Abe San. They could realize and understand the problem but expressed their helplessness in order to solve this problem. Finally Maeda San asked me to go home and wait for the call from Jal Haken to fix a meeting with Max Ali San somewhere to solve the problem.
After coming back home, I kept waiting for a call from Jal Haken but I did not receive any. I read the contents of the fax that Max Ali San sent me again on 26th September as the one he sent on 25th September are not clear. Looking at the contents of the fax, he is contradicting his own statements. He mentioned that from September onward I should have normal salary as the number of days in the schedule increase but looking at the schedule it is different. He also mentioned that from coming months I should have no problem with my salary. This also differs with his statement that he sent me termination letter on August 27th and that I signed for it. I would like to add that I worked for more days than the schedule I received originally. If the schools or the offices are closed, how can you expect an employee to go and work?
Max Ali San mentioned to read the contract carefully and according to the contract also I am supposed to get the salary mentioned in line item 4, which mentions yen 230,000. I would also like to add that what he wrote later on the contract, like 1 month 75% of salary and 1 month 70% of salary is not in line item 4. He should also pay me transportation as he promised. I would further like to add that Max Ali San wrote my account number by mistake I wrote my branch number in that place and the pen is the same. But anyone can easily identify that he used a different pen to write in improper places.
Jal Haken remembers very well to deduct the salary of the employee even if the employee takes leave informing well in advance for some genuine reasons but Jal Haken forgets to pay to the employee who replaces. Jal Haken initiates to provide accommodation to the employee in order to grab more money than the actual amount. Jal Haken initiates to do visa formalities for the employee so that they can pay less to the employee and if the employee has a problem, Jal Haken threatens with blackmail the employee telling immigration laws made by their own. Max Ali San writes, “We dispatch you to work in schools based on the choice of our customer”. Through this what I understand is that we are some kind of materials or slaves and the Board of Education is a mere customer.
It seems that Jal Haken, the Board of Education and the schools are working together in order to make a fool of foreign teachers. There are personalities who do not understand some of the English words like “teak”, “alteration”, “amendments” and blame on to the foreign English teachers that their pronunciation is not correct. May be because those words are not in their text book or they have not gone through those words. I have seen many Japanese who use to go into the bed with English speakers and start learning their English from fuc…. During the meeting with the Board of Education, the chair person asked the teachers to write their complain (regarding Jal Haken) and later she denied stating that she would not be able to do anything. Is it not very irresponsible on her part?
I am further surprised to hear that the principal and other teachers use the words like “Konaya…”, “Kosoto….”, “Theim…”. I personally feel that the students are the reflection of the creator, their parents and their teachers who have a dynamic role in the development of the child, so, they should behave more decently. I have heard about teachers complaining about the way a foreign teacher dresses whereas they themselves use strange wears. I have seen the Japanese English teacher teaching students “six” as “sex” and “lunch” as “unch”. There level of speaking English is very low, well, there is nothing bad about it, as, this is not their mother tongue. But if they call any foreigner they do not bother to use “San/Sensei” Mr. or Ms. Their might be many foreigners who may not like to be called with the use of Mr. or Ms. But they must use their originality, decency using “San/Sensei”
Jal Haken/Board of Education wanted a foreign teacher to resign because she became pregnant. Do the other teachers not get pregnant or is it that that person from Board of Education is jealous because she is not having a child? Do they ever bother to think how much the mother (the employee) would be upset and how much that would affect the child, who is absolutely innocent.
The Principal, the vice principal and the teachers appreciated my work, manner and as a person as a whole. At times they had even asked me to teach the class by myself without any Japanese teacher because of the high level of confidence.
I do not expect the emperor of Japan to speak in Sanskrit although Mahatma Budh, who we pronounce as Buddha used Sanskrit. I do not expect the emperors, the prime ministers, the directors of Board of Education, the professors, the doctor and the engineers to speak in English the way the British speaks. America might be known to people several hundred years ago but English was known to people before that. “Veda” is Sanskrit for “knowledge”. Any form of Knowledge acquired is considered as a Veda whereby it has no beginning or end. Sanskrit was the language of Vedic civilization. Vedic culture, based on Vedic scriptures (Shastra) called Vedas, flourished all over the ancient world with center in India, formerly known as Bharata-varsha. Vedas are the most ancient literary works on Earth at the same time with the profoundest and widest scope. Hence the Vedas are the most ancient books in the world. They cover all fields of knowledge, material and spiritual.
Sanskrit has such a high level of perfection that any word of any language can not come out of the mouth without the combination of Sanskrit vowels. If any word in English starts with Sanskrit vowel, “an” is used. That is why we call “an honest person”. Whereas “U” is not a vowel in Sanskrit therefore, we can not say “an university”. It is difficult to pronounce Sanskrit words in their original form in English; therefore, even some of the simple names are changed in English. There are so many English words from Indo-European roots.
Knowledge has no limit and hence there is no limit to learning. Knowledge has no boundaries. It is not connected to any particular language. Languages are changing and so is the accent. English spoken in the different countries and continents has certain differences. We must respect the influence of nature. It is not possible for the people of one nation to speak English the way those in another nation do. The accents vary. Even in this small country of Japan when we visit different places, we can find the difference in the same language. Even the brothers and sisters from the same parents have their unique styles of speaking. A person born and brought up in Japan may not have to go to any school or institute to learn how to speak Japanese. Likewise children who have Japanese parents but are born and brought up in Russia may speak more fluent Russian than Japanese.
The emperors, the prime ministers, the professors, the doctors, and the engineers do not need any particular language to achieve that position. Everything and everyone is distinctive. More than half of the population of the world is from the Asian continent. The world is not a particular nation. It is round without any edge. If the students are given the right guidance and support supplemented with a positive learning environment, all of them could have an opportunity to communicate better.
Madonna is well known here, about who someone told me that she was originally in the night life. The first Nobel Prize winner from Asia is Rabindranath Tagore. I do not know how many know about him as compare to Madonna. Well, to me it hardly matters. But why am I talking about this is some of the personalities asked me if I know Madonna, some other stars and things like that from America, may be because America dropped a bomb on Japan. I doubt if they know about one of the eleven judges from the victor nations, Radhabinod Pal, the only judge during Tokyo trial who was an expert in International law and raised the issue of Hiroshima. He was the only judge who said Japan is innocent and if Japan is judged, the Allies should also be judged equally. His judgement document is appraised as a book of complete fairness and best judgement in 20th century. It became famous to the scholar of law in the world.
There are many personalities who are holding good positions and working together with some foreigners in order to make money by using any cheapest way including blackmailing and discriminating innocent foreigners. In case any problem comes, they put it on to the foreigners.
I have seen the ladies who had love affairs with some foreigners for months or years together but any time they would say that the foreigner (boy friend), with who she had affairs, raped her. They are heartless. It is getting very difficult to find one man woman. I can feel that the environment, the law makers, the parents and the teachers are the cause. I have seen some European, American or Australian kicked her off but she went back to him.
Somebody asked me if I had heard of Yakushi-Ji, Toshodai-Ji, Kiyomizu-Dera, To-Ji, Myoshin-Ji and Ryoan-Ji. All these places are “Pagoda” and “Stupa”, in other words, Buddhist Temples. The “Pagoda” and “Stupa” are both derived from the Sanskrit Language. The word Dera and Ji are also derivatives of Sanskrit. I would like to add that San is another way of saying Ji. Knowledge, Buddha, Zero, IT and so on came from India free of cost but some people are misusing and minting money. There are optimistic and pessimistic approaches for each and everything. You may say half a glass of milk. You may also say half of the glass is empty. But there is a great difference. The first one has positive approach where as the later one is emphasizing on emptiness.
Someone told me that Mayumi Abe San is related to the Prime Minister Abe. Well, I do not know about it but what I feel is that, incase there is any relationship, the prime minister should ask Mayumi Abe San to improve herself.
Someone asked me the meaning of Rohtash. There was a very rich king and the name of his son was Rohtash. The king made a promise in a dream that he would give away all his property and he just fulfilled the promise. Jal Haken must learn to keep their promise
Rohtash Chander Tandon
103, Bowa Sorute Hasunuma,
2932, Hasunuma Ro, Sanmu City, Chiba 289-1802
Tel: 0475-86-2412, Cellular: 080-5487-2400
Email: findrohtash@hotmail.com
