Sad, Sad little world
Yesterday, a NOVA teacher from Koiwa, Chiba (about 1 hour away) was found murdered.
She was 22 years old.
The cops came to investigate when she failed to return from a private English lesson on Sunday. They found her nude, buried under sand in a bathtub, on the fourth floor balcony of the student's apartment in Ishikawa. The suspect/student WALKED out of the apartment in bare feet while the police WERE THERE.
I didn't know Lindsey, but some of my coworkers did, and they said she was sweet, kind, and VERY trusting.
May she rest in Peace.
As foreigners in Japan, we have very little protection in some ways. Only by the virtue of us being "gaijin" are we protected. In this case, that protection I had -- feels stripped away.
I realized, that I am unlikely to be stalked by a student (I'm not really the Gaijin GF ideal) but I have been approached by strange men on trains, had nasty/dirty things said to me as I've walked by, and even been offered money for sex once. I also realized, like an idiot, my findateacher.net profile had my contact info available and visible, including phone #, email, and HOME ADDRESS!! (I had checked the "do not show to students" box, but the Japanese website, Senseisegaku, showed that info anyway). I've since put myself on "break" from that private student site.
In more positive news, I register with Matsudo city hall tomorrow, and pick up my apartment key from my landlord. I also get file my visa renewal for next year on friday. Then next week, big move, panicking, etc...
She was 22 years old.
The cops came to investigate when she failed to return from a private English lesson on Sunday. They found her nude, buried under sand in a bathtub, on the fourth floor balcony of the student's apartment in Ishikawa. The suspect/student WALKED out of the apartment in bare feet while the police WERE THERE.
I didn't know Lindsey, but some of my coworkers did, and they said she was sweet, kind, and VERY trusting.
May she rest in Peace.
As foreigners in Japan, we have very little protection in some ways. Only by the virtue of us being "gaijin" are we protected. In this case, that protection I had -- feels stripped away.
I realized, that I am unlikely to be stalked by a student (I'm not really the Gaijin GF ideal) but I have been approached by strange men on trains, had nasty/dirty things said to me as I've walked by, and even been offered money for sex once. I also realized, like an idiot, my findateacher.net profile had my contact info available and visible, including phone #, email, and HOME ADDRESS!! (I had checked the "do not show to students" box, but the Japanese website, Senseisegaku, showed that info anyway). I've since put myself on "break" from that private student site.
In more positive news, I register with Matsudo city hall tomorrow, and pick up my apartment key from my landlord. I also get file my visa renewal for next year on friday. Then next week, big move, panicking, etc...