It’s amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in so little time. If you’re like most JETs, after you’ve sorted out that which you will give/sell to your successor and that which you’re just going to throw away, you still have more than your suitcases can handle, and you will need to look into shipping […]
Organize the teaching materials you used for your successor. Designate a Tax Representative (for your The Pension Refund). Cancel your newspaper and magazine subscriptions, your keitai contract, your Internet service contract, car insurance contract, etc. Pay your bills! (Your office should help you with this.) Rent Electricity, gas, and water bills (Arrange ahead of time for […]
Tips from past JETs! 1. Comparing does not a happy JET make Try not to compare your arrangements with other JETs because someone will always have it better than you do. This is your home for at least the next year, so make the best of your situation. BUT talk to other JETs about what […]
Unfortunately, there isn’t an exact answer to this, as Every Situation Is Different. You will have to bring enough money to survive your first month. Enough to pay rent and utilities, buy groceries, and furnish your new apartment. So, how much do you need? The General Information Handbook recommends ¥250,000 (about $2,500 USD), which should be […]
As one would expect, things in Japan will be unfamiliar and different from what you may have been accustomed to at home. Don’t assume anything! Ask questions. Your supervisor and senpai JETs in your area are probably the best people to ask questions while you are settling into your new community. Who is my supervisor? […]
Almost every JET buys stuff from their predecessor. Your predecessor might give you a flat rate just to take it all, or they might give you a line-by-line price tag on each item, or they might realize that the used couch that they paid 1000 yen for isn’t worth haggling over, and just give you […]
Seemingly overnight, office complaints in Japan turn from atsui! to samui! You may have your reservations about joining the choir of complaints right away, but eventually the charm of cool, fall weather will wear away and you’ll find that you can see your breath in your own home. You’ll learn to put certain items, such as olive oil, in the fridge to prevent them from freezing. There are plenty of these so-called “life hacks” to keep you on the side of sanity as you progress sluggishly through the long winter months.