Kicking ass and taking names in a new life
When you roll up, moving into a new place, starting a new job, doing all of this in a completely new country and, potentially, without a single familiar face in sight, moving to Japan to teach English can seem somewhat daunting. In a new country, without any set routines or familiar surroundings, we will naturally face some difficulties as we settle into our new lives. Thankfully, for those of us who move to Japan with JET, the systems and administrative supports are in place to help us avoid many of the usual, and sometimes very specific, pitfalls. However, ultimately our journey remains our own responsibility, and as such it always pays to review our preparations, expectations and approach to the time ahead. Taking into account my own mistakes and experiences moving abroad for work, below are a few tips that may help you further smooth out the transition you are about to make.
Looking Back
While you are abroad kicking aforementioned asses and trying to remember all those Japanese names, life back home will continue, as it does. While we spend 99% of our time focusing on the journey ahead, take a few moments to consider your departure preparations, as these are somewhat difficult to rectify once your plane takes off.
- Grant power of attorney & bank access – Assuming you have someone trustworthy back home, giving them the power to sign on your behalf and access your bank account could save you truckloads of trouble compared to waiting to go back personally or shipping documents back and forth. As our lives progress, unexpected paperwork is almost as certain as death and taxes, so better get this one sorted just in case.
- Tick the email option – Depending how old-school you might be, keep an eye out for anything you still receive in the post and move it to email. You get access to it wherever you are (e.g. Japan), save some paper and don’t force your loved ones or old housemates to hoard or constantly bin your mail. If your previous home will no longer be connected to you, remember to update your address with any institutions that may be important (for example with your bank).
- Don’t leave a mess – We all accumulate possessions over time and there is no opportunity like moving to clean out your closets and life somewhat. If you’re dropping 10 boxes off at your parents’ place before coming over, consider how much of that could be sold, donated, recycled or elsewhere applied. Try to minimize how much of your trouble you hand over to someone else through the things you leave behind. There is some great content on this topic online, but a good starting point is asking yourself “If I don’t have this, would I really notice after the first 2 weeks?”. Your new life is going to fill up real quick on this side in either case.
- Other packing & preparation – By now you’ve likely thought about, dreamed about and googled ‘What to pack for JET’ a million times. I’ll leave that up to you. Just keep in mind that your best preparation might be mental and emotional rather than physically squeezing another book into your bag. Bring your enthusiasm, bring your flexibility. Don’t stress so much. Thousands of others have survived this packing puzzle already and you will soon be one of them. Also don’t think of this as packing for a trip with “But I might need..” as part of your justification for everything. You can furnish your life appropriately on this side once settled.
Looking Forward
In achieving our dreams, be it for JET or any other adventure we may undertake, the underlying daily life we live plays a key role in giving us strength to persevere, emotional resilience to deal with frustrations and the unforeseen, and ultimately realizing our goals. Apart from your self-introduction, English board ideas, omiyage and other things tumbling around in your head, it’s highly recommended that you think about what it might take to have a great ‘normal day’.
- Being at home – Whether you end up in a brand new empty-like-the-day-it-was-built apartment or a fully furnished condo at the beach, making home feel like home, is important for your well being. It may take some time to get it done, but work on the small touches that will remind you that it is your space now. It won’t take you bringing every stuffed animal and framed photo along, but arranging your personal space to give you satisfaction and a sense of security is a great focus for the first few weeks into months.
- Jobs jobs jobs – (Spoiler alert) Not all students will dig your suave style and not all teachers will be open to a collaborative and friendly working relationship. (Assisting) Teaching is going to be a blast, but it might not be that much of a blast every single day. To avoid feeling dejected after a less than perfect day or week, set your expectations to include the realities of any job – some days are going to be very, very average. Keeping it in your head that your role in Japan expands past the classroom, and even the school itself, can also help you keep motivated at such times. We are here to mingle and engage, to be seen, and to learn and take part. There are multiple ways you can finish a week and still count it as a success as a JET.
- Health is wealth – Japan, the land of gorgeous sashimi, alcohol shelves bursting with limited seasonal colours and a ‘deep-fry? Let’s try’ attitude. While the healthy image is clear from the outside, the modern day Japanese diet is a beast of its own. Drinking parties, deep-fried anything and a higher sodium/msg content make it one of the most delicious diets you’ll experience. All that deliciousness can start to take its toll though, on the wallet and physique, so learning to cook at home can be one of the most useful skills you resurrect once you’ve arrived. Your body impacts your mood a lot, and your mood impacts your perspective and reactions to much of life, so look after it.
- Hobbies abound – Prepare yourself for a world of unexpected and unknown hobbies you’ve never considered a possibility. Japan boasts some of the most gorgeous scenery around and you can feel free to blame it, when your friends back home ask why you suddenly started jogging. If outside isn’t to your taste though, the myriad of sports practiced at school and club level very likely could accommodate you. And if that doesn’t strike you, Japan isn’t finished yet and follows up with flower-arrangement, calligraphy, frequent social gatherings and other cultural activities practiced since days gone by. While your specific placement may not have all options on the table, it will have far more than you realise when you first arrive (seriously, your quiet neighbor may turn out to be your future diving instructor). Almost all areas include a community centre, and this is a sure bet if you’re trying to shop around for something interesting to take up in your free time.
- Growing your money tree – JET is the first paycheck for many of us, but personal finances aren’t something for ‘when I’m older’. It pays, very literally, to practice good habits when it comes to your day-to-day spending. Here are a few basic things to keep in mind, now and forever.
- For the first 3 months in Japan nothing really seems regular yet, but recording things like basic expenses and money left from your previous paycheck is a great way to get a grip on your lifestyle cost.
- If you want to pay-off debt, save or invest (priority in that order), take that money out of your monthly budget/reach the day it arrives. It might not be possible or necessary for you to shift money around every month, but at the very least, adjust your view of how much you can spend in a month, and consider declining when the 3rd enkai on one weekend comes round. There will be another.
- Yes, you are in Japan. YES, that’s amazing! No, you don’t need to spend every Yen you have to make the most of your time here. Some of the most immersive experiences you are exposed to may turn out to cost you nothing but time and authenticity.
- There is nothing shameful or silly about managing your finances, it is a very key and undervalued part of living the life that you want, both now and in the future. There is also little true magic about it, just some basic principles and the discipline to follow through on them.
Having gone through some of the ups and downs in coming to Japan, I feel confident in saying you’ll forget many of these points soon, but perhaps one of them will stick with you, and that’s a start. All the best with this next (new or additional) year in Japan. I sincerely hope you and those you touch will come out better for it.
頑張ってね (:
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