Job Discussion Forums

tbawaken · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 7

Hello everyone,
This is my first post and I know there are a lot of naysayers out there so if thats you please move on, I have done my research and don't need criticism regarding my recent life altering decision... Now that that's out of the way.
I recently got accepted to Nova and will be shipping out with but the most meager of my worldly posessions and wardrobe (and of course my guitar) in January. Now in the meantime, what the hell am I supposed to do with all this stuff!!! I have a car and a 1 bedroom apartment half full of stuff and don't know if I should try and sell it all or get a storage unit or what. Lord knows I could use the cash but I have some halfway decent stuff too. What did you do? What did you bring that you couldn't live without?

Thank you very much!
Wink

Tim

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

I only brought some clothes and my teaching notes and materials. Everything else I put into storage. I never had to ask anyone back home to send me anything that I left behind. Everything I needed was available where I was (southern China).

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

If it's furniture and household items (kitchen utensils, etc.), I'd say sell them or give them to people... unless you're really going to miss your sofa! I'd put personal items--books, photo albums, etc.--into storage.

d

Girl Scout · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 525 Location: Inbetween worlds

I say sell anything that does not have sentimental value. When you came back you will look at this stuff with a different attitude.

tedkarma · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 1:27 am Post subject:

If this is your first overseas job and if it is just an experimental toe in the water to see if you might like the lifestyle - then don't sell things that will be expensive to replace. Think about your costs if you go back home in a year.

There will be a time, however, if you decide to stay overseas for an extended period of time, when you will want to unload just about everything - or - if it has great sentimental value to you, have it with you.

At what time you make that transition is pretty personal - but you will know when the time is right.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

What kind of guitar is it? A lot of people (including myself) have found bringing a guitar much more of a problem than it's worth. You can just buy a second hnd one or a mid-level new one when you're here.

Check out the Japan forums to see what's going on with Nova. There has been some stuff going on. Have they told you what branch you will actually be in?

I stored my stuff at my parents, didn't go back home for several years, went thtough it again and threw out a big chunk of it, sea mailed university textbooks, and discovered that getting my guitar to Japan would involve checking it in as regular luggage. I have a $3000 acoustic, so that wasn't about to happen. Then I looked into couriers and only found one that will do fragile materials (if it doesn't go through fragile, then you have some goon literally throw it into the plain like it was a big sack of sand- just like they throw suitcases) but it was going to cost more than $1000 to get it here (which, of course would mean the same to get it back, if I ever leave this country).

I ended up buying a 2nd hand acoustic from a store for a lot less than it should have cost, but it didn't have a case so I ended up doubling the price because I bought a new case for it.

tbawaken · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 7

Those were some great pointers (especially about the guitar). The less I have to lug half way around the world the better. Now hopefully nova won't go out of business first. Rolling Eyes

Figures!

Aussie Chick · Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 104 Location: Australia

I'm going through this very same experience right now (apart from the job part, I'm going to Prague to get some TEFL qualifications first).

I'm selling my car (through some trusted friends)
A lot of my furniture was second hand anyway, so I'm giving it away to charity (St Vincents de Paul are picking it up tomorrow)
I had a garage sale, where I sold over $700 worth. I've also sold some other furniture via ebay, so probably made about $1200 selling my furniture
Kitchen items and other non-sentimental items not sold in the garage sale have been given away to another charity
I am keeping my queen-size bed, fridge and washing machine in storage in case I decide to come back in a year or two. If I decide teaching is the career for me, I'll sell them
I'm also keeping sentimental things (photos, heirlooms) in storage

I thought I'd culled my wardrobe, but I still have far too many clothes to take over to Prague. I was going to put my summer clothes in a box and send to my sister, with the idea of her sending them to me if I stay in Europe for the summer, but I've got too many clothes to fit in the box I was going to use! Looks like more culling is going to be required... Confused

Joeys ESL Room · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 20

I agree with 'Girl Scout'. When I got back after 5 years abroad, I had so much stuff that meant a lot to me before I left; when I got back, it just seemed like 'stuff'.

If you are going to Japan, your living space will be crowded enough as it is. Bring your guitar, some clothes and set out on your new journey fresh and without too much baggage (yes, that was a pun).