Job Discussion Forums

seklarwia · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:48 am Post subject:

In which case, you'll need a recent one. The one from a couple of years isn't worth the paper its written on for anything now.

They make you take one before you arrive, then your BOE will ask that you have a chest xray in country to check again. I guess they want to double check that we aren't bringing our dirty foreign illness Very Happy

But I suppose its better to be safe, especially since the last couple of years has seen some major outbreaks of TB in the UK especially in the south.

Stark · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 35

Yeah I triangulated my appt using the topography of the little square they gave me when they told me my appt. Im about 8 stops north of Matsumoto.

Is there a google map type system but in english for japan? it is slow going translating kanji and katakana to find out whats around me. oh i wish i practiced my japanese in this last year of job hunting since graduating...

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

[quote="seklarwia"]

They make you take one before you arrive, then your BOE will ask that you have a chest xray in country to check again. I guess they want to double check that we aren't bringing our dirty foreign illness Very Happy

/quote]

Hmm. TB is hardly a foreign illness when it comes to Japan. Crowded living conditions and all that. Recently one member of a well-known comedy duo was diagnosed with it, and the emperor made it public for the first time that he had it when he was young. They just don't want more of it in Japan than there already is, I suppose.

mintxleaf · Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 47

Hey folks! I guess some of you are already in Japan and is in training (or finished and possibly moved into the apartments).

For those of us who have yet to leave, what advice or tip do you have? ex: things you should have brought (or left behind), paperworks to bring, etc.

Thanks!

Stark · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 35

peanut butter. its like 4 dollars for a tiny ass jar. should have brought more money, its EXPENSIVE. at least semi furnished with leopalace though. then again you could get lucky with jet housing and such and end up having to pay like 6000 yen for a house. but you'd have to furnish it.

just got moved in, somewhat. i'll try to think of other things i would have liked to have had.

seklarwia · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 1:53 am Post subject:

Bring some passport photos. I remember parting with a few although I can't remember exactly what for. You will definately need them for things like when you go to register for your ARC on your moving day.
Your mind and time will be occupied with other things during training so bring a set from home.

Peanut butter is expensive but easily obtainable. If you like things like Marmite or Vegemite, then definately bring that.

If you are in a driving placement, check and double check you have packed your license and international license - You'll notice you have forgotten your passport as soon as you get to the airport, but you'll likely be in Japan before you notice the absence of you driver's license, etc.

mintxleaf · Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 47

Thanks for the suggestions! I went to get the extra photos. And as for the pb, I think I can live wo/ it for while... =P

I hope everyone is doing well in Japan! I'm there in less than a week. Doing all the last minute packing/shipping now ^^ Any suggestions from current or past ALTs are appreciated!

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

If you do forget the photos though, there are automated passport photo booths in every station and even on street corners in the cities, which are always in good working order and actually give you quite flattering photos!

Perhaps not something you need to worry about bringing to Japan if you have a lot of other things to do.

seklarwia · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:44 pm Post subject:

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Can't live without peanut butter Shocked

Ick

fhsieh · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 29

Actually, as long as you're near a relatively urban/suburban area, you should have no problem finding peanut butter. It might be expensive and only come in a tiny 8oz jar, but it's still peanut butter. Finding crunchy peanut butter is (in my experience) pretty hard, though.

If you like to cook, be prepared to have no full oven (only a small broiler, if at all), a relatively small selection of fresh herbs, missing staples like proper chicken stock (I can only find boullion cubes), kosher salt, and assorted spices. It's not that it's impossible to make comfort food, but since supermarkets cater mostly to Japanese cuisine and probably won't have brands you're used to, you might find that making stuff to your taste either takes a lot of time (to make from scratch) and/or money (for all the random appliances you won't have right away in your apartment).

Of course, there's always the eat-out-at-gyoza-or-kaitenzushi-shops-all-the-time option. Wink

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

flyer · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 539 Location: Sapporo Japan

gwynnie86 · Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 159

I thought I'd resurrect this thread. I'm going to Japan with Interac in less than a month!
Seeing as a lot of you were flying out last August... HOW IS IT? Smile