Job Discussion Forums

[Sadken]

Ok, I'm having a complete disaster here. I'm going to Japan tomorrow and am hating packing my clothes. I actually have a 35kg allowance and I am still struggling. My situation is that I will have my main luggage sent to Okinawa where I'll be living whilst I stay for a few days in Fukuoka for training. I have a 5kg allowance on hand luggage and, whichever I approach it, I can't seem to get 4 days of clothes into 5kg, including toiletries. I am also taking my laptop with me but, apparently, that is not even counted. My main suitcase is down to 20kg after sacrificing some of my favourite shirts. My question is, how the *beep* will I ever be able to leave Japan? I have a special allowance to take me up to 35kg. What if I want to move onto somewhere else? It's like my taste in clothes is so good that it is going to trap me in one place forever because I can't see any way in which I can foresake more than the clothes I have already had to give up on. I'm going out there for a year with only 2 pairs of jeans, for *beep*'s sake.

How do you people do it? Please, I really am quite keen to learn. Is it something that gets easier with each trip? A learning curve? Help me, I want to learn.

[ls650]

1) Figure out what you need for clothes and money. Then take half the clothing and twice the money.

2) Buy clothes locally. One of the advantages of working in most overseas countries (though I suppose not Japan) is that you can buy clothes suitable for the local climate more cheaply than in your home country.

[dyak]

Roll up your Ben Shermans into cigar shapes, as you would with socks. You'll be able to fit more in a backpack, though they'll have a distinctive backpacked look to them. Take bars of soap and not shower gel, don't shave, and get one of those tiny tubes of toothpaste from Tesco's that are about �3. Take the 6 packets of condoms out.

[Glenski]

Pack what you will need for one or two seasons, and have someone ship the rest a month before that season starts.

Gee, only 2 pairs of jeans for a whole year? Sorry, that was a sarcastic question, but just how many do you go through? Depending on your size, you can buy lots of clothes in Japan, whether at regular shops, large people's shops (like Haruyama chain or Grand Back), or even find a western chain like Eddie Bauer.

You sound like a "clothes horse", which just means you need to look at things from a super-practical standpoint.
4-5 shirts for work, 2 pairs of pants for work, one suit with 3-4 ties, 3 shirts and 1-2 pairs of pants for everyday use. Underwear for a week. One pair of work shoes, one pair of everyday shoes. A seasonal coat. Then on to the other supplies.

[Celeste]

I have to agree with Glenski. WHen I came to Japan it was the middle of summer, therefore all of my winter stuff was put in boxes and shipped by surface mail. (A little expensive still, granted, but I got it here) I have done the same 3 times in my overseas moving career, and it has always worked out well. Remember, this is not a long vacation, you are moving to a new country. Moving involves lots of boxes and shipping companies (or an the cheaper end, a couple of boxes and the post office )

[Stephen Jones]

For moving on use air cargo. Middle East to London works out at about $3 a kilogram (minimum 200kg). Shouldn't be very different if you're going to Japan.

Leaving, your problem is going to be having somewhere to send it to.

Anyway, congratulations on having belatedly learned the downside to EFL as a "career". At least you're going to Japan where you won't have space to acccumulate too much and will have a salary to pay storage and shipping if you decide to move on. Imagine what it would be like if you were stuck somewhere with plenty of space to accumulate things and no money to pay to send them on.

[CricketChirps]

Take out the toiletries (except, perhaps, a few hotel-sized ones AND antiperspirant if you go to the orient).

Everywhere you go will sell shampoo, cream rinse, shaving cream, bath gel. Look critically at every heavy item and measure it's worth against clothes.

Hope this helps...

[fluffyhamster]

Eh? You can get antiperspirants/deodorants in Japan. They might not be as effective as super-strength Old Spice sticks and the like, but they work after a fashion (well, at least if you use up half a can per armpit. If this sounds like it could get a bit expensive, try showering a bit less often - keep the nice-smelling encrustations in place for two or three days as opposed to the usual one. It also helps if you try not to eat mountains of butter or exert yourself too vigorously doing whatever).

[eslHQ]