It's been quite a while since my last post but I have exciting news. I've moved to Tokyo! I arrived here on the 2nd April so it's been a couple of weeks. Apologies that I took some time to get around to updating this blog but there's been so much to take in it's been a bit of a whirlwind. But what this means is there's absolutely loads to fill you in on!
I guess I'll start with explaining how this came about and how I got here so here goes Part 1: Taking the Plunge!
Deciding to Move
After visiting Japan twice last year, I had caught the bug and missed it so much when I went back. I missed the food and my friends and just the whole atmosphere of the place. I missed the little gestures, that Japanese people are so accustomed to, such as the care with which they will pack and wrap your 弁当 (packed lunch) that you just bought at the コンビニ (convenience store) even thought your just about to unwrap and eat it anyway, or the politeness with which they apologise proficiently if they can't accommodate your request, even if it was unlikely anyway.
Visiting on holiday is all well and good but my friends in Japan kept encouraging me, why don't you come and stay for longer? Promotional articles appealed with the supposed ease of finding a job as an English teacher but I was in the unfortunate category that being over the age of 30 (shock horror), I was unable to get a working holiday visa as many others do. This left two options, find a job that would sponsor me to move to Japan or, become a student again. I investigated into the option of the JET programme that several others had been a part of but it seemed that despite having a Masters level qualification, I did not have a BA degree and therefore, I could not apply. This was incredibly frustrating but there was nothing to be done so... I decided that as I was trying this whole learning Japanese thing anyway, why don't I just go out there and study there?
Picking A School
I looked into several study programmes from 4 week summer courses to longer term schools. Go Go Nihon were really helpful in discussing the different schools and finally I settled on Kai Language School in Shin-Ōkubo. I chose this school for two reasons, firstly location, location, location. I knew that I wanted to be fairly central. I also stayed in the Shinjuku area both times I was in Tokyo last year so I was fairly familiar with the area. A little familiarity was never a bad thing. Kai also boasted a strong experience teaching foreigners with no experience of Kanji. That was kinda important as I knew that in classes with many Chinese students I could be left trailing without understanding the kanji they way they were able to. This isn't to say the other option weren't close competitors but with such little difference I could see between them I opted for familiar ground.
Go Go Nihon!
Making the application was really easy, I simply sent an inquiry through the website and was replied to via email promptly (in English) with all the information I needed to provide and the fees that would be due and when. Once I had completed the application form they sent me and paid the fee, all that was left to do was wait to hear.
The school accepted me after requesting a little more info about my Masters level qualification and proceeded to apply for my student visa on my behalf. This meant completing a few more bits of info, sending some passport photos. And a lot more waiting...
While I was waiting, Go Go Nihon informed me that I should take a level test to assess which level I should enter the school at. Now, I knew I didn't know my grammar properly and only new some words through osmosis and therefore requested that I simply join the beginners class to get all my basics covered. I was also lucky as when it came to finding somewhere to live, my Japanese friend kindly offered my to stay at hers and just help towards bills. As I understand the process of renting in Japan can be extremely costly for foreigners, I was extremely grateful.
Change of Plans?
Then there was a glitch. I decided to stop working in October which was a fair bit of time before I was due to head to Tokyo and also I met my boyfriend in December. Both of these things suddenly forced me to reconsider my timing. In terms of funds, I was lower than I had planned due to only getting a temporary job a few months before leaving and also, I was reluctant to leave my boyfriend but... I asked a few questions and realised that I would lose the application fee and also more importantly realised it would just be harder to leave later so forged ahead. I think as it was my first plan to live in another country, this type of cold feet feeling was most likely completely normal.
Certified!
At last I received the pack from the school with my Certificate of Eligibility which meant I could go get my student visa at last! This process was remarkably easy. I simply went to the Embassy of Japan in London, dropped off my Certificate and the relevant forms that I was instructed to complete by the school and paid £20. One week later, another quick trip to the Embassy and I was reunited with my passport with a shiny new sticker attached!
The last preparations before I left consisted of the all important travel insurance. This was important as normal travel insurance does not cover you for long stays like this. I hunted around for a while and was a little surprised as to how much more expensive it was than normal trip insurance but finally managed to source one under £100. Go Walkabout travel insurance were the most reasonably priced travel insurance and being that you have to join the National Health Insurance in Japan anyway, it covered more than enough including allowing me to work, travel around and even scuba dive!
Sayounara England!
The last few weeks before I left were crazy and I always knew it was going to be difficult to say good bye to everyone. I panicked about packing as trying to figure out what I might need for six months was mind boggling. I resorted to being super conservative, knowing that I could wash clothes here and just need to stay as cool as possible in the heat. My final suitcase consisted of:
A spare pair of jeans (I wore one out here)
2 pairs of 3/4 length baggy trousers
1 smart pair of trousers for job hunting
4 dresses, one pair of leggings
5 vest tops
7 T-shirts
3 evening tops
A cardigan, pyjamas and underwear
Contact lenses to last
Laptop, tablet and phone plus chargers
I'm undecided if I will be able to resist buying a few extra items of clothes here but for now, this is doing fine...
I got whisked away by my boyfriend, had a meals with all my friends and another with my family and packed up my laptop and got on the flight. Somehow. I got given Mr Kitty to watch over me (pictured above)
So there you have it, the last six months of my life were scary, frustrating and hectic. I expect the next six months will be pretty much the same. I'll continue with my experiences from arriving to starting school and onwards so hope this might be interesting or useful to others!
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