PHEW!!!!! Crisis averted

Well I get to go after all. I got a message this morning that said that I'm all clear to go. I was so happy I ran around the house a bit before I calmed down and got back to preparing.

There's a lot to do. I looked at my list and realized I hadn't completed anything on it. And this is my majorly important to do list. So I called my financial institution today and got a lot of money matters worked out.

I didn't do much else today though, preparation-wise. I went to White Water with 3 friends and we just relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. It's kind of interesting. 2 of them are actually about to embark on a big move as well. Moving to London for a not quite determined number of years. John is going to Cambridge for some post-doc work while his significant other Matt has found a job in London. They are actually moving within the next couple of weeks. So lots of goodbyes.

Anyway, needless to say. I am much relieved to know definitively that I am indeed going and get back to the normal level of stress associated with moving a few thousand miles across a continent and an ocean.

Oh and with Japanese tradition when you move and meet people in a new place, you are supposed to give a gift, called omiyage. A lot of people suggest for us JETs to bring things that represent our culture a bit. And they say edible is most desirable. Email me or comment me with any ideas about things I might that would be somewhat small, would travel well, and would represent Georgia or southern culture. Yeah, I know, it's last minute, but that's me.

2 weeks

Ok... so I'm flipping out just a bit. 2 weeks left and I haven't even started packing. I'm still running around doing errands that I should have done a month ago, like get a suit which is apparently essential to working in Japan and my to do list is about a mile long and growing...

and I have nothing better to do than read about JETs currently in Japan and watch silly youtube videos. But I think I have figured out how I'm going to teach elementary kids.

A month left...

Man time is flying. I haven't posted in a while because I've been out seeing friends and getting lots of stuff done around the house and in preparation of the trip. It's really kind of crazy that I'll be gone in about 4 weeks! I'm not sure if it's fully sunk in yet.

I keep trying to imagine what my life might be like over in Japan, but I haven't been very successful. Though I'm asking lots of questions and getting lots of answers from people who are over there now, it just doesn't seem to be enough to give me an idea of how it will be for me and how I will react to it all.

I'm afraid it may be a little while before I post again as I have a friend in town on Friday and Saturday. Alana is my friend from the French dorm at UGA who is also going to be in Japan on the JET Programme. She is coming in to go to the JET Q & A session on Saturday. I might get a post off on Sunday about what we learn, but then I'll be heading out of town on Monday for a week to Pennsylvania to visit my extended family and help out my parents with their new home up there.

Even though I know I've done a lot already to prepare for the trip, I'm afraid it's still going to be a mad dash to get everything squared away those last weeks once I return from Pennsylvania.

Next steps

So I turned in my visa application yesterday. Funny story actually. I turned it in along with a couple other things, my FBI background check and a copy of an IRS form. Apparently, the other two forms needed to go to another person. So, they were given back to me and the woman directed to another window. This really nice Japanese guy came up and was very talkative and took my forms and let me know that he would get them to the JET coordinator. Apparently, he was the coordinator until 2003. Well I handed him the forms and he gave me a parking validation and I left. I am pulling out of the parking deck when he comes running up to my car. I totally forgot that I needed to turn in two copies of my visa application and passport photo. Luckily, I had made a second copy for my own records and passport photos always come in pairs. And when I had left, I looked at the official checklist and sure enough it said that I need two copies. I can't believe I forgot that. And I can't believe that the guy came out to catch me. That was totally cool of him.

Well, anyway, I am pretty much set for Japan. I just turned in that stuff and I sent a reply to the travel agency and so that's pretty much it. I'll be leaving in about 6 weeks. And the more I look at where I'll be working and living, I realize that I have a very good placement. It's going to be great! Woohoo!!!

Packing List

So what do I pack? I know I've got a bit of time, but when you get down to it, I'm pretty limited on suitcase space - only one big one and one carry-on plus a laptop bag. This is not limited on the plane but on the bus from the airport to the hotel for orientation. Anything beyond that has to be shipped separately to my new home at my expense and I'm not sure I want to do that. So I've got some prioritizing to do, I guess.

Getting Connected

I'm starting to get in touch with future and current JETs via various websites and message boards. It's making it more exciting to talk with people who are actually there. I'm feeling a bit less anxious to hear things about the place I'll be going to. It seems like the JETs are pretty active on the island and in the prefecture. They are starting up an ultimate frisbee league and I think some people get together to play soccer occasionally. So in the beginning months when I still can't speak Japanese and the newness factor has worn off, I will have things to do to keep from going crazy or locking myself away in my apartment.

I've actually been in touch with a guy who is one town over from the one I will be in. He has said some very complimentary things about Kagawa. He said the mountains are nice and he and another JET will go off exploring and hiking. Sounds like something I would like to do. When I was out in Arizona to visit my sister, I went hiking on Camelback Mountain. It was pretty amazing. Maybe I'll find some places like that in Japan.

Well, my FBI background check came in - no arrest record (except for the pimpin' charge - who knew the FBI was a playa hater). So I've got to pass that along to the consulate along with a copy of my IRS proof of US residence form (that means I don't have to pay Japanese taxes!). Then, I've got to RSVP for a Q and A session they are having for new JETs in Atlanta. And I think that's it for a little bit.

Supposedly, the school district is going to contact me directly with their information and a contract that I have to sign and send back. Also, the JET who I'm replacing should be getting in touch with me as well to give me the low-down on the situation. Once I know where I'll be, I then have to apply for the work visa. And at some point a travel agent is going to contact me to get the air travel all squared away. The school district will be covering travel costs. And then I'm off to J-Land. I'm getting pumped about this!

(I have to apologize for the playa joke - major cheese. It was for the kids.)