surie vixaysakd

A personal blog dedicated to my adventures in Japan as a JET Program ALT.  🚩Tome, Miyagi #visitmiyagi

[sayonarasurie]

July 20: How to Survive Tokyo Orientation

This time last year, I was getting ready for my big move to Japan. I was anxious, nervous, scared, and stressing the hell out over packing, goodbyes, omiyage, and figuring out what to wear. I survived Tokyo Orientation (just barely), and now I want to pass on my advice to the Incoming JETs! Sempais (senpais? I never know which one to use), feel free to add your advice!

Sync your internal clock to Japan time, and do this maybe a day or two before your trip, or even on the flight over. I was one of the lucky ones and departed from Hawaii, so my flight was only seven hours BUT I had a 19 hour time difference to deal with. Before my flight I literally stayed up for 24 hours and re-synced my internal clock to Japan time. It may not have been the most convenient thing to do, but it did help minimize my JET lag (tehe). Tokyo Orientation is go go go go go and if you’re jetlagged, you’re going to be miserable. 

Wear comfortable, loose clothes on the flight. Guys, think tshirts and basketball shorts. Girls, maxi dresses, long skirts, loose tops. DO NOT WEAR LEGGINGS. I made the mistake of wearing leggings and by the time I got to Japan my legs were swollen from the compression and altitude difference. Plus it’s going to be super hot and humid so anything tight is gonna make you feel even hotter.  

Grab a cart for your luggage. It’s a long walk from the baggage claim to the buses. Don’t be like me and think you can do it all yourself. I didn’t grab a luggage cart and I was so sweaty and gross by the time I got to the buses. Don’t be like me haha.

Keep your business clothes in your carry on, just in case if your luggage gets lost. Last year, an airline misplaced all of the Florida JETs’ suitcases and CLAIR had them sit in a special section during orientation because they were wearing casual clothes. Awkward haha.

I know you’ll be tempted to go out on your first night in Tokyo, but the best thing to do is just chill at the hotel and sleep or prepare for the first day of orientation and iron your clothes. Even if you feel wide awake, try and rest. The first day of T.O. is grueling. It’s full of workshops, lectures, and seminars. The senior ALTs in charge are going to give you so much information, by the end of the day it’s going to be bleeding out your ears. 

But if you do choose to go out, go out with friends. Use the buddy system. Chances are your phones will be in airplane mode and won’t be able to access GPS. So if you’re going to get lost, it’s better to get lost with friends haha. I ended up hanging out with Hawaii JETs who have been there before and know their way around. It’s going to be said at TO but I’m going to tell you first. STAY AWAY FROM KABUKICHO. Kabukicho is the red-light district in Shinjuku. My aunt told me most of the bars in Kabukicho are ran by Chinese mafia. End up in one of their bars and you’ll leave with no money. They’ll say one price to sucker you in, then at the end of the night you’ll be stuck with a 100,000 yen tab. So be careful!

Don’t trust your roommates. Keep all your money with you at all times or divide it out into different bags so it’s not all in one place. I know it’s weird carrying 200,000 yen around but better safe than sorry. 

Make friends! Network! Talk to ALTs who sit next to you, who knows they might be your best friends or offer a couch at their place if/when you visit!

Drink lots of water. It’s going to be hot. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, drink water so you’ll stay hydrated.

And lastly, enjoy. Your journey of being an ALT for the JET Programme is just beginning. Even though T.O. is three days, it’s going to go by like a complete blur and then you’re going to be whisked away to your city/town. Don’t be stressed!

I hope this helps Incoming JETs. Below are two of my posts from last year’s T.O. if you want to read them!

Sayonara, Surie

August 3: Tokyo Orientation Part One August 4; Tokyo Orientation Part Two

[sayonarasurie]

Because it’s that time of year again! Here are my tips on how to survive Tokyo Orientation. 

[sayonarasurie]

April 4: Dear Successor,

Dear Successor,

You’ve probably heard back from your consulate by now, and found out that you made the shortlist! Congratulations. In the next couple of months, you’ll get an email from your coordinator about being placed in Tome, Miyagi. At first, you’ll probably Google it, then find the city’s awesome *English* website. Then maybe... just maybe... if you’re an internet sleuth... you’ll find my blog. 

Besides my Tokyo Orientation post, my blog is pretty... well... not famous LOL. But in it, I hope you find some helpful things and insight on what it’s like to live and be an ALT in Tome.

Until we can contact each other at the end of May, I hope you start to like the idea of Tome as much as I did when I was an incoming JET.

Sincerely,

Your Pred

[sayonarasurie]

February: An Update

To my dedicated and faithful readers, (and when I say that, I really only mean my mom haha)

It’s been awhile since I posted... almost half a year exactly! So here is a general update of what I’ve been up to since the last time I wrote.

September: Saw a few rocks and canoed in a lake.  In September, a couple friends and I went on a road trip along the Sanriku Coast to look at rocks. We woke up before the crack of dawn to catch the sunrise in Kesennuma then drove up to Iwate to see some rock formations. It was raining intermittently so that put a damper on things. We cut inland to Ryusendo Cave, a natural limestone cave. It was really pretty! At the end of September, I went on a trip to Bandai, Fukushima for MAJET’s annual camping trip. My favorite moment was probably canoeing out on the lake with Chris and just talking about life. Then it rained. See the theme here?

October: A spaghetti princess meets her meatball. I dressed up as a bowl of spaghetti for Halloween. That’s about it haha. 

November: I can’t really remember what I did but I think I had a good month?

December: KOREA! I WENT TO KOREA WITH MAH GIRLS. Korea was amazing. The food, the culture, BIG BANG. I repeat, I SAW BIG BANG IN CONCERT. I wasn’t a huge fan then, but after seeing them live... Dang. It was impressive. Sigh. I can’t wait to live there one day... which brings me to...

January: The Big Decision I decided not to recontract. Despite how much I enjoy being here, I feel like I need to move onto the next chapter of my life. That next chapter being Korea! I’ll write more later!

February: Snow sculptures and soup curry I went to the snow festival in Sapporo! Since that was my second time there, I was able to knock off a few things that I didn’t get to do the first time. Like soup curry. Holy soup gods, Sapporo’s soup curry-- the soup curry that I had-- was absolutely amazing. I regret eating it so fast because I can’t quite remember what it tastes like. But I assure you, it was worth waiting in line for 40 minutes. 

Next month, my brother and my best friends are coming to visit me! We’re going to Osaka and Kyoto. I haven’t been there before so it’s going to be exciting! 

Well, that’s all for today. I’ll write more later. I promise!

Sayonara, Surie

[sayonarasurie]

August: 久しぶり

May: I went home for my big’s wedding. It was my first time visiting home in two years. Home felt familiar but at the same time, I felt out of place. I’ve always thought that after JET, I’d go back to Seattle. Now I’m not so sure. I can easily imagine myself living in another country just as easily as I can imagine myself going back to Seattle. 

June: I got elected-- well I ran unopposed-- to be the Block 2 representative for National AJET. Block 2 consists of Niigata, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Yamagata. I have a lot of work ahead of me but I really hope I can make a difference and inspire Block 2 JETs to explore what’s in their backyard. 

July: I am the last member of the OG Tome Crew. Tina and Ashley’s successors are guys so that leaves me (technically) the only female JET in Tome. There’s always Lucy, but she has a family and is really busy, which I totally understand. Luckily, Anicia in Minamisanriku is always down to hangout and I’m super thankful for her friendship.

August: Arrival of the newbies. The newest cohort of Miyagi JETs are so chill! I met them during prefectural orientation and they are a good group. I hope they stay close and attend MAJET events together. 

[sayonarasurie]

August: Full circle

One week ago, I assisted the PAs with the prefectural orientation for the incoming JETs. On the third day, we went on a boat tour of Matsushima Bay, the same tour I experienced during my orientation two years ago. I think that’s when I finally realized that this is my last year on JET.

That day, I looked out towards the islands in the bay, with the wind in my hair and the briny smell of oysters clinging onto my clothes. I thought about my time on JET. I thought about the people I met, the people I had to say goodbye to, the places I’ve seen, and the things I’ve experienced. Everything led me to that moment. The perfect beginning to an end.

My JET journey has reached a full circle and this year will be full of “lasts.” The last undoukai, the last kyudo-kai, the last Christmas lesson, the last MAJET event. 

As of now, I don’t feel sad. I probably will later. If anything, I feel ready. I’m ready to move on-- to take what I learned in Japan and to put it towards something new and more exciting. 

[sayonarasurie]

Senpai Sundays: Accepting your placement

Dear Incoming JET,

Congratulations! You just received your placement. You’re either really happy and got where you requested, or you’re like “wtf why am I in a village on top of a mountain.” When I got my placement, I was surprised and I was scared. Surprised because I was nowhere near where I requested (requested for southern Japan but got placed in Tohoku). Scared because I was placed in a town affected by the Great Tohoku Earthquake in 2011. And because Tome is in the inaka, there wasn’t a lot of info available online and my senpai JETs weren’t allowed to talk to me yet. But I still accepted my placement, because well... it’s Japan!

So Incoming JET, whether you got placed in a city like you wanted or far out in the inaka where you might be the only JET... think about why you applied for JET. Yeah, it might be hard and you might be out of your comfort zone 90 percent of the time... but that’s what this experience is about. It’s not meant to be easy.

Don’t let your placement discourage you from being an ALT on JET, and PLEASE take time to research what you can, especially if you’re placed in Fukushima. The FuJETs, at least ones I’ve met, are extremely nice and I’m sure they’ll be able to answer any questions you have. In the meantime, this webpage is extremely helpful. 

Unfortunately, CLAIR prohibits JETs from contacting incoming JETs until May 25th... but if you’re placement is a deciding factor for you, there are ways to subtlety reach out. *cough* AJET webpages *cough*

Sincerely, sayonarasurie

[sayonarasurie]

May 8: Senpai Sundays

I’m going to start a series on my blog called “Senpai Sundays” because quite frankly, I need to produce more content on my blog and with the new wave of JETs coming, I figured now is the right time to bestow my senpai wisdom *nervously laughs* 

What topics would you like me to write about? Every situation is different, but I will try my best to answer your questions or shed more light on JET life, especially if you’re placed in Tohoku or Miyagi. 

Please leave something in my ask box! 

[sayonarasurie]

January 13: The Big Decision

When I first arrived to Japan on JET, I knew I wanted to stay two years. It was the perfect amount of time. Two years was long enough to get what I wanted out of JET but short enough to return to America as if I haven’t really left. Like a time capsule of sorts. Back to the future kind of vibes. But when I received my re-contract papers last month, I hesitated to decline. I was faced with so many questions-- questions I didn’t have concrete answers for. Do I want to go home? What will I do when I go home? Is Seattle even home anymore? What kind of job do I want to apply for? I talked to my parents and my big sis for advice. My parents were not opposed to me staying another year and my big sis actually encouraged me to stay. I have a good paying job and I really enjoy teaching. If I don’t know what I’m going to do after JET I might as well stay another year to think about it, figure it out, and take action. 

I know a lot of blogs warn you against staying because you’re scared of going home. But that’s not how I feel at all. I knew if I left, I would regret it. There’s still so much I want to do while I’m here. I want to start the new year knowing it’s my last, and give it my all and hopefully make a lasting impression towards my students. 

So family and friends, I have decided to stay another year in Japan. But don’t worry, next year will definitely be my last.

Cheers to year three!

[sayonarasurie]

December 13: YO-FUCKING-KATTA

Hi my name is Surie and I finally passed the Japanese driver’s license test. It only took five times (and five months) and it might be the most expensive piece of paper I own besides my bachelor’s degree but oh well, I can drive legally now. So... why did it take so long? Well... well. *sips tea*

Miyagi has one driving center. ONE. And it only serves foreigners between 13:00-13:30. Yep, a half hour window to serve all the foreigners in Miyagi. Because there’s only one test center in the entire prefecture, time slots get pretty full so theoretically a foreigner such as myself can take the drive test only once a month. ONCE A MONTH. One of my friends in Hiroshima took it five times in a week. So fellow Miyagi JETs... Listen to the PAs and sempais when we say start getting your driver’s license when the snow melts in March. Please, for the love of god, start early. Don’t be like me and think you can pass on the first time because you won’t. Unless you’re like my boyfriend who passed on his first time T.T

The test... Oh the test. Like all Japanese things, it’s a ceremony. You do it the way they want you to and you’ll pass. What does that mean? Well. Driving so close to the left side you might fall into the ditch. Driving through the crank turn with wide sweeping turns because of course you’ll use this in real life. Stop for a total of three seconds. Check your blind spot, side mirror, and rear view mirror a gazillion times before you turn. Okay, so maybe I’m still bitter about the test and my advice is not exactly sound. But for real for real, you cannot and will not pass the test if you drive how you normally do. The proctors, at least my proctors, were so nit-picky it was almost inconsistent. I used my signal too early or too late. I didn’t check my blind spots for long enough blahblahblah. 

So, what do I advise you to do?

1. PRACTICE. Do you have a driving school in your town? If so, please book a one to two hour practice drive with them. They will give you pointers about your driving and tell you how to pass. I was stubborn as fuck and didn’t want to spend the 5500 yen to do this, but I ended up spending more to take the test multiple times. 

2. START EARLY. I can’t stress this enough. If you live in a prefecture that only has one driving center and has limitations on how many times you can take it a month, please please please start the process as early as possible. In Miyagi, that means after the snow melts. I started in July and failed four times before I passed on my fifth try in December, 4 months after my IDP expired. Luckily I live in an inaka town and not a lot of cops stop foreigners but still. Better safe than sorry.

If you have any questions about my experience or want some advice, please message me! 

Sayonara, Surie

[sayonarasurie]

October 6: Update

Hello everyone and anyone, long time no read. Summer vacation mode just kind of took over and I haven’t updated my blog in three months ha ha ha. Oops, sorry. Well, a lot of stuff has happened but here is all of it in a nutshell.

July 15-18: Climbed Mt. Fuji (well, most of it) with Ashley and Patrick. Still working on the video montage. I’ll try to get it up soon! And we went to FujiQ!

August 5: Tome City welcome orientation for new ALTs. This year our city got two new ALTs!

August 15-27: Took a Japanese course with GenkiJACS in Tokyo! I highly recommend GenkiJACs if you want to take a language course over winter or summer break. They follow the Genki books, so if you already finished the textbooks this course isn’t for you. The classes are conducted all in Japanese and you get to meet so many people from all over the world! JETs also receive a 50 PERCENT discount on tuition!

August 27: MAJET welcome party in Sendai. My first event as a member of the Miyagi AJET committee. It went smoothly but it could’ve gone smoother.

September 17-19: MAJET glamping trip to Lake Hibara in Fukushima prefecture.

September 23: Failed my drive test, again T.T

October 1: Shiroishi Samurai Festival. 

October 5: Third time is the... wait. I failed the drive test again. More on that later.

YEP! So that’s what I’ve been up to the last few months. I got my recontract procedure papers from my school a few days ago. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. I can easily see myself going home and moving on, then again I can just as easily seeing myself stay another year. *sigh*

I’ll probably do a few dumpster posts in the next few hours, since I don’t have class today.

[sayonarasurie]

July 20: How to Survive Tokyo Orientation

This time last year, I was getting ready for my big move to Japan. I was anxious, nervous, scared, and stressing the hell out over packing, goodbyes, omiyage, and figuring out what to wear. I survived Tokyo Orientation (just barely), and now I want to pass on my advice to the Incoming JETs! Sempais (senpais? I never know which one to use), feel free to add your advice!

Sync your internal clock to Japan time, and do this maybe a day or two before your trip, or even on the flight over. I was one of the lucky ones and departed from Hawaii, so my flight was only seven hours BUT I had a 19 hour time difference to deal with. Before my flight I literally stayed up for 24 hours and re-synced my internal clock to Japan time. It may not have been the most convenient thing to do, but it did help minimize my JET lag (tehe). Tokyo Orientation is go go go go go and if you’re jetlagged, you’re going to be miserable. 

Wear comfortable, loose clothes on the flight. Guys, think tshirts and basketball shorts. Girls, maxi dresses, long skirts, loose tops. DO NOT WEAR LEGGINGS. I made the mistake of wearing leggings and by the time I got to Japan my legs were swollen from the compression and altitude difference. Plus it’s going to be super hot and humid so anything tight is gonna make you feel even hotter.  

Grab a cart for your luggage. It’s a long walk from the baggage claim to the buses. Don’t be like me and think you can do it all yourself. I didn’t grab a luggage cart and I was so sweaty and gross by the time I got to the buses. Don’t be like me haha.

Keep your business clothes in your carry on, just in case if your luggage gets lost. Last year, an airline misplaced all of the Florida JETs’ suitcases and CLAIR had them sit in a special section during orientation because they were wearing casual clothes. Awkward haha.

I know you’ll be tempted to go out on your first night in Tokyo, but the best thing to do is just chill at the hotel and sleep or prepare for the first day of orientation and iron your clothes. Even if you feel wide awake, try and rest. The first day of T.O. is grueling. It’s full of workshops, lectures, and seminars. The senior ALTs in charge are going to give you so much information, by the end of the day it’s going to be bleeding out your ears. 

But if you do choose to go out, go out with friends. Use the buddy system. Chances are your phones will be in airplane mode and won’t be able to access GPS. So if you’re going to get lost, it’s better to get lost with friends haha. I ended up hanging out with Hawaii JETs who have been there before and know their way around. It’s going to be said at TO but I’m going to tell you first. STAY AWAY FROM KABUKICHO. Kabukicho is the red-light district in Shinjuku. My aunt told me most of the bars in Kabukicho are ran by Chinese mafia. End up in one of their bars and you’ll leave with no money. They’ll say one price to sucker you in, then at the end of the night you’ll be stuck with a 100,000 yen tab. So be careful!

Don’t trust your roommates. Keep all your money with you at all times or divide it out into different bags so it’s not all in one place. I know it’s weird carrying 200,000 yen around but better safe than sorry. 

Make friends! Network! Talk to ALTs who sit next to you, who knows they might be your best friends or offer a couch at their place if/when you visit!

Drink lots of water. It’s going to be hot. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, drink water so you’ll stay hydrated.

And lastly, enjoy. Your journey of being an ALT for the JET Programme is just beginning. Even though T.O. is three days, it’s going to go by like a complete blur and then you’re going to be whisked away to your city/town. Don’t be stressed!

I hope this helps Incoming JETs. Below are two of my posts from last year’s T.O. if you want to read them!

Sayonara, Surie

August 3: Tokyo Orientation Part One August 4; Tokyo Orientation Part Two

[sayonarasurie]

July 13: How not to be a jerk to your pred

When your pred says you need a car, you NEED a car. Especially if you live in the inaka. If you think you can bike everywhere, sure you definitely can. But can you bike in a monsoon? Do you wanna bike 45 minutes in eight inches of snow during a flurry? If your pred highly suggests you buy a car, whether it is theirs or not, please buy a car. We know what our commutes are like and whether or not biking (or motorcycling) are good options. Most of the times, at least where I live in the inaka, a car is the only form of trusted transportation. If money is a problem, we are more than willing to negotiate or figure out a payment plan. We aren’t going to cheat you out of your money by upselling a kei car. If you still are hesitant about the price of our cars, we can get it priced for you at a mechanic’s shop. But please keep in mind that sometimes, preds paid for shaken. Shaken is basically an inspection of the car. We take it to a mechanic and the mechanic inspects for anything broken and fixes it. Once it passes inspection, it’s good for another two years. Shaken can be pretty pricey though. It can cost between 70,000-100,000 yen. We also pay an annual car tax, costing between 7,900 to 120,00 yen depending on how old our cars are. If you’re wondering why we want you to pay 150,000 yen for a small kei car, this is why. We just want our money back. At least most of it back. It’s not fair for us to pay for two years of  your shaken while you get to drive it for a year and get away without paying shaken. 

Please buy our things! Heaters, air cons, humidifiers, kotatsus, whatever. If we try to sell it to you, you’ll most likely need it. My pred sold me a fan, a kerosene heater, an electric heater, a ceramic heater, a humidifier, and a couch for $170. I used everything except for the kerosene heater because I’m scared to burn the apartment down haha. Please keep in mind that whatever is in our apartment, from the plates and utensils to the books in the bookshelves, are passed down from previous ALTs. We can’t give you the bare necessities of an apartment; don’t be a jerk and tell us that you don’t want anything because you secretly hate used things. Well for futons and blankets that’s understandable. But for appliances and stuff… we bought it and like the car, we want a fraction of the money back. Plus it’s such a hassle to try and get rid of things if you don’t want them. Also, buying new is always more expensive.

This post was prompted by one of my friends, who is dealing with a stubborn successor. This guy doesn’t want to buy my friend’s car. Instead, he wants to buy a motorcycle because it’s his passion. But seriously, come on dude. You’re living in Miyagi prefecture. In the inaka. A motorcycle is nice for summer but it’s not practical for winter or monsoon season, and Miyagi gets pretty bad weather in the winter and monsoon season. I just don’t get it. I understand it’s your passion, but sometimes you have to trade in your passion for what’s practical; be flexible for the sake of convenience.

Other than that, I’m sure your pred has your best interests at heart. He/she has successfully gone through what you’re going to go through and he/she survived. They just want to pass on their wisdom to ensure that your transition goes as smoothly as possible. 

Anyway, rant over.

Sayonara, Surie

[greetingsfromfukushima]

Seriously guys if they say you need a car, get a car.

A friend of mine was trying to sell his car to some newcomers who all didn’t get back to him or said it was too expensive (it was like 300,000 and he was willing to go to 250,000, which isn’t bad at all). His commute is 40+ minutes by car to get to his schools, which is not a feasible biking distance, especially in rain and snow. He mentioned this to the BoE, and some time later on they told him he had to skip speech contest practice and come into work for a “tactics meeting”.

They then passed over two pieces of paper to him.

One was an extremely passive-aggressive email by the BoE that they had google translated and wanted him to fix. It was essentially, “Dear new JETs, To work here, you need a car. You cannot work here if you do not have a car. A car is necessary. We know that cars can be expensive, so please consider buying a car from your predecessors as they will be cheaper. You really need a car.”

The second piece of paper was a lovely chart they had drawn out detailing the expenses of buying a new car, a used car, and buying from the current JETs ni the city. All of which had stars next to their prices because they were the cheapest option. They then told my friend he could add whatever he wanted to the chart to help…encourage the new JETs to buy it. So he included things like winter tires, etc.

The BoE sent off the documents and very shortly he was contacted by two incoming JETs asking for his car.

[wetnasty]

300,000 is a lot… Especially in a very short amount of time. I’m in the market for a car now (even though my pred told me I didn’t need one and there is a looong story behind that though one I will share when this god forsaken move in process has finished). I’ve been constantly asking but have received no answers: are people expecting (for this case in particular) 300,000 in cash straight up? That’s coming to Japan with almost $8000 USD….

[readysetgaikokujin]

I hope it’s okay to answer here: I bought my first car here from my predecessor for about 180,000. I didn’t have the money at the time, so I sent her a check when the paperwork went through. See if your pred can do something like that, and if they are unwilling to budge then you are under no obligation to buy only from them! You should look elsewhere in the community and at dealers to buy cars from someone who can help meet your needs. People should compromise where that much money is concerned, on both sides.

If your pred is unflinching you have options (at least in Aomori): 1. buy from another leaver, or at least get quotes to haggle with your pred from other leavers 2. buy a used car from a lot here once you get here, and take your supervisor along to set up monthly payments (one girl did this in Mutsu just two years ago, they were very low payments because she sent money home on top of saving for grad school)

[life-in-the-inaka-deactivated20]

I agree with this in that if your pred says you need a car, then you NEED a car. Japans public transportation outside of cities is not great. Where I live I’m over an hour drive from the nearest train station and the buses, while reliable, do not cover a great distance or come frequently. Preds generally are the cheapest option but if you don’t have that sort of money up front it’s OK. I understand that that is a LOT of money to be dropping in one go. I honestly wouldn’t have been able to afford it. Email your BoE or school and explain if you can’t afford it all. They should help you :)

I rent my car from a local mechanic who has been renting to local ALTs for years. I pay 20,000 a month and it covers everything.

[nichibeipeaches]

I’m going to second buying your car off a used lot– When I got here, I got here in October so there weren’t any cars for sales among JETs in Kumamoto. I ended up getting a used kei care for about 30 man after shaken over several months and came with some sort of plan with the dealership. When I’ve had car troubles (like the time a belt broke or the window motor broke…) they repaired it for me and gave me a rental if I needed it. If there’s ever issues with my car, I call them before I call my supervisor. 

[farfromthepacific-deactivated20]

@commonlybefuddled here’s the post

[commonlybefuddled]

Thanks, but I guess there’s no advice on dealing with the wiley successor. I offered her my car cheap for the age and mileage (170,000 for an in shape H15) with Shaken being covered for two years :/ she originally asked me to lower the price, because she seemed to be hurting for money, but I held fast, because the price is more than fair. I told her the BOE was more than willing to give her a forward on her paycheck to make sure she has a car, because she needs it. She then replied with, “I’m planning to buy one off a lot after I move in. I would feel safer that way.” Even though it’ll be much more expensive?? And she won’t be able to leave town until she has the car?? And she’ll be troubling my coworkers to give her rides during work hours to go to car lots??

Unless she really hates the aesthetic of my car, I feel like she just slapped me across the face and told me she thinks I’m ripping her off :/

[sayonarasurie]

Woah I didn’t expect my post would spark a discussion but I’m glad other JETs shared their experiences and feel the same way.

Incoming JETs, trust your pred. I can’t stress that enough. When we say you need a car, YOU NEED A CAR. You don’t have to buy it from us directly, but most of the time buying from us is the best deal you’ll get. Not only does it save your pred (and supervisor) a lot of stress, you’ll also have a car right from the get go and at the end of the day save YOU a lot of stress of trying to go to different dealerships to find the best deal yourself. If it makes you uneasy to purchase a car you haven’t inspected yourself, ask your pred to get it checked out at a mechanic shop or ask any other ALT from your area to vouch for the car. Negotiate with your pred and see if they are willing to wait after you arrive to transfer the money. But don’t be a jerk and change your mind last minute over minute details like, “this car doesn’t have a working cd player” or “there’s a tiny dent in the bumper” or “this car looks weird”. If you change your mind last minute, your supervisor has to figure out what to do with an unwanted car. Remember, it’s just a form of transportation. 

For preds whose successors are hesitant about buying your cars (@commonlybefuddled)... Remind them it’s only a car. If it takes you from Point A to Point B and has a fair amount time left before the next shaken, it’s almost always a good deal. Hell, my pred sold me her car for $700. It had a long dent on the side from when she hit a pole during a monsoon but for $700 AND two years of shaken? Fuck the dent, it was the best deal I was gonna get so I took it. Function over form. It’s just a mode of transportation. If you’re successor is still resisting... well you tried your best to warn them. All you can do is sit back, sip on your tea and watch them stress (from afar). 

@wetnasty: 300,000 yen is super expensive, maybe the car is a white plate and not a kei car... In my situation, I PayPal’d the money to my pred before arriving to Japan due to her special circumstances. One of my friends ended up wiring the money to her pred after our first paycheck. Every situation is different, just communicate with your pred or successor and set expectations for payment deadline and methods.

Update on my friend’s successor: One of the older ALTs (she’s a lifer, been in Tome for 10+ years) in my town tried to convince him and he’s still insistent on the motorcycle. *sigh* All of the other ALTs are just shaking their heads, waiting to see how this unfolds. 

[wheninyamanashi]

When my JTE removes all of the actual writing and thinking from a writing exercise

[sayonarasurie]

THIS.

Today I was assisting with my third year JHS classes and we’re on the unit about the Amazon. I read the new words and sentences, then the questions. Right when I’m done reading the questions, she re-asks it in Japanese, then writes the answer on the board giving students no time to actually critically think, or practice writing T.T

[sayonarasurie]

July 13: How not to be a jerk to your pred

When your pred says you need a car, you NEED a car. Especially if you live in the inaka. If you think you can bike everywhere, sure you definitely can. But can you bike in a monsoon? Do you wanna bike 45 minutes in eight inches of snow during a flurry? If your pred highly suggests you buy a car, whether it is theirs or not, please buy a car. We know what our commutes are like and whether or not biking (or motorcycling) are good options. Most of the times, at least where I live in the inaka, a car is the only form of trusted transportation. If money is a problem, we are more than willing to negotiate or figure out a payment plan. We aren’t going to cheat you out of your money by upselling a kei car. If you still are hesitant about the price of our cars, we can get it priced for you at a mechanic’s shop. But please keep in mind that sometimes, preds paid for shaken. Shaken is basically an inspection of the car. We take it to a mechanic and the mechanic inspects for anything broken and fixes it. Once it passes inspection, it’s good for another two years. Shaken can be pretty pricey though. It can cost between 70,000-100,000 yen. We also pay an annual car tax, costing between 7,900 to 120,00 yen depending on how old our cars are. If you’re wondering why we want you to pay 150,000 yen for a small kei car, this is why. We just want our money back. At least most of it back. It’s not fair for us to pay for two years of  your shaken while you get to drive it for a year and get away without paying shaken. 

Please buy our things! Heaters, air cons, humidifiers, kotatsus, whatever. If we try to sell it to you, you’ll most likely need it. My pred sold me a fan, a kerosene heater, an electric heater, a ceramic heater, a humidifier, and a couch for $170. I used everything except for the kerosene heater because I’m scared to burn the apartment down haha. Please keep in mind that whatever is in our apartment, from the plates and utensils to the books in the bookshelves, are passed down from previous ALTs. We can’t give you the bare necessities of an apartment; don’t be a jerk and tell us that you don’t want anything because you secretly hate used things. Well for futons and blankets that’s understandable. But for appliances and stuff... we bought it and like the car, we want a fraction of the money back. Plus it’s such a hassle to try and get rid of things if you don’t want them. Also, buying new is always more expensive.

This post was prompted by one of my friends, who is dealing with a stubborn successor. This guy doesn’t want to buy my friend’s car. Instead, he wants to buy a motorcycle because it’s his passion. But seriously, come on dude. You’re living in Miyagi prefecture. In the inaka. A motorcycle is nice for summer but it’s not practical for winter or monsoon season, and Miyagi gets pretty bad weather in the winter and monsoon season. I just don’t get it. I understand it’s your passion, but sometimes you have to trade in your passion for what’s practical; be flexible for the sake of convenience.

Other than that, I’m sure your pred has your best interests at heart. He/she has successfully gone through what you’re going to go through and he/she survived. They just want to pass on their wisdom to ensure that your transition goes as smoothly as possible. 

Anyway, rant over.

Sayonara, Surie

[sayonarasurie]

July 7: Driver’s License (1/?)

On Friday I took approved leave to go to Sendai and get my license translated. I took the train from Semine to Higashi-Sendai, walked 30 minutes to Japan Auto Federation to translate my license. By the way, getting your license translated is super easy; it took me about 15 minutes. After that I walked a whopping hour and a half to the driver’s license place. Why don’t they have these places next to each other, I have no idea.

So to get your driver’s license in Japan (if you are an American) is a ridiculous process. First you have to get your license translated by JAF then go through an interview process with the people at the DOL. In Miyagi prefecture, the DOL only services foreigners from 13:00-13:30. Yep, you read that right. 30 minutes to process everyone. But after your interview, assuming you pass, you schedule your drive test and have to come back another day. So back to my time at the DOL.

I was the first person there, and I met a couple of Tohoku University graduate students. Exchanged pleasantries and waited until the office workers opened. One of them spoke Japanese well and asked if I needed a translator. The DOL worker comes walking out and asks in Japanese, “anyone here for the first time?” I raise my hand and he comes over to me and asks for my translation and residence certificate. I hand him my translation and my fingers can’t quite grab my residence certificate because it’s lodged between other papers. Now this guy is getting impatient and keeps saying, “juminhyo” over and over and over again until I give it to him. Now because of that, and after walking for an hour and a half, I was extremely annoyed. Chill out dude! He grabs everyone’s papers and goes back into the office and shuts the door.

We wait. We wait. We wait. Then he comes back out and says to the Frenchman, “フランスの方,” come inside while the アメリカの方, waits. Um. Okay rude. So I’m waiting again and after thirty minutes the Frenchman comes out with his Japanese-speaking friend and calls me back to get interviewed. Takuto, the friend, comes in with me. We sit down and I get interviewed. Did I take driving lessons? How long was the course? How many hours was dedicated to classroom time? How many hours was spent practicing driving? Did you drive the school’s car or did you drive your own? (Fun fact, they seemed pleased when I said I practiced in a Toyota Camry). When did you get your driver’s license? How much did it cost to get it? This whole time, I was feeling so thankful Takuto came in with me because I wouldn’t have been able to understand anything the DOL worker was saying. Next was the difficult part: proving I was in the US for more than three months after obtaining my current license.

So Japan makes it really difficult for Americans to get their licenses because they don’t want Japanese international students to get licenses in America then get it translated to Japanese licenses. And America doesn’t have federal driving regulations, so to Japan’s eyes, that’s not good enough. Anyway. My situation was pretty difficult because even though I had my license since 2013, I got my license renewed on May 22, 2015. Right before I came to Japan, right in that three month window. So to prove I was in America for more than three months, I brought my expired license and a copy of my university diploma. Even though we bring in our passports, we can’t use that as proof because we don’t get departure stamps. I mean really though, why would anyone get departure stamps if they’re leaving from their own country? So I suggest either using your diploma or your official transcripts to show start and end dates. Takuto was extremely helpful in this regard because he explained to the DOL worker that even though my diploma doesn’t have a start date, this kind of diploma takes time to get. Four years to get. So that convinced the DOL worker. 

After the interview, we go back outside and wait until my paperwork gets processed. After half an hour, I get called in and schedule my drive test, which in itself is an entirely different level of difficulty, which I will write about after August 4th when I take it. 

Overall, the day was full of waiting. I got to the DOL at 12:40 and didn’t leave until 16:00. 

And I’m glad to know DOLs are miserable places regardless if you’re in America or in Japan.

Oh, and this is part 1/? because I don’t know how many times it’s going to take me to pass the driving test. It takes most people two to three times T.T

[oneinsilence]

Dear former and current JET ALTs, I know every situation is different and everyone’s experiences are different but what was the hardest for you in terms of starting work life?

[sayonarasurie]

Hey Maya! I’m a first year ALT in Miyagi Prefecture. The hardest thing for me was forming relationships with my JTEs and students. My predecessor had prior teaching experience and spoke Japanese at an N2 level, while I was fresh out of college with N4 speaking capabilities. My JTEs are also super shy and one of them doesn’t speak English that well, so it was difficult trying to talk to them about lesson plans, their expectations of my role, and other trivial stuff like... when school assemblies are. I’ve been left alone in the staffroom too many times to count T.T As for my middle school students, they’re also really shy and even a year later some of them still greet me in Japanese -.- But elementary school... They got used to me pretty quickly and I love those kids to death. 

Of course over time things got better and my relationships with my JTEs have improved. If I had to give any advice I’d tell you to be proactive and overly curious the first couple months you are here. 

Hope this gives you some insight :D

[sayonarasurie]

June 18, 25-26: Views from Kesennuma

I didn’t realize how much I missed the ocean until I took a road trip to Kesennuma, a port town in northern Miyagi. My friends and I decided to take the scenic route, hoping to sneak in peeks of the ocean. When I saw the sparkling blue water (according to my friend @kissing-kuma, we came on a perfect day, usually the water isn’t that blue) I was filled with nostalgia. It brought back memories of going to the beach with my family in Hawaii and the bonfires my friends and I would have in Seattle. It brought back the feelings of comfort, excitement, and spontaneity associated with those memories. It’s like the ocean was saying, お帰り, welcoming me home. Dammit. I wish I lived in Kesennuma. 

Kesennuma is a huge port town located in northern Miyagi. The southern-most point of Kesennuma is a 30 minute drive away from the northern-most point of Tome, but to get to the port it takes another hour. Kesennuma is known for its fresh ほや, or sea pineapple, and anything shark-related. Actual sharks, shark meat, shark heart... Kesennuma has it all! OH! And Kesennuma is where KEN WATANABE’s cafe, k-port, is located! It’s a very cute town and might be my new favorite place. 

Our adventure starts off at k-port. As some of you may or may not know, I kind of have a huge crush on Ken Watanabe. So I was secretly fangirling the whole time I was there, not really caring I was spending 500 yen for a cafe latte. My group met up with another ALT from Kes and we followed her to Karakuwa to meet up with @kissing-kuma! Then we piled in one car and drove to various view points.

Port of Kesennuma!

One of the views from Oreishi Park in Karakuwa!

These rock formations were pretty cool. I wish I was gutsy enough to venture out there with my friends.

After venturing around Karakuwa we returned to the port and ate an Pin Pon. I tried hoya and shark heart sashimi and... it’s definitely an acquired taste. The texture of hoya is similar to surf clams. At first it’s briny but the aftertaste has sweet undertones, which is why I’m guessing it’s called a sea pineapple. It sounds pleasant but I couldn’t stomach it. The shark heart, to be honest, made me feel like a complete badass. It was bloody, it was meaty, and IT WAS ONCE BEATING INSIDE A SHARK. It was disgusting and I’ll never eat it again but it makes a good story right?

Shark heart sashimi!

After eating dinner, we said our goodbyes and returned to Tome. One week later, we were back in Kesennuma but took the ferry to Oshima Island for the MAJET Leaver’s Party.

View of the port from the ferry.

I don’t want this post to get longer than it already is so here is my Oshima Island trip in a nutshell:

I faced my fear of birds and fed a seagull a shrimp chip on the ferry. Just kidding, I still hate birds. I made a rock tower. I threw some rocks in the ocean. I “bouldered” to a lookout ledge. I took a basic af picture. Here is said picture:

I kicked a soccer ball. I played volleyball. I collected sea glass. I cooked some yakisoba. I drank Tome jungle juice. I said goodbye to the leavers. Almost cried. End of story.

I’ll write a more in depth post later. It’s too soon to say goodbye.

But yeaaaaah! I love Kesennuma and I really want to go back sometime soon. Driving up to Kesennuma definitely makes me want to visit other towns in Miyagi! 

Until next time!

Sayonara, Surie