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BEFORE DEPARTING YOUR COUNTRY
How do you prepare?
Research where you will be placed! Keep in contact with your predecessor to learn more about local life, but Google Maps is good at identifying shops and places of interest in English if you don't have a predecessor to talk to. Identify the size and type of stores and restaurants in your area, so you know what's essential to buy before you leave, and what you can buy after arrival.
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Take this opportunity to get to know your supervisor. Once you arrive here in Iwate, you will realize exactly how busy your supervisor is. Through email exchanges with your supervisor, find out how your supervisor functions, what their role is, how many schools you will have (ALTs) or what type of work you will primarily be doing (CIRs).
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Specifically for Iwate, and other northern Japan regions, preparing snow boots and winter clothes in advance may be advantageous if your size is hard to find in Japan. However, JETs usually arrive in either Spring or Summer, so there should be ample time to buy winter gear in Iwate.
If you plan to drive during your time here, make sure to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued some time before your departure. Having an IDP will make converting to a Japanese driver's license much easier if you plan to stay more than 1 year.
Last but not least, wrap up any loose knots back at home and say your farewells! You will become very busy in the time between your placement notification and departure, so make sure to keep an organized schedule and manage your time well. You won't be away from your loved ones forever, but you will be spending a large amount of time away from them, so make sure you keep your support network at home as secure as the support network you will be creating here!
...is that it?
At this stage, yes. Pack the essentials that you need to move out to a new country (clothes, toiletries, hobbies, etc...) and ensure that you can access your financials from overseas and you should be set.
We recommend having access to at least 300,000 yen (2000 USD, 1500 GBP) for your first month, as you may not receive your first pay until the month after arriving to your placement.
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