Ready, Set, Go to Japan!

                         Newly-hired ALT? Congratulations! Now there's the nerve-wracking waiting period before deployment so it gives you nothing but stress. Well, relax and use that time in preparing yourself before going to Japan.  I made a list of things that you can do before starting your journey as an ALT. 

                           

1. Research about Japanese people and Japanese culture so you can know what to expect in this country. Study Nihongo too, being able to speak and understand survival Japanese can make a big difference! Memorizing katakana and hiragana can also make your life in Japan less miserable.
2. Prioritize the papers (birth certificate, marriage certificate etc.) that you have to bring with you. Also, know how to pay your taxes and or insurance in your home country.
3. Get a driver's license. It'll be hard and expensive to get one in Japan. For those who will not have driving contracts, you can probably practice riding a bicycle because it might be needed in your placement. 
4. Remember the things that you have to bring; medicines, toiletries, pictures that can show your country's culture for future lessons etc. 
5. Try to get a credit card. It's very hard for foreigners to get a credit card in Japan. Japanese usually use cash but credit cards will be great for online transactions such as buying flight tickets.
6. Think of the money that you have to bring. Where are you going to change it to Japanese yen?
7. Learn how to cook for yourself. Try to bring the ingredients from your country that you probably can't find in Japan. One more thing, start using chopsticks! You can practice this skill by picking up grains of rice (it took me three months to get used to it). 
8. Think of how are you going to connect to your family and friends online once you arrive in Japan. You might also want to start cleaning up your social networking sites.
9. Beautify yourself, it’s pretty expensive in Japan. 
10.  If you still have much time, travel! It might be hard for you to go home again and you'll always regret not being able to go to place you always want to visit.

                         On a different note, Japan finally opened its door to Filipino English teachers. I'm always thankful to everyone (Chesham Recruitment Agency and Interac) who exerted much effort to make this possible. Luckily, I was included in the first batch of Filipino ALTs who were dispatched to Japan. Imagine our excitement, fear, joy and stress for being the pioneers. 

(sorry for putting those weird glasses,haha)

Good luck to all of us! Gambarimasu ne! ;)