Jumping in with both feet

[Bettlebob]

I have been reading this forum for a couple months now and decided that I would finally join and say hi to everybody, mainly because I arrive in Japan on Thursday. I am pretty excited about this, I am moving over to Japan and teaching English with Nova (not my first choice, but the only way I could figure out to get paid and get over there). I have never been to Japan before and I don't speak the language...... but I have always wanted to go.

Any insight on stuff to bring or stuff to leave at home, or what to expect going through customs would be greatly appreciated. I have never left the US before and now I am moving to another country. This is awsome!!!!


Bettlebob

[ramchop]

First piece of advice. Immediately go shopping at your friendly neighbourhood FG panic Sayonara sale!

[Snapped]

Bring lots of deodorants. Summer is coming soon. Hope you have a great time in Japan. Tell us what life's like in Kisarazu.

[GomiGirl]

Oohh lots of threads if you poke around the archives or use the keyword search.

There is not that much difference with getting through the immigration if you have all your paperwork done etc. Just use your common sense when packing and remember that Summer is comming and it is really humid..

Have fun..

[Taro Toporific]

Bring lots of deodorants. Summer is coming soon

Shoes!
If you're gonna be "Jumping in with both feet" be sure you got your shoes.
You'll need a pair of unused atheltic shoes for use only indoors at most health clubs. You can't just walk into a Japanese gym with your street sneakers and cut-offs. You gotta have DELEGATED new exercise shoes and preferably delegated exercise clothing too. If you're like me, finding size 12 EEE gym shoes is gonna be a pain (Cost-co Japan and Sports Authority here have them sometimes).

Once I needed deck shoes for yacht party on the Trump Princess. US Embassy very begrudgingly got them for me from the Navy Exchange on Yokosuka only after calling my US Senator a couple of times. The same problem can happen for some US medications not approved in Japan.

[Big Booger]

Rubbers... if you are going to be doing any hanky panky, most of the Japanese kondomu can cut into the shaft, and can actually inhibit your abilty to produce a full erection.

muwahahahaha...

Seriously, bring handkerchiefs/mini-towels for the sweat in summer, shoes are a must here... nothing like looking over for 32-33CM shoes out in the boons.... as Taro suggests.

Bring some omiyage just in case.. Usually when you meet people here for the first time they give you something... so bring something to give to them. I brought JD.. in the mini-bottle variety... it was a hit with most of my co-workers. And I brought some local candies and things that were not too sweet.

I'd bring any kind of food that you'll really miss, in small quantities.. ONce you get here, you can get pretty much whatever from the Foreign Buyers club...

If something else comes to mind I'll let you know.

[Taro Toporific]

shoes are a must here... nothing like looking over for 32-33CM shoes out in the boons.... .

Shoe comments ripped off from today's posts at the Tokyo PC Users Group
http://www.tokyopc.org/cgi-bin/webnews/newsgroup?G=tpc.chit-chat

....I grow weary of having kleenex boxes on my [size 12] feet to keep the rats from biting my toes...eek

...A less inexpensive solution is going to Kamakura (daibutsu) and wait for a tourist bus with German or Dutch tourists. You have enough time to select your new shoes outside the temple while the guys are praying inside. Don't forget to leave your beloved oldies. The tourist will truly appreciate it

[Bettlebob]

Well I don't have the size 12 shoe problem but I will be picking up some shoes before I leave... something I never really thought of.

Yeah the omiyage is something that kinda worried me I wasn't sure what was appropriate and what was not.

Other then that I guess I am going to wing it and make the best of it.

Bettlebob