Pre-departure process - update

A goal I have in this blog is also to keep track of the administrative processes that I have gone through during my entire journey in Japan. It will be a useful informal guide for my successor I guess, and hopefully he/she can gain some insights as to what he/she might experience or look out for when I leave the programme. It's also a mini-rant to clear my thoughts as well.

So what has transpired so far? Just a quick update on my status (together with the dates and source of the information):

• [260708] - confirmed apartment
• [140708, Embassy of Japan, event] - pre-departure orientation, obtain Visa
  
• [230608, IBRK BOE, snail mail] - received package with sample contract - posted to HTCNK city, KTT High School (a senior high school)/(base school)
  
• [200608, UD, email] - MH and my supervisor, English department head of KTT High School
  
• [190608, IBRK PA/CIR, email] - Successor's guide from MH (American from Oklahoma)
  
• [220508, Embassy of Japan, snail mail] - posted to IBRK prefecture

Here is a subsection on thoughts and communication that is ongoing:

[230708]

I am prone to eczema (a skin condition) and MH suggests a new apartment as the current apartment is old and molds easily. He suggests the neighbourhood of KTT HC as there are a couple of new apartments. UD is looking for an apartment for me through the estate agent, but the selections are limited as only a few choices are available for foreigners.

He has returned with the following solutions:

1. the current apartment MH is staying (2 rooms and kitchen, 2.5 m × 3.5 m, 2.5 m × 2.5 m with toilet and bath, 45, 000 yen, school pays 22, 000 yen, MH pays 23, 000 yen)
   
2. apartment with wooden floor (wooden floor, only 1 room(2.5 m × 3.5 m) and kitchen, cost unknown)
   
3. apartment with tatami (similar to MH, cost unknown)

I have requested for snapshots of all places and I have never been able to get any from UD nor MH.

We are also toying with the idea of changing tatami mats, but the cost is unknown.

There was then another situation that UD highlighted - my arrival. I was hoping to explore the possibility of doing a homestay for a week while we hunt for an apartment but it looks unlikely as:

[310708] MH vacates apartment

[310708] UD has to move furniture, TV, washing machine and many things to new apartment that day - room needs to be confirmed soonest

[060807] I move into apartment. Following week is Bon festival and UD needs to prepare his house for visiting relatives and festivities

He expressed it will be trouble for him to manage as ALTs of the school have been staying in the same apartment and they have never changed so therefore they did not have to move and clear out things.

During MH's time, he came to Japan in the end of July (Group A), so he could do home-staying about 5 days or so. However as I am coming in August (Group B), UD says it is very difficult to find the host in that week.

It has been difficult to solicit a response from MH as he is having a rough time sorting out departure issues with KTT. I am worried about souring relationships with UD even before I arrive in Japan.

I really hope I won't impose, but I won't want to compromise my living conditions as well. I hope to stay at least for 2 years!