(Possibly) Moving to Japan in a few months...

**gaspar** · 04-13-2012, 04:53 PM

Hi all!

I found out earlier this week that I got an employment position I applied for. If I accept, it will mean my wife and I are moving to Japan for at least a year (possibilities exist for renewing the contract if both sides want to) starting this August. Over the past several years I've done a lot of research on Japan / Japanese culture, studied the language in grad school (though the classes were a long time ago now and my skills pretty much don't exist), and I have been there once on a research / vacation trip. I have no idea which city I might be in or near yet...there are many openings around the country and I have to wait a bit to find out my placement.

This is very exciting, but I'm also a little nervous. I've traveled around and outside of the US quite a bit, but I've never lived too far from things I know for an extended period of time. I kind of know in my head what to expect, but I also know that new and different things will be thrown at me pretty much daily for the next year - and I'm kind of excited about that!

I just wanted to post and see who here has picked up and moved far, far away. Where did you live? What did you do? What are some things that you wish you would have known, packed / brought, or done before you left? Or things that you wish you did while you were away but didn't think of until you were back. Anything you can think of that might help my preparation over the next few months...

Thanks!

**Petey Parker** · 04-13-2012, 04:56 PM

Watch out for Godzilla

also LUCKY!

**gaspar** · 04-13-2012, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Petey Parker

Watch out for Godzilla

also LUCKY!

Ha! Thanks

**BronxRonin** · 04-13-2012, 05:00 PM

That's awesome ... congratulations I remember the pictures of your trip and how cool they were. Best of luck to you both.

**russw** · 04-13-2012, 05:03 PM

thats rad. I went to Japan on a business trip years ago and and found it to be beautiful and utterly fascinating

**gaspar** · 04-13-2012, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by BronxRonin

That's awesome ... congratulations I remember the pictures of your trip and how cool they were. Best of luck to you both.

Thanks! I had a fantastic time...glad you liked the photos!

Originally Posted by russw

thats rad. I went to Japan on a business trip years ago and and found it to be beautiful and utterly fascinating

It really is...just in my very brief time there I found something new, interesting and beautiful around every corner!

**Caley Tibbittz** · 04-14-2012, 09:00 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6Ni1MjPCtU

**EdNEMO** · 04-14-2012, 10:17 AM

Congrats.

**GelfXIII** · 04-14-2012, 10:48 AM

I hear its a real buyers market for property in the North Eastern coast of Japan.

**gaspar** · 04-26-2012, 11:51 AM

Thanks again guys!

On a side note...have any of you ever moved to another country? I'm trying to make lists of things to bring (clothes, meds, toiletries, electronics, etc.) and I'm wondering what kind of stuff might not be obvious but that I'll want to have with me when I get there. I'll only have 2 checked suitcases, 1 carry-on suitcase, and a personal bag to fit my entire life into. Probably 80-90% of my belongings are going into storage, being sold, or getting donated / trashed. I'm just having a bit of difficulty figuring out what that 10-20% that I'm taking should include...

Thanks!