Rural Placements: How rural?

[AVN]

Hello all! I just found out I was placed in a "town" of about 4,000 people (and shrinking). I grew up in a small town and moved to a big city and I have noticed that I have a pretty different idea of what rural means. In San Francisco, it seems that anything past the Oakland hills is considered rural. I wouldn't consider my placement rural. Maybe it's because I'm an avid hiker and camper, but if there's running water and a phone line, it's not rural just small.

And that is a good attitude to have but as many of have said things like ruralness are subjective. I know my nearest jets in cites of 40 000 and 110 000 respectively complain about the ruralness/smallness of their placements.

[tdot9]

Thanks for the more input guys!

I have a question about when you do find out your placement. Here in Korea when I applied, I was told that I would be placed in Gyeongsangbukdo Province with no word of what specific cities or towns I'd be placed in. I literally accepted my offer, flew to Korea and trusted that I'd be placed somewhere nice without a clue as to where I'd be put.

Are you guys likewise told what prefecture you will be placed in or are you told specifically what city or town you will be placed in before you have accepted the offer?

Thanks!

[word]

You'll get a great deal of information beforehand. I got my contract from my BoE bundled with a great deal of information about my village. My pred also sent me a long, detailed email message about my placement.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

You'll get a great deal of information beforehand. I got my contract from my BoE bundled with a great deal of information about my village. My pred also sent me a long, detailed email message about my placement.

Heh, I got a JET placement notice with the name of my city and an email asking how to spell my name in katakana. The rest came from hunting other JETs down on Facebook and web searches.
That said, my area had a lot of new ALTs last year, and most of us had no predecessors, so chances are you'll fare better re. advance information. But still, you know...ESID.

[misheruz]

but if there's running water and a phone line, it's not rural just small.

Japan is a really modern country, and I'd venture to say that all placements have running water, a phone line, internet, and most modern conveniences. I live on an island with around 620 people and I have internet access (it's slow, but the slightly larger neighboring islands have fiber optics). I also have running water, an indoor toilet, an A/C unit, hot water (which is heated by kerosene), and all the other amenities you would think a “rural” placement wouldn’t offer. This is Japan; even the most rural of places are comfortable to live in.

For those rural and island JETs, don’t worry! You’re going to be fine

[bittersweet]

but if there's running water and a phone line, it's not rural just small.

Japan is a really modern country, and I'd venture to say that all placements have running water, a phone line, internet, and most modern conveniences. I live on an island with around 620 people and I have internet access (it's slow, but the slightly larger neighboring islands have fiber optics). I also have running water, an indoor toilet, an A/C unit, hot water (which is heated by kerosene), and all the other amenities you would think a “rural” placement wouldn’t offer. This is Japan; even the most rural of places are comfortable to live in.

For those rural and island JETs, don’t worry! You’re going to be fine

does your toilet flush? i'm just thankful my apartment was upgraded to a flush toilet before I came. It used to be just a hole in the ground, like an outhouse/porta-potty style.

[smstack]

but if there's running water and a phone line, it's not rural just small.

Japan is a really modern country, and I'd venture to say that all placements have running water, a phone line, internet, and most modern conveniences. I live on an island with around 620 people and I have internet access (it's slow, but the slightly larger neighboring islands have fiber optics). I also have running water, an indoor toilet, an A/C unit, hot water (which is heated by kerosene), and all the other amenities you would think a “rural” placement wouldn’t offer. This is Japan; even the most rural of places are comfortable to live in.

For those rural and island JETs, don’t worry! You’re going to be fine

does your toilet flush? i'm just thankful my apartment was upgraded to a flush toilet before I came. It used to be just a hole in the ground, like an outhouse/porta-potty style.

Sorry folks. Didn't mean to say that Japan wasn't a modern country. In my post I explained that I like camping so to me, running water is considered awesome! But that's just my personal perspective. Maybe I've been watching too much Dual Survival....