An important note to new UK JETs

[Jennaiii]

In case you haven't seen it on their twitter, the UK JET desk has been recieving a great deal of incomplete health forms, AND many documents are being sent to the wrong address.

You MUST address things to the JET Desk, c/o Embassy of Japan at the start of the address.

You MUST complete ALL SECTIONS of the Health Form before sending it to the JET desk.

Guys, if you fail to do either of these things it could affect your placement. PAY ATTENTION TO THE INFORMATION THEY GIVE YOU. You don't want to forfeit your place because you did something simple and stupid from not paying attention.

And a note for the future - the London Orientation you will go to has a LOT of IMPORTANT stuff said about luggage - especially in relation to finding out which airline you will be flying with, extra luggage, shipping etc. You should pay attention and WRITE IT DOWN. If you don't, you could miss something vital. Trust me on this!

[AVN]

wow...

[ljoekelsoey4]

so we only found out about flights about 2 weeks before we get on them? for the length of time this application procedure takes im rather miffed they only tell us something that important days before we go. were moving country like, a lot of planning needs to go into packing...

[Jennaiii]

You should be packing already!

But in general you will have between 20 and 23kg of weight for 1 hold suitcase. You can buy another suitcase allowance yourself at the airport. You will also be able to take on a piece of hand luggage (usually 6kg) and a handbag/laptop bag or similar.

Nobody I know had any issues finding out about these things that late. And you won't actually find out what airline you're with until AFTER the pre-departure orientation.


It's seriously not worth worrying about, but it is worth making sure you write down the details when they're given to you.

[gedski41]

^ I think it is more the date we fly rather than luggage details that people would rather know, I know it would make my life easier if i knew which group i was departing in, do we not find this out until LO?

[Jennaiii]

Ah I'd forgotten you guys aren't all group B. Well this is the only time that the UK has been split into groups - it's usually all Group B. But there won't be a lot in it and I'm sure you'll find out soon (I'm surprised you don't know already). But it'll either be the end of July - say around July 25th, or the very end of July/beginning of August. I can only speculate because it's different this year.
It's only the difference of a week or something between Group A and B IIRC.

[ljoekelsoey4]

Ah I'd forgotten you guys aren't all group B. Well this is the only time that the UK has been split into groups - it's usually all Group B. But there won't be a lot in it and I'm sure you'll find out soon (I'm surprised you don't know already). But it'll either be the end of July - say around July 25th, or the very end of July/beginning of August. I can only speculate because it's different this year.
It's only the difference of a week or something between Group A and B IIRC.

the difference of a week could incur several hundred pounds worth of inconvinience to me, of which im having trouble saving for.

[gedski41]

Yeah, that is kind of my issue too, when I move out of my house will depend on when we fly so I could do with knowing sooner rather than later. I guess if it isn't with our placement details when we (hopefully) receive them in the next few days, we can ask JET Desk man and he might be able to advise.

[Jennaiii]

Well, presumably knowing that you'd leave a week later now or two weeks before you went wouldn't make any difference to this, surely? Logically it would cost you money either way... unless you get charged fees for doing things closer to the time? I'm not aware of your situation so I can only suggest making the assumption you're leaving earlier and arrange somewhere to stay in the last week? Is there any way for you guys to stay with someone to cut down on expenses?

[Jane]

You should be packing already!

I hope this is a joke, I dont understand people who are packing already.. theres 2 months to go!!! presumably you'll be using almost all the stuff you would put in the suitcase within that time............ packing your suitcase is not that hard!!!! Yea, you'll be leaving behind lots/having to choose is hard, (and its unfair because (e.g.) American airlines give a lot more baggage allowance than UK ones) but most of the stuff you leave can be bought in Japan. Chill out!

And the whole date thing is completely annoying. Train tickets rise in price massively the nearer you get to the date, and having to negotiate renting contracts when you don't actually know when you're leaving is completely impractical, but I can understand that the olympic issue makes things harder this year. TBH, I just cant understand why the UK embassy seems to be so slow compared to the others..

[OdysseyOfNoises]

I packed maybe a day or two before I left.

It's pointless packing now because most people have no idea what their apartment has in the way of facilities.

[Antonath]

Ah I'd forgotten you guys aren't all group B. Well this is the only time that the UK has been split into groups - it's usually all Group B.

...Whut? I flew out three years ago as a Group A, with about half the UK contingent, so this is certainly not the first time the UK has been split.

For those worried about luggage allowances, check the websites for Virgin, ANA and JAL - those are the big three CLAIR seems to use (or they were three years ago). Yes, you can pay extra for another bag, but that might cause problems at the Narita end, when your large bag is sent on to your placement while you go to Tokyo.

And while there's no need to be packing just yet, you can be doing things like finding a nice, light suitcase (if you don't already own one), buying a laptop (if you intend to bring one with you), and stocking up on clothes (for those on the larger side, or who have a preferred brand).

[Jennaiii]

Ah I'd forgotten you guys aren't all group B. Well this is the only time that the UK has been split into groups - it's usually all Group B.

...Whut? I flew out three years ago as a Group A, with about half the UK contingent, so this is certainly not the first time the UK has been split.

For those worried about luggage allowances, check the websites for Virgin, ANA and JAL - those are the big three CLAIR seems to use (or they were three years ago). Yes, you can pay extra for another bag, but that might cause problems at the Narita end, when your large bag is sent on to your placement while you go to Tokyo.

And while there's no need to be packing just yet, you can be doing things like finding a nice, light suitcase (if you don't already own one), buying a laptop (if you intend to bring one with you), and stocking up on clothes (for those on the larger side, or who have a preferred brand).

Really? I got told at LO that the Irish JETs went out Group A and the UK JETs were always Group B. Guess the woman I spoke to was mistaken.

I packed up stuff like my school shoes, sports gear, swimming costume etc - things I knew I would need but wouldn't be using before I went. It's a good idea to get the packing started now because then you know what you have and don't have. It's easier getting it done with time to spare (IMO) because you can add and take out as you go along and don't rush things. Different strokes for different folks though I guess. I think I would die from stress leaving it to two days before I went! Why what your apartment has in the way of facilities has any bearing on what you pack I do not know. Unless you packed a washing machine in your suitcase or something... stuff you don't have in your apartment you can just buy in Japan.

I can't remember when I got it but I got a letter from CLAIR in the UK with the date I'd be flying out a good deal before LO. I am thinking possibly after my contract came but... my memory is really bad. I'm pretty sure you find out the DATE you fly before anything else. Anyone else remember?
Last year the airlines were BA if you flew from Edinburgh, Virgin Atlantic and... possibly ANA...(?)

But this is getting WAY off topic. This was about health forms and addressing things. The packing thing is just my way of doing stuff - but I would seriously suggest at least going through what you own clothes wise to decide what to bring with you in a list or something. It'll save you stress later down the line.

[Kikansha]

It was BA, JAL and Virgin last year. All the Edinburgh departure people and a couple extra people who got on at Heathrow took the BA flight, Virgin apparently had the best food and the JAL flight left late afternoon so was mostly for the people who lived far away from London but were leaving from Heathrow.

For this year, Group A departures are 28th of July (last saturday in July), Group B will leave on the 4th of August (first saturday in August).

But yea, back on topic, be careful with your paperwork and follow the embassy staff's instructions to the letter, especially the stuff concerning documents to bring for London Orientation. You do not want to get on the Programme coordinators bad side on that morning...

[Jennaiii]

Thanks for answering that.

I didn't think it was ANA - my memory is terrible though!

As for LO documents - DON'T be the guy who turned up last year without something and got removed from the programme completely.

Also, don't be the twerp who turns up in inapprorpriate attire. Just don't.