General Advice for New JETs

[Trudi]

Birth control is free in the UK, so I'm just going to take a year's supply with me- they won't take up any room in the case, will they?!

[domotomo]

I will recommend going to a gyno far from your school. It's pretty likely you'll be the only non-pregnant woman there, and if students see you, there could be rumors lol.

Haha, yeah, that could be an option, too, especially if you live in a small town. I live in a sizeable town, and there are multiple gynecologist offices here, but in the 2 years I've lived here and gone to my doctor, I've never encountered anyone who recognized me. Though I often see other young females when I go, too, and they don't look pregnant either, so it varies, I guess.

[Sendai_Momiji]

Getting birth control in Japan isn't as intimidating as you may expect. I went to the local women's clinic and told them I wanted birth control. The first brand they gave me didn't agree with me that well, so I went back and tried another brand. When I was happy with it, I went back and got a six month supply for about 15,000 yen. Now when I run out, I go back to the clinic, tell them what I need, get my blood pressure taken by one of those automatic machines in the lobby, and they give me another six month supply. Quick and painless.

*For females interested in birth control pills in Japan
Echoing sentiments about obtaining birth control here in Japan - it's not actually that intimidating, though the cost of the pills may or may not be a little more expensive (I wouldn't know, as I've never gone to an OBGYN back home in the US)....I've gotten a year's worth of pills here that ended up costing a little over 30,000 yen, so again, that may or may not be a little more expensive compared to your home country.

Thanks ladies! That's good to know. I was frankly a little concerned about that having had lady parts problems in the past. Good to know I can go get that stuff taken care of without looking suspicious to customs.

[Cliodhna]

and the nurses/doctor are on the other side of a curtain - so you don't see their faces during the process. It's very private and not as intimidating as you might think.

I hate that I know this, but this is ESID. They will not always be on the other side of a curtain, but there will always be a female nurse in the room with you when you're with the doctor.

[Kirari]

*For females interested in birth control pills in Japan

Echoing sentiments about obtaining birth control here in Japan - it's not actually that intimidating, though the cost of the pills may or may not be a little more expensive (I wouldn't know, as I've never gone to an OBGYN back home in the US). My gynecologist in town is a male (from what I hear, many Japanese OBGYNs are male), but he's really nice. And in Japan, when you get a pap smear, you're in a separate room with a mechanical chair for you to sit in that they'll turn once you're seated in it, and the nurses/doctor are on the other side of a curtain - so you don't see their faces during the process. It's very private and not as intimidating as you might think. Really easy too - my visits to the gynecologist here have been no more than 45 minutes max. I've gotten a year's worth of pills here that ended up costing a little over 30,000 yen, so again, that may or may not be a little more expensive compared to your home country.

Good to know, thank you!

And about feminine hygiene products, I've been fine with Japanese brands. They're a little different, but they do the job. Some of their overnight pads are insane, actually - they're a bit like diapers, but you honestly feel SO SAFE when you wear it, hahaha. As for tampons, they have them in most supermarkets and drug stores, though they're usually the same brand (called Charm) and are just cheapish plastic ones. I prefer using Tampax Pearl, which I used to have my family ship to me from home, but are now available for order from Flying Pig (Costco products, deliverable to anywhere in Japan). I also really recommend Flying Pig, especially if you end up being placed nowhere near a Costco - and even if you do live near one (the closest one to me is about an hour away in Sapporo), Flying Pig is still good since you can order from there even without a Costco membership.

Found the site and had fun looking through it. I like Tampax Pearl, too, so yay! At least I'll have a way to easily get some if the Japanese brands don't work for me. I like the Always overnights. And on the grocery side, they have Cinnamon Toast Crunch! And gummy vitamins! Thanks for recommending this store - it's good to have options.

[Gizmotech]

Given a lot of generic advice has now been provided, if new incoming ALTs have any questions, feel free to ask here. There are lots of areas of life that current ALTs might have forgotten about because it has been a while for a lot of people.

[domotomo]

I hate that I know this, but this is ESID. They will not always be on the other side of a curtain, but there will always be a female nurse in the room with you when you're with the doctor.

Ah, really? Sorry to hear that! Where do you live? i.e., is it a more rural or more urban placement? I'm not sure if that makes any difference, but my gynecologist as well as the other one in my town I've heard do the curtain thing. I just assumed then that it was the common way, but I guess not! Thank you for clarifying.

Found the site and had fun looking through it. I like Tampax Pearl, too, so yay! At least I'll have a way to easily get some if the Japanese brands don't work for me. I like the Always overnights. And on the grocery side, they have Cinnamon Toast Crunch! And gummy vitamins! Thanks for recommending this store - it's good to have options.

You're quite welcome! It's kind of a lifesaver when you're craving a bit of Fruit Loops or bagels (I always order bagels and store them in my freezer, I recommend this if you love bagels or any bread) or any of the familiar things from home. The only downside is that yeah, they're all industrial sized, so you get tons of it... but sometimes, fellow ALTs in your town may want to share or split something with you, so there's always that option! I love Flying Pig if only because I don't have a Costco membership, and I can't be bothered either to drive the hour to get there (it's kind of difficult to get there, got lost the first time I tried going).

[beyourownlight]

I wanted to throw in a few things, but the best advice I have is this: you are probably not "well-dressed" by Japanese standards. People here dress-up to go to the grocery store. Please bear in mind that what you consider casual is probably EXTREMELY casual to the Japanese. That's not to say you can't run with it(gaijin smash!), but I have become a much snappier dresser while I have been here because not dressing well is just one more way to feel awkward in this homogeneous society. My advice: whatever clothes you bring, make sure they are the best of your best.

Down to the nitty-gritty, this will be a ladies-centric post, though I will note a few things about dudes at the bottom.

Something else to NOT bring: Jewelry. I wore a lot of jewelry in the US, but jewelry may not even be allowed in your school. On special occasions(entrance/exit ceremonies, graduation, etc), I see a lot of pearls, so I've actually been able to wear mine, but rings and earrings are almost always a big no-no. Of course, ESID, and I know some people who just play the "clueless gaijin" card and keep wearing what they like, but I really wish I had left all that at home and not taken up so much space on stuff I haven't worn since I've been here.

Clothing: As a larger lady, I will say this regarding clothing: BUY THEM AT HOME. EVERYTHING. Bras, underwear, TIGHTS/LEGGINGS/HOSIERY. If you are above a (thin) US size 12, you will be SOL when shopping here. If you are a curvy size 10, you may even have trouble. As mentioned, pants do not accommodate hips or butts, and my god, if you have a bosom, don't even bother trying on anything other than stretch shirts in this country. If you wear button-ups, bring them. You will NEVER find one that fits you here. That said, I have found a bunch of clothes that fit me--but they are all stretchy. If you want something well-tailored, you'll need to bring it. If you are a woman who wears anything larger than an 8(US), you will have a hard time finding shoes. Honestly, I brought 3 pairs of heels and I have only worn one of them once. Find reasonable, comfortable flats, sneakers, SLIP-ON shoes, though feel free to bring fun shoes you'll run around on the weekend in. If you are a tall woman(for Japan, that means over 5'6"), expect to have trouble finding clothing with the proper proportions regarding arm/torso/leg length.

Toiletries: as noted, bring deodorant and toothpaste. I have no problem whatsoever finding perfectly suitable Q-tips, so I wouldn't bother wasting space. If you are a moderate or light flow gal, the tampons here are fine. If you are heavy, bring your own. They also have a slew of panty-liners that are perfectly normal. MAKE-UP: I am a pale, pale white girl, and when I ran out of powder, I had to buy the "clear" to get it light enough for me. I kid you not. If you are anything other than olive-skinned/asian heritage, you will need to bring your own(if you are blush- rather than olive-skinned, even if you aren't that pale, you'll probably want to bring your own). The Korean "Skin Food" make-up does work for me, but it's damned expensive and sometimes hard to find other than in a big city. Sun-screen--the stuff over here usually comes with skin-bleaching in it, so I had some sent to me. Shampoo-I have thin, fluffly blonde hair, and I have found most shampoos here are too heavy and weigh my hair down with the build-up(meant to moisturize and treat the thick Japanese hair). I had to have clarifying shampoo sent from the US, and what a difference! I did find some Pantene that works well, but it took me a year and a half to find something that worked, so I suggest bringing some if you're anything like me.

Medicine: Psuedoephedrine is illegal. Phenylephrine is legal. If you live in a meth state with regulations, the stuff you have to sign for, you cannot bring. BC is possible to get, even more obscure stuff(Yaz, for example), but you may have to make appointments more often. Japanese people basically don't use BC, but it is possible to get some, and I've had no real hassles about it. Painkillers--I love Excedrin. They sell it here for like 400 yen per pill. Bring some from home. If you get heartburn, the stuff here sucks. Bring your own.

Okay, now the note for dudes: I have a very thin friend, but his shoulders are moderately broad, and it is IMPOSSIBLE to find dress shirts here. He's also 6ft tall, so the arms on everything are all too short. If you will have to wear suits/dress shirts(this is pretty normal, by the way), and you're over 5'8" / are anything other than what could be called "petite" in build, you will probably have trouble finding well-fitting dress shirts. If your feet are over US size 10, or they are wide, you will have trouble finding shoes. Guys, I know you probably only own like 4 pairs of shoes, but seriously, you're going to want to bring at least two pairs of dress shoes, two pairs of sneakers(one indoor, one outdoor), a pair of flip flops, and a pair of casual shoes, as well as at least one pair of slip-on shoes you can use for your indoor shoes at school. If you're going to live in a place that's cold, you'll probably also need a pair of boots to stomp around the snow in. Think ahead!

Finally, a note for everyone: DON'T PANIC!! If there is something you need, you can probably have it sent over, no real problem. Make sure you have the essentials and you'll fill in the rest, one way or another.

[AVN]

*For females interested in birth control pills in Japan

Echoing sentiments about obtaining birth control here in Japan - it's not actually that intimidating, though the cost of the pills may or may not be a little more expensive (I wouldn't know, as I've never gone to an OBGYN back home in the US). My gynecologist in town is a male (from what I hear, many Japanese OBGYNs are male), but he's really nice. And in Japan, when you get a pap smear, you're in a separate room with a mechanical chair for you to sit in that they'll turn once you're seated in it, and the nurses/doctor are on the other side of a curtain - so you don't see their faces during the process. It's very private and not as intimidating as you might think. Really easy too - my visits to the gynecologist here have been no more than 45 minutes max. I've gotten a year's worth of pills here that ended up costing a little over 30,000 yen, so again, that may or may not be a little more expensive compared to your home country.
.

I'm not sure about your area but from the experience of people around here, especially in the inaka, the issue with getting birth control in Japan has nothing to do with intimidation.
All the women I've heard who have had issues or who are worried about it are focused on privacy. I know for a fact doctor patient privilege is very different here. I also know if you're not in a serious relationship and get it in an area where you are well known there is a very good chance within days many people in your town will know and some (sometimes many) will form opinions about you based on this.
Best advice, if you can't keep getting it from your home country, is to get out of your area to do so. The bigger the city the less likely you'll meet with resistance and rumour.

[Pixel]

Make sure you can ride a bicycle well before you get here. Even if you get a placement where you don't need one, it's a good skill to have. And don't believe any of that "you can never forget how to ride a bicycle" crap. You totally can. Before I got here, I hadn't ridden a bike since middle school, and ended up having a rather embarrassing first week. Also, the roads and sidewalks here tend to be really narrow, and sometimes pretty bumpy, so it's not really a good learning place.

Definitely wait until you get your placement before you buy clothes. I stocked up on dress pants and button up shirts, only to wind up in a placement where I can wear jeans and t-shirts to work most days. You do want to have at least one good suit for ceremonies and stuff though.

Prepare for a month of no internet or cell phone when you first get here. You might get lucky and end up somewhere where you can get it right away, but you shouldn't count on that happening.

[Siyris]

Prepare for a month of no internet or cell phone when you first get here. You might get lucky and end up somewhere where you can get it right away, but you shouldn't count on that happening.

Very good point. Usually you can get a cell phone faster than that (you have to pay an extra 600 yen for them to print out a sheet that says you are getting your registration card (residency card starting in July) so that you can give it to the cell phone company), but usually you can get a cell phone within the first week or two. Internet though.... do not count on having access to internet for the first 2 months. Warn all your family and friends before you come that you might be out of contact for a LONG time after getting here.

Tokyo Orientation does have an AJET room where you can make a 3 minute call on Skype... and the hotel that it's held at does have internet, but after TO is done, you might have a long dry stretch.


On the topic of shoes:
Whether you are a girl or a guy, make sure you have at least one pair of nice black shoes. Preferably ones that have never been worn outside. You will most likely not need them very frequently, but when it comes time for the official pictures for the Graduation and Entrance Ceremonies and you are the only one with non-black shoes on, you feel really really dumb. I got lucky and managed to find a pair of black shoes to buy, but it was the absolute largest women's size they had available. As have been said, if you are a US size 8 (or 25.5 cm or larger) you will not find women's shoes here. For sneakers and such, the men's shoes are fine... (you can even get your favorite 'girly' colors if you really want), but for dress shoes and heels, girls will have to bring their own. For men, I believe the trouble point comes when you hit about a US size 10 (or 28/29 cm or larger). I'm not positive on that but I think that's around where it gets difficult for guys.

[OdysseyOfNoises]

I got WiMax Internet within about 2 weeks of coming here, and if I'd known about it I could've got it even quicker. It depends what type you get as to how fast you'll get it started.

[Siyris]

I got WiMax Internet within about 2 weeks of coming here. It depends what type you get as to how fast you'll get it started.

Very true. Depends on where you are and what type is available and what sort of set up is already in place. I had internet from my first night here, but it's billed to the apartment under my great-grandpred's name. I pay the bill and there is no problem, but if I had canceled that to open an account in my name it would have taken two months to get the internet back up again. I had one friend who didn't get internet in his apartment for 3 and a half months. So there are all sides to it.

Safest bet is, as I said, tell your family and friends that you will probably be out of contact for the first month at least. Then, if that turns out to not be true, surprise them with a "I got everything set up and we can communicate now!" email or phone call. It'll make them super happy -- but giving them a warning of the worst case scenario is going to be the easiest way to keep people from worrying about you if you end up not being able to contact them right away.

[Pixel]

I got WiMax Internet within about 2 weeks of coming here. It depends what type you get as to how fast you'll get it started.

It also depends on whether they require your actual alien registration card, or if they'll take proof that you applied for it. For my city, the actual card was required to get a bank account, and you needed the bank account to get a phone or internet, which took about a month. So just prepare for a long time without internet, and hope you get lucky and did all that preparing for nothing.

[readyaimzfire]

Lots of good advice already - thanks guys!

Just out of curiosity (and probaby nerves, because I don't speak Japanese), how did you go about arranging things like your internet installation? Did someone help you? How much of the first month set-up did you do on your own? At what point did you buy your cellphone? Without internet to ask you guys for help, I have no idea how I would manage to call a company or schedule things on my own that early!