Getting settled and what to buy

[Chucklol]

Hello all!

My Fiance and I have a tentative plan to apply for JET next year, and were planning our wedding right before the departure dates. Making a Gift Registry would provide us with things we can't take to Japan if we get Shortlisted, so we were going to make a Monetary Registry with the price of Items we could buy in Japan.

My main question is: What items, necessities, furniture, kitchen ware, etc... will we need once we arrive to the contract residence?
Right now, I only assume we would go into an apartment with nothing but bare floors and a kitchen sink. So if anyone knows if some residences are furnished, or never furnished, that would be helpful.

Even more helpful, would be listing some things we would need to buy/list on our registry for our guests. Obviously a futon or mattress, but like, an internet modem/router, tables, chairs, desks, towels, washer(you never know), dishes, house slippers, phone line(or cell phone), TV/cable, and the like.

Maybe even something you wish you had bought, but never really did that would have made the living situation easier.

Thank you for taking time to read this, and possibly post.

{EDIT: I read in the handbook that some contractors have furniture they sell you.

For those who first saw their contracted apartment, was it furnished? What did you buy to furnish it? What made it complete for you? These are some items we are looking for.}

[Sooyong]

Every situation is different. I've heard of some who had to buy off their predecessors' belongings, as well as those who came in with furnished apartments. In my situation, my apartment included appliances and furniture all supplied by my contracting organization. I also chose to buy some new items for myself, like a HD-capable TV as well as a new couch. The best thing you can do is to just save as much money as you can, and should you be shortlisted, hopefully your predecessor will contact you and tell you what's there and what isn't. Chances are you won't have to start from scratch.

[OdysseyOfNoises]

You won't find any of this out until you've actually been offered the place on the programme, and there are so many variables at play that it is almost impossible to give any kind of answer your questions. Sorry.

[adiosToreador]

Yeah you'll have to wait until you get your position and make contact with your pred/contracting organization before you'll know your furnishing situation at all. My apartment had basically everything (including a bike), some of it covered by my BOE and some of it leftovers from previous ALTs. I didn't have to buy any of it from my pred, but I think my pred kind of cut and ran (never had contact with her) so if that situation had been different perhaps the furnishing situation would have been different as well! Which would have been fine because I have no use for this cappuccino maker hogging my bottom shelf.

[Siyris]

You are thinking WAY too far ahead of yourself.

I hate to sound harsh, but the acceptance rate for the JET program (in the US) last year was 18%. To plan what you want people to get you as wedding presents based on something that you are thinking about applying for that is a very competitive program is just silly.

Also, most JETs do not bring over household items.... it's too heavy/expensive/difficult/impractical when you can simply buy the same things here and it will cost you less. On top of that, it seems really silly to me to use your wedding registry as a way to provide for yourselves (if you get in) in a country that will not be your permanent home. Generally speaking, most people use those wedding gifts as a way to set up a home for themselves -- a permanent one. A JET's apartment is certainly not that.

[Sooyong]

You are thinking WAY too far ahead of yourself.

I hate to sound harsh, but the acceptance rate for the JET program (in the US) last year was 18%. To plan what you want people to get you as wedding presents based on something that you are thinking about applying for that is a very competitive program is just silly.

Also, most JETs do not bring over household items.... it's too heavy/expensive/difficult/impractical when you can simply buy the same things here and it will cost you less. On top of that, it seems really silly to me to use your wedding registry as a way to provide for yourselves (if you get in) in a country that will not be your permanent home. Generally speaking, most people use those wedding gifts as a way to set up a home for themselves -- a permanent one. A JET's apartment is certainly not that.

I don't think there's anything wrong with planning ahead of what could happen. During my application process, my friends, my parents, and I treated the situation as though I was definitely leaving the country. And better to schedule a wedding date before JET departure than for after it.

The good thing about setting up a Monetary Registry (as the OP said) is that, whether they make it to Japan or not, they'll have money to buy whatever they decide they want or need in general.

So to the OP, I'd say it's best to just collect as much money as possible, for a general purpose rather than trying to figure out what's needed, because there's no way of knowing those details until much closer to the departure date.

[Siyris]

I don't think there's anything wrong with planning ahead of what could happen. During my application process, my friends, my parents, and I treated the situation as though I was definitely leaving the country. And better to schedule a wedding date before JET departure than for after it.

The good thing about setting up a Monetary Registry (as the OP said) is that, whether they make it to Japan or not, they'll have money to buy whatever they decide they want or need in general.

So to the OP, I'd say it's best to just collect as much money as possible, for a general purpose rather than trying to figure out what's needed, because there's no way of knowing those details until much closer to the departure date.

Planning the wedding before possible departure date, certainly. But I have to disagree about treating it like it's a sure thing -- I'm glad that it worked out for you, but too many people I know who DIDN'T get in planned as if it was a sure thing and their hearts were completely crushed. It makes the disappointment many times worse if you've spent months assuming you will go.... much less almost an entire year. Plan the wedding, and if you want wedding presents to be in the form of cash, that's great. But I don't think the OP should look at it as a way to get money to prepare for Japan. That's just a set up for heartbreak.

[bittersweet]

JET is a temp job only. Don't plan your life around it.

[ljoekelsoey4]

the acceptance rate for the JET program (in the US) last year was 18%.

where did you read/hear this?

[Gekishinken]

the acceptance rate for the JET program (in the US) last year was 18%.

where did you read/hear this?

I don't remember where I read it but there are many accounts of the breakdown being like this...

1. Roughly 33% of applicants are offered an interview.
2. Somewhere around 50% of interviewees are accepted into the program.

Some posters have said that their consulates give them statistics similar to that at pre-departure orientation.

[Siyris]

the acceptance rate for the JET program (in the US) last year was 18%.

where did you read/hear this?

This was the statistic given to us from my consulate's coordinator after she had crammed the numbers of applications per consulate to the numbers of people shortlisted per consulate for the 2011-2012 year. Actually, the full percent she gave us was 18.2something,something, but it rounds out to 18%. That was specific US numbers but from what I read elsewhere, it seems to be pretty accurate for the program in general that it's a 15-20% acceptance rate.

[Chucklol]

Thank you for the replies, but it seems that the later replies kind of get off topic.

The point of the thread is to pick out items we should need if we get to Japan. Short-listing happens months before departure, and months before we get married. Thus, the reason for the monetary registry. However, the thread question is based on being short-listed, whether we are or not. Planning is planning, and it's better to plan now, than too late. Whether or not we end up doing JET isn't up to us, but if we do end up leaving for Japan, I would rather have things set-up for when we do. If not, then we'll spend everything from the registry here.

I'm not asking for the acceptance rate, but simply what's in the residence, or what should be bought for the residence. According to the earlier replies, the answer is unknown until you're accepted, which is about an 18% chance of happening, and can talk to the contractors.

Thanks everyone!

[bittersweet]

ok, here is your answer:
most of the time you will have a predecessor, so you probably won't have an empty apartment.
my apartment came with almost everything due to multiple yrs of jets living in it (and therefore, leaving all their stuff) and people from the BOE donating their old stuff to use in the apartment.

[Chucklol]

Thanks Bittersweet, that was very helpful! It's better to have something to expect, than not. So I really appreciate it.

[altplustwo]

Our apartment (I came with my husband and daughter) was empty when we arrived. The only appliances that came with the apartment were two air conditioners and a small Japanese style stove (fish oven with burners on top). We bought everything else (bed, washing machine, fridge, shelves, table and chairs, etc...).

Most people do have predecessors and can get the necessities off them. JET recommends saving a certain amount for start up costs. I believe it was 200000-250000 yen. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Make sure you have at least this amount saved (I think that is good planning even if you don't get into JET).