Australian JETs 2012

[LucBren]

... so prepared to just scrape by your first year >_>

I arrived with Tako at the end of May, although am in a very different situation, rural Tohoku. My first pay I took home 200,000yen after tax (5,000yen roughly), the first two months of healthcare and pension were taken out (so next pay should be about 4man more). From this I then had to pay my rent and bills. I bought some furnishings for my empty apartment and food as well as the first months lease for my car and I am still on target to have over 50,000yen left in the bank by next pay. I think this is very much a case of ESID.

Hope this info can help some of you out with your budgeting. My PAs gave me a good run down of approx cost of bills etc. when I first arrived in Iwate and I am sure similar things happen in other prefecture orientations.

[Takoyaki]

Wow that is insane!!! And yes I'm jelly! It doesn't help I spend like 2 man a weekend at bars either XD

[DoubleSupercool]

We just had our Q&A session at the embassy in Canberra and I categorically confirmed that Aussies will be only be able to take:

One carry on sized bag and laptop bag to Orientation

Your large bag/s will be shipped from Narita to host organisation.

I noted that the manual did NOT say this and it was confirmed as above.

If you have heard OFFICIALLY from anyone to the contrary, please post here because this seems to be a point of confusion (at least for me). I honestly can't recall what I did 10 years ago, but the above sounds right, especially given the lack of storage space on Shinkansens or the hassle of getting *all* your luggage to your BOE/home in one go.

In any event, I honestly think that it is easier just to ship stuff now or much later. What do you *really* need 40-50kg of stuff for immediately? The cost and hassle is not really worth it. Please note, the hassle isn't just for you, it's for everyone around you as you check in, when you pick up your luggage and have to send it on/get your CO to pick it up. They are dealing with MASS checkins for flights, hotels, trains etc and having people deviate from the base line really is a hassle for everyone. The thing is, when so many people think it's not a big deal, it turns into a big deal because everyone decides to do it.

ETA: ozgal, I'm not singling out your post My thought process was the same as yours, that's why I chose it. Remembering what it was like with our checkins and the craziness when leaving the hotel in Tokyo makes me think the shipping is the "easier" option.

Baggage wise, I'm planning on taking a 2nd suitcase on the flight. Hopefully I can pre-purchase the second bag within 7 days before the flight for $30 saving. This option seem cheaper and less hassle than shipping my extra stuff from my current location. Depending on how I go packing, I will take my TO clothes either in my cabin luggage or in a pre-packed bag inside a checked bag, ready to whip out at the airport.

Does anyone have an approximate cost of sending suitcases from Narita airport to our CO? I know that we will be billed later, but I would like to know how much so I can make sure I have enough $$ set aside.

With regards to tax, if the ATO doesn't know that I'm residing overseas, will it matter? I will have about 6 weeks of income in the next financial year (I'm working in July plus having paid leave), so I shouldn't have to pay tax on that income. Any recommendations against this?

[slj30]

For those of you departing from cities where 'Cube It' isn't an option, I recommend trying your local freight companies as a lot of them have options for international shipping. I intially tried Pack and Send but nearly fainted at the price they quoted me. I think I ended up going with DHL. I can't remember the cost exactly (I think it was a little more than Cube It) but they delivered it directly to my door in Japan a few weeks after arriving and overall I was very happy.

[Patryn]

according to a Coordinator (miami_coordinator) from another thread http://www.jetprogramme.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=11624&start=30#p119381, you CAN take one large suitcase to the hotel (they actually said that this is the case for USA, but arrival is generally the same for everyone).
It is RECOMMENDED that you just ship it to avoid hassle.
As DoubleSupercool said, it's an inconvenience to everyone if people can't keep up because they chose to keep all their luggage and are having problems carrying it around.

More than likely, no one will be able to help you because they all have their own stuff to carry around. So if you are comfortable lugging all your stuff up and down a few flights of stairs (will probably happen at some point), then there probably won't be a problem. YOUR luggage is YOUR responsibility.


I think they do discourage people from taking too much stuff to Tokyo because too many people aren't aware of the realities and their own capabilities.

[ktat]

Sending luggage when arriving at Narita Airport was actually really convenient last year. It was cheap, around 1700 yen (for my 25 kg case) from memory, and arrived at my CO before I did. It was also easy only having one small bag with a few days of clothes to look after, especially when leaving Tokyo to my placement.

[DoubleSupercool]

This is why I double checked because it even says that in the JET handbook, p19 under the heading in the box "Baggage and Tokyo Orientation" that:

"From Narita airport, each JET is only allowed to bring one large piece of baggage (suitcase or rucksack) and one regular size carry-on to Tokyo Orientation (and a laptop computer, but you will have to hold it on your lap with your carry-on).

This clearly indicates that you can take a piece of checked (large) luggage AND carry on, but again, I confirmed twice that this WAS NOT the case with Aussies. I also noted that this was naturally causing confusion amongst applicants who are trying to figure out how to get stuff to Japan.

However it then goes on to say that "Since you will be keeping some of your baggage with you and sending some ahead . . . blah blah as per last para . . . make sure you have everything necessary for Tokyo orientation in the ONE piece of baggage you take to the hotel." What? You just said two bags. Do you mean that when you get to the hotel you will immediately send your checked baggage on? If that's the case, why wouldn't you do it at Narita?

Sooo, even if you are only bring one piece of checked luggage, it will be sent from Narita, so pack you clothes for Tokyo in either your carry on or a smaller bag that you have in your checked luggage and make sure you can get to your toiletries/liquids etc quickly so you can take them with you. In a nutshell, assume you will only have one carry on bag that has clothes for up to 5 days (in case your luggage reaches your CO later than when you arrive) and a laptop style bag.

:\

according to a Coordinator (miami_coordinator) from another thread http://www.jetprogramme.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=11624&start=30#p119381, you CAN take one large suitcase to the hotel (they actually said that this is the case for USA, but arrival is generally the same for everyone).

[Kuro Usagi]

Just to add to the confusion - at my pre-departure orientation session we were told that Australians have an exception and can take one large suitcase to the hotel for TO as we can have ONLY ONE checked bag for the trip anyway (no extra luggage apparently guys!).

It's probably best to just send your bag ahead and just have carry-on for TO - you really don't want to be dealing with a large bag going through busy train stations and/or airports anyway. It's a total pain to lug stuff around and you rarely (if ever!) see Japanese people with a lot of cumbersome luggage - that's what Sagawa is for!! ^_^

[ava_maria]

This clearly indicates that you can take a piece of checked (large) luggage AND carry on, but again, I confirmed twice that this WAS NOT the case with Aussies. I also noted that this was naturally causing confusion amongst applicants who are trying to figure out how to get stuff to Japan.

At the Brisbane Q&A, we were told we can take 1 suitcase + 1 carry on + 1 laptop to Tokyo Orientation.

It's even on the notes we were given, written in bold, underlined and in caps.

We were told we could take more than one suitcase, but cost was our responsibility, it had to be forwarded straight from Narita with no repacking time, and it's a giant pain in the ass for everyone, etc etc. We were also told not to pay too much attention to what other Australian participants were doing

[Listerlegs]

Yeah, I was at the Sydney orientation and they told me the same as the Brisbanites have heard.

[DoubleSupercool]

Maybe I should direct the ACT contacts to this thread . . .

To me it is quite clear as well, as per what you guys have been told, so now I am quite confused. I will contact them and find out :\

[akage]

This clearly indicates that you can take a piece of checked (large) luggage AND carry on, but again, I confirmed twice that this WAS NOT the case with Aussies. I also noted that this was naturally causing confusion amongst applicants who are trying to figure out how to get stuff to Japan.

At the Brisbane Q&A, we were told we can take 1 suitcase + 1 carry on + 1 laptop to Tokyo Orientation.

It's even on the notes we were given, written in bold, underlined and in caps.

We were told we could take more than one suitcase, but cost was our responsibility, it had to be forwarded straight from Narita with no repacking time, and it's a giant pain in the ass for everyone, etc etc. We were also told not to pay too much attention to what other Australian participants were doing

I'm from Brisbane too What I'm planning to do is bring one big suitcase (checked baggage - which will be sent to my CO from Narita) then a small carry-on suitcase for Tokyo Orientation, a small backpack (technically my 'handbag') and my laptop which will be in my backpack. That's okay right? I won't need to repack anything at the airport so it shouldn't be a problem.

I guess the situation is different in every consulate/country but it's just interesting to see what everyone else is doing in regards to luggage.

[Patryn]

The thing is, only the flights should be different.
Once you get to Tokyo, everything is organised by CLAIR or whoever in Japan, and it's the same for everyone because once you get to Japan, you're just "JETs" as opposed to "JETs from whatever country and whatever embassy".

If you can get it by the TOAs, then you can do it. Just be aware that the TOAs don't know where you're going and it's up to you to make sure that you're comfortable getting all your stuff to your placement yourself. Getting to Tokyo isn't the problem. It's getting FROM Tokyo to your placement where people run into issues.

In the end, you're all adults, and can decide for yourselves and live with the consequences (if any) of your actions/choices.

[lj66]

What I'm planning to do is bring one big suitcase (checked baggage - which will be sent to my CO from Narita) then a small carry-on suitcase for Tokyo Orientation, a small backpack (technically my 'handbag') and my laptop which will be in my backpack. That's okay right? I won't need to repack anything at the airport so it shouldn't be a problem.

That is exactly what I'm planning to do. I think that sounds like the most practical and definitely the most hassle-free option

[ozgal]

ETA: ozgal, I'm not singling out your post My thought process was the same as yours, that's why I chose it. Remembering what it was like with our checkins and the craziness when leaving the hotel in Tokyo makes me think the shipping is the "easier" option.

No worries - seems appropriate as I was sitting next to you at the Q&A

I wasn't planning on taking loads to TO, just the bare minimum. Plus I also have to catch a flight from TO to my CO, so I want pack light to avoid any excess baggage fees on that flight.