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Post by Leilo on May 28, 2018 9:04:22 GMT 9
Hey everyone! Incoming CIR from the UK here. I got my placement and it is Hamamatsu city in Shizuoka. Really happy about this placement.Never been Shizuoka before. Anyone going to the meet-up in Birmingham? Also, it's not against the rules to post my LINE ID on here is it? If it isn't, anyone want to trade LINE IDs? You and Marimoooo both, right?  It sounds like fun going to the same place as fellow noobies  |
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karuru
Commie Cincinnatus 
It's time to YEET the rich
Posts: 13,585 
CIR Experience: Former CIR
Location: Tokyo
Gender (Pronouns): he/him/his
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Post by karuru on May 28, 2018 9:51:15 GMT 9
Hello all! I've been lurking around for a while now, but since I now know my placement I finally feel ready to post! looks like ill bee a municipal CIR in Kanazawa. Anyone else situated in Ishikawa here? I've never been to the Chobu region but very excited! Cheers~ hi I'll be working one floor above you YOLOSIK |
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Post by B.B.P. on May 28, 2018 10:11:30 GMT 9
Now I can also finally post something here now that placements are out! I'm an incoming CIR placed in Fukuoka-ken! So excited to finally know where I'm headed, and I can't be more pleased with my placement! hahah! Message me if you are around the area. Also, do we get to decide our housing options or do our CO make the call on where and what we rent? Cheers! It depends on your CO. I would just sit tight and wait for them to contact you and tell you because as jet likes to preach ESID. in my case my CO contacted me and told me i could move into either my preds apartment which was a good size and in a nice area and cheapish rent and no key money etc. or living in city-run apartments. Just make sure to have enough funds saved for if you need to pay key money/double rent when you first arrive, its always good to have some backup money even if you don't need it right away. I've heard of ALTs being asked to wire money for their apartment before they leave for Japan so yeah ESID |
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iyarukinashi
Straight outta Narita
yaruki no mondai.
Posts: 18
CIR Experience: 2nd year
Location: Miyazaki
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Post by iyarukinashi on May 28, 2018 10:12:25 GMT 9
Now I can also finally post something here now that placements are out! I'm an incoming CIR placed in Fukuoka-ken! So excited to finally know where I'm headed, and I can't be more pleased with my placement! hahah! Message me if you are around the area. Also, do we get to decide our housing options or do our CO make the call on where and what we rent? Cheers! Hey! There you go~ ♦EarlBergamot♦ |
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Post by ♦EarlBergamot♦ on May 28, 2018 10:19:30 GMT 9
Hello all! I've been lurking around for a while now, but since I now know my placement I finally feel ready to post! looks like ill bee a municipal CIR in Kanazawa. Anyone else situated in Ishikawa here? I've never been to the Chobu region but very excited! Cheers~ Kanazawa gets pretty cold in the winter but *snow*. I was pretty excited by all the snow since I've never seen snow. (Now I had enough though ;P) Now I can also finally post something here now that placements are out! I'm an incoming CIR placed in Fukuoka-ken! So excited to finally know where I'm headed, and I can't be more pleased with my placement! hahah! Message me if you are around the area. Also, do we get to decide our housing options or do our CO make the call on where and what we rent? Cheers! !!!! I'M GONNA PM YOU. the CO tends to make the housing decisions aka decide where you live but you can reject their decision and choose too. best coordinate with the CO tho. ps iyarukinashi thanks  |
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Post by Sparkles on May 28, 2018 10:22:47 GMT 9
Hey everyone! Incoming CIR from the UK here. I got my placement and it is Hamamatsu city in Shizuoka. Really happy about this placement.Never been Shizuoka before. Anyone going to the meet-up in Birmingham? Also, it's not against the rules to post my LINE ID on here is it? If it isn't, anyone want to trade LINE IDs? !!!! is ashra your puggerino?! Welcome to the CIRHP, ashra! I figure you can post your LINE ID if you're comfortable with that info being on a public forum (or you can use PMs). |
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Post by Ividia on May 28, 2018 10:24:04 GMT 9
yess ashra continue the uk cir legacy of hama (I'm your co-cir's pred and worked alongside your pred for 3 years, so feel free to lmk if you have any questions! I have full confidence your pred and co-cir-to-be will be taking good care of you tho) |
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Post by Psychic Pug on May 28, 2018 10:31:55 GMT 9
Ah senpais I was gonna troll him firstHello ashra , I hope you like pugs and gyoza. You’ll be hearing from your pred soon i.e. when you wake up. Is mise le meas, Senpug edit: |
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Marimoooo
Straight outta Narita
Posts: 26
CIR Experience: Incoming CIR
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Post by Marimoooo on May 28, 2018 14:33:45 GMT 9
ashra how exciting!! Can't wait to meet you!! I wonder if we'll be placed in the same apartment building haha...
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Post by Ham on May 28, 2018 14:37:04 GMT 9
Man, at first I was like, 'I wonder if anyone placed near me will post on the forums!' WAKU WAKU
But then I realized that there are no positions near mine にょろ～ん :3c
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Post by Psychic Pug on May 28, 2018 14:39:06 GMT 9
ashra how exciting!! Can't wait to meet you!! I wonder if we'll be placed in the same apartment building haha... no |
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Marimoooo
Straight outta Narita
Posts: 26
CIR Experience: Incoming CIR
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Post by Marimoooo on May 28, 2018 14:54:00 GMT 9
ashra how exciting!! Can't wait to meet you!! I wonder if we'll be placed in the same apartment building haha... no Praise be to the all-knowing senpug~ *_* |
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Post by Psychic Pug on May 28, 2018 15:20:10 GMT 9
Praise be to the all-knowing senpug~ *_* Bring earplugs haha |
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Post by Ividia on May 28, 2018 15:47:26 GMT 9
only for three days of the year tho
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Post by Psychic Pug on May 28, 2018 15:50:47 GMT 9
only for three days of the year tho Co-cir said Zelda (yeah that's what I'm calling her) said they can always hear the music from the shotengai.  (I don't mind it cause it's always jazzy)
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Post by Ividia on May 28, 2018 15:57:36 GMT 9
only for three days of the year tho Co-cir said Zelda (yeah that's what I'm calling her) said they can always hear the music from the shotengai. (I don't mind it cause it's always jazzy)
ohhh
yeah I guess the once-a-year 72-hour non-stop revelry is its own separate category hue
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Post by Psychic Pug on May 28, 2018 16:04:10 GMT 9
ohhh yeah I guess the once-a-year 72-hour non-stop revelry is its own separate category hue
...I still hear it in my head sometimes. Amazing. |
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Marimoooo
Straight outta Narita
Posts: 26
CIR Experience: Incoming CIR
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Post by Marimoooo on May 28, 2018 16:20:19 GMT 9
only for three days of the year tho Co-cir said Zelda (yeah that's what I'm calling her) said they can always hear the music from the shotengai. (I don't mind it cause it's always jazzy)
Oooh I do like Jazz |
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Post by Ividia on May 28, 2018 16:56:22 GMT 9
Co-cir said Zelda (yeah that's what I'm calling her) said they can always hear the music from the shotengai. (I don't mind it cause it's always jazzy)
Oooh I do like Jazz welcome to the city of music™
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ashra
Straight outta Narita
Posts: 6
CIR Experience: Incoming CIR
Location: Shizuoka
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Post by ashra on May 28, 2018 19:09:12 GMT 9
Ah senpais I was gonna troll him firstHello ashra , I hope you like pugs and gyoza. You’ll be hearing from your pred soon i.e. when you wake up. Is mise le meas, Senpug edit: Hi Sempai! That's good to know. I love gyoza haha. Going to try all Hamamatsu meibutsu! Can't wait to meet both you and Marimoooo ! |
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ashra
Straight outta Narita
Posts: 6
CIR Experience: Incoming CIR
Location: Shizuoka
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Post by ashra on May 28, 2018 19:12:17 GMT 9
Oooh I do like Jazz welcome to the city of music™
Wow this is really cool! I might have really lucked out with Hamamatsu hue |
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Marimoooo
Straight outta Narita
Posts: 26
CIR Experience: Incoming CIR
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Post by Marimoooo on May 28, 2018 19:24:37 GMT 9
Oooh I do like Jazz welcome to the city of music™ Oooh much excite!! Now I have great (and somewhat ridiculous??) expectations of being serenaded by jazzy tunes on every street corner (rofl) Although I guess with Japan, you never really know. Nothing is out of the bounds of reality :o |
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Post by itchyknee on Jun 1, 2018 21:00:32 GMT 9
Hi humans! Mark here, going to be starting out as a British CIR in Hiroshima City よろしく！ |
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Marutaro
Straight outta Narita
We are all one.
Posts: 15
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Post by Marutaro on Jun 4, 2018 8:59:29 GMT 9
Now I can also finally post something here now that placements are out! I'm an incoming CIR placed in Fukuoka-ken! So excited to finally know where I'm headed, and I can't be more pleased with my placement! hahah! Message me if you are around the area. Also, do we get to decide our housing options or do our CO make the call on where and what we rent? Cheers! It depends on your CO. I would just sit tight and wait for them to contact you and tell you because as jet likes to preach ESID. in my case my CO contacted me and told me i could move into either my preds apartment which was a good size and in a nice area and cheapish rent and no key money etc. or living in city-run apartments. Just make sure to have enough funds saved for if you need to pay key money/double rent when you first arrive, its always good to have some backup money even if you don't need it right away. I've heard of ALTs being asked to wire money for their apartment before they leave for Japan so yeah ESID People and our consulate have been recommending bringing at least 2k for the startup costs. Does all that have to be in cash?? How are key money, deposits, and the first two months of rent generally paid? Thanks! |
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Post by Dee on Jun 4, 2018 9:19:20 GMT 9
Marutaro
I'm sure you'll get sick of hearing this, but it really is ESID.
I brought about 4K in cash, but I also knew I was buying a car when I got to my placement. The first day full day in my placement we set up my bank account, so I was able to deposit some of that cash in my account until needed.
My CO told me before hand they were setting up a new apartment for me since I am the first CIR here, so I knew I was going to need some funds to finish furnishing and stocking of a new place. Since my apartment is owned/operated by the town hall I did not have to pay any key money, deposits, or up front rent. My rent is deducted automatically from my paycheck each month.
Once I had made contact with my CO, they were able to give me most of this info up front before I arrived. They also let me know how much my rent was going to be, and one of the ALTs in town sent me info on what to expect in terms of how much my household bills may be (electricity, gas, water, etc).
EDIT: I guess I should add that all my bills/utilities are set up to autowithdraw from my bank account, that includes cellphone and internet as well. |
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Post by Ham on Jun 4, 2018 9:49:43 GMT 9
2k USD? I'd honestly bring a little more to be safe. 2k USD is pretty GILIGILI and that's assuming nothing unexpected crops up. IIRC I had about 30 MAN worth saved up for the move. I brought 5 MAN in cash, and planned to withdraw the rest once I got here. (Because I'm cheap, and I didn't want to pay the exchange fee on top of getting a cらppy rate to buy JPY while in the States. Instead, I had a Charles Schwab brokerage account that I made a few years ago when I came to study in Japan. There's no fees, and they give you a debit card you can use to withdraw money at any 7-11 in Japan for NO FEES and using the banking exchange rate, which is pretty darn good. If you have time to set one up, I recommend doing it, because, if nothing else, it's a handy way to get funds from back home. Just make sure you let them know what you plan to do so they don't flag your transactions and lock your account... Anyways, moving on.) However you do it, you want cash. LOTS of cash. In my case, I paid my key money and initial rent via wire transfer from my Japanese bank account, but I still had to deposit money into the account first. Gas is also automatically paid from my bank account each month. Electric and phone I pay using my Japanese credit card. Water and sewage I pay in cash at the town office. Rental fee for my car I pay in cash to the rental company. Factoring in food costs for the first month, the $2k/~22 MAN would have been just about enough, but on top of that, when I showed up, my fridge was completely broken, and it being August, going without one wasn't an option. So that was 4 MAN right there. My desk chair at home was also broken, so I bought a new one at ~4 SEN Also, my bedding options were either an unsalvageably soiled mattress or a dense, musty futon, I chose the futon, the lesser of the two evils, and tried roughing it out for a few weeks (I also had no pillow), but realized I was sleeping really poorly. So I shelled out for a new futon, blanket, pillow, and set of covers, which came out to around 2 MAN All being said, I was REALLY glad I had that extra 8 MAN saved up, or else my first months would have been even more stressful financially. I also spent a fair amount of money during the fall assembling a winter wardrobe, since a.) I live in Akita, where we have real winter b.) I didn't have a winter wardrobe c.) I wasn't going to lug one over from the states even if I did. You're in Fukuoka, though, so that part might not apply to you. Of course, your situation is probably going to be different, but I hope this helps. Oh, yeah, like Dee said, definitely try and see if you can't get an estimate on how much rent and utilities you can expect to pay. It'll help a lot with figuring out how much to budget/bring. |
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Post by TrickPhoenix on Jun 4, 2018 11:07:07 GMT 9
Hey guys! So placements have been quickly arriving to people. So it’s a time to rejoice and a time to learn more about your area! I myself am placed in Hyogo-ken, in Toyooka-shi. From what I understand Toyooka is more of an amalgamation of small towns, but I’m excited to learn about the hot springs and storks! Hello to everyone in the Tajima area. Oooh!
Ooooooh!!!!
Hi I totally missed this thread when it was first posted but I live just east of Toyooka over on the Kyoto side!
(I'm leaving though ^^; ) but anyways please enjoying the area~!
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Post by TrickPhoenix on Jun 4, 2018 11:18:05 GMT 9
Just got in contact with the other new CIR who will be placed in my area, so that's exciting! A lil buddy who can share my anxiety :") I've been told my someone local to my placement that leasing a car is probably the best course of action. Has anyone in this thread done it, and what was the process like? How has it compared to buying? Also also to follow up with my local knowledge, most of the ALTs and CIRs near Toyooka all go to the same car rental place, called Wataki motors, in Toyooka, because they have a lovely staff member who speaks lovely English. They're good because they take care of any repairs and give you snow tires and a replacement car if any work needs to be done, but it's not cheap. You save the money that you otherwise might have to pay for 車検 if you owned a car, but I started out paying around 4万 a month for a kei-car. Now I switched to a cheaper, older car model and also share it with a neighboring ALT, so I got that payment down to 2万 a month instead.
It's affordable with the JET salary, but it isn't cheap. There are probably cheaper places nearby that don't have any English and the same maintenance services available, but they may be harder to find.
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Marutaro
Straight outta Narita
We are all one.
Posts: 15
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Post by Marutaro on Jun 4, 2018 13:09:17 GMT 9
Marutaro
I'm sure you'll get sick of hearing this, but it really is ESID.
I brought about 4K in cash, but I also knew I was buying a car when I got to my placement. The first day full day in my placement we set up my bank account, so I was able to deposit some of that cash in my account until needed.
My CO told me before hand they were setting up a new apartment for me since I am the first CIR here, so I knew I was going to need some funds to finish furnishing and stocking of a new place. Since my apartment is owned/operated by the town hall I did not have to pay any key money, deposits, or up front rent. My rent is deducted automatically from my paycheck each month.
Once I had made contact with my CO, they were able to give me most of this info up front before I arrived. They also let me know how much my rent was going to be, and one of the ALTs in town sent me info on what to expect in terms of how much my household bills may be (electricity, gas, water, etc).
EDIT: I guess I should add that all my bills/utilities are set up to autowithdraw from my bank account, that includes cellphone and internet as well.
Hey dee, thanks for replying.
I think what's missing for me is to get connected with my CO and pred.
Good to know that town hall operated housing may be an option, but then again, ESID right? 
I think I'll have probably 5 man cash and 20 man in the bank.
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Marutaro
Straight outta Narita
We are all one.
Posts: 15
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Post by Marutaro on Jun 4, 2018 13:58:37 GMT 9
2k USD? I'd honestly bring a little more to be safe. 2k USD is pretty GILIGILI and that's assuming nothing unexpected crops up. IIRC I had about 30 MAN worth saved up for the move. I brought 5 MAN in cash, and planned to withdraw the rest once I got here. (Because I'm cheap, and I didn't want to pay the exchange fee on top of getting a cらppy rate to buy JPY while in the States. Instead, I had a Charles Schwab brokerage account that I made a few years ago when I came to study in Japan. There's no fees, and they give you a debit card you can use to withdraw money at any 7-11 in Japan for NO FEES and using the banking exchange rate, which is pretty darn good. If you have time to set one up, I recommend doing it, because, if nothing else, it's a handy way to get funds from back home. Just make sure you let them know what you plan to do so they don't flag your transactions and lock your account... Anyways, moving on.) However you do it, you want cash. LOTS of cash. In my case, I paid my key money and initial rent via wire transfer from my Japanese bank account, but I still had to deposit money into the account first. Gas is also automatically paid from my bank account each month. Electric and phone I pay using my Japanese credit card. Water and sewage I pay in cash at the town office. Rental fee for my car I pay in cash to the rental company. Factoring in food costs for the first month, the $2k/~22 MAN would have been just about enough, but on top of that, when I showed up, my fridge was completely broken, and it being August, going without one wasn't an option. So that was 4 MAN right there. My desk chair at home was also broken, so I bought a new one at ~4 SEN Also, my bedding options were either an unsalvageably soiled mattress or a dense, musty futon, I chose the futon, the lesser of the two evils, and tried roughing it out for a few weeks (I also had no pillow), but realized I was sleeping really poorly. So I shelled out for a new futon, blanket, pillow, and set of covers, which came out to around 2 MAN All being said, I was REALLY glad I had that extra 8 MAN saved up, or else my first months would have been even more stressful financially. I also spent a fair amount of money during the fall assembling a winter wardrobe, since a.) I live in Akita, where we have real winter b.) I didn't have a winter wardrobe c.) I wasn't going to lug one over from the states even if I did. You're in Fukuoka, though, so that part might not apply to you. Of course, your situation is probably going to be different, but I hope this helps. Oh, yeah, like Dee said, definitely try and see if you can't get an estimate on how much rent and utilities you can expect to pay. It'll help a lot with figuring out how much to budget/bring. Hey Ham, thanks for sharing all that could potentially happen :/ Hopefully not, but I'm taking your advice to bring a little bit more. I'm from Canada and I don't think I'll be able to get a Charles Schwab card (It's a great card isn't it?). Seems like usually half to more than a half of one's startup budget goes to housing-related costs. Now that you've mentioned it, futon, rice cooker, fridge, etc... But any how, thanks for all this |
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