1) A gaming system. Actually, this is my number one comfort. I lasted 5 months without my 360. By the fourth month, I was nearly shaking from withdrawals. Laugh all you want. Imagine living without your favorite hobby... and me laughing at you... laughing at your tears. My point is: whatever your favorite hobby is, don't just leave it behind in your home country. I didn't have enough room in my suitcase when first coming to Japan, and for a while, I was completely fine exploring my village and making new friends; however, after four months of this, I needed that piece of me I had left back in the US. Now that I have it, I'm less stressed and just generally happier to have something to do besides wait for someone to say something interesting on Facebook.
2) Your favorite toiletries. Yes, Japan probably has an alternative to whatever you use at home, but finding the right substitute costs money and can lead to frustration. If you have a favorite deodorant, lip gloss, chapstick, hair gel, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc., just bring it. The bottom line is that you're used to smelling a certain way. It can affect how you feel about yourself. In the first scorching-hot months you're here, don't you want to be at ease knowing you've put on a deodorant that isn't going to let you stink up the mayor's office when you meet him? If your Japanese isn't that great, wouldn't it be nice to have time to figure out which shampoo you'll switch to when your one from home runs out instead of panicking during your first visit to the grocery store when you can't read anything on the bottles? It'll probably take a little while to get used to living in Japan. Having these small items can really help.
3) Books in your native language. This isn't to say you can't find books in your native tongue or order them online, but I've found that it's nice to have some books in English around even if I don't read them that often. Books you've started but haven't finished are good. Who wants to buy a duplicate of a book if it's not possible for the original to be shipped to you? Just bring it.
4) Photos. This one may seem pretty obvious, but in this day and age, it's more common to have pictures on your computer than pictures by your bedside. You should bring pictures of your town/country/family/school to share with your students anyway. Bring some personal ones as well that you can look at when you're feeling down. I keep taking pictures, but they're just sitting on my iPhone or my laptop. There's a camera shop right down the road where I'm sure I could have them printed, but because I'm nervous, I haven't set foot in it. You'd think after eight months I'd be over it. The truth is that it's always awkward to meet people who already know about you. You feel obligated to talk to them. They're going to remember what you buy. I don't know if you're used to that stuff, but I'm definitely not. JET doesn't lie to you when they say you could turn into the town celebrity or at least the town walking piece of art.
5) Shoes. If you have big feet, ladies, bring cute shoes from home. Japan has the cutest shoes in the world, but if your feet are larger than a US size 8, be warned: you will probably not be able to wear any of them. When I went home for winter vacation, I bought about eight new pairs of shoes just to soothe my craving. It's hard not being able to buy the cutest shoes in the world! Guys, unless you're a basketball player (or the size of one), you should be fine. Still, bring your Nikes and your favorite dress shoes. Most men's Japanese shoes have a heel on them. If you're not into that sort of thing, bring your own. There are some really bitchin' tennis shoes here though.
6) Toothpaste. I know this should go under toiletries, but it's important enough to have its own category. Japanese toothpaste often has lower levels of fluoride (which fights cavities) than US toothpaste. We also have fancy whitening paste with peroxide bubbles, baking soda, magic fairies, etc. I brought two tubes of Sensodyne and a big tube of Crest (or something like that) with me. When I came back from winter vacation, I brought back even more to last me for the rest of the year. My teeth are not things I want to leave to chance. If you're like me, bring toothpaste from a brand you trust whose ingredients are in a language you know well. As a side note: Japan's toothbrushes are pretty simple. They don't often have zillions of bristles, have middles that flex, or pick up your morning paper. If you're cool with a plain, broad toothbrush, you'll find oodles of those in Japan. Toothbrushes take up hardly any room in a suitcase. Why not bring ones you really like?
7) Contacts. I am about to tell you something awesome. 1-800-Contacts does not check the prescriptions of international orders. Go to the website, pick your contacts, enter the power/diameter/whatever else it asks you, and ship them to your Japanese address. It takes one day for them to "verify" your prescription. (Funny, I didn't even tell you the name of my optometrist...) You'll receive your boxes of contacts in about two weeks. Personally, my prescription expired sometime last July. I received my contacts precisely two weeks later, and I am as happy as a clam that never dies but is super excited about immortality.
8) Credit card. To buy stuff online with. Come on, people.
Don't freak out and take everything with you. You do not need your baby blanket. Your DVD collection does not have to follow you across the ocean. Bring your absolute favorites, sure-- things you'd like to share with your new friends; movies that lift you up when you're depressed (and you will have those days). I live in one of the most rural areas of Japan, and I'm doing just fine. Sure, it takes me almost four hours to drive to the main city, but living in Sai is amazing. The sunsets, the nature, the students... If you are my successor, you have the most amazing job waiting for you.
There are probably other comforts I've forgotten to mention, but I'm pretty sure you know what you like and can't live without. These are just the ones that stuck out to me the most. If you have any questions about specific products, let me know, and I'll try to see if they're available in Japan.
This concludes our broadcast day. Bloop.
There are probably other comforts I've forgotten to mention, but I'm pretty sure you know what you like and can't live without. These are just the ones that stuck out to me the most. If you have any questions about specific products, let me know, and I'll try to see if they're available in Japan.
This concludes our broadcast day. Bloop.
