Hi, guys!
Like many of you, it’s my dream to live and work in Japan longterm. I’ve been there 4 times, staying between 1 week to 2 months during those trips. I mostly went on summer, because it matched with my vacations, so I know what it’s like during the harshest season.
I believe I’m somewhere between N3 and N2 and I speak semi-fluently, although my pronunciation is better than my vocabulary. I currently work in a japanese company in my country and I’m used to talking and writing in japanese. I’ve been in this company for 3 years already, but I feel like my level hasn’t improved all that much, since I only use japanese with the 9 expats working here (everyone else speaks my native language). For this reason I tried my luck at applying for jobs in Japan in hopes of becoming fluent, and luckily, after 2 months of *shuukatsu* I nailed 2 interviews and got a job offer at a big manufacturing company.
Not gonna lie, I’m super excited and of course I said yes!! But… I feel like right now everything is kind of a blurry mess.
I know that I have to wait for the CoE to be processed, and that it could take from 1 to 3 months, but what can I do during that time? What is the best time to tell my current boss? Do I give a 2-month’s notice? 1-month’s? 2-weeks’?
When to start selling belongings, when to buy the plane ticket? When to start saying good-byes to friends and family?
I don’t know, it feels a bit overwhelming. I guess a part of me didn’t think I would actually make it and didn’t prepare for it. I’ve looked around this sub and over google, but nobody really talks about the “in-betweens”.
I know these things vary for everyone, but I would like to hear about your experience. How was it for you? What would you do better?
Thank you!
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by heldrad