Hello all! I’m an incoming CIR and while I’m excited to go on JET, I’ve also been having a lot of anxiety coming with it as well.
So I’m here to ask, what did y’all do for pre-departure anxiety? What made you feel better about leaving behind your life? I’m really sad about leaving my dog for a year, along with friends and family–do you have any tips for coping with that?
Thank you in advance!
7 comments
My best friend has 2 cameras for me to see and interact with my cats, one is a feeder bowl with a mic that i can talk to them and the other a laser pointer. They’re set up on different areas of her living room, so if I don’t see them on one I see them on the other if they’re around. Tho I usually use the feeder one and call them and they come to the camera. If you’re certain it’s only going to be a year, it’ll go faster than you think. My cats are my world so some days are easier than others but like I said, time flies by real quick and they’re under really good care as I’m sure your dog will be.
Just remember why you wanted to go over there. If it was easy everyone would do it.
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Not an easy thing to upend your life and move abroad for a year (or more). There’ll be times when you want to go back. There’s going to be life events you’ll miss, people may get sick or worse. But that’s the risk you take.
Just think of the reason that made you apply. If you wanted professional development, to see a new country, meet new people, experience a new culture. Whatever your reason for applying was, use that to push through the difficult moments.
Didn’t get it for my year abroad at university, however, Im getting it like crazy for my JET placement (most likely because of the placement) so reading the comments here are helping.
I think anxiety is a totally normal response to upending your life and moving to a whole different country! It’s scary!
That being said, everyone copes differently. Everyone’s situation and life experiences are different. Everyone’s personalities are different.
For me, I’m fortunate that I’m already a pretty independent person and being forced to stay away from my family and some of my friends for close to 2 years during the pandemic (they lived in a COVID hotspot while I did not) was difficult but not impossible. Thanks to technology, it’s so easy to stay in touch now, even with people across the world. My parents are on the older side, though, and for years, I did not want to move far away in case they had some health emergency or something. But when I talked about it with a work friend, she said, “You know what, I had the same thoughts for years. But then I stayed and my dad still died without me being able to say goodbye. In the end, it didn’t even matter. So what I think is that you shouldn’t let a reason like that hold you back from doing what you want to do.”
That being said, I’m keeping busy. I’m still working my full-time job for a few more weeks and on my days off, I’m trying to prep as much as I can for moving out out of my apartment. My parents already have my cat (long story lol) and they send me pictures and videos of him every few days. I’m also on Discord and chat with other incoming Canadian JETs – it’s nice being able to talk to people who are going through the exact same process and feelings as I am – and we have a nice little supportive community going.
Most of all, I think of all the cool experiences I’ll get to have! I think of all the different foods I want to eat, all the places I want to see, and all the things I want to do and try, and the excitement is enough to keep me on track.
Just enjoy your time with them now, live in the moment. There’s no point to waste mental energy to prep yourself for something in the mind that can only be experienced In the flesh. A year flies by! What got me through was not thinking, but doing. Knowing I was about to follow my dream and promising myself I would do all the things I dreamt of doing here. As a result of it, I made a whole 180 in life for the better. I have much more energy and I’m a social butterfly here (which I never was back home) have made memories I will cherish forever and have met people you only meet once in a lifetime. I wouldn’t think too much, just look forward to the ride.
spend time with family and good friends, eat in your fave restos, go to your usual spots…
The anxiety about such a big change is perfectly reasonable, so first off, remind yourself that its normal and ok to feel SOME anxiety.
That said here are some things to keep in mind as you think about the next year.
1. Its only a year. It may seem like a lot now, but a year can go by pretty quickly. If its really not for you, then in a year (or less if it gets really hard to stay I suppose) you can go home. You won’t be a prisoner here!
2. Now more than ever its SUPER easy to stay connected to friends and loved ones back home through chat, video, etc.
3. If you really want to, you could go home for a bit around the end of the year. New Years season is a holiday here too where a lot of things close down, including businesses and gov’t offices. You’ll also get days off if you need them.
4. You’ll be part of a community of people who have either been through what you went through already (returning JETs) or going through it at the same time with you (new JETs). You won’t be alone. Not to mention alumni that are still here in Japan in many areas. Plus other foreigners. PLUS you’ll probably make friends with your coworkers too, especially if your Japanese is decent.
5. At first it will seem overwhelming, thats normal in any big new situation, but honestly? It doesn’t take long for most people to settle in to a day to day routine. You’ll be living your life, just as you would at home.
6. Japan is, relative to most places, a super safe, super convenient place to be. Even the Inaka isn’t that far from major cities and is connected through the internet and phones to the rest of the world.
7. Worrying seldom, if ever, makes things better. Try to focus on the good about the opportunity in front of you. Your friends and family will miss you too, but you can stay in touch and you’ll have wonderful memories to share with them whenever you decide to return home.
8. Make memories and have fun now! think about the things you want to bring from home to make you feel at home here. Not the big things, not the day to day things, but the little things, the photos, the keepsakes, etc. The things that will keep you grounded and that make you feel safe.
9. Japan has lots of aquariums with lots of jellyfish for you to feel right at home with 😉
You got this! its going to be great!