– **Bring more money**. I came with A LOT, especially compared to what most people come with. Living freely and rather luxuriously is expensive here, but even conservatively can be expensive and I’ve known a lot of folk to leave earlier than planned cause of no more money.
– Understanding the health care system and national insurance. I’ve sadly had to use it a lot since arriving to health issues discovered here and it wasn’t easy in the beginning, and it’s scary if you suddenly need it and are alone.
– Japanese ability. I came at around a very strong N4-N3 level and I’ve been speaking, listening and writing heavily outside of that so I’m pretty good conversationally. But to actually hang out with Japanese people at bars and stuff alone (which I was doing), isn’t easy when you lack the vocabulary. I wish I improved more before coming.
– Understand that changing to a working VISA might require a trip home first. A lot of WHV folk want to stay and try to switch, but usually you have to go back to your home country embassy first to change. A trip home might not be a lot for some people but for me – I truly hate flying, it’s a long ass flight, and it’s super expensive now
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– **Bring more money**. I came with A LOT, especially compared to what most people come with. Living freely and rather luxuriously is expensive here, but even conservatively can be expensive and I’ve known a lot of folk to leave earlier than planned cause of no more money.
– Understanding the health care system and national insurance. I’ve sadly had to use it a lot since arriving to health issues discovered here and it wasn’t easy in the beginning, and it’s scary if you suddenly need it and are alone.
– Japanese ability. I came at around a very strong N4-N3 level and I’ve been speaking, listening and writing heavily outside of that so I’m pretty good conversationally. But to actually hang out with Japanese people at bars and stuff alone (which I was doing), isn’t easy when you lack the vocabulary. I wish I improved more before coming.
– Understand that changing to a working VISA might require a trip home first. A lot of WHV folk want to stay and try to switch, but usually you have to go back to your home country embassy first to change. A trip home might not be a lot for some people but for me – I truly hate flying, it’s a long ass flight, and it’s super expensive now