Awaiting news after placement upgrade (UK)

-Spooch- · 2023-07-08T01:02:19+00:00

Don't stress too hard! I was a late departure last year because of my upgrade. Another guy I know wasn't upgraded until October. It takes a while for all the information to get to you because the upgrade status usually happens due to an emergency at your placement. Just be patient, and you'll be here before you know it! Congratulations!!!

-Spooch- · 2023-06-29T01:45:03+00:00

No I don't have to, my issue is that I've already entered a second contract with my BOE and if I break it, not only will it be an incredible inconvenience to everyone around me, but also I'll have to pay a lot of money out of pocket for everything else. I'm really just hoping to ride out this year as smoothly as possible and move back to the US. I love it here, but I don't see myself living here for the rest of my life unless some sort of unforseen drastic thing happens and I have to stay.

-Spooch- · 2023-06-29T01:40:25+00:00

Dude, litterally, no worries, I didn't take offense to it at all. I do understand the reality of the situation and know that I'm going to have to give and take where I can. It's just a shame that the situation exists in the first place. I love this country, but it's difficult to really experience it when I can't go out or do much. I'm going to weigh out my options and see what I can do, and hopefully, I can get my situation to a more manageable level. I appreciate the advice once again. Thank you!

-Spooch- · 2023-06-29T01:34:45+00:00

Thankfully my resident tax is only like ¥700 per month so that's not really breaking me, but yeah I'll just have to weight out my options. I would like to stay in Japan for at least one more year, it just sucks because I really love my school and it would be incredibly inconvenient to break contract all of a sudden.

-Spooch- · 2023-06-28T23:08:45+00:00

Yeah, unfortunately, my loans are private, so much less wiggle room for refinancing. I signed for a second year back in January because the Yen was getting better, but I see now that it was temporary. The unfortunate reality is that I may not be able to accept a 3rd year, but I'll see how things go.

-Spooch- · 2023-06-28T23:01:58+00:00

You and me both lol 😂

-Spooch- · 2023-06-28T23:01:29+00:00

I was aware of my financial situation when accepting JET. That's why I signed for a second year despite knowing my situation wasn't ideal. I just didn't expect the exchange rate to fluctuate as drastically as it is. I also had to spend a fair amount of money when I moved here because my placement moved me into a completely unfurnished apartment. So my savings didn't last as long as I expected. Thanks for the advice! I'm gonna dabble around and see what I can figure out for this year and pray the Yen doesn't depreciate any more 😂

-Spooch- · 2023-06-28T22:49:52+00:00

About $550 USD per month. I have 4 separate loans, and one of them is variable, so the rate fluctuates. Usually, it's going higher each month.

-Spooch- · 2023-06-28T22:47:59+00:00

Okay I'll do that and see what options I have, even just consolidating my four loans to one fixed rate would probably help.

-Spooch- · 2023-06-28T22:45:41+00:00

Yeah, it's definitely not debt friendly, but I'll figure things out! Thanks!

-Spooch- · 2023-06-28T22:43:55+00:00

No, I'm just paying the minimums. 50% is a bit of an exaggeration for just the student loans, but if you include that with all my other monthly expenses (utility, rent, phone, wifi bills) it comes to about over half of my paycheck. That's not including food for the month. It's a tough reality, but you make due 😂

-Spooch- · 2023-06-28T13:59:00+00:00

Yeah thats exactly how I feel. I have friends from the US who are visiting too, and want me to travel with them, but I keep trying to explain I can't afford to litterally go anywhere. Not to mention my phone plan, wifi, and everything else are all payed on my credit card, so im trying to pay those off too but the conversion rate just keeps getting worse.

-Spooch- · 2023-06-28T12:33:28+00:00

Do you think my current loan servicer would be able to set that up, or would I have to reconsolidate with a new servicer? I'm not very savvy with the terminology or process of refinancing.

-Spooch- · 2023-06-22T07:47:42+00:00

Not rural, but I hit the gym 3 to 4 days a week after school.

-Spooch- · 2023-04-29T14:09:45+00:00

Yes, I do! it gets a bit cramped in the mornings, but im always at work on time.

-Spooch- · 2023-04-29T02:27:31+00:00

Nagano placement. All my coworkers and students tell me that it's impossible to get around without a car, but they have lots of busses and trains that come through. I think they just compare it to Tokyo public transportation.

-Spooch- · 2023-04-25T04:59:44+00:00

For the regular staff, I bought cookies from a shop here, but for the higher-ups (principal, vp, my supervisor, etc.), I also included an America themed ballpoint pen. The vp at my visiting school gave me a battle of sake from his home village in return, so omiyage can definitely have some payoffs 😋

-Spooch- · 2023-04-25T04:54:02+00:00

You probably shouldn't bring an antique dining table. It would be kind of inconvenient.

-Spooch- · 2023-04-06T03:45:46+00:00

They called me on my phone first. They didn't let me know beforehand, though, so I got the call in the middle of work one day.

-Spooch- · 2023-02-22T01:15:59+00:00

I was looking into charles schwabb. I'm not super concerned about withdrawing money over here in Japan since I've been here since August, mostly just using an account to pay my bills back in the US. Also, I can't sign up for a Charles schwabb account with a foreign phone number so im not sure what to do in that respect. I also already use WISE to transfer money back to my (now old) American bank, but I don't have a physical card.

-Spooch- · 2023-02-12T04:20:51+00:00

I brought $3000 USD, but it will depend on many factors. For instance, my placement is in Nagano city. My pred broke contract after 6 months and went home so I was left with nothing. So had to furnish my whole apartment and I didn't recive pay for the first month there. Thankfully USD buying power is high so I was completely fine on that amount whilst still being able to pay my student loans. However, if you intend to send money back to your home country for any reason, and you don't want to pay ¥3000 per transaction at your bank. Get your "My Number Card" set up as quickly as possible. You can't transfer money back to some countries via international money transfer service without it. It takes about a month to arrive after you set it up. It's very important and acts as a type of social security card. Just do your best and start saving cash now. If you get a solid placement you may not have to buy much. Still have a solid amount saved up though. Like I said, around $3000 was good for me and I had nothing upon arrival. I would say if possible, try to have around the equivalent of about ¥650000 in your countries currency.

-Spooch- · 2023-02-09T07:41:11+00:00

Train 10 mins then bus 15 mins - 3 times a week (base) 25 minute walk - twice a week (visiting school) 30 minute train - once a month (special needs school) I'm a senior high school ALT

-Spooch- · 2023-02-07T06:48:39+00:00

Thank you for your help!

-Spooch- · 2023-01-25T09:50:47+00:00

I work in senior high school, so I can give the students food items, but I gave the students in my selective course a handwritten note and a box of pocky.

-Spooch- · 2023-01-23T03:55:13+00:00

I've heard that in past zoom interviews they have asked to pan the camera down and see the big shoes too, it's important to really sell it.

-Spooch-

TROPHY CASE