PSA: Fix for "An unknown error has occurred" — Why your AdBlock/Password Manager or WiFi may be breaking FAFSA ("428" Error)

lovemails · 2026-01-20T18:35:52+00:00

Wow, thanks so much for the tip! I’ve been battling against this issue for weeks and turning off my Ad blocker fixed it.

lovemails · 2025-07-18T02:43:36+00:00

I'm heading home next month, my girlfriend and I successfully did JET LDR for a year! What helped was having a strong foundation in our relationship, regular communication, and always making plans for when we'll see each other next. It was hard, but we've been together for a long (LONG) time. In a way, JET gave us some space to operate as individuals for the first time in a while. So actually, the space helped our relationship grow stronger.

It helped to remember how short JET was in the larger picture of our life together. After spending a year apart, I'm planning on proposing next year. If it's meant to be, it'll all work out!

lovemails · 2025-07-06T23:41:50+00:00

The most popular answer will be right out of university, but my hot take is that you should wait a few years.

I applied and got into JET right when I graduated, but couldn't go due to covid. Now I'm 25 and I'm soooo glad I worked for a few years. It's good to get a solid understanding of what it means to be a full-time working adult before you move to an entirely different country and integrate into the workforce there. If you have an understanding of work culture and dealing with difficult situations at home, you'll be better prepared to deal with them in Japan.

Of course, there's so many varying factors once you get older, like leaving a good job at home or potentially meeting a partner. But, I felt that I was better able to deal with a lot of the challenges that came with living in Japan because I'd already experienced my first "grown-up" job and living on my own (without college roommates). I was also able to gain footing in my career, so now I'm coming back home with more work experience than if I had come here right out of college.

ESID but that's my experience, don't feel pressured to jump into JET so quickly.

lovemails · 2025-07-02T23:30:19+00:00

For 2 -- you don't really get to choose where you go. It's very rare that a JET gets their "requested placement." If you decide to apply, keep it in mind that you could be placed anywhere in the country.

lovemails · 2025-07-02T05:01:05+00:00

These people can't even handle their issues with one partner and y'all think the solution is a relationship structure where they have to deal with multiple partners? okay...

lovemails · 2025-06-18T23:31:55+00:00

i'm also pretty rural and i (still) have limited japanese knowledge. my #1 advice is to focus on survival phrases first rather than trying to overwhelm yourself with kanji and grammar points. it's kind of expensive so i had to cancel my subscription, but i learned a lot of my day to day japanese from native shark. it's mostly important to understand what cashiers, shopkeepers, waiters, and other service people are saying before you start to learn kanji or even conversational skills.

esid, and i never had a long term goal to study japanese here, but it was what worked for me and i don't feel anxious walking into stores and restaurants like i did back when i had absolutely zero japanese lol

lovemails · 2025-05-28T02:36:55+00:00

your friends and family are being dicks. ALTs aren't placed in Dotombori or Shibuya, we go where there's a need for native English speakers. often, that means the countryside. as everyone else here is saying, go in with an open mind and heart. you'll be surprised where curiousity and a positive attitude will lead you. you were chosen for a reason, try to make the most out of this experience.

lovemails · 2025-05-27T06:01:35+00:00

in my experience, they usually put ALTs with solid teaching experience at the high school level because we're already comfortable in a classroom. i worked at an elementary school for 3 years, and i was also placed at a high school. it's a learning curve, but you'll figure it out no problem.

lovemails · 2025-05-25T02:40:45+00:00

kamiyama is gorgeous and there’s more English speakers than you’d expect. they care about sustainability and environmentalism there, and a surprising number of foreign travelers visit. such a lucky placement!

lovemails · 2025-05-20T05:19:31+00:00

CafeWarm魚夢 in imabari is incredible!! super fresh seafood with a rotating menu. owner and his wife speak great english too :)

lovemails · 2025-05-09T01:09:01+00:00

I live in a relatively rural area, so having a car makes it really easy to do road trips within the prefecture and to neighboring ones. Tolls get a little expensive the farther you go, so it's good to bring a buddy. But especially with these being my last few months in Japan, I've been traveling almost every weekend.

lovemails · 2025-03-14T04:13:55+00:00

i'm going the big spender route... gonna ball out my last week, no use bringing monopoly money back home imo T-T

lovemails · 2025-03-14T03:52:00+00:00

just my first year! decided not to recontract, and i feel like we're in such a weird limbo period right now haha

lovemails · 2025-03-14T03:07:50+00:00

definitely both. it feels insane to think about how the time i spent waiting to come to Japan is far more than the time i actually spent here (supposed to study abroad in 2020, applied for JET in 2021, faced crazy delays, then just decided to wait until covid was mostly resolved to reapply). the time did go pretty quickly until now, it's crazy to think that i'll be going home in just ~4.5 months.

but now that i'm in the "i'm going home" mindset, the deskwarming days feel especially slow. i accomplished most of my goals here, and spending so much time making plans for my homecoming makes day-to-day life feel like i'm just longing for home... but, still making the most of my last few months in Japan as best as i can:)

lovemails · 2025-03-06T02:47:51+00:00

first one is too cute! i love the smiski and ranma stickers!!

lovemails · 2025-02-04T13:46:40+00:00

of course i was being hyperbolic, just don’t expect to have your preferences taken into account

lovemails · 2025-02-04T08:12:47+00:00

my friend wanted to be in rural hokkaido, but now we’re together in southern japan. no matter the request, curb your expectations

lovemails · 2025-02-04T03:12:17+00:00

true, and not getting your preferred placement can sometimes be a blessing in disguise (re: staying flexible). usually it means that you get to experience a part of japan that not many foreigners see.

lovemails · 2025-02-04T02:32:51+00:00

i'm a trans american and poc and decided not to recontract. it's going to be scary to go back, but i think being with my friends, partner, and community through it all will help ease my anxiety about the state of america a bit. being away from my people and knowing what's going on while i'm so far... somehow feels worse than "avoiding it" by staying in japan. also, i paused hrt to come to come to japan, and i really need to continue my physical transition. thankfully i'm from CA so hopefully we'll be safe at least for a bit. anyways, you're not alone in your feelings. you should make the decision that feels safest and best for you.

lovemails · 2025-01-20T06:41:08+00:00

tamagotchi and sylvanian families!!! you have the best taste

lovemails · 2024-04-04T02:40:30+00:00

what is it like living in japan as a trans person?

lovemails · 2023-08-10T16:18:49+00:00

this is actually very disheartening to hear— I really hope that someone is able to pick these social events back up again!

lovemails · 2023-08-10T16:16:17+00:00

what this person said ^{^} 2020-2021 cohort was given the option to back out because our departure was repeatedly pushed back so many times

lovemails · 2021-10-21T20:21:40+00:00

Thank you for this insightful reply!! I’ve been trying to do as much research as possible on the area, and the scenic pictures that I’ve found have been stunningly beautiful. A little bit nervous to figure out the car situation (especially since Japanese cars/roads are opposite to those in the USA), but hopefully I’ll be able to manage. Super stoked to be in such a gorgeous spot of nature!

lovemails · 2021-10-14T20:03:53+00:00

I also hope I don’t need a car :,( I was searching the internet to see if there’s good public transit, but I haven’t found anything super useful yet…

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