Tour of my inaka apartment - JET Program vlog supplement

[brainsteww]

How soon did you get to contact your predecessor?

[myargonauts]

@brainsteww after I passed the interview in March, I was contacted by JET and told I had made it in the program. Then, about a month later in May I was contacted by the BoE where I would be working in Shimane and inside that package was a letter from my predecessor. I emailed her soon after that and we sent a few emails back and forth, but I never heard from her again after I arrived in Japan.

[ChexXIII]

I am not sure if anyone has asked this question or not, but can two people in the JET program (example: two friends who are doing the JET program together) is there a way for them to live together, or it won't work? I have seen vlogs with married couples, but I always wondered about people who would like to have a friend in the same program under the same roof. Is it possible for this to happen or highly unlikely?

[myargonauts]

@ChexXIII not only can you NOT live together, it is very doubtful that if you and a friend both apply and both make it in, that you will both be placed in the same prefecture, let alone the same city. I've heard that Nova, a language school, often has its tutors live in shared housing, but ALL JETs get their own apartment. You might end up in an apartment bldg with other JETs in the same bldg, but you will have your own place.

[dondondodo]

hey do you know the likeliness of being placed in a place you request? I have grandparents in the Yokohoma region and I visit there often so I'm fairly comfortable with the transportation routes, etc. My grandparents would be able to offer support and advice if I need and I'll always have someone. Would it be likely that I would be placed there?

[myargonauts]

@dondondodo no guarantee, but you have some good reasons for requesting your placement, so that helps. I could be wrong, but I don't think many JETs get placed in Yokohama, since it's so close to Tokyo. But check the JET Programme PDF that you can find on their site with a breakdown of JETs by prefecture and you'll have a better idea.

[plasticbeachxx]

I hope you dont mind me asking but how much do you pay monthly?

[myargonauts]

@plasticbeachxx this was my apartment when I was a JET - so I had subsidized rent and only paid 10,000 per month. Very cheap! I know pay 48,000yen per month for my current apartment in a different rural city which is about the same size as the one here.

[caffinequeen16]

Lucky, you have a dryer! I hear most apartments in Japan don't have one.

[MaddieX2010]

I'm sorry if I'm asking a question that has been asked ALREADY, but how much did you have to put down as down payment on your apartment? I'm a starving college student here, so all this talk about having to slap down a few thousand dollars before my first paycheck is making me froth at the mouth and twitch a little. And I REALLY want to JET.

[myargonauts]

@MaddieX2010 if you come to Japan as a JET, then I think you have about an 85% chance of having to pay NO deposit. Your housing is largely overseen by your employer and you just have to pay rent. There is "key money" in Japan, which is a "gift" you give to your landlord when you move in and a typical security deposit is 2 months rent in advance, if you're out there looking for an apartment on your own.

[KupoTheBrave]

Whenever I watch an apartment tour of a Japanese Apartment, they are always cream or pained the colour white. Is it possible when I join the JET programme, can I decorate my apartment, for example... Will they allow me to use wallpaper and paint my room a colour...let's say... for example... pink? :) Thanks so much for taking your time in showing us your apartment! <3 x

[myargonauts]

@KupoTheBrave I think you could make simple alterations in your apt's appearance, if you were willing to change it back before you left. It's weird tho, as a JET, you sometimes never know quite how long you're going to stay - if I had known in my first year what I was going to be in that apt for a total of 5 years, I might have made some changes along the way.

[AmandaKayBrown]

boo you dont got outside and show us the river:(

[myargonauts]

@AmandaKayBrown well, check out my videos on my TaishaJason channel where I talk about being an Atheist ALT - I walk along the river, and on this channel I have the one about racism, which is outside my apartment too

[VedekaXRen]

So, does this mean you can only be there for 5 years?

[myargonauts]

@VedekaXRen You can only be a JET for 5 years,. If you want to stay in Japan, you can stay as long as you want as long as you have a job to sponsor your visa.

[sekushijonmichael]

When applying for the program, do you get to choose how long you stay in japan?

Or is there like, a limit on your stay japan?

[myargonauts]

@sekushijonmichael you sign on for one year, and then you can re-contract 4 times, for a total of 5 years - one at a time

[Turtwigisdabomb]

I plan on moving to japan one day, I'm only 16 and I want to get into the jet program. Honestly after seeing all of the vlogs of all the jet teachers it looks to me that they live on their own. Personaly I think you should convince a friend to come with you to japan.

[myargonauts]

@Turtwigisdabomb well, you'll make lots of new friends among the other Westerners that are JETs in your area and hopefully among the Japanese people in your community.  And your friends from home can always come visit.

[StandardofPurity]

Does it get lonely?

[myargonauts]

@StandardofPurity I did a whole video about lonliness as a response on my TaishaJason channel - so check that out.

[hoosierhana]

are you going to do an updated apartment tour when you go back?

[myargonauts]

@hoosierhana hmmm... maybe - if there is anything intersting about it. I've heard that it's fairly easy to get a full-on house in the city I'm moving to, since the aging population is dying off and leaving these homes to their children, who don't live in the inaka, so they rent them out for cheap. Might be kinda cool to have a bit more space.

[Dovelike]

It's very common to stereotype all of Japan as expensive from the media which focuses on Tokyo. Tokyo is expensive but outside of Tokyo and particularly rural areas rent is very reasonable. I paid 15 000 yen a month for my Jet apartment.

[dapperdanman1400]

Whoa! You had a drier?! I was under the impression that most people just did hang drying in Japan! (I did anyway when I study abroad there) Kinda jealous...lol

[myargonauts]

yeah - dryers are rare - I was lucky to have one.

[liloaznboi]

Nice. I like it. how much do you pay monthly? I heard it's expensive in Japan. I'll be doing JET program in a year.

[myargonauts]

rent for JETs varies quite a bit, but I was lucky and only paid 10,000yen per month (except for my first year when I paid 20,000yen).

[BlackFrostx]

...Dryer...

[Flipnoy808]

thats a nice apartment man haha

did you get all of that from the JET program?

and does the program choose where you live?

[myargonauts]

yes - JET provides the apartment and much of the furniture. You don't get to choose where you live, but you can make requests.

[rainsan]

Is using the air con all day, just as expensive as it is here in the States?

[myargonauts]

it can be expensive if you use it a lot - I think I did the math one time and it works out to be about $1 (100yen) per hour of use.

[hojoojoh]

What a great place, great posters you had up!! :D

When you go back are you gonna work in the same area?? Gonna move and find a job after landing?? Do you think you will go to a more urban area or do you really love rural Japan? sure looks amazing, I traveled for a few weeks in June and now all I do is think about getting back. love your videos, I plan on doing ALT work in 3 years when im done Uni, and ill be exchanging to Nagaski next fall thru my Uni. Again, great videos, really informative.

[myargonauts]

I would like to work in Shimane again, but I'm looking at jobs in many diff places, trying to find the best one.

[hojoojoh]

Are you going to get the job before you leave? have you ever tried to give private lessons?

[myargonauts]

I left already - have been back in San Diego, USA for about one month. I hope to go back in March 2010.

[TiramisuHappy]

I know you've since been back in the States and don't live here any longer, but this looks like a GREAT apartment!! Feels decently spacious for one occupant. Try imagining paying for this much space in a Tokyo apartment! Only in "inaka" I s'ppose... I absolutelty HATE living in New York City! I so envy what you do and where you (used to) live!!

[myargonauts]

yeah - it was a great little apartment - I'll miss it when I move back - I doubt I'll find something as nice for as cheap when I'm working for a non-JET company

[InuYashaMarty]

Theres A Guy There,

Hes Working On His Grapes!

2:38

I Have A Dirty Mind And I Couldnt Stop Laughing!

[deathmark4]

London Tube Map? :P Cool

[TiramisuHappy]

Looks JUST like a Tokyo subway map, too! : D

[PhOeNiXpHrEaK]

Sweet Place! I'm heading to Hokkaido in a month.

Is that a full size bed?

[myargonauts]

yeah - it's a full twin maybe. It's long enough that my feet don't dangle over the edge and I'm 182cm tall.

[Domikaze]

I can't get over how big this is. My apt in Kyoto was damn near a closet. I have been placed in Nagahama, which is a city, but I don't know if there is any rural areas. If my apartment is half of your size, I would be happy. Is this general size for rural apts?

[myargonauts]

As I mention in the description, there really is no standard - it varies so much. This vid gives you a general idea, but I would even say my apt is on the slightly large size as JET apartments go.

[SaintDBZ]

haven't u ever experienced an earthquake

[myargonauts]

Well - I'm from California, so I've lived thru plenty of earthquakes before coming to Japan.

We've had a few earthquakes in my area during my 5 years, but not that many and none was that bad.

[SpinningBirdKick1]

yea recycling seems pretty big in japan

Nice apartment too =]

[azngstyle]

Quite nice.

[mostawesomestjes]

"This one is going to be kind of short". Nine minutes later!! I don't know how I've never seen this video, but I am glad I saw this. Did you recently reorganize your channel? I might just be crazy ^_^ The tub looks tiny but deep. Do you also get packages? How does that work? Do you leave it on your door like here? I really Like your apartment! It is very nice!

[myargonauts]

yeah - I'm trying to streamline my playlists and make it easier for people to find the older JET vlogs.

If I get a package while I'm at school, they leave a slip in my post box and I can either call and have them re-deliver it (in the evening even) or I can go to the PO and pick it up.

[DeeDoubleYou81]

I meant "lucky you" not "luck you"! :)

[DeeDoubleYou81]

Wow, how did I miss this video!? Great tour of your apartment. A couple things...

First, that is HUGE compared to all of my friends' apartments, so luck you!

Second, my ex-girlfriend (former JET) did have a squat toilet that she had to pay to have it converted into a western style, it was basically a hollow toilet put over the top of it, kinda weird actually.

Lastly, you actually have a hallway and separate toilet and shower, wow!

I only hope I get as lucky as you!

As always, thanks for sharing!

[danialglover]

I'll be doing this in about 10 years, only actually heard of 1 Jet student who went there with an art bachelor degree, hope I get in when I do get around to wanting to go. His students love him as he draws everything for them to translate, pretty good with the kids.

[SaintDBZ]

nice place/ i might be going to japan in the not to distant future

[technovidiomaster20]

I can see all the fields where they grow the grapes on google earth there all over izumo the buisness must be quite big in shimane. Google earth is quite anoing thou because half of izumo is high resolution picture and half is not so alot of izumo is coverd in blured picture and you cant see the shrine. However I can see part of the apartment that you live in its kind of cut off but i can see the basic shape of your apartment.

[myargonauts]

yeah - I noticed that too - and you're right, it is annoying.

Yeah - lots of grapes since there is a major winery just down the a block from my house.

[karekora]

So do you get to know your predecessor before arriving in Japan? Obviously they have gone before you get there, so I was just wondering how you get to know what they've got & want to sell you etc...

[myargonauts]

On some rare occasions you do get to meet them if they switched jobs instead of left Japan - but most of the time you're right - they're gone by the time you arrive. With email now, it's pretty easy to communicate about items to sell and send pictures, etc.

I had a few email conversations with my predecessor, but we didn't stay in touch after that.

[wickednellie]

Wow that's a really nice apartment. It's actually bigger than mine in the States (then again I live with 2 other girls). It looks cozy.

[myargonauts]

it is cozy and more than enough room for one person - as I mentioned in the vlog - my same amount of space is shared by families of 2 to 5 people in the rest of my building.

[6663000]

Nice little tour, great video.That looks like a very nice appartement compared to some other JET appartements i've seen.

I quite like that view outside your front door, those mountains and stuff are very nice.

[myargonauts]

thanks - yeah, what I lack in urban convenience I more than make up with natural beauty surrounding my place

[PannaIka]

That was an impressive portion of coke bottles, I would get along very well with you. :P

[myargonauts]

Yeah - I drink way too much of the stuff, and for the first time in my adult life I made a New Year's resolution to give up Coke entirely by my 40th birthday in July, so I've been slowly cutting back. It's been painful.

[stefmax]

It was great seeing your house. The area you live in seems very peaceful! I dislike those tatami bugs so much.

Wow, you actually have bed!

Your house is decently sized for a Japanese apartment. I would imagine a Japanese family live in a house that size like your neighbors.

Great video!

[myargonauts]

yeah- my place is pretty nice, and you're right, most of the other apt in my block are inhabited by at least 3 people or more.

[42317]

"This one will actually kind of short"...

HAHAHAHA!

What fridges are you used to? Compared to mine yours is huge.

You got an electric stove. I used gas. Do you have that "fish compartment"? I always used it for mini pizza, though...

Oh yes, you haven't talked about the recycling system yet, about what types of trash there are and how to handle them.

[myargonauts]

Yeah - all these vlogs end up being 9 minutes no matter what... :P

I do have a fish tray, but I never use it.

Fridges in America are fricking huge.... LOL

It would take a whole vlog to explain the complicated trash system here in Japan, and it varies so much according to area, so I'll let the newbies figure that one out on their own. Ganbatte! :D

[skydemon1583]

i am guessing you also get internet access in ur apartment, or do u go to an internet cafe?

[myargonauts]

there are plenty of internet cafes around, even out here in my rural town, but I have DSL internet at my apt - I pay about $50 a month for my ISP.

[nyannyan123456]

after spending 2 weeks in japan visiting a kindengarten school and talking to 5th graders in the school yard near my jogging path in Tottori and watching these videos how I envy you jason must be nice Wish i could work in nihon for a year or two.

[nyannyan123456]

your apartment is big. My first week in osaka was spent in 380 sq ft apartment with 3 others talk about tight.

[myargonauts]

yep - it's pretty big - I lucked out. :)

[nyannyan123456]

it rained in Tottori july 2nd also the prefectures are close

[grooveonchan]

Thanks man, really helps give a feel for the place :-D

[Techne]

Ichi the killer by Takashi Miike!!

[myargonauts]

No, "The Killer" - an amazing John Woo film with Chow Yun Fat.

[JapanIsDoomed]

that's a cool apartment - where exactly is it? A friend of mine is doing JET and he is literally in a shoebox. some are luckier than others I guess

[myargonauts]

I live in Taisha, in Shimane ken.

[o0HoneyBee0o]

That's a really nice apartment, personally I don't like big places, because they're to hard to clean XD;, and it's a lot more cozier to live in a smaller place. I really like how you talked about the tatami mats, that's information really important for a person like me who's allergic to mold. Thanks for posting! C:

[BusanKevin]

Wow...your place is huge!! How many people live in your town? Do you plan to stay where you are for a long time? Any plans on moving to another city/town in Japan?

[myargonauts]

Taisha has about 16,000 people.

I would like to stay in this part of Shimane if I can get a different job here after I finish JET. Of course, I'd also love to live in a more urban area for a different take on Japan life, but my cost of living would go way up.

[Reppu]

Your apartment is HUGE! A three-burner stove? A HALLWAY?! My place was half the size of your living room. What is that, 5LDK? I guess being a rural JET does have some benefits. I've heard of some folks even having houses...Thanks for the tour though! I am most jealous of your bed...and your dryer.

[DeathfireD]

wow really nice apartment Jason.

[Smashingblue]

Jason that is a HUGE apartment for a JET. My friend's apartment, in Yatsushiro, is a loft, but larger than others in his area. He only has to pay about $150 a month rent, which is nice. Although he has tatami flooring in half the apartment, which like you, I prefer hardwood floors myself. He lives in a rural area similar to yours, do you prefer that over a city type area? Is it something that you've grown to love?

[myargonauts]

exactly - I've really become accustomed to small town life - I'll miss it more than "living in Japan" when I leave.

Yeah - my apartment is great - like I said, I got lucky.

[lleverfreell]

Swifter? I think you meant Swiffer. ;) Nice video though.

[myargonauts]

haha - yeah, i did. My English has gone to hell.

[jessman1999]

Geez, fantastic apartment! I've heard about other JET members as well as other teachers from NOVA and the lot having small death trap apartments. Like you say, "ESID", but really fantastic place.

[rodgerswan]

wow really nice apartment! I think my entire dorm room here in shin kawasaki can fit in your living room haha. cool posters by the way haha.

[myargonauts]

thanks

[rtobin7]

Did your apartment come with the fridge?

[myargonauts]

yep - provided by the BoE.

Almost all JET apartments are fully furnished when you move in.

[myriah96]

Cool pad Jason. Finally, we get to see the intire inside instead of the small slice of the pie which is Jason's blogging space. Air con is a term I haven't heard before, but easy to figure out =P. And you have a awesome view. How is the wine from down the street? I know you said you don't drink, but usually that means you only drink for special occasions. Also, what is the map of in your room, train stops? Is the Gamecube a Japanese one? I heard that somethings aren't compatable, is that true?

[myargonauts]

Yeah - I gulp down a little beer for the ritual kanpai to start all enkais. I've heard the wine is terrible. But they make great grape juice! :)

Yeah - it's a map of the London subway system. The Gamecube is Japanese - I bought it off a leaving JET last year. I don't think it plays American games, but I've never tried it. Mario Kart is all I need. :)

[MTassarion]

I'm sure this is one of the larger apartments a JET can get, isn't it? It looks really nice.

[SchoolhouseTechno]

Do you think this is one of the things that is more common with placement in the inaka. I think I remember reading but am not sure that most rural placements on average seem to have bigger apartments...which wouldn't be a bad trade since you can go anywhere pretty fast with the shinkansen.

[myargonauts]

yeah - you're probably right - it's a trade off... live in boring countryside, get bigger apartment - live in urban setting with actual young people around, live in closet and pay twice as much. :P

[JamieDanger]

I hated recycling in Japan... not because I don't like the earth, but because it was a big hassle.

Then the lady that ran the dorms (aka sat there and drank tea all day) came up to me one day and was like "SEPARATE YOUR GARBAGE!"...

Wow, that was a lame story. :)

Also, my dorm was, like, 1/3 the size of your apartment. It was nice, though.

FUN! 5 stars!

[myargonauts]

yeah - I could do a whole vlog on garbage, but why spoil all the fun of being new in Japan? LOL

[WhiteMatrix2006]

Great video Jason. Your apartment is one of the better apartments I've seen given to JETs. How is it watching television over there cause they don't have English subtitles right? Also, how hard was it finding an actual bed and how much did it cost? Is it uncomfortable at first learning to sit on the floor all the time? If you have a chance to answer these then thanks in advance. =)

-Billy-

[myargonauts]

any bedding (futon or regular bed) will be supplied by the BoE - of course you can always buy your own if you don't like the one provided. Not hard to find beds here.

Sitting on the floor is no problem - sitting seiza was a big adjustment for me.

[Madluvfuzybunyhugz]

Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed it.

[myargonauts]

As I mention in the description, there really is no standard - it varies so much. This vid gives you a general idea, but I would even say my apt is on the slightly large size as JET apartments go.

[SniperTech]

Ahh looking around your place brings back my memories when I was in Japan earlier this year. Nice vid as always keep up the good work!

[Graehaus]

Thanks Jason, great apartment there. Do they have JET apartment complexes there, or is it just like apt. I guess with the larger areas, they would.

[myargonauts]

Yes, in nearby Izumo there are apt complexes that house multiple JETs, but I live by myself in Taisha.

[petchay8099]

hahah..most people calls it a/c but you call it air con..i do too! =P

nice apartment jason.

thanks for sharing :D