Preparing for Year 2

Now that the final weeks of my first contracting year are coming to a close, I'm making preparations for my second year. Normally for JETs, nothing would really change for the second year, but as you all know, my girlfriend Kristin managed to secure a legendary JET Program transfer and will be moving to Aomori within a month. For those who are unaware, you can inform yourself of the situation here. Her presence alone will COMPLETELY change my experience and living situation here. While I believe things will get much better, it will also get a bit more complicated.

First, we're planning on living together. However, since Kristin is supposed to be replacing another ALT, there will suddenly be a vacant apartment. Since the apartment being vacated is bigger than the one I'm in now, I'm planning to move over there and vacate my current residence. It'll be a pain to move all my stuff, and I'll miss being right next to my Tenrikyou neighbors and their kids, but I think the bigger place and the location close to the other JETs will be a positive change.

Since I'm changing residences, I get to go through the hassle of setting up utilities and changing my address on all my billing accounts. This year, at least, I'm planning to have internet set up instead of just tethering off my phone all the time. I also get to inherit a bunch of stuff from the person who is leaving, like her big bed, her oven (a real oven!), more kerosene heaters, and other little things to make life a little easier.

I'm also planning to buy her car, so that will be the biggest change of all. It's more responsibility, but it'll be nice to have the freedom of car ownership again, especially since biking is impossible for a whole half a year in this part of the country. The car means we can do a lot more travel within the prefecture (or even Hokkaido!), buy some bigger things without worrying about how to lug it home, and go skiing and snowboarding during the winter. Honestly, I'm really looking forward to the opportunities this will open up.

Soon-to-be my car: Suzuki Jimny

Only time will tell what kinds of real changes Kristin's move will bring to my life here in Aomori. All I know is that my second year is going to be completely different from my first year, and I welcome the change-up. That's all for now! See you next time!