Things I would suggest bringing
- deodorant/antiperspirant
- toothpaste
- shaving cream
- a good sleep mask (the sun rises early!)
- shoes that are easy to slip on and off
- if you are not Japanese sized, plenty of clothes
- pictures of your life in your home country (family, house, school, car, favorite food, famous places)
- a flag of your country (unless you're from Texas, then the state flag suffices :) )
- a map of your country and/or state
- books you like
- slippers if you have large feet
- lysol, wrinkle release (you don't need these, but you can't find them here)
- if you are a medicine taker like me, then stock up on medicine. Of course they have medicine here, but it is much weaker. I have cold, sinus, allergy, stomach, and airsickness medicines, as well as tylenol and ibuprofen.
- antibacterial hand lotion (which is great to use after you've been shaking little hands all day at school)
Things to Learn
- Yoroshiku onegaishimasu-- one of the most valuable phrases to use when meeting your superiors at work. It literally means something like, "please look on me kindly," but is used very often when wanting to make a good impression. Your bosses will expect you to memorize this on the spot once you get here and have formal introductions, so save yourself some stress and memorize it now.
- Domo arigato gozaimasu-- thank you very much
- Sumimasen-- excuse me
- Ohayo gozaimasu-- good morning
- Konnichiwa-- good afternoon
- Konbanwa-- good evening
- Daijoubu desu-- I'm/it's okay.
2 comments:
Ann, they'll probably want to know this one before coming too (my Japanese teacher taught it to me):
Kanji wa Nihongo o cho muzukashiku shite imasu.
It means, approximately, "Kanji makes Japanese stinkin' difficult!"
I think it'll come in handy too... :)
I enjoy your blog! And I'm jealous about the love letter--not a single forged, misleading item has ever appeared on my desk!
Sorry I didn't respond sooner, but I think Ann did a pretty good job of listing the things you will need.
Don't forget to pack several undershirts and pairs of long underwear. Winter is all about layering. I'm sitting in my living room wearing three shirts, warm pants, my long winter coat with the kerosene heater directly on me. It will still be cool if not cold in March.
I'm looking forward to meeting the newcomers and I'm praying that God will work through you in might ways while you are in Japan.
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