On the morning of my departure day, I wake up at around 0530, as I plan to leave around 0600 or 0630 to make it to the airport. I have breakfast and make sure to pack the last few things I need, knowing I’ll forget some things. I did, in hindsight, forget to pack my watch charger and charge my switch and bring my switch dock bring a hair dryer. I may have also forgotten to cherish my room and house before I left it – but what more can you do? For how long can you really hold on?

It’s a lot of pressure, packing up your life in one night.

I thought I had escaped the rain that came for me in Sydney but it followed me, and it was torrential. With rain, always comes traffic. 20 extra minutes of it, in fact. I drive to the airport quietly, with my hands gripping the wheel thinking there will be consequences for checking in after 0730 when they told us to. Again, in hindsight, making this one of the most important pieces of information was probably a safety measure borne form other JET’s mistakes.

I feel, while driving, that I’m really going to regret being in that dreadful mood and not talking with my dad more. I drop myself off while dad parks, and I meet my friends. My carry on is a little overweight, but I’m told they won’t weigh it. My luggage, however, is 29kg and just about at capacity. I send the luggage off and dad is back. With that, I’m finally back in a more reasonable mood. I don’t get to spend much with them before I have to go through the departure gate. Even then, the emotions don’t hit me – but I try and memorise every last moment I get to see them. I try and soak it all in with a final glimpse and a wave.

Then, finally, I’m alone.

Security, customs, everything after that run fairly smooth. I decide to get coffee and breakfast at the Coffee Club before I meet the others at the gate – I’m going to miss this food. At this point I realise I do not have my watch charger or an adaptor, but the latter item is more important so I proceed to get an overpriced one from the convenience store down in the airport. The flight is delayed so the four of us JET’s talk. The flight staff do not, in fact, weigh the luggage. As we board, I realise we are sitting in Qantas Plus which is a little step up from Standard Economy. There’s a bit more leg room and the TV is wider than normal. Despite that, and my laptop, and diary, and music, I end up reading my book for the entire flight. Needless to say, my switch was dead so I could not game.

The first meal is either beef or chicken with rice, and I regretfully choose beef, it doesn’t taste good so I just eat the rice.

The second meal was lasagne with panna cotta – the good stuff from Wicked Sister (a great brand).

I took ages to eat this, and hurried to be able to put my trash away. As I read and sit and sometimes stretch, we get closer to landing time.

I had planned to do a face mask because planes dehydrate, but I decide against it. As we land, it really hits me that I’m back in Japan just the year before when I travelled for my graduation trip. It’s just, this time, I’m working. I’m achieving my dream. I’m going to have a life here.

I’m going to have a life here.

We make the long trek to arrivals – there are travellators – and we go through customs and immigration. I had my customs QR code from visitjapan.net already prepared so I finished that quickly and was ushered to the immigration area. By the way, they line you up in 4 groups and there is a human-sized monitor that digitally tracks what line you are in?? That was insane – it’s hard to explain you just have to see it. In any case, it’s a good idea to prepare this a few days in advance.

There, we lined up with everyone else but were ushered into a different line for visa holders. This is where we received our residence cards – these are so important and must not be lost. I personally keep mine with my passport at all times.

We collected our bags, went through a final customs where we showed our passports, and exited. Before we did, some others went over to send some of their luggage through to their accommodations. I chose not to – you’d have to pack another bag for 2-3 days worth. There was a lady with a JET sign waiting for us and she was extremely nice and welcoming, she helped us gather and lead us to the bus to the nearby hotel for the night. We all made it into the bus and breathed a sigh of relief for making it.

As we arrive at the hotel, we’re once again met by a hotel correspondent and he informs us of the schedule for tomorrow, where we can check out tomorrow, where to meet, and that there is a Lawson if we need anything. He gives us a schedule and bus list for the following day, reminds us to wear suits, and we receive a cloth sticker with the JET logo on it.

My JET friend and I discover we’re roommates! We’re the latest arrivals so there isn’t much time to dilly dally. I get some noodles, take out some money, and get some drinks.

The money I have accumulated in bank notes still isn’t enough for the rental office, but I get close. I start thinking I did not bring my blazer (I did, I just couldn’t find it because I didn’t want to dismantle my tightly packed luggage). I borrow an iron from the front desk and press my trench coat, shirt, and pants. I shower, read, and sleep.

Tomorrow’s going to be another long day.