What a Day - New Apartment!
**Wrote this on Saturday, but posting quick at work where I have internet access.**
Pictures here
Man what a day, I'm exhausted. I was up most of last night packing, and then spent today moving in. The movers came at 9, and as soon as they loaded everything up, I ran over to the new apartment in Hon Atsugi to meet the guy who turned my gas on (so I can you know, cook and have hot water). In the meantime the movers stopped by Proto Labs, dropping off and picking up some more stuff. Then they swung by my new place here and dropped everything off, and I finally got to really unpack.
By the way, I'm eternally grateful to the previous residents of the Ebina apartment (Brian, and later Damian). I've inherited most all of the furnishings and other daily necessities, so theres very very little I actually need to go out and buy. This takes a huge load off as I don't need to worry about that stuff. So thank you Brian and Damian! (Although maybe all this stuff is technically Proto Labs? haha)
Well I'm proud to say I'm no longer living out of my suitcases! What a mysteriously relaxing feeling. I don't have a dresser or anything yet, so a bunch of my clothes are still on the floor, but most importantly they're not in a suitcase. In fact, I was even able to unpack some keepsakes and such, including my diploma (yea I brought it with, heh.)
Taking my diploma out, I couldn't help but look it over and I noticed something interesting - the date. May 16th, 2009... It's been one whole year since I've graduated from college. Where did that year run off to? And who would have known one year from then I would be moving into my own apartment in Japan. It's been quite the roller coaster ride getting here, but I'm happy to say I think I'm reaching cruising altitude. Boy have I ever been blessed!
I also noticed one other mysterious piece of reality today. My current living situation is open ended, as in there is no set end date for the next thing yet. I can't even remember the last time I've been in this situation. In fact the more I think about it, I don't know if I've ever been in this situation before. High school is 4 year until I go on to college, college took me 5 years during which I lived in 6 different places. When I studied abroad in Tokyo I had a 1 year time limit. When I got back I had a 2 year time limit till I graduated. And when I finally landed a job at Proto Labs, I had a 6 month time limit until I shipped off to Japan. Even when I got here I had until May 17th (Monday) to find a new place.
But now... there is no time limit. Well my contract with the apartment is only for 2 years, but I can extend that (or move elsewhere). Also my work visa (which by the way is Status: Engineer - that is so cool) only lasts 3 years, but I can and probably will extend that time period, and maybe eventually even apply for permanent residence if I'm still here after 5 years or so. By the way, I don't have any plans to apply for Japanese citizenship as the Japanese government doesn't allow dual citizenship beyond age 20. What that means is for those born to international couples, they have until age 20 to chose which citizenship to keep.
Anyways, I'm really excited to have my very own place to come home to. Now things can finally settle down and get into a rhythm.
Looking in from the balcony.
Looking out from the balcony
Finally, home sweet home.
Pictures here
Man what a day, I'm exhausted. I was up most of last night packing, and then spent today moving in. The movers came at 9, and as soon as they loaded everything up, I ran over to the new apartment in Hon Atsugi to meet the guy who turned my gas on (so I can you know, cook and have hot water). In the meantime the movers stopped by Proto Labs, dropping off and picking up some more stuff. Then they swung by my new place here and dropped everything off, and I finally got to really unpack.By the way, I'm eternally grateful to the previous residents of the Ebina apartment (Brian, and later Damian). I've inherited most all of the furnishings and other daily necessities, so theres very very little I actually need to go out and buy. This takes a huge load off as I don't need to worry about that stuff. So thank you Brian and Damian! (Although maybe all this stuff is technically Proto Labs? haha)
Well I'm proud to say I'm no longer living out of my suitcases! What a mysteriously relaxing feeling. I don't have a dresser or anything yet, so a bunch of my clothes are still on the floor, but most importantly they're not in a suitcase. In fact, I was even able to unpack some keepsakes and such, including my diploma (yea I brought it with, heh.)Taking my diploma out, I couldn't help but look it over and I noticed something interesting - the date. May 16th, 2009... It's been one whole year since I've graduated from college. Where did that year run off to? And who would have known one year from then I would be moving into my own apartment in Japan. It's been quite the roller coaster ride getting here, but I'm happy to say I think I'm reaching cruising altitude. Boy have I ever been blessed!
I also noticed one other mysterious piece of reality today. My current living situation is open ended, as in there is no set end date for the next thing yet. I can't even remember the last time I've been in this situation. In fact the more I think about it, I don't know if I've ever been in this situation before. High school is 4 year until I go on to college, college took me 5 years during which I lived in 6 different places. When I studied abroad in Tokyo I had a 1 year time limit. When I got back I had a 2 year time limit till I graduated. And when I finally landed a job at Proto Labs, I had a 6 month time limit until I shipped off to Japan. Even when I got here I had until May 17th (Monday) to find a new place.But now... there is no time limit. Well my contract with the apartment is only for 2 years, but I can extend that (or move elsewhere). Also my work visa (which by the way is Status: Engineer - that is so cool) only lasts 3 years, but I can and probably will extend that time period, and maybe eventually even apply for permanent residence if I'm still here after 5 years or so. By the way, I don't have any plans to apply for Japanese citizenship as the Japanese government doesn't allow dual citizenship beyond age 20. What that means is for those born to international couples, they have until age 20 to chose which citizenship to keep.
Anyways, I'm really excited to have my very own place to come home to. Now things can finally settle down and get into a rhythm.
Looking in from the balcony.
Looking out from the balcony
Finally, home sweet home.
posted by Kurisu at
9:06 AM
3 Comments:
Great to see you finally got a place. I've been really enjoying your updates.
/Eternally/ grateful, eh? I don't think that's quite necessary. :) Lisa made all the tough choices though. I laugh every time I see that Hello Kitty fan in your & Damian's pictures!
Ehh, maybe thats the overly thankful Japanese in me? All the little furnishings really help alot though :P
Also lol, I considered taking Hello Kitty off, but I like having the cover over the fan. Its probably gonna turn into the sore thumb that sticks out in all my pictures now.
:D
Maybe Alex can come over for house-warming in your stead. That said, when is Alex coming?? I mean I know Osaka is a pretty cool place, but can it really be better than Atsugi or Ebina????
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