Helpful Tips for Newcomers

[annunaki]

All,

Please post your best suggestions and information for newcomers here. This thread will be "stickied" at the top. Please keep this thread on topic so it can serve as a valuable and easy to read resource.

[annunaki]

- Search the forum. Many questions have been asked to many common questions.

- You can bring your car, but there are some restrictions. Just ask here about it as some folks know what to do.

- Just trying to get this thread started.

[Enchanter]

- Practice and learn patience - Having patience over here isn't a skill or luxury, it's a requirement. Basically, if you're in a hurry, you're in the wrong place and you're destined to be outraged. Long lines and heavy traffic are the two biggest ones that get people wound up the fastest when you're not used to it.

- Speaking louder and slower does not increase Japanese comprehension of the English language - Either they understand you, or they don't. Dragging it out, repeating it over and over, or raising your voice WON'T make a difference.

- Enjoy it instead of comparing it - You'll find many things here in Japan are just downright different; and that's just the way it is. They're not looking to change, nor do they feel inferior for doing "it" differently either. If you compare everything with how it's done "at home", where ever that may be, you're going to be frustrated and/or disappointed. On the other hand, if you accept things the way they are here, and act accordingly, you'll find your experience is a lot easier to deal with, and most likely a lot happier too.

[sexymophandlemama]

You CAN bring your car? I have a British car. I bet my husband won't let me though. Oh well.

[balling]

you can
depending on the car, it can cost a little or alot
if you need more info let me know. ive brought a number in

[Chaddeus]

Ditto what Enchanter said. Free your mind and you'll enjoy it here. Been here nearly 15 years myself!

[MaggieMontgomery]

For anybody coming in with pets, a guy who is PCSing in this month needed a pet sitter for 25 days for 2 dogs while his family takes their COT leave, because the kennel is already (and almost always) booked. He posted an ad on Yokota Ads, I contacted him and he said he'd gotten 3 reponses from people willing to help him out (good looking out Yokota! ) so know that that's a viable option if you need it!

[sval514]

OUTDOOR SHEDS!!!!

I just wanted to pass this info on to newcomers since apparently, we've been screwed....again. Anyhow, I was told by a friend that housing provides outdoor sheds for those of us that live in garden homes. I was also told by another friend that she had heard of this happening on the east side and wasn't sure if it was just for that side or everyone. Well, I called housing today to find out since those sheds are so expensive at the Bxtra. Anyhow, the lady told me that it was only for when you first PCS in. Now we've already been here for a year, so we don't qualify but apparently if you request one when you first move in your garden home, housing will deliver one to you (I have no idea which size). At first I was thinking that it was only for temporary use until your household goods come in, but that wouldn't make any sense b/c why would you need it then if you don't have much goods? I did ask anyway, but the lady didn't understand my question. By then I was kinda upset b/c we can no longer get this and it seems to be one of those things "a little birdie" needs to tell, not housing directly. I did mention to her that it would be nice for housing to offer this to us when we get our garden home, but we all know that's not how they want it done, unfortunately.
Anyhow, I wanted to be that little birdie and put the word out there. I don't have all the details unfortunately, but it doesn't hurt to mention it to housing when you, newcomers, PCS in and get offered a garden home. The # for housing that you'd have to call for it is not the main #, but 225-9099 which is the "facility" section. I hope someone can benefit from this info.

[annunaki]

Sheds...

We got new sheds on the East side, even though we had an existing shed. A friend of mine, who lives on the West side wanted a shed for his 3br home, asked housing for one at his place. Housing said...not much. I told him that I have 2 at my place. Housing said they were going to pick up our "extra" one soon. Housing never took ours and said we can keep both. My friend still has none.

Hmm...

[MaggieMontgomery]

I know they gave them to renovated units because they lost the porch shed. Unrenovated units have a big storage room on the back porch, which got filled with the central AC unit in the renovated houses. Don't have any clue about anything else though. But even with the big storage shed on our porch, we still needed to by a bike barn (which can't go in your yard, only in one of your assigned parking spaces.)