Brave Movinator: 5 Tips for Surviving A Big Move

Weird food. New house. Different people with different problems. Emotional roller coaster. 

These are the main ingredients of what I like to call "A Big Move." 

Speaking of which, I'm coming up on my year anniversary of living in Japan, my biggest big move. It's a strange feeling.

Sometimes I'll remember what it was like in my first month here and be simultaneously delighted and horrified by the level of enthusiasm (and confusion) I exhibited for literally everything that was Japan. Now I'm just sort of living. 

Isn't it surprising that it took me almost an entire year to get to that point?

Maybe. But maybe not.

I mean, I've had a lot of big moves in my life, and nearly all of them have left me feeling totally elated and totally destroyed. At this point, it's become a fairly predictable pattern. Living in a new place is hard-- especially within the first six months. Those months always seem to be a nightmare.

But, I feel as though the more I move around, the more accustomed I become to being one who moves. What would you call one who moves? A mover? A movestress? A movinator? That last one is probably right.

So, I thought it'd be helpful to post some of my favorite advice for dealing with the anxiety of finding yourself in a completely new place and not knowing what to do about it.

If you're applying to teach English abroad or planning to move to a new country (or even a new state!), I hope this helps you out. These little tidbits have certainly helped me deal with some major freak-outs in the past. 

Also snacks. Lots of snacks.

1. Try not to have expectations.

Every time I move to a new place, I visualize myself there, belonging there, being exactly the kind of person who has lived there her whole life. I imagine myself with tons of new, beautiful friends, twenty five pounds thinner, with a great paying job and several inches taller. I also usually am holding some sort of latte.

Between you and me, that's not a great way to walk into a potentially difficult life situation. It will leave you very disappointed (usually).

The thing is, moving is stressful. Beyond just the financial difficulties that come with a big move, moving tends to leave you without a support network (or at least, a support network that's fairly different than the one you've become accustomed to in your last home). 

So if you imagine yourself with those beautiful people and that latte, and find yourself broke and alone, wandering around in a strange new place, it can be a bit of a downer.

What's worked for me in the past is telling myself throughout the moving process that good or bad, this move is going to make my life more interesting in one way or another. Remember why you're moving in the first place when things get tough.

And if things never get tough for you, great! Count yourself very lucky!

2. Remember the 3-6-12 rule.

Give yourself three months to be irrational, six months to get settled in, and a year to make your new location feel like home.

It seems like whenever I move, I have three months of extreme highs ("I'm never leaving this perfect dreamland country!") and extreme lows ("No one in this terrible butthole country cares that I exist..."), which is followed by the six month mark where I kind of get what life is like ("It's really easy to take the bus to Fukuoka, see?"), to that magical year mark when I sort of feel like a local ("Oh, Kinoushita san owns the best vegetable shop in town!"). It's a bumpy ride, but I find that it seems to be very consistent.

However, these feelings can be very hard to handle if you're not anticipating them.

3-6-12 is a great rule to remember if you're just a few months into a big move and feel like you should be, well, happier. 

3. Say "yes" as much as possible...

I can't tell you how many weird adventures I've been on because I decided to say "yes" to odd invitations. 

For instance, a few months ago I went on a women's beauty retreat in Kadogawa and learned to "beautiful walk" and "small face massage" with forty strangers. I spoke only Japanese for two days, caught a glimpse of an endangered aquatic bird (we went bird-watching), and made really cool new friends! 

It was so strange. But the amount of satisfaction I felt for getting out of my comfort zone and handling everything made it all worthwhile.

What I've noticed is that I feel way more fulfilled when I fill my time with interesting experiences and funny stories, especially when I'm going through a big move. It makes me feel that I'm doing things I couldn't do in the place where I was before. It's a good feeling.

4. ...but don't forget to take a day off.

On the other side of the coin, it's also really easy to overbook yourself when you move to a new place because there's so much great new stuff to see and do.

"Of course I'll help with the community garden!"

"Volleyball for charity? Sign me up!"

"You want to go out drinking on a Tuesday night with your friend's ex-boyfriend, a librarian and an old war veteran named Cookie? Sounds like a blast!"

If you say yes to literally everything, sometimes you can stretch yourself a little thin.

Just be aware of yourself and your needs. If you need to skip that really great weekend trip because you haven't had a day to yourself all month, it's okay to do that. If you need to cancel on visiting friends tonight because you're practically falling asleep at work, that's okay too. 

Or if you're like me and you just need a break from speaking Japanese for a day, it's totally okay to skip calligraphy class once in awhile to get bundled up and watch Broad City in bed. 

"Calligraphy? Or raunchy lady-centric comedy?"

You're going through a lot right now. Be gentle with yourself.

5. Be true to you!

Just because you've moved to a new place doesn't mean you're a different person.

Repeat that to yourself. Then repeat it again.

If you like photography, take photographs. If you need to ride your bike to feel good, buy one and ride it. If you hate sports, but your new town is literally named Sportsville and no one does anything but play sports there, you still don't have to like sports.

I've made myself so miserable so many times by moving to a new place and completely changing myself to try to fit in. I've bought different clothes, stopped doing the things I liked, and pretending to like things that I really didn't care about, all in the name of making friends and fitting in. 

Let me save you some time. That doesn't work. 

I'm not trying to say you shouldn't try new hobbies or activities. People are constantly changing and growing, and a new move is a great time to try things out. Try the Singaporean cooking class! Take up the mandolin if you want to! 

I'm just saying that if you try those new exciting activities, and you don't enjoy them, don't keep doing them. Just be aware of yourself. Take note of what you find yourself actually enjoying, and what you're just doing because it feels like it's the big thing to do in your cool, new country.

Big moves are tough. A new place can make you feel anxious, depressed, alone, you name it. When culture shock hits, it can make life feel impossible. Difficult times bring out the worst and the best in people. 

I know. I've seen myself become a sad/angry weirdo many, many times.

But big move is also an amazing thing. It allows you to try new things, see new places, eat new foods, and just generally grow as a person. You'll do stuff your pre-move self would have never done, and I hope it makes you feel great.

So if you're embarking on a big move, congratulations! You're doing something very difficult and very worthwhile. If things get tough for you, remember these tips. 

Good luck, brave movinator! Or in the words of the original...

Hasta la movsta baby!

Pack Attack: How I Fit My Life Into My Suitcase

Hey folks! I’m currently blogging from the San Francisco International Airport because today’s the day for the SF JET Pre-Departure Orientation. I’m so excited (and gut wrenchingly nervous) to be here! It’s going to be a fun and informative day, and tomorrow we officially fly to Tokyo for the next stage of orientation. I can’t believe it’s actually happening! 

But believe me, last night I was not in the same great mood that I am now. It took a lot of stressing and freaking out and furious pacing to get here. My brain was rapid firing questions so quickly that I could barely do anything at all!

Do I have all the documents I’m supposed to have?

Am I supposed to have more money than I actually do?

Does Japan have ATMs?

Should I be listening to more J-Pop?

What if I don’t know enough Japanese to even go outside without looking like an idiot?

These are all obviously important (especially the J-Pop question), but the BIGGEST stress factor for the move has been packing! I’m essentially moving to Japan indefinitely, so I have to find some way to fit my entire existence into a suitcase. 

If that wasn’t hard enough, Japan has a much more conservative culture than California, so I can’t even include the myriad of short shorts and fitted dresses that have become a staple in my wardrobe. I had to rethink all my clothes and buy business casual clothes that fancy magical real adults wear, instead of the California college appropriate whatnots I had currently. 

In short, packing is tough stuff.

After going through my clothes and figuring out what’s even wearable, and a few trips to Target and Macy’s for business basics, I finally feel as though I have a wardrobe that’s functional and appropriate for my new home in Kadogawa. My items are versatile and simple so I can mix and match looks, and I don’t feel like I’m totally outside my comfort zone. All in all, it feels like a good mix! But I won’t know how successful I am until I actually arrive.

I made a handy list of questions I asked myself in my packing frenzy for the last night in my hometown. If you’re ever trying to figure out what to pack for your international travel situation, check these out! I thought it was pretty helpful!

• What’s the dress code? What’s appropriate in your home country may not be the same in your host country. For instance, Japan's work attire keeps it modest. It’s important to cover your shoulders, the top of your chest, and shorts and skirts should reach your knees. This is really unlike California’s dress code, so I had to adjust. So long short shorts!

• What size suitcase should you bring? You may be tempted to bring everything you own in two extra large suitcases, and if that works for you, great! But it’s often easier to travel light - buy versatile clothing, bring only what’s absolutely needed, and you can buy anything else you need in your new country! My formula for perfect packing is one large suitcase (to check), a backpacking pack, and a purse (for carry on). That way, when I travel in my new country, I can leave the suitcase at home and use that backpack. The purse can be used for every day wear. Another helpful hint: Roll your clothes military style! It saves tons of space and keeps things from getting wrinkled!

• What’s the weather like? Different fabrics are better for different weather conditions. Is it hot and humid? Try and pack lots of dri-fit material, or light thin clothes that still meet the dress code for your country. Is it cold and rainy? Buy light weight rain gear and lots to layer with! Depending on your destination, you may need to rethink that super cute crop top you were planning to bring.

• What will you be doing? As an Assistant Language Teacher, I knew I’d have to bring some business professional clothes, along with shoes I’d be comfortable standing in all day. I also wanted some active wear, as I plan to play with the kids and bike around town when I get the chance. If your schedule calls for different activities, make sure you pack accordingly. No one wants to be at a business meeting in their #partyallday tank top, or hiking in a pencil skirt!

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re getting ready to move, but don’t despair! If you think through your location and activities early, you’ll pack your suitcase like a pro!

...though I did end up overpacking. My suitcase is currently seventeen pounds overweight. 

I'm sure it'll all work out somehow.

What’s your tried and true packing method? If you have any helpful tips, share your wisdom in the comments section! I’d love to hear from you!

Next time you hear from me, I’ll be in Japan! Sayoonara!

Tips for Travelers: How to Drive Abroad

Drivers in Hong Kong

It's been a whirlwind of a month! July has flown by faster than I could've ever imagined. I moved out of Santa Cruz at the end of June, stayed in my hometown of Huntington Beach with my parents for a few days, and then set off on a ten day family reunion/vacation in Mexico. The ocean was incredible - and the sunsets were even better.

The glorious sunset from our vacation house in Mexico

Now I'm back in Huntington Beach for a week and a half more before leaving to the JET Tokyo Orientation, where all the new JETs (like me!) take over a hotel and learn as much as we can before heading off to our prefectures. I can't wait to see Tokyo for the first time and learn as much as I can about being an Assistant Language Teacher!

But in the meantime, I'm figuring out some important details about actually living in Kadogawa. Since I'm living in a small town (the smallest I've ever lived in), my predecessor told me having a car is pretty important. Two of the schools I'll be teaching at are in the mountains, which would be hard to reach without reliable transportation. Cars offer protection from the elements, options for travel, and help out if I need to lug furniture, surfboards, or other heavy things around. In short, I better learn to drive on the left, because I'm getting a car.

Yes, I'm a bit nervous, since I've never driven anywhere other than California, but there's a first time for everything right? So if you're a fellow American who's moving to Japan (or any other foreign country) and you'll need to drive, here's a few things you'll need to know about getting the International Driver's Permit before you leave.

A. Where You'll Get It
I went to the local AAA and asked to sign up for an International Driver's Permit, even though I don't have a AAA membership. You can also do this at the DMV.

B. What You'll Need To Get It
Bring two passport photos, your driver's license, and some way to pay fifteen dollars, because there's a small fee.

C. How Does It Work
An International Driver's Permit is valid for a year from the date of issue, so get it right before you leave. As long as you keep it with your valid USA driver's license, you can drive your car from your new home in wherever the heck you're moving to. However, after that year, you'll need to apply for your Japanese license, which is a whole new can of worms.

As for everything else about driving in Japan, I'll let you know how it goes when I get there. I'm trying not to be too worried about anything specifically. There's just so much to consider - I guess I just have to take it a day at a time.

If you have any other questions about driving or any other pre-departure issues, leave a comment below! Thanks for reading!

New Look, New Adventures

Hey folks! It's been awhile!

I'm back with big news. My last post was over a year ago, so obviously I think the biggest thing you'll notice (if you only know me from the blogosphere) is that my hair is blonde now and way shorter than it was in Hong Kong. Surprise! I look like a totally different person.

However, the reason I'm posting isn't just because I'm really excited about my sweet haircut (though it IS pretty cool). I've actually just recently graduated from UC Santa Cruz and I'm heading back to Asia for more noodle-filled adventures! But I won't be going to Hong Kong. This time, I'm headed to Japan!

Crazy, right? I've been hired as an Assistant Language Teacher for the JET program. I'll be helping to teach English in Japanese elementary and junior high schools in the Miyazaki Prefecture, in a small town called Kadogawa. I figured since the title of my blog still applies, I'd just continue where I left off. So hello again readers! I hope you've been doing well!

So let's get down to brass tacks. Here's what I know about my future living situation in Kadogawa:

• It’s a town on the coast of Kyushu (the southernmost island of Japan) in the Miyazaki prefecture
• It’s population is around 17,000-18,000 people (which is about the same amount of people as the amount of students attending the university I just graduated from)
• It has a population of endangered birds that seem pretty cool
• It has the ocean on one side of the town and some mountains and forests on the other
• It’s nestled between two larger cities in the prefecture (so I’m not too out in the middle of nowhere)
• I’ll be working at 6 schools - two junior high schools and four elementary schools
• I’ll be teaching an adult English conversation class

That’s about all I know so far! I’ve been talking to my JET predecessor, the guy who’s in Kadogawa currently (I’m taking his place when he leaves), and he kept calling it a dream placement. I’m looking forward to it tremendously, especially because I’ve never been to Japan. Guess I'm getting a real crash course in Japanese culture, huh?

So this is just a quick hello as I'm going through the process of pre-departure - getting visa requirements done, packing, finishing up with everything in Santa Cruz so I can fit all my life in a suitcase, etc.

Time to learn some kanji! Ciao for now!

Last Minute Preparations

I leave for Hong Kong in basically two days! TWO DAYS PEOPLE! It still hasn't really sunk in that I'm moving to a foreign country but who cares? What happens happens! I figure I'll just launch myself into this situation trying to be as prepared as possible and see how it goes. What could go wrong?

Today my mom and I went around town taking care of all my last minute purchases and appointments. Specifically, I went to the doctor and the dentist to make sure I was ship-shape to go to a foreign country (no root canals for me!) and purchased a US to UK outlet adapter from Radio Shack. These go for about for about 13 dollars and it's important to note that HK uses the UK outlet, not the Chinese outlet. Another heads up, the voltage there is 220 volts, so you may need to purchase a converter instead of an adapter (which is slightly more expensive). However, I've checked all the chargers I plan on bringing and they can go between 110 and 220 volts just fine, so an adapter ended up being all I needed! Read the backs of your plugs if you're wondering about this.

I also picked up some toiletries from the supermarket. I made sure to get a few first aid essentials like band-aids, Tylenol, Nyquil and Sudafed since I had heard from a few returnees that the over the counter medicine in HK seems a bit less potent. I also bought a cute portable alarm clock from IKEA for 99 cents! Hooray for last minute purchases! I haven't started packing yet (yikes!) but I think a medium sized roller suitcase, small old-timey carrying suitcase (not sure exactly how to describe it) and a backpack should be more than enough room for the essentials. I'm going to do my very best not to overpack! I want to have space to bring home cool stuff!

As for some info about my lodging, I will be staying in the Patrick Manson off-campus student residences while I'm at HKU. Apparently it's across from the Amenities Center (complete with the gym, I think?) on 7 Sassoon Road, which is about a 10 minute bus ride and a 30 minute walk from the actual campus. This option doesn't have a meal plan or anything, which means for the first time I'll have to create my own budget for food and it'll be like I'm really living on my own in a foreign country! Cool right? I should have two or three roommates, but I don't get to meet them until I actually check into my building. Patrick Manson is supposedly non-local student housing, so I'm hoping to meet a lot of international students who are going through exactly what I'm going through. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get there! 

Okay so I have a pretty packed couple of last days that include seeing my very cool uncle, very cool boyfriend and certainly eating quite a feast with my folks, before I head off on my grand adventure, so I might not have time to post again until I'm actually in HK. I'm sure I'll have plenty to talk about!

Until then!

What I've Been Up To Since 2012...

Happy 2013 everyone! So I realize it's been awhile since I blogged on here but I figured everyone else was probably enjoying their families as much as I was enjoying mine, so I deliberately chose not to distract you with tales of silly pre-departure days. Aren't I thoughtful? Thank me later!

Anyways, here's what I've been up to. I finished my final exams at UCSC (got all As! Hooray for studying, stressing and not really sleeping!), had my last day at work and moved back home to Huntington Beach, CA for month before heading out to Hong Kong. 

My family and I took a fun weekend trip to a beach cottage in Crystal Cove before heading home for Christmas. Everyone had an excellent (and half-drunk) time.

By far, the coolest view in the whole cottage. 

My first attempt at an artsy self portrait in the rustic looking bedroom. It felt like a cuter version of summer camp.

My niece, Dylana, full on instagram-posing for the camera. 

The family looking silly for a weird (but accurate) family portrait.

My boyfriend, Tim, standing in front of some pretty Crystal Cove tide pools.

 It was fun to practice using my camera in the incredibly bright daylight on the beach, and I thought these shots turned out pretty well! 

For Christmas, we had a big family dinner and present pass around at my Grandpa Dan and Grandma Charlotte's house. 

My grandpa Dan looking particularly pirate-y as he cuts the prime rib.

My dad was incredibly excited about his new ipad and brought everyone around to see.

My parents, the original party animals.

Me and the cutest pomeranian I've ever seen, Bella.

My aunt and cousin, spreading the holiday love!

For Christmas, I received a Berlitz Cantonese phrase book and CD (score!) so I've been practicing some more phrases for my trip to Hong Kong. I don't know if other students have this problem, but UCSC does not offer Cantonese classes, so I was really excited to have something to practice with in my spare time. I also received a vibrating neck pillow for the plane, a camera case, an adorable travel journal and some cute clothes (including a t-shirt with a French Bulldog wearing a beret) for traversing through the city!

As far as preparations for my trip go, I've opened up a Charles Schwab bank account to use during my trip abroad. I learned from returnees that Charles Schwab is a really great option for people who don't want to open up a Hong Kong bank account because you can withdraw from any ATM abroad without incurring fees! It seems to make retrieving money a lot more simple and effective than it would be with Bank of America or other banks. I've also had an extra set of passport photos taken to keep with me for use during check in at my housing and for registration during classes. At HKU especially, it's good to have extra passport photos, as I've heard from returnees that several are needed for different registration purposes. And the less running around for errands I have to do while I'm actually in Hong Kong, the better.

So there's a brief update on what I've been up to lately. I'll be updating more in the coming days, but I'm leaving at 12:20am this coming Sunday morning! It's CRAZY! This is CRAZY! I'm gonna be a world traveler! I'll tell you how I'm going but for now I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be!

Nee Ho Ma?

I've been addicted to Omniglot.com's useful Cantonese phrases page lately! Even though I don't speak Cantonese yet I figured it would be helpful to know a few key things before going over to Hong Kong. I know there are a ton of pages like this on the web but I really like that if you click the words in Chinese they have an audio pronunciation of the words for you to listen to. I've been trying to practice a lot, especially with phrases like "where's the toilet?" and "excuse me." 

One of my bosses actually lived in Hong Kong and she said she definitely understands what I'm saying, which is a huge relief because I'm so afraid of butchering everything when I get over there! I'm definitely going to buy a little pocket phrase book so I'm not completely stranded but I hope by the time I return I'll have a formidable arsenal of Cantonese words in my brain! Maybe I won't even need the pocket dictionary! Who knows!?

47 Days

47 days.

47 days until I'll be on a 19 hour flight to a place that is 7,254 miles away from my hometown while I will live for approximately 152 days.

Crazy, huh?

I guess it hasn't really hit me until just now, but I am literally going to pack up my life into one rather small suitcase and move to a place where I am completely and totally an outsider. I don't know the customs or the language or even what shoes to wear. What am I doing?! My life is about to radically change and I'm not prepared in any way, shape or form.

My good friend Julia told me recently that nothing is worth doing until it scares you shitless. To which I replied, "What about taking naps?" But I guess naps are beside the point. 

The point is that I'm on the precipice of a whole different lifestyle, and it's the scariest thing I've ever done. Does that mean that it's also the most worthwhile? I'm not sure, but I guess we'll see how it goes. If nothing else, I hope to get some cool t-shirts and eat a lot. I have pretty lofty goals.


Here is a brief list of things that will keep me busy until I leave:

1. Homework
I still have two weeks of this quarter at UCSC, in which I have 2 finals, 1 film, 1 paper, and 1 medieval theatre production history to work on. 

2. My New Fancy Camera
I recently ordered a Canon Rebel T3i DSLR camera for my trip to Hong Kong and life in general. I've been coveting DSLR movies and imagining myself with one of these since I was a sophomore in high school, and you know, I'm a film student and all, so I figured it was time to bite the bullet and shell out my whole month's salary for one of these bad boys. I figure the learning curve will be at least a week. Lucky for you, it also means I will have super beautiful high quality pictures to keep you coming back to my blog again and again! 

3. Entertaining Friends During the Holiday Season
I have a month of winter break in which several of my friends from elsewhere will be coming to visit me in my hometown of Huntington Beach. I'll have to find several interesting activities for us to do. The only ones I can think of right now and wearing sweaters and drinking hot chocolate and going ice skating indoors and watching Elf thirty thousand times. 

4. Buying Christmas Gifts
Actually probably making them, because I spent all my money on that fancy camera. I hope people like mixed CDs and hats that I hot glued together out of felt.

5. Figuring Travel Junk Out
Get a credit card and all those other weird things you need when you travel internationally. Some kind of adapter for my laptop charger or something? I don't even know!


I have so much to do but I'm already so antsy! This Saturday is my Pre-Departure Orientation where I meet the other students who are going on my program with me and we talk about all the stuff we're supposed to know before we go. I hope I make some friends! Wish me luck!

An Introduction

Hello there! I'm not sure exactly what the protocol is for writing a blog introduction, so I guess I'm just going to just go with my gut.

My name is Lauren and this is a blog! That seems like a good start.

I am currently a film production student in my third year at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Above is a picture of me dressed as a chicken from one of my films. I personally feel that it's a pretty accurate representation of me as a person.

On January 13th, 2013, I am leaving to study abroad at Hong Kong University. I'll be abroad for five months. Five crazy, awkward, lost in translation, possibly wonderful but most definitely interesting months. So I figured a blog would be the best way to share my experiences with my friends and family and random people who are thinking about going to Hong Kong (I include the latter category because I have been a random person stalking total stranger's HK blogs for about a year now and I hope my experiences can help some future traveler find her way around the HK experience too!).

So anyways, that's that! Here's to adventuring, exploring, and eating a lot of weird food that hopefully includes noodles.

Because, you know. I really love noodles.