Leaving JET

The time has come — the time to leave the comfort of your humble abode, your schools, your office, your newly made friends. You are on your way to leaving this beautiful country behind for a new adventure.

Leaving is no easy task, with endless farewell parties, saying good-bye to friends, and the ever daunting packing. You have to put an end to one or up to five years of your life.

We hope to make this transition is a little easier for you and to make sure you don't forget anything. Although it is basically a year before you leave, you should start making plans soon. The year is going to go by very fast and before you know it, it will be time to get on the plane. Start planning now, whether it be reference letters, where you are going to live when you get home, jobs, your bills, packing, etc. You don't want to be doing this all last minute.

Good Luck!

Checklist

• Starting to work on your resume? Here's a great place to start: http://www.jetresumes.blogspot.com/
• Pay your bills. The meters (gas, electricity sometimes water) can be read on your last day with bills paid in cash on the spot. Get your supervisor/office to call the utility company and have them send a man to your apartment.
• Don't forget NTT (dial 116, they have an English line), but don't disconnect the line unless it's yours to disconnect!
• Cancel internet connections and return rented equipment.
• Cancel cell phone.
• Pay for and cancel or redirect newspaper subscriptions, magazines, satellite TV subscriptions.
• Pay rent.
• You can have your mail redirected to any address in Japan for free, for one year. Ask at the Post Office.
• Before closing your bank account, make sure all bills are paid.
• Send your possessions well in advance of leaving.
• Get rid of trash.
• Leave your successor detailed notes of the syllabus you used, especially for elementary school. Use this form from CLAIR, it's quite good!
• Consider also filling out the Essential Information for Incoming JETs form with information about your job and location for your successor.