Niece Set To Elope!

Well ok, she denies it. But in doing so she used the word "elope" and I just thought that was too quaint not to use. Ok, and this picture might be a touch old. Anyway, I hope she and Jason have fun in Vegas!

Another long day here in Kitagata. Out of school at 7 o'clock. Partly work and partly not. Three people from my real estate agency dropped by to go over clauses in the new contract and get it all done. The slightly weird guy with the shaved eyebrows who showed the apartment -- he talked little; a woman from the office who went over most of the contract with my supervisor; and an older woman who went to work when we started getting ready to sign documents -- a contracts specialist, ensuring that I understand everything I'm agreeing to. Then there was much signing, sealing, and filling out of forms.

I can finally say good-bye to this apartment and move into my new one this weekend. This apartment was given to me by my predecessor and the school board. They told me it was big. They didn't tell me that it'd nearly bankrupt me to live here.

JET recommends that participants bring $3000 to cover ALL costs for the first month here: rent, food, expenses related to settling in, and so on. Initial payment for the apartment alone: $4000. That's three month's rent that I may or may not see again ("key money"), 1 month rent "gift money", 1 month rent in advance, a "transaction fee" more than an entire month's rent by itself, and several smaller expenses, put together. I tried to fight the contract but it was no use. It's taken me this long to get enough money together to end the contract and begin a new one. There are new expenses to starting over, but nothing like the last time, and the rent and reduced utilities (set at a high fixed rate for this place) should make the move worthwhile in just 2 months, while I have 8 minimum left here.

I'm looking forward to the new place, but I suppose I will miss the view.



That's a freakishly big, bright pachinko parlour across the way. There's no noise from it; just a ton of light. All the noise comes from the kendo studio next to it (kids screaming aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh as they attack each other with sticks) and the occasional megaphone-equipped vehicle touring around at night spouting right-wing propaganda.

At night it's quite a nice view, also.



Mount Kinka and Gifu Castle are barely visible when I crane my neck to the left off the back balcony (much closer to Julie). Two major temples are a stone's throw away and I can see them both, also. One of the biggest malls in Japan, Malera, is not too far away and can be seen from the apartment, and the ferris wheel belonging to another mall, as well as a couple of sets of illuminated driving range netting.

I suppose I might also miss the tatami room.



It is kind of neat.

Well, that's it for me today. Another long day ahead tomorrow, and special plans, too.