Time is flying by so quickly and our days are getting booked up like crazy. I thought that we would have so much time to get ready, but it actually feels like we are running out of time.
Packing has begun...
We have already started shipping lots of items home, and booking all of travels in Thailand, but there are so many things left to do.
One of our late night packing sessions: Nancy and I packing up our skis and winter clothes
You know what really sucks? Travel insurance. I never want to deal with it again. It has been very annoying trying to figure out what each policy covers and the slight nuances. Apparently skiing is a high risk sport … so some companies charge a substantial premium for skiing coverage.
The two insurance companies we have been comparing are World Nomads and Pacific Blue Cross. Have you ever had to file a travel insurance claim before? Because we haven't and it is so hard to gauge what we really need! Stayed tuned - we will be writing a post about our research and decision.
Accommodation Secured!
On the plus side, we have secured our accommodation for the ski season in Hakuba (the closest large city is Nagano - where Japan held the Winter Olympics in 1998). Woot! This was a major concern for us as we have been told it is often near impossible to acquire long term accommodation as foreigners.
It took us a while, but thanks for Facebook groups and friends in Japan, we were able to connect with the locals to secure this deal. We debated a few accommodation options:
- Staff Housing: it is very common in touristy areas for resorts/hotels/hostels to house staff for free. This is the case for Hakuba, especially for the ski season! This was definitely an option for us but most of these establishments prioritize full time staff vs. part time staff. This meant that we would have to work 30-40 hours a week to be eligible.
- Rental in Hakuba: this option was what Nancy and I were more interested in. Staying in a rented space would give us freedom to ski as much as possible but the trade off would be cost of the accommodation. When we first found out the rental prices in Hakuba, we were pretty put off. The prices ranged from $1,000-$1,500 CAD/month for shared spaces and studio apartments during the ski season. The major up side to this option was that the rental units are furnished and can be secured before we land in Japan.
- Rental in Myoko: Myoko was recommended to us as an alternative ski town. It is less popular for foreigners compared to Hakuba but offers great skiing as well (according to Powderhounds). Because it is less popular, the rental prices are significantly cheaper! We found generously sized rentals units for $400 CAD/month located 30-minute drive from the ski hill. The down side of this option was that we weren't able to secure the rental until we physically got to Japan.
After debating all the pros & cons of each option, we decided renting in Hakuba would be the most ideal. It would give us the most amount of freedom to ski, least amount of stress while settling in a new country, and allowing us to secure a place in advance... but all at the expense of spending more money. 😅
Well we hope it will be worth it! After comparing rough living cost between Hakuba and Myoko for 4 months, we would be spending upwards of $3,000 more for both of us renting in Hakuba. We decided that the skiing and freedom was worth it.
We are excited to share that we will be staying at the heart of Hakuba with onsens close by! (or at least Nancy is. I don't enjoy hot tubs due to their heat, let alone scalding temperature hot springs). It is surprisingly difficult to move to another country and get all the necessities that you take for granted at home. Who knew accommodation and cell phone plans would be hard to obtain?
Professional Engineer (PENG ^2)
Did we mention that fun-employment has kept us busy? Well, after submitting our Professional Engineer applications end of September, we found out a week ago that our technical experiences have been validated and we are certified P.Eng.s! 🎉
OUR CERTIFICATES CAME IN THE MAIL TODAY! YAY! The first thing Nancy said when she got her stamp was “Can I stamp your forehead?”. Rude. Straight up rude.
In other news...
Our new GoPro Hero 8 also arrived in the mail. I am very excited to start vlogging with it. That will likely be our primary means of keeping the family updated with what we are doing. I can’t wait to try it out snorkeling. My parents have already booked tickets to come visit in the winter so that my dad can come skiing … I’ll try to get footage of him wiping out or something.
Stay tuned for our next update!
