Fulbright Fellow Handbook
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Last updated June 2017 FULBRIGHT FELLOW HANDBOOK CONTENTS Pre-departure 3 Summer Prep Checklist Language Study Pre-Japan and Recommended Study Books Packing Arrival 5 Timeline after Arrival Your 在留カード and Getting Legal Health Insurance Banking Credit Cards Cell Phone Living in Japan 10 Finances Dorm vs. Apartment Bikes Utilities Internet Trash Furnishing Your Apartment Japanese Equivalents of Common Medicine Finding and Making Food in Japan Vegetarianism in Japan Staying Fit Support Domestic Travel International Travel Having fun in Japan 20 Making Friends Clubs/サークル Volunteering Drinking and Drugs Dating – Rainbow Edition! Holidays Keeping in Touch with People Back Home 1 Dealing with Isolation, Loneliness, and the Gaijin Syndrome Researching/Studying 24 Daily Schedule Staying Focused and Not Getting Discouraged Classes Getting Along/Communicating with Your Advisor Working in a Lab Interviews Fieldwork Networking Applying to Graduate School From Japan Fulbright Policies 31 What Is the Orientation in Tokyo? What Are My Actual Responsibilities During My Fulbright Year? The Fulbright Year as a “Limbo Year” Monthly Reports Midyear Conference Contact with JUSEC Exit Interview Credits 2 Pre-departure Summer Prep Checklist 1. Visa - Although you will receive instructions from Fulbright, make sure to double check your consulate website for application instructions. Call and talk to the consulate if you have any questions to avoid issues when processing your application. Be sure to get an early start to account for having an official passport photo taken (i.e. CVS, Walgreens), application preparation, and processing time. For many consulates it is necessary to apply in person. 2. It may be helpful to have electronic copies or PDFs of your visa, passport, and other important documents. These are occasionally requested by affiliation/universities or while apartment hunting. 3. While some fellows receive help from their affiliation to find housing, many have found that contacting a real estate agent or finding housing (dorms, sharehouses, etc.) ahead of arrival can significantly improve the settling-in process. Your advisor may be able to connect you with an international student office or institutional general affairs office in order to assist with this. 4. Bring omiyage for your affiliate, such as: ● chocolates/cookies/other sweet food sets that could be easily shared by members of your lab (individually wrapped items are best) ● photography books or calendars about your state/city ● university or home state memorabilia Note: in general, bring a nicer omiyage for your professors/PI. Note: Given that you will meet a variety of individuals throughout the grant, it can be useful to bring a small stock of omiyage such as pencils, candies, etc. 5. Complete and return the Health Certificate to IIE. 6. Submit your Supplementary Information Sheet and Biodata sheet. 7. Submit your Japan-bound Travel Plan for Grantee (check the deadline for this and be sure to submit it in a timely manner). Language Study Pre-Japan and Recommended Study Books If your schedule allows, it is of course to your advantage to study Japanese before you arrive in the fall. To direct your study, you can focus on vocabulary and grammar forms related to your field or that will be related to the tasks that you will be using for your research (e.g. conducting interviews, writing surveys). These are suggested resources that Fellows have found helpful in the past: 1. New JLPT Kanzen Master (完全マスター) series 2. Target 2000 vocabulary and kanji books 3. Tobira, Genki 4. Remembering the Kanji by James Heisig 3 Some have also found electronic dictionaries and phone apps (e.g. Midori, Imi wa, Yomi wa, ALC, and Norikai Annai for iPhone or Android) very helpful. Try setting goals that you can reasonably accomplish, such as reading a paper in academic Japanese to learn common phrases and vocab. Alternatively, reading light novels (illustrated novels aimed at young adults, usually located between the literature and manga sections in the bookstore) and other Japanese books (e.g. Murakami Haruki) is another good way to expand your Japanese skills while developing interests that may overlap with your future connections in Japan. On the whole, fellows come from a variety of linguistic and educational backgrounds, so do not be too intimidated if you are concerned that your level is relatively low. However, previous fellows have found that a higher level of Japanese language proficiency substantially improves the ease of forming social connections and making friends. For this reason, focusing on basic conversational skills and taking the time to prepare a thorough self-introduction will smooth the initial transition as you settle in. Packing Depending on your physical size, be aware that purchasing shoes and clothing may be difficult for you in Japan. Japanese shoe stores do not usually carry footwear over US size 12 for men or 8 for women, or under US size 5½ for women. Also, since Japanese people always take their shoes off inside the house (and at a lot of sightseeing attractions like temples, old houses, etc.), try to bring shoes that will be really easy to take off and put on. For specifics, check online for shoe size conversion. Additionally, keep in mind that the sizing system in Japan differs from that in the U.S. (i.e. U.S. medium is a large in Japan). Here is a list of things you simply will not be able to find in Japan, so it would be a good idea to bring them with you: ● Japanese deodorant is notoriously weak, so bring some with you. ● toothbrushes with a full-sized head/ toothbrushes for sensitive teeth. ● Shoes over U.S. women’s size 8 or over men’s size 10 ● If you have a particular kind of contact solution you like, especially for sensitive eyes, you may want to bring it with you ● Tampons may be difficult to find, or may not be as effective as ones in the US ● If you have any three-pronged electronics, you will need an adaptor. You can buy these either in Japan or the States. ● A number of foods available in the US are not available in Japan, so if you have a food that you are particularly set on having, be sure to bring it or confirm whether or not it is available. A note about toothpaste: Be sure to look for fluoridated toothpaste (it will say フッ化ナトリウム on the label) or you will come back with lots of cavities. Before starting to pack, do a little research on the climate in your assigned region. Bring clothes appropriate for the weather. 4 A note on medicine: Of course, you will need to bring a supply of any prescription medicine that you will need or want. Japanese stores will not necessarily carry the brands that you are used to, so plan accordingly. However, if you are planning to bring medicine with you, be sure to check what medicines are not allowed through customs into Japan. Also, it may be difficult to get the pill, depending on where you are living in Japan, as it sometimes requires frequent trips to the doctor to get one’s prescription extended month by month. Check with your consulate to see if you will need to fill out any paperwork regarding medications. Please be aware that some medicine prescribed in the U.S. (i.e. pain medication) maybe illegal in Japan. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/pharmaceuticals/dl/qa1.pdf https://jp.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/ Arrival Timeline after Arrival When you arrive in Japan, life is going to be a bit crazy for a while. Please recognize that this checklist and timeline is based on our experiences, and will be a bit different depending on your host site or your own schedule needs. But here is a handy timeline to help you figure out what to do: 1. Arrive in Tokyo at Narita or Haneda Airport: Go through Immigration and Customs. Immigration should go smoothly, if you remember to bring all the documents you were handed when given your visa. There is no need to fill out other forms, although you may see other passengers writing them on the plane or while standing in line. It may take a moment for your Immigration official to remember what the necessary documents are, since Fulbright Fellows are not a common encounter. If you are prepared, there is no need to panic. Once all the documents are in order, they will create your zairyuu card 在留カード and take your fingerprint. Then off you go to claim your baggage and go through Customs. Onboard your flight, you will be given a customs form (and perhaps immigration documents that you do not need). You will hand this form to the Customs official, and then you’re let out to roam Japan. Be sure to check the train and bus schedules to ensure you will be able to get from the airport to the hotel. Taxis are substantially more expensive than other forms of public transportation. 2. 3-day Fulbright orientation 3. Head to your city for the year: if you’re going to be staying in a hotel or such while you’re looking for a permanent place to live, it’s a good idea to get that squared away sooner rather than later. One year, the Fulbright Fellows were entering a holiday weekend, which made it difficult for some to find affordable arrangements. 4. Unknown number of days to find housing if you haven’t secured dormitory or apartment housing ahead of time. An address is essential for all registration. If you find temporary 5 housing, you may be able to register with it until you get a permanent address.