Orientation

Last week we had 3 days of orientation for Nagoya's new exchange students (such as myself). I have heard that Japan is especially notorious for having very strict regulations on a lot of things. New student orientation confirmed that hearsay rumor by essentially being hours of learning about said regulations and filling out forms that would have probably made me cry if I didn't constantly have friendly native Japanese speakers and other exchage students volunteering their time to explain what was going on.

Here are some of the things I learned:

1. In Japan everyone over 20 is required to register for the National Pension Scheme (we registered).

2. After registering, foreign students can choose not to participate in the National Pension Scheme (so we filled out a form to apply for exemption immediately after registering)

3. If international students want to have a part time job, they must fill out a form entitled, "Application for Permission to Engage in an Activity Other than Permitted Under the Status of Residence Previously Granted."

4. International students cannot work at "adult entertainment businesses or related industries," which besides the obvious include: bars, pachinko parlors, host clubs, and dimly-lit coffee shops.

5. If you have a bike, it is very important that it is registered under your name. A student last semester was apparently arrested because the bike he was riding was not properly registered and he was suspected to have stolen it. Oops.

These are the things that bring joy to my life right now.

Classes started this week and I am very excited for the semester. As is written in my handbook, "Study abroad will transform your life into something more delightful. The experience may prove a drain on your finances in the short-term, but it will be your wealth for life!"

I'm counting on it.