Here we are just one week out from having forty fresh new faces on the island. Another week on from that and we’ll have our eighty plus intake of new JETs arrived and ready to get on with their Hokkaido lives. Much as I hate saying goodbye to friends, meeting the newcomers is always a thrill, and a good excuse for a new haircut (I’m not sure why).

What better way to capitalize on all of this excitement than by coming down for meet and greets at the Sapporo Welcome Enkai (Monday, 19th August at Kirin Beer Garden). We’re hoping for a bumper welcome party this year and would love as many ‘remaining’ JETs to come down as possible. If that idea doesn’t float your boat, then I still urge people to come and have a looksee at the Sapporo Beer Gardens, open from last weekend and brimming with happy folk enjoying beer and good times in the parklands.

On to more ‘serious’ matters, those of you staying on need to ensure that your visa and gaijin card have not yet expired. If they have, get to fixing them ASAP by contacting your nearest immigration office for visa-related matters or your local municipal office to re-energise your alien registration. Also, folk who have just seen out their first year will need to be aware that your international drivers license is only valid for
ONE YEAR extending from the date of issue, so either take that test or get the paperwork done for you to switch to a Japanese Drivers License of your very own.

For success stories on taking the driving test, head to hokkaidojets.org and login to reach the Shooting the Breeze, where you can read others’ tales of triumphs and woe on Hokkaido’s testing roads.

Take care,

Chelle