Life in Japan

Two weeks

2 September 2016

In two weeks… two weeks… and my dream will come true.

I’ve been waiting for almost a year for it.

We are finally…

MOVING!!!

Yes, again. This is house #7 in Japan hahahaha.

This time is probably the ultimate – moving within the same building LOL.

But omg I’m MAD EXCITED about this move. More than 50% increase in space!!!

Ever since MT came home with us, it started feeling like our place was a little crammed.

Oh who am I kidding. I already thought this place was too small before we moved here, but we moved here anyway because it’s a rare pet-friendly apartment (most places don’t allow you to keep pets) in an area we liked.

Plus, ever since I fell into sewing, I felt the lack of space even more sharply. I had no space to put the sewing machine. No space to cut. No space to anything.

I bump into the sofa/door/cupboard corners/Fu’s table when I’m walking around because it’s so narrow. Fu? He doesn’t bump into anything. Because he doesn’t move. He just plops himself on his throne (the sofa) and commands for stuff to be brought to him. If body parts could be detached, he would absolutely ask me to brush his teeth, wash his hands, and go to the toilet for him.

But anyway yessssss, TWO WEEKS.

The guy from the moving company came by to take count of our furniture to give a price quote.

In Japan, they count in multiples of 5 using the 正 way, rather than the |||| way. Which way do you count? I think I switch between the two…

Here are the results of our bargaining:

Not too shabby, I think… we still have to let people earn some money!

This is our 3rd time with him and I think he’s not even surprised by our antics anymore.

1st time: Move from A to B
2nd time: Move from B to A
3rd time: Move from A to A

HAHAHA.

Well, I guess this ascertains the fact that we really do like area A a lot!

He also dropped off the materials for packing!

Time for packing!

You will not believe how excited I am. Ever since we signed the apartment contract (and even before that actually, heh), I’ve been pouring over home interior blogs, walking around the house with a measuring tape, mumbling to myself, consulting the floor plan, mumbling some more, and trying to decide how to style the new place. I’ve had throbbing headaches from all the thinking (I plan everything out and place furniture, etc in my head rather than drawing or writing it down).

Obsessive? Maybe just sliiiightly.

Ahhh, it’s going to be amazing!

10 Comments

  • Reply Ly 3 September 2016 at 11:01 am

    HAHA, you and I both on trying to picture it in our heads. I’m excited that you are thrilled about having a bigger space and to design ways you see fit. Sometimes, I can’t decide where I want to place things either, so I would take a picture of the sections and then scroll through to decide better. But even then, I would pace back and forth to see where things would look good too. Have you ever looked up “Apartment Therapy” ? It’s a website that can give you ideas on how to work with the space that you got and DIY. =)

    • Reply Rin 4 September 2016 at 2:20 pm

      Oooh, thanks for the link! Will definitely check it out! And yes, I’m planning to DIY quite a bit in the new place, although that was supposed to be a bit of a surprise, so shhhh…

  • Reply Lani 3 September 2016 at 10:31 pm

    Congratulations!! 💖

    • Reply Rin 4 September 2016 at 2:20 pm

      Thanks! So excited about it! XD XD

  • Reply JON 4 September 2016 at 3:44 pm

    Congrats! That is really nice of him to provide the packing supplies.
    That counting thing is interesting(正).
    Teach me your bargaining skills Senpai XD aha. I think i would be too shy to negotiate a price.
    Be careful and don’t hurt yourself while packing! :O

    • Reply Rin 4 September 2016 at 8:04 pm

      Thanks! :D
      And yeah, in Japan the moving companies provide the packing supplies. They don’t do that in America?

      Haha, to be honest, I don’t think we’re very good at bargaining, cause we also think of the fact that the other party has to make a living. The approach depends on the personality and “aura” of the person you’re dealing with, but in general, it never hurts to ask nicely! “Ask and you shall receive”! lol. The worst that can happen is that they say no. No big deal :)

      Yessir! But don’t worry, I’m kind of a pro at this ;)

  • Reply JON 9 September 2016 at 11:10 am

    No, In America moving companies expect you to buy your own materials. You have to box it up first then they will put it in the truck and take it to the location.
    That quote “Ask and you shall receive” is a really good one. I will start using that XD.
    I’ll work on my bargaining! Thanks for the advice! aha.
    oh! I will be moving Hong Kong for a month or more!
    You should come over here to move my stuff since you are a pro! aha im just kidding. XD
    Kanpai! to moving!. :D

    • Reply Rin 13 September 2016 at 12:31 pm

      Oh, I guess they pamper us here in Japan XD
      Hong Kong! Will you pay me with dim sum for every meal if I go over? Lol
      I hope you’ll have a smooth move!

  • Reply karen 22 September 2016 at 9:30 am

    that’s a pretty good price! It’s freaking expensive in Australia (cost me A$2000 to move interstate) and they provide me with nothing. Anyway, good luck with packing and moving. showcase ur new home soon :)

    • Reply Rin 22 September 2016 at 2:40 pm

      Yeah it is! That’s why we stayed with this moving company ever since we found them. When we moved between prefectures (similar to interstate), it cost us about 60,000 yen (~$600).

      Yeaaah, still unpacking the last bits, but planning to do a bit of home improvement before showing the photos hehe :D

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