Timing and Schools

Less than two weeks to go until we head off on a somewhat big adventure to Japan. We've been over the to do list what feels like a million times. Sometimes it gets longer, most of the time things get ticked off. Nothing seems supremely pressing and the biggest thing on the list, packing, can't actually happen until we are at least a little closer to departure. Don't worry though, that list is very comprehensive. 

In the mean time, here is an answer to a question that we get asked again and again. Not sure it's really blog worthy, (and it's certainly not sewing related!), but in wanting to have something to remember the whole process; why not. 

When we decided to try for the Digital Nomad Visa, the first question for us was "When?". When would be good to go? When would have the least impact on the girls schooling? When would be easiest to juggle with our work? What time of year we went would impact a lot of packing decisions and what kind of things we could do. 

For me, the biggest factor was fitting it in around the girls schooling. I really wanted them to have a chance to try school in Japan, but with Sophie in Year 6 in 2025, I also didn't want her to miss certain key moments of her schooling journey here. When we got back from Japan in 2024 and started doing the research, the three to four month lead time on the visa application ment that realistically the soonest we could get organised would be for August or September. 

We tossed around the idea of going at the end of 2024 into 2025. On top of being tricky with either coming back before six months were up or missing the first chunk of the school year in January, we knew that would also be winter in Japan. Not that we wouldn't have loved the experience, but the logistics of navigating the freezing temps and potential snow in daily life didn't seem like it would make our lives easy. Let's face it, relocating a family of four for six months is tricky enough without having to add extra planning for winter clothes that we just don't need in Brisbane. 

So then we looked further along. The Japanese school year starts in April. Since I knew that we would want the girls to do schooling, it made sense to try to start them when all the other kids were starting. The bonus was that it would mean our girls would get term one in Australia and then be back in time for term four. With Sophie graduating primary school, I was pretty insistent that she get to have term four here. Yeah, it wouldn't have been the end of the world if she missed it, but you only get to graduate primary school once, and if I can make sure she has that opportunity for closure before her high school life begins, then I'm doing it. 

An April to October time frame, also ment it was easier for me to take work off, since it's just two terms straight. Actually, I think it made things easier for my school, since they were able to slide two terms of Digital Technologies subjects in while I'm gone. 

When we were looking at places to live, I always did a quick Google Maps search on primary schools in the area. Where we ended up had three of them less than 1km walking distance. Things were looking good. 

There was a brief moment at the start of February, where we had the visas approved and I was trying to contact the schools to see what the enrolment process was. The only way to contact the school listed was a phone number. Why oh why were there no emails! My Japanese is good, but I'd be better with an email where I can proof read and correct my mistakes, and then take my time reading the reply. 

Unfortunately, our visas are also not resident visas and we were pretty concerned that it might mean we'd be unable to enrol the girls in a local primary. International schools were way out of our price range so they were a no from the get go. I had several friends and family in Japan do some calling around and digging for me, and we managed to hear from the Board of Education in the city we'll be living. Yes, they can go to school if we provide proof that we are staying long term and had all the right paperwork (passports, visas etc). 

Can I start that paperwork now? Nope. Got to take all the documents in to the office and submit the forms in person. Then the school will be contacted and we should be right to go. It's a bit frustrating since we don't know how long that whole process will take (the website recommends starting in September before the school year begins in April the following year). But what can you do? If it all falls apart I might do a significant amount of crying and then pick myself up and home school the girls instead. Not ideal, but hardly the end of the world. Praying it doesn't come to that of course. 

So now, on my very thorougher packing list, is a lot of documents that are photo copied and in triplicate. Trying to make that enrolment process as smooth as we can. The girls have been oscillating between excited and nervous, and I felt this morning that Sophie's scale tipped over to the latter quite strongly. Rachel, as always, keeps her cards close to her chest and remains somewhat of a mystery to us. 

Our intended travel day strategically gives us about two weeks before the Japanese school year begins. Hopefully that's enough time to get the paperwork done, and for them to start feeling more comfortable with the whole "living in Japan" thing. I'm excited, if still feeling that the whole thing is surreal. Maybe it will feel tangible when we are actually packing, or on the plane, or at our Japanese house. Who knows!