Fear of landing

In addition to the Three Fears of Flying, in my case we may add:

4. Will the Japanese government permit me to stay for two years?

It turns out that, as a self-employed translator rather than a regular company employee, I must apply for a visa after I get to Japan, instead of before leaving Australia like most normal company employees. Which makes the whole entry procedure is somewhat duplicitous; I have to front up at customs pretending to be a tourist on a short stay of a couple of months, hoping that they don’t notice the massive suitcase packed to the brim with winter and summer clothes, much less the letters of recommendation hidden in the side pocket.

Seeing as I’m on a tourist visa, I may not rent a house, get the phone connected or set up a mobile phone. Much less engaged in paid work such as, say, translation.

However these are but minor setbacks. For instance, I can continue working and simply ask my translation companies to suspend payment so that it doesn’t look obvious. (Luckily I have saved up a bit of money for just this purpose.) Meanwhile, my friend Yusuke can set up house and phone things in his name initially, and I will change them over to my name when I’m all nice and legal.

But as a fine upstanding citizen, I feel uneasy about having to live a lie like this.

Such are the things that one has to put up with in the name of adventure.