" - Winnie the Pooh
Getting legal
Back in November, we actually did go and pick up our Alien registration cards. Once we got there, we were greeted by the man that had called me to tell me that they were ready. I think he was from the tax office and they dragged him down there because he spoke pretty good English. He helped us retrieve our cards - not that I think we needed help there - and then had us walk to a different section.
We filled out more papers and had to bring our bank book. Turns out, we registered Roo for child welfare. Guess this is a normal part of a socialist society. We will get 5000¥ per month, direct deposited 3x per year. I guess that's nice of them. We didn't seem to have the option of declining it, despite our efforts to assure him we didn't need it. Turns out, we weren't eligible for the program that reimburses you for your child's doctor visits because we didn't have a Japanese insurance certificate from Chrys' employer. They're having us keep our US insurance (even though our out of network benefits leave something to be desired). I'm not sure we could have figured out how to file a claim, or that we would have, so it's no loss.
Today, we went to Nagasaki and got our re-entry permits for our trip home next week. You can choose from the single re-entry permit (3000¥) or the multiple re-entry permit (6000¥). Since we'll be going stateside at least 3x that we know of and we hope to take a quick journey to China (at the minimum) at some point, we opted for the multiple re-entry permit. It's good for the duration of our visas, until 2007.
That process required us to go and buy a revenue stamp (just a $60 postage stamp looking thing) from the lady down the hall. Not a big deal, but an interesting way to handle the process, nonetheless. Roo, Chrys and I are now set. Owl will be taken care of when we return and he has his visa.
While there, I decided that my slight need to go to the bathroom could wait so that I didn't have to figure out the only toilet they had in the ladies room - a squatter. I'll shoot for bravery and testing my dexterity another day, when I'm closer to home should I land on my butt or not get my pants far enough out of the way. Pessimistic of me, yeah, but I tend to exhibit a remarkable lack of physical grace under pressure.
We filled out more papers and had to bring our bank book. Turns out, we registered Roo for child welfare. Guess this is a normal part of a socialist society. We will get 5000¥ per month, direct deposited 3x per year. I guess that's nice of them. We didn't seem to have the option of declining it, despite our efforts to assure him we didn't need it. Turns out, we weren't eligible for the program that reimburses you for your child's doctor visits because we didn't have a Japanese insurance certificate from Chrys' employer. They're having us keep our US insurance (even though our out of network benefits leave something to be desired). I'm not sure we could have figured out how to file a claim, or that we would have, so it's no loss.
Today, we went to Nagasaki and got our re-entry permits for our trip home next week. You can choose from the single re-entry permit (3000¥) or the multiple re-entry permit (6000¥). Since we'll be going stateside at least 3x that we know of and we hope to take a quick journey to China (at the minimum) at some point, we opted for the multiple re-entry permit. It's good for the duration of our visas, until 2007.
That process required us to go and buy a revenue stamp (just a $60 postage stamp looking thing) from the lady down the hall. Not a big deal, but an interesting way to handle the process, nonetheless. Roo, Chrys and I are now set. Owl will be taken care of when we return and he has his visa.
While there, I decided that my slight need to go to the bathroom could wait so that I didn't have to figure out the only toilet they had in the ladies room - a squatter. I'll shoot for bravery and testing my dexterity another day, when I'm closer to home should I land on my butt or not get my pants far enough out of the way. Pessimistic of me, yeah, but I tend to exhibit a remarkable lack of physical grace under pressure.
posted by Wynnie | 03:55
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