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Getting Ready

The JET Programme: From Arrival to Tokyo Orientation

September 20, 2016 by Rika 2 Comments

Ok, this is the last one in this trilogy series - see The JET Programme: From Application to Acceptance and The JET Programme: From Pre-departure to Departure for parts one and two. Please keep in mind while reading that I'm a Canadian from the Vancouver consulate - until you leave your home country, things vary by consulate. Once you get to Tokyo though, everyone's in the same boat until departure day to your prefecture.This one is all about the most exciting part - getting here!We left ...

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Filed Under: Getting Ready, Life Tagged With: JET FAQ, JET Programme, Things to Know Before You Go

The JET Programme: From Pre-departure to Departure

July 20, 2016 by Rika Leave a Comment

Most of you know by now that I'm headed to Japan to teach English as a participant on the JET Programme. I wrote previously about how this was a long time coming (I first heard about it in 2006!) and a basic breakdown of the timeline. This post will be more detailed, and will probably only be interesting to those of you who found my blog while searching for info about JET, sorry! Please keep in mind while reading that I am a Canadian (Vancouver consulate) JET, and things differ by consulate and ...

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Filed Under: Getting Ready, Life, Moving Tagged With: JET FAQ, JET Programme, Moving Abroad, Things to Know Before You Go

The JET Programme: From Application to Acceptance

July 16, 2016 by Rika 25 Comments

  Most of you know by now that I'm headed to Japan to teach English as a participant on the JET Programme. I wrote previously about how this was a long time coming (I first heard about it in 2006!) and a basic breakdown of the timeline. This post will be more detailed, and will probably only be interesting to those of you who found my blog while searching for info about JET, sorry! Please keep in mind while reading that I am a Canadian (Vancouver consulate) JET, and things differ by ...

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Filed Under: Getting Ready, Japan, JET Programme, Life Tagged With: JET FAQ, JET Programme, Things to Know Before You Go

How to Become a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor

July 18, 2014 by Rika 19 Comments

People ask me all the time how I became a dive instructor! I can say that it is not an easy (or cheap) process, but if you have a passion for diving and have the right personality to teach, it's an amazing way to do what you love - and if you want, live in some pretty interesting and exotic places.Since I can only speak for my own experience, this post is focused on how to become a PADI dive instructor. There are many training agencies around the world for basic certification all the way up to ...

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Filed Under: Dive Instructor, Getting Ready, Island Living, Life, Living Abroad, Moving, Real Talk, Roatan Tagged With: Diving, Finances, Fun Times, Musings, Things to Know Before You Go

I can fight fires, save lives, and put on a lifejacket.

January 27, 2013 by Rika 4 Comments

I haven't been around all week!Wanna know why?You're looking at a brand-new STCW graduate! That means I've completed standardized basic safety training and can work on boats around the world. It also means that I jumped in a life raft in the pool, did some CPR on a dummy, and did full on real firefighter training. It was SO FUN!!! STCW is made up of four training modules: Personal Survival Techniques, Personal Safety & Social Responsibility, First Aid & CPR and Basic Firefighting. ...

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Filed Under: Getting Ready, Life Tagged With: Busy, Florida, Fun Times, Just Do It, Yacht School

The calm before the storm.

August 6, 2012 by Rika Leave a Comment

Things are easygoing right now, so I'm doing my best to enjoy it.  It's hard to believe that in a week from today I'll be waking up for the first time in Roatan. I'll be hot and sweaty and disoriented, and then once the fog clears I'll realize that I just woke up in my new place...and I'm going diving... and I'm not going anywhere for a long time.These are my last few days in Vancouver.... my last sushi, last sunset at Kits Beach, last dinner with a friend, last appointments and ...

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Filed Under: Getting Ready, Life Tagged With: Time Off

Everything falling together instead of falling apart.

August 2, 2012 by Rika Leave a Comment

I knew this would happen.I knew right from the beginning that so many things would be stressful, that I would feel like I couldn't do it, like nothing was going my way. But I knew in the end that it would all work out. And while I'm scared of jinxing myself, I feel okay saying now that it's all worked out.I hit my budget. I'm on track to have $2000-$3000 above my budget, which is absolutely fucking incredible given the fact that I decided just over 5 months ago that I'd follow this crazy ...

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Filed Under: Getting Ready, Happiness, Life, Money, Saving Tagged With: Budget

Where have I been?

August 1, 2012 by Rika 6 Comments

When it comes to a blog, the old adage "no news is good news" does not apply.It's been quiet here because life has been out of control. I have just ten days left before I set out on my adventure!Here's the Cliff's Notes of what's been going on:- The saga of packing: I had to pack up my entire apartment by myself in about four hours as I didn't have enough time off my jobs to do it properly. Needless to say I threw out about half my shit, you're welcome Salvation Army. It was a ...

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Filed Under: Blogging, Getting Ready, Life Tagged With: Busy

The last things.

July 20, 2012 by Rika 2 Comments

Tying up loose ends around here....three weeks to departure!Good news - on Tuesday (payday from one of my jobs) I will have all the money I need for my trip ready to go in my savings account! YES!!! That's going to be a good day. And luckily I still have a couple paycheques coming so I can have a bit "extra"...I still have a few things to buy and as I've mentioned before, this budget is the bare minimum and I'm sure other things will pop up while I'm there. So saving a bit more will make ...

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Filed Under: Getting Ready, Life Tagged With: Budget, Things to Know Before You Go

One month left.

July 11, 2012 by Rika 3 Comments

Well, here we are. In exactly a month from this very minute I'm writing this, I'll be touching down in Roatan and leaving Vancouver behind for...who knows how long. Shits getting REAL around here right now!I am knocking stuff off my to-do list and I feel better about that, but the enormity of thinking about leaving my life here and moving to a tiny island with a few bags of stuff is starting to sink in. People keep asking me if I'm nervous or scared. Not really, because I am the kind of ...

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Filed Under: Getting Ready, Life, Money, Saving Tagged With: Budget, Things to Know Before You Go

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i’m rika!

hiya! i'm a canadian paralegal-turned-scuba diving instructor-turned EFL teacher-turned digital nomad. i left my cubicle in 2012 and haven't looked back since. i'm a serial expat, but right now i'm back in canada on hiatus for a while. welcome to the place where i say things.

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