Mooshi Mooshi, and welcome to part 2 of my travels. This week, I moved into my new living quarters, near the schools I will be teaching at in Izumo, Shimane-ken. My apartment has all the character of an Econo Lodge. Unfortunately, normal apartments in Japan, the kind you see in movies with tatami matted floors, paper sliding doors, and lack of any insulation, normally do not rent to foreigners. In a way you can't blame them for discriminating against people of different cultures, who tend to be far less obedient and docile than the Japanese. But it really narrows the selection, sometimes only leaving you with the option of one place in the whole town. Another deterrent are the atrocious move-in costs. Apartment contracts require: 2 months rent in advance, a deposit, a cleaning fee, key
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