Moving is Hard


Like this, but on the ocean

Just over a year ago I had one of the busiest months of my life; when the game studio I was working for shut down, I suddenly found myself out of a job. In the span of about three weeks I had several job interviews, I flew to LA, New York, San Francisco, and finally Japan, I moved all of my things from one apartment to another, I attended a game development conference and I paid a lot of money to a lawyer. The only reason I even remember June of 2007 is that at some point Paul Reiche of Toys for Bob suggested that I document things as they happened, which I did.

But this last month has put that hectic period in 2007 to shame. In a little less than a month I’ve gone from “no concrete moving plans” to actually arriving in Japan with my three giant bags and a very grumpy daughter. I sold my cars, my furniture, and tens of pounds of books. We got rid of a huge amount of things and yet still needed around one hundred boxes to pack up our three bedroom house and ship it over to Japan. On Monday I registered as an official foreigner with my local city office, today I opened a new bank account, and tomorrow I will (hopefully) sign off on an apartment. Next Monday I am supposed to show up at work in Shibuya. By the end of the month I hope to have a place to live, power, internet, and a phone. It’s been an insane month!

So anyway, this is my roundabout way of saying that I’ve neglected the blog a bit lately, especially since so many horror games are released around this time every year. My game systems won’t be here for another month, but I have my DS and games like Nanashi No Ge-mu and Mitewa Ikenai are quietly calling from their spot on the local store shelves. I hope to be back in proper posting form by the end of the month–thanks for sticking around.

Also, check out this interesting interview about the sound design in Dead Space. Via Destructoid.

15 thoughts on “Moving is Hard”

  2. Yeah, best of luck with the whole transition. Personally, I couldn’t do something like that. But I fear change.

  5. Sorry to hear about all the bumpy roads, but I’m certain you will land on your feet again. Good luck to you and I wish you the best of luck. Please come on back once you are completely stable.

    I would love to go to Japan one day.

  6. I’m jealous. Living in Japan? Awesome. Moving does suck, though. I find moving across town a pain in the ass. I can’t imagine moving to another country. Hang in there.

  7. All the best with the move… I’ve heard some good statistics (lies?) saying that moving home is more stressful than a divorce.

    Anyhow, hope you’re njoying the new place. For what its worth, I moved to London (from Belfast) myself at the start of september and the shock was huge. Its been massively enjoyable but i can sympathise with regards the boxes.

    I didnt think it would take that much to get my stuff over, but overmy teenage years and university i seemed to have gathered SO much (mostly useless) stuff. Still, its an adventure and thats what you want!

    All the best and hope Japan treats you well.

    Dante

    Ps, I’ve had no net access for a month and I’ve missed your posts, convenient i dare say!

    Also, I’m going to start my japanese lessons again, its a tough language to lear, but worth it!

  8. Wow, that does sound hectic!
    But at least you get to live in Japan!
    And go to Shibuya everyday.. that’s awesome.

    I hope everything goes well!
    Haha, and I hope your daughter isn’t too grumpy and likes Japan~

  9. jessesnyder.org
    That’s awesome, it seems like you’ve wanted to go to Japan since I’ve known you.

    I hope you find what you find what you’re looking for there and that Japan treats you well 🙂

    If I ever decide to go to Japan at least I know who to call now!

  10. http://spooky.ms11.net/index.html
    I’ve been there (that is, the whole having to move thing, haven’t been to Japan!), I just moved from one state to another about two months ago.

    I’m just *now* starting to hang up paintings and posters!

    I just recently updated my scary video game site the other day.

    I hadn’t been updating it partly because I was in the middle of a move, and someone very close to me died earlier this year.

    I grew up in a Navy family, and we got transferred every two to three years, from state to state.

    Spent all my teen years on into my early 20s moving.

    Moving is a huge pain in the neck, and if you hate change (like I do), it’s even more difficult.

    If you are a painfully shy person (like I was -and still am a little bit), making friends is/was next to impossible.

    Then you get the displeasure of having to unpack all your stuff.

    So, I feel your pain – it’s even harder for you, since you and your wife have a little girl!

    I’d be too afraid to move to another nation.

    I hope you know Japanese, or maybe your wife does (you had mentioned once that she is Japanese). If she has any family there, I bet she’s thrilled!

    Hope you get settled in and enjoy your new home. :o)

  13. Best of luck with the new job and the new country Chris!

    Moving across town is a big enough pain, its hard to even imagine the logistics of moving across an ocean! Still though, hectic times tend to fly. So hopefully the next month will pass quickly! 🙂

  15. …in a strange way ,I think that we all kinda feel like we’ll benefit from your moving to Japan…It’ll be nice to have one of ‘our own kind’ in Japan,feeding us bits and pieces or Asian horror media…I REALLY hope it’s everything and more for your whole family.
    PS.I’ve been there a coupla times–went to Osaka has a kid and remember everything about it…And again in my teens—same kinda toy buying trip !!
    In my Lottery winning dream ,I go to Tokyo for toy shopping..!

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