Job Discussion Forums

[Jazz1975]

How often does everyone visit home (countries of origin)? Are there certain times during the year you like to go? Also, what is the minimum length of time do you like to visit to make it worth your time?

[PAULH]

[Gordon]

I have gone "home" to Canada every summer for about 8 weeks at a time. It is stinking expensive, but I have the time and I want my kids to spend time with their cousins/grandparents... and the summers here are torturous.
I would think I would need at least 3 weeks to make it worth my while, but that depends on your circumstances.

[kdynamic]

I am going home for my first short visit ever from Japan later this month. One week in one town and one week in another. I guess I will find out if it's worth it when I get there!

[PAULH]

[JimDunlop2]

In the three years we've lived here, we've gone back only once for about 10 days (last year). The main purpose for the trip was to eliminate all our stuff still in mini-storage and to see some family and friends.

People have a hard time understanding that I really don't care to go back to Canada to visit. I get asked that question EVERY STINKIN' HOLIDAY by EVERYONE!

"So, are you going back to your home country?"

"NO, $%&@#* IT! I've got no reason to! And besides, it's expensive!"

Actually, the only reason for me to go back at all is because of my wife, and her only reason is family. Sure, we both still have friends back home but we tend to e-mail and phone them now and again, but spending $3000 just to see them once a year would be unreasonable. Even as it is, I get angry when I think about all the money I'm spending to see in-laws whom I really would prefer not to see for a long, long time.

Anyway, sorry to sound sour. There's just many more places I prefer to travel to during my holidays other than "back home." Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea and China come to mind right away.

P.S. PAUL: Scary but true. Last summer, my wife and I couldn't WAIT to leave Japan to go on holidays... We were just itching for something non-Japanese so bad we could taste it. Well, long story short, after only 3 days in Malaysia, we were both ITCHING to go back home to Japan! Seriously! Malaysia's not a bad place -- we both enjoyed ourselves but after having some experiences that would have NEVER happened in Japan, we were ready to hit the road.

[Bozo Yoroshiku]

[Jazz1975]

I'd like to visit once a year, ideally during the holidays, but I am FULLY aware that this is based on where my school branch will be and what their business needs are. Still the key word is IDEAL. I'd say it'd be worth it to go home if I get a minimum of two to four weeks. However, I won't really know until I get to Japan and see how things are.

[Apsara]

I go home (to NZ) once every 18 months or so. I usually go back for 2 weeks or less- I don't get paid holidays as my present job is freelance (not English teaching) so every day I'm not working costs me. As an eikaiwa teacher it was about the same frequency- of course I would love to go back for longer, but I just spend too much on food and shopping!

My last trip home was this Feb- only 9 days since this time I went back with my husband and he had limited time off. I managed to pack plenty into that time and really enjoyed it, although of course it would have been nice to have more time.

It's important to me to go back at least this often so I maintain a sense of who I am, after 10 years outside NZ that can get a bit fuzzy. I still consider NZ home and do vote in the elections. I see family and friends of course, and enjoy the chance to speak "normally"- I can say "jandals" and "togs" instead of "flip-flops" and "swimsuit" and everyone understands me...

I'm fairly tall so have trouble buying clothes and shoes in Japan, I hit all the cheap shops in my city and buy plenty!

In Japan I miss beautiful pristine beaches so I always go home in our summer to take advantage of NZ's beaches. I used to go back at Christmas but find that everyone is stressed out and busy preparing and winding up work, and then gone in different directions on holiday, so these days I go back earlier or later in summer.

Being at home for my mother or father's birthday is really appreciated so sometimes I time it to coincide with one of those dates.

[Jazz1975]

[gaijinalways]

My wife and I like travelling, but going to the US is usually about every 18-20 months (don't ask me why, just works out that way). Of course, usually we go in the summer, though last time we went at Christmas. We might do it more often, except for the expense (been trying to get a business together to cover some of the expense) and the jetlag !

As to seeing family, it is a mixed bag, my wife who talks to her mother almost daily on the phone can't seem to undertstand why I might want to see my family more often sometimes !

In almost nine years we went to the US in 1998 (winter), 2000 (summer), 2002 (summer), 2004/2005 (winter one trip), and will go in 2006* (summer parents' wedding anniversary party).

[Hoser]

[Synne]

[Jazz1975]

Wow, from what I read, it sounds like it can be quite a challenge to go home in terms of cost and time. Good thing I'm being very pro-active about researching hobbies/interests/extracurricular activities that I can do in Japan (that I'm already doing at the moment). I'm going to have to rely on these activities to sustain me, especially if and when homesickness hits.

[alexrocks]

I've been here over three years and still haven't even left the country. (This isn't on purpose, but due to certain circumstances beyond my control.) I have traveled a bit in Japan and been to tons of places here in Kansai. I'd really like to visit home, but then I also really want to see new places. We'll see what happens....