Job Discussion Forums

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:28 pm Post subject: Why do you STILL stay here?

Ok maybe this has been asked before, but I have to ask it again: Why do you STILL stay here? What keeps you in Japan?

I know a lot of people here have families or are married with a Japanese spouse, but for the others, what is keeping you here?

I am always asked this question by my father and he can't seem to understand why I'm not ready to come back to the States just yet.

For me, I think I'm still here because it's kinda an escape from reality. I don't have to worry about safety and so far, there hasn't been any terrorism here. I have a job that supports me and allows me to travel, gives me tons of holidays, and isn't hard or requires much brain power. (Maybe that last one is a bad thing...)

Plus I want to take the JLPT and hopefully reach a level 1 or 2 one day. My father keeps telling me "One day you must come back here and start a 'real' career." (By this, I'm assuming he means one with a retirement plan?) And I guess you really can't teach English forever...

I guess those reasons aren't enough to satisfy his question...

But what about everyone else here? Confused

RingofFire · Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 43

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

Because in terms of salary, social life, costs, not getting punched in clubs, weather, activities, general relaxation, live here is better than it was back home.

Saying that, I fell out of love with Japanese food a long time ago. And the TV sucks beyond all imagining. A small price to pay.

gaijin4life · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 11:55 pm Post subject: Re: Why do you STILL stay here?

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:12 am Post subject:

Thanks for the replies. I guess it was kinda a crazy post. But I was just curious what was keeping ppl in Japan. I've had moments where I was pretty much ready to go home, but I've stayed. Dunno why...

Teaching can be done forever, but I guess I'm beginning to worry about retirement and all that. Plus at my job, I'm the only English teacher. I was thinking if I want to have a kid, it would be near impossible to still work there. (Would they hire another teacher temp?) So those are just a few things.

Still it's good to know why ppl stay.

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

Life in Japan is no less of a reality than life in the West. The Japanese reality is simply that they manage their society differently. Japan has an extremely robust economy, and the Japanese generally do an excellent job of securing things like housing and retirement. Granted, it's a different way of thinking and living that not all Westerns can adopt. But living overseas doesn't necessarily mean you're frittering your life away.

RingofFire · Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 43

Dr. Gibbons · Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Japan

This is why I am still in Japan.

1) I don't have to lock my house or my bicycle.

2) I wrote my "secret" pin number on a piece of paper and gave it to the teller when I opened my bank account and nobody thinks that's weird.

3) Uniformed people wearing white gloves guide you into parking spaces.

4) Parents don't yell at or hit their kids in public.

5) My town policeman actually bows when he sees me.

6) Customer service is out of this world.

7) I can ignore unpleasant people by pretending I don't understand Japanese.

Cool

Tax and tip are not added to the cost of a meal.

9) You can drink anywhere.

10) You're never more than 5 steps from a vending machine.

11) Trains are on time.

12) etc. etc. etc.

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

taffer · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Japan

Japan is the most chilled out, safe, predictable and boring place I have taught in to date. I mean that as a high compliment.

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 8:49 am Post subject:

But you gotta love how Japan is keeping everyone employed by building stuff! I mean they are always building something. Even if you live in the middle of nowhere, I bet there is a massive gathering of orange cones and lights at a construction site in your town.

johanne · Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 189

I'm not quite sure what the whole Opapi thing is either but my six year old and her friends won't stop saying it. The kindergarten teacher is going crazy because not only do they say it non-stop, they then fall into fits of giggles.

TK4Lakers · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 159

There are several reasons why I stay here.

One, I have a decent, stable job (not in the teaching industry).
Two, Japan is very safe and living in Tokyo is awesome...can get around easily, drink anywhere, great food, etc

I also enjoy meeting people here and expanding my network. In a lot of ways, Tokyo is very diverse.

But to make it simply I am here now because there isn't much back home. I move back home now, I can probably find a job and make a living. But gone is my life here. Gone are the people I see at parties or for dinner, gone are the waves on the weekend, gone is the peaceful nature and friendliness of the Japanese people, gone is the great delicious food, gone is the efficient train system and gone is all of that Japan has to offer but I am yet to find.

wabisabi365 · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 111 Location: japan

What keeps me in Japan...

Japan has become my home. When I visit Canada for any length of time, I get homesick for everything waiting for me back here in Japan... My partner, my friends, co-workers, standard of living, food, safety, customer service, efficient transportation, amazing weekend get-aways, a social life that is always hopping just outside my front door, convenience, time to pursue music and writing... I had some, but not all of these things in Canada. In Japan, I have it all. The only thing that brings me down is the fact that my parents are unable to travel the distance anymore (thus 2 - 3 trips for me back to Canada each year, and the ensuing homesickness for Japan that I've come to expect each time I go).

That's what keeps me here. I love it.

ws365