Job Discussion Forums

[onesentiment]

Most of the Gaikokujin I've talked to in Japan have said they'd only stay for 1 year, but here they are... 2 years... 3 years... 4 years... and time keeps going. I've been here for 8 months now and it's getting quite comfortable. I'm trying to force myself not to become comfortable and tell myself, "You must go back home." With each unnoticeable day passing, I wait to buy that ticket home. What makes a person stay in Japan for longer than a year? Is it the easy job? The social life? Women/men? The puzzles that you encounter on a daily basis? Do you just like it better here? What is it about this place?

p.s. are there any good companies for cheap tickets back to America?

[cornishmuppet]

I'd say for most men its women, plus the longer you're here the easier life gets. You get a soft life, easy money, snowboarding.....

Keep wanting to leave myself. Mind you, if England wasn't such a cr&p country to live in the decision would be easier. When (if!) I ever escape it certainly won't be to go back to England.

[Glenski]

There's no one answer.

Some people are escaping or running away from something.
Others are looking for something.
Others don't know which they are doing.
Some find happiness, contentment, a challenge, etc.

[markle]

If you're asking why people stay on, then as people have said it depends on the individual. If you're asking why people stay after only one year I'd say it's because they've not been able to save much. I mean most people probably only start breaking even after 6 months, and you haven't been anywhere or done anything yet.

[Sour Grape]

I came out intending to return out after a year. Two or three months into that year I decided I wouldn't.

Why? Convenient life, interesting job, easy travel to East Asia (I had travelled around much of Western Europe before coming here), enjoyed learning Japanese.

It baffles me that people come to Japan on holiday, but I think for English teachers it is a nice place to live.

[onesentiment]

yea, true. good replies.

For future reference, what's a good website to book a one-way flight back to Los Angeles? I found http://www.billigfluege.de/ ... It's 400 EUR ... and 200 EUR for tax. In US dollars, that's around $750. Is this normal or does it seem a bit high?

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

I didn't arrive intending to stay only a year. I arrived intending to stay three. I've been here over five and see no reason to leave, but many to stay. Some people try to see only at the negative aspects of life in Japan (usually when they are feeling the culture fatigue or have personal problems). Some people try to see only the positive (especially when they first arrive in the country- but that too is actually a part of the cuture fatigue wave). Most people who stay a while come to understand it as they do their own country- there are good parts and bad parts.

I agree that it seems an odd thing to do to come to Japan for a holiday (other than sort of an anthropological study--as much as a couple of weeks or whatever in any totally foreign environment can be a 'study'-- style of holiday), but it's a good place to live for foreign teachers. And I think that sort of says it all. Some places are great for a short term holiday but when you stay for the longterm eventually the party ends (usually around the same time as you run out of savings and start living off only your local salary) and you start to understand the place for what it's like for the people who live and grew up there (Thailand for example) (note that 'short' means different things to different people, but you know what I mean- lots of bars, beaches, meeting new people, sudden highs and lows). Other places have less of a '<<BAM!!!>> This is fun!' effect but in the long term they become as much of your home as wherever you grew up.

Some people just leave when the party ends and 'real life' seems about to start, so that they can find the next party. Other people look at it like 'a rolling stone gathers no moss'. In other threads it's been pointed out that without knowing someone, qualifications (that includes Japanese experience) and local language ability, career progression can be very tough. So for career EFL teachers, Japan is a good place. For someone looking for just a year or two without particular need of money, then maybe a better party can be found elsewhere, and for those looking for a year or two JUST for the money, then Korea is almost definately now going to be a better place for that.

[Quibby84]

I would say that if your family back home is completely normal and you love them and want to see them..then living here past two years is really hard. We are about to hit the two year mark and it is time to get out of here. The work load is made for young single people that dont mind working throughout the entire day and night, and eating ramen for dinner...for me, I am ready to go back. But we have a different case, we are married, want to start a family, have a huge loving family back home, and my husband will be able to get a good job...there is really no reason for us to stay...
and besides that I am going crazy here!

[Hoser]

I'm at the 3.7 mark right now. Money here is good, I love looking at all the gorgeous women. Hmm is that all I love about Japan? lol
On the other hand I think my family really misses me. I'm not an only child but I am the only son and the first born. I know they'd really like to come home.

[gaijin4life]

... to be honest ( - something I'm unabashedly good at (!)

NEVER !!

& what Glenski said -

[gonzarelli]

I meant to stay a year or two but stayed five and a half.

I started dating a lovely girl just before my 2 year mark so it was then that I knew I would be here a while longer than planned. My family is painfully normal and loving and it was tough living away from them for so long. They would ask me about moving back and I didn't know when I would.

Sadly, it took a serious illness in the family to finally make the move. I left Japan last year and my girl and I had to live apart for nearly a year. It was rough. Now we're married and living in Canada.

My only advice is this: if you're thinking of moving back home, don't wait for something like a family emergency to make the move. I think it's far better to leave on your own terms.

Coming back, I realized that people's lives went on without me and the gap I left after moving to Japan eventually got filled up. Having me back full time was a little awkward for both friends and family in a way. It takes a lot of getting used to for everyone and the reverse culture shock was awesome. Sometimes it still is.

Good luck.

[ripslyme]

[Tiger Beer]

I've been outside the States for the better part of 12 years. So when I came to Japan, the idea of 'staying just 1 year' never entered my head. I intended to stay quite a few more than just that.

[southofreality]

Crap, I just read this thread and realized my original one-year-in-Japan plan expired several years ago

[onesentiment]