so guys, looks like i'm moving to japan

[Daniel]

it's actually been in the works for a while now. visited some friends in tokyo 3 years ago and ever since i've wanted to go back. just graduated from uni and i hate my job so, really, i've nothing better to do right now. hopefully i'll be there by the end of july. i'm excited but nervous.

[tippy]

WOW! That's really quick. Sounds like something you are really excited about and really want to do - big congratulations to you, Daniel (and on your graduation as well)!

[walto]

Wow, that's brave. Good luck with your move.

[Brian Olewnick]

Jealous. Good luck, Daniel.

[tippy]

expatriot

[chuckyd4]

Congrats, man. I have a friend who's living near Osaka now, teaching English. Reading her blog is a lot of fun.

Moving abroad always seems like a drag during the final preparations, but in my experience it's always worth it.

[Cem]

You'll have a blast, Daniel. My favourite ex and I were supposed to go there to teach 11 years ago. I got cold feet. Strict code kinda scared me. I regret that. Two of my friends live there now, married to locals and everything. They're both improv fans, involved in the hardcore scene, etc. You'd like them. Look them up, if you like.

Mitch Kinney

Kelly Churko

Hope to meet you in Nanaimo or Gabriola before you depart. Jewels & Binoculars at Hope Lutheran Church in Nanaimo on July 7th & at The Roxy on Gabe July 8 & 11.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by chuckyd4

Congrats, man. I have a friend who's living near Osaka now, teaching English. Reading her blog is a lot of fun.

Moving abroad always seems like a drag during the final preparations, but in my experience it's always worth it.

yeah, i know what you mean. a little nervous about leaving my family but at least i have a support system in japan. this is certainly out of my comfort zone but it's something i've wanted to do for a long time and i know i'll regret it if i don't go through with it.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Cem

You'll have a blast, Daniel. My favourite ex and I were supposed to go there to teach 11 years ago. I got cold feet. Strict code kinda scared me. I regret that. Two of my friends live there now, married to locals and everything. They're both improv fans, involved in the hardcore scene, etc. You'd like them. Look them up, if you like.

Mitch Kinney

Kelly Churko

Hope to meet you in Nanaimo or Gabriola before you depart. Jewels & Binoculars at Hope Lutheran Church in Nanaimo on July 7th & at The Roxy on Gabe July 8 & 11.

sounds great. i'm sure i can manage one of those dates.

[Gentle Giant]

Good luck with the move and getting yourself acclimated if not assimilated. Beware of Godzilla.

[Jazzooo]

How exciting, Daniel. Good luck. Glenda is up in the states right now, putting our San Diego house on the market. Gulp. We're just loving our existence here in central Mexico too much, plus the monthly nut on two houses, one in Southern CA, is putting too much pressure on us.

[tippy]

omg, jazzooo when you become a Mexican? I think that's awesome btw. How exciting and wonderfull.

[Enforcer]

tip, didn't you see all those fabulous pictures Doug posted of his time in Mexico a couple years ago? Amazing looking.

[Enforcer]

Congrats on the move, Daniel. Sounds great.

You too, Doug!

[Daniel]

thank everyone!

[Jon Abbey]

where in Japan? do you speak Japanese at all? I have a bunch of connections there, as you know, let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

[tippy]

darigato.

watakashi wa onata o aishtemasu

[Ron Thorne]

Congratulations, Daniel. What an exciting adventure awaits you.

I must ask the obvious question which hasn't been posed yet. Did you study Japanese culture and language in high school and/or college? If so, it will make your entry into your new "home" far smoother and less anxiety-ridden. Good to read that you have a support system in Japan.

Our youngest son became infatuated with Japan, its people, history and language when he was a sophomore in high school, so began studying the language, both spoken and written. It served him well, since he won a trip to Japan the following year and was introduced to a land he would call "home" for about ten years, ultimately. After majoring in Asian Studies, Japanese Language and Political Science, and spending his sophomore year in college in Osaka, he moved there following graduation to teach and do other work. He lived in Adogawa, Shiga (now Takashima), Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya before returning to the U.S. a couple of years ago. He met his bride in Kyoto, and they now live in southern California where she recently received her master's degree in communication.

If you have questions which my son may answer for you, feel free to ask here or send me a PM. He knows the country and customs extremely well.



Edit: I see that Jon asked the question re: language while I was composing my post.

[Surfer]

Originally Posted by Daniel

this is certainly out of my comfort zone but it's something i've wanted to do for a long time and i know i'll regret it if i don't go through with it.

You should always do things outside your present comfort zone.

Pretty soon you'll have your own comfort zone over there.

Good luck, man.

[Cem]

The only Japanese you really need is: Gochisosama deshita
(well, maybe not you, but me, anyway)

[Jazzooo]

Tippy--we bought a house down here about 2.5 years ago. It's a small pond, easy to pull together and promote concerts, play out every night of the week if I feel like it--far more fun than battling with hundreds of other bands in San Diego who are at work 24/7 schmoozing bored club owners. Audiences are great too. Of courswe, it's not all about the music, but that's a big part of it for me.

[tippy]

sounds awesome. I'm sicka this life and ready for retiyahmint - I'll see you in a few weeks.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

where in Japan? do you speak Japanese at all? I have a bunch of connections there, as you know, let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

machida. at least for the first while. i don't speak much. i've been studying it some for the last few months but i need to study a lot more before i leave. i'll be living with a friend at first until i get a job and a place of my own. i'll let you know if i need any help with anything - i appreciate the offer.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

If you have questions which my son may answer for you, feel free to ask here or send me a PM. He knows the country and customs extremely well.

i will. thanks a lot

[Al in NYC]

Have you ever spent any substantial time out of the U.S. before? The one thing to worry about is getting homesick or feeling too isolated or lost before you really get into the swing of things. But once that passes you should have a great time. It's a fascinating place.

I went there as a child with my family. Then went there again by myself in between when I was in my 20s with hardly a word of the language, and mostly just travelled around on little or no money. Later on I lived there over 2 long periods while I was doing my grad school fieldwork. Now my business deals almost entirely with Japan and the Japanese language (although I'm still pretty awful at it). However, I haven't been back for more than a few days for several years, so I don't know how much help I could be on current goings-on.

Sounds like you'll be in Machida, which is close enough to Tokyo to get there when you want to, but is not as cosmopolitan (which can be a good thing). Of course you're close to Mt. Fuji and Kamakura should go visit them, despite their heavily touristed status. Also, if you get the chance, you should go out on the Izu Peninsula to Shimoda, a pretty and historically important town.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it, and you'll have the experience of a lifetime.

[Sandi22]

Too many lives are filled with "could of, would of, should of" Great for you that this won't be something that you'll be saying. You'll have the satisfaction of alway's knowing that you didn't let a wonderful opportunity pass you by. Going for it is one of the great pleasures in life.

[jesus marion joseph]

Congratulations. I'm jealous.

[Sandi22]

I'm envious of you Daniel just as JMJ is, for you having the opportunity to just pick up and leave. Not so possible for us right now. Too many loose ends to tie up and property to sell before we can even think of a move.

Until we sell, we can't begin to even try to make a deal on any property. At least now Rich is with me on wanting to move and be where it's warm once again. We're wanting to move south of the border; we're thinking Costa Rica. I hope to be near the ocean once again, and Costa Rica sounds ideal.

I had found a great place in Guatemala but have been advised against it by a fellow in real estate who lives down in Costa Rica, as he says it's just too danerous in that country, saying his adopted brothers uncle was murdered down there, and he was Guatemalan, and that it is even more common for Americans to have severe problems, even when just tourists. He says he avoids that country. He says it's beautiful, a paradise, but for the unemployed ex-miltary men who go on killing sprees. Too primative in too many ways to be safe he says.

I know we have had times everywhere we've lived right here in the states where our lives were in danger, it can be that way anywhere, not just in certain foreign county's, but I guess we shouldn't tempt fate.

[Captain Hate]

Good luck, Daniel; you'll be posting from there and it'll be just like you're still posting from wherever-the-hell you're posting from now.

[GoodSpeak]

Excellent!


Have a great time, Daniel.