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How did it all start?

You're taking my remark far too close to heart. It was not intended as a chiding.

I'll be more than happy to help you (as I have done others for 15 years on forums like this) with visa-related information. You have to have some idea what sort of work you are willing/qualified to do, or at least what you seem to be interested in pursuing.

Without that, all I can say is come here to visit, get a taste of the land, realize that it's barely what living here is like, and decide whether you want to take the next step.

As far as Japan is concerned I have always had an interest but now that I have begun studying the language (which basically is the reincarnation of Japanese culture, if I may say so) I can't think but going there.
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What exactly is your interest? If we had an inkling, we might be able to point you in some direction, or something. Many people are infatuated with the country for various reasons, and they state boldly and brashly that they want to come here and live, yet they have not done so much as pay a visit. Silly, isn't it? Most are manga / anime freaks or something similarly superficial. Employers usually try to weed them out of the other applicants, just so you know.

I wanna learn Japanese no matter what.
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Fine. Nobody is stopping you. Realize how few people in the world can do it, though. Practicality and passion don't always match.
 
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Fine. Nobody is stopping you. Realize how few people in the world can do it, though. Practicality and passion don't always match.[/QUOTE]

I never said it'd be easy but if I start off thinking that few make it and so maybe I won't, I'll just be starting not from the bottom, but down under.
Passion is the greatest drive to reach one's goals. Apparently you have never met a language freak.
Starting from way up, believing you can do it is the key
 
NihonLover said:
Apparently you have never met a language freak.
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Yes, I have. Apparently you don't know how to answer direct questions. Please give it a shot, or you will be considered trolling here.
 
I said I don't know, that is the answer. If you don't like the answer, don't ask the question. I thought this forum was about sharing our passion about Japan/Japanese. That is all I did. Thank you for your advice, I mean it. And I apologize for how I'm answering now but the answer "I don't know, I'm thinking about it, for now I'm studying the language" apparently doesn't satisfy you.
 
When Japanese language interests you, feeling like to start learning it is quite natural.
As long as you enjoy it, it does not cause any harm, regardless whether you have a definite idea about coming to Japan and live/work there or just thinking you might come some day.
I started learning a few languages for similar reasons - I wanted to learn it as I like the sound of the language.

Many years ago I tried Russian and gave it up, but being able to read Cyrillic alphabets helps and now some vocabulary helps me understand Czech which I'm currently learning.
I tried to Hungarian, am now 'resting' - it's a unique language in many ways and always fun to learn about it.
I've been learning French, the pronunciation is challenging at times but I simply like it.
And the more you learn the language, the more you learn about/understand other things - culture, people, geography or whatever - along with the language. It opens up a new world.

So I would like to encourage you to continue learning Japanese and enjoy it to the fullest.
Being Japanese, I cannot share the passion about Japan or Japanese in the same way as you and other members do but at least I can understand your feeling.
 
NihonLover said:
As far as Japan is concerned I have always had an interest
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Just trying to figure out this statement. Now you say you don't know. I can't help but see that as a contradiction.

You said you want to "go live there someday". Ok, but we've all seen posters like that who have little more than a manga point of view about the country, and I just hope you can make a few extended trips here first, because just learning the language is not going to be enough. Your passion could very easily be quenched by reality that you are unaware of. To say you want to live anywhere and at the same time say you don't know why (in one breath, anyway), is very hard to understand.
 
Just trying to figure out this statement. Now you say you don't know. I can't help but see that as a contradiction.
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An interest in Japan, meaning a fascination with the country and culture. You are so convinvced it's all about anime but I have only gotten into anime in Septmber this year.
I have read up a lot about Japanese culture and the Japanese language way before getting into anime.
So there's your doubts cleared up.

Your passion could very easily be quenched by reality that you are unaware of
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That is certainly true, but that's no reason to say that I'll never go live there someday.
Of course I would wanna make extended trips there before that, that is what I have been saying in the previous posts on this thread, and while on these trips I will do all that I can to improve my language skills.

To say you want to live anywhere and at the same time say you don't know why (in one breath, anyway), is very hard to understand.
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Had my grandparents thought the same way, they would never have moved to Australia and everything would be different. It was all very sudden actually, from one day to another, the decision was made. They took all of the necessary measures to be eligible and went off and lived there for 14 years. No reason in particular, an opportunity suddenly appeared and they took it.
My point being, like I said in a previous post, I won't close any doors, I wanna keep all possibilities open in my life. By the way, you sure those people you met were language "freaks"? If so, then how come you don't understand?

@undrentide understood right away.
 
Ok, so a fascination with the country and culture is all we are going to get out of you. That will have to do, although I would have liked to hear more details. Reason? Lots of people read about Japan and say they want to come and live here, but their perceptions in reading are not really based on reality.

If you do manage to make trips here, I hope they avail you more than just an opportunity to pick up the language. That alone, IMO, is also not enough to up and move stakes. If you have questions about things, keep asking.

like I said in a previous post, I won't close any doors, I wanna keep all possibilities open in my life.
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Understandable up to a certain age. After that, you will need to take some responsibility for supporting yourself and earning your keep. I hope you find your way.
 
I have to say you are right. Reading about a country is one thing, experiencing it is totally different. And that's why I love traveling.
I too hope that my trips there someday will give me more than just improvement of my language skills. So far it has been so for the many trips I have been on.
I don't agree on the last point though, while it is of course true that a young person has more possibilities of still keeping all options open, I do also believe that it is never to late to change your life if you want to. It is the time it takes a person to realize that it's up to them where they end up in life that makes the difference. Once they do, they can start acting accordingly and change their life's course. Of course it won't be easy, but certainly not impossible either.
 
 
And heed the example of Casey Jones: make sure the track ahead is clear.
 
Mike Cash said:
And heed the example of Casey Jones: make sure the track ahead is clear.
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Gawd where do you get your bulk of knowledge, lol

Anywho, to OP,

Our forum friends are just making sure you really want to go here. Cause some people troll here. .
 
To try to get back on the OP's question: How did it all start?

First came three visits to ROK--army ('71-'73), peace corps ('74-'76), then uni teaching ('85 or so?). Before that last step, some schooling in uni, then a year in Beijing followed by some time in HK and Taiwan.

After that last stint in ROK, Japan was the 'next step', and I happened to land a job at ICU for a couple years. (mid-later 80s)

Met my present wife there, and we transitioned to here, early '88.

25 years later (27 if you count two in tokyo), we've got two kids doing well in domestic uni, couldn't ask for more--it's been a wonderful ride, and I'm very/hugely/fantastically thankful for it!

I may not get around to it, but recently, I've been at least approaching the pros/cons of citizenship.

PS--and we're still friggin' married, if you can believe that! Our 25th is in January.
 

Wow, awesome! That is so cool you really seem happy and I'm sure you are!
 
For me it started out when I was backpacking in Australia. I met loads of Japanese people up there (including my wife), had a change to eat some of the food and living in a Japanese share house for 3 months was the trigger for me.


Mike Cash said:
Some come much younger than that.
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Some come even a bit younger than that!

How long we've been married came up at home recently. We had to do the math to figure it out. So long that we don't even bother keeping up with the number.
 
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