Moving to japan, questions.

[GoldCoinLover]

Hello. My name is Kevin, I'm 17, and I like to collect gold coins (Hence my name). One of the things I would miss if I moved to japan was going to US coin shops and collecting US gold coins. However I am throughoutly tired with the US. I've done some research on the culture of japan. It seems to be more polite than america. However, I do not know if japanese would be polite or nice to a gaijin, or foriegner from america, as I'm sure japanese see americans as rude, noisy people.

I do not know if I can marry in japan. I don't think its possible so I will have to grow up without a wife. If I married a wife in the US surely they wouldn't want to move to japan with me. I posted about moving to japan earlier, and that I had depression. I'm trying to put all that behind me. I am taking medication and visisting a therapist. However, damn, I wish people wouldn't see it as a handicap. Everyone says I can't visist japan because I feel depressed. I think that is not fair.


I plan to get a colleage degree in either physics or computers. I don't think I could have a job being a physicst in japan. I've researched getting a job there and it seems all gaijin do there is teach english. ? And they don't make much. Part time people seem to make 22 to 60 dollars an hour, but then they don't work that much.

Yearly for english teacher was 250,000 yen a year, or less or 27,228 dollars a year. This is not a good living for someone in america, where things are cheaper than japan, but in japan somethings are more expensive. However this is not to say you cannot get a good deal on somethings.

At least one person is saying I cannot go to japan. They won't let me? I have to bring a parent? Not to visit?

I plan to visit japan first for 2 weeks. I think living in japan would be very benefical for my health. I may not even like japan when I visit, however from what I've heard it does seem I will like it.

Some questions.
1) After I graduate high school, I plan to get a job, fulltime, and get enough money to live in japan for 2 weeks. How much will I need? Will I need a parent with me?
2) Where can I find japanese classes? (I live in arizona)
3) How do the japanese treat gaijins? Do they not like americans?
4) Can I visist japan by myself?
5) Can I meet with someone on these forums? (I cannot read much japanese)


Thank you

 

[Numark]

1) I went to Japan for about three weeks and I think it ended up around.... $4,000... but i definately wasnt doing the cheapest, just the most convenient. you could do 2 weeks for $2,000 if you stayed in hostels and got a good deal on a plane ticket. but im sure that there are som budget travellers on here that could give you a better estimate.
2) My high school (minnesota) had them... but you could look around for technical colleges that might have it, or you could always buy some books and audio cds and teach yourself.
3) The younger generation thinks that americans are super cool, but the older generations may be more cautious around americans. in general, i was treated very well both times that i was in japan.
4) of course you can visit japan by yourself. I went and toured japan for 3 weeks just this summer, and i'm 19.
5) Sorry I live in MN

 

[GaijinPunch]

1) Depends on your lifestyle for both parts. 2 weeks -- $2000 is a rather boring first trip, but maybe not for someone fresh out of high school.
2) Try your local community college
3) It's a very, mixed bag. For the most part, you won't have blunt objects thrown at you.
4) What's stopping you?

 

[Mike Cash]

I've researched getting a job there and it seems all gaijin do there is teach english.

Did you miss the post showing a photo of my workplace?

There are a few reasons why it seems all gaijin do here is teach English. Chief among them is that it is the easiest sort of work to get into for people who have no intentions of staying here very long. (Very very few stay beyond three years). Another key reason is that too many people strenuously avoid the advice laid out by those in the know to arrive in Japan with marketable job skills.

 

[Silverpoint]

Yeah I think most of us probably remember your thread before. I'm glad you took notice of what was said and decided to visit for a couple of weeks rather than trying to move out here (which would be pretty impossible at your age anyway).

Here's another option for you. Why not apply for the Japanese scholarship program (called Monbukagakusho). You get to study at a Japanese university, you get extremely intensive Japanese tuition which after a year will allow you to not only speak but also read and write pretty well. Plus the Japanese government pays all your tuition fees and gives you a fairly generous monthly living allowance (yes, you get paid to study!) All the information you need is at the government website: ドメインパーキング

That way you could do your physics or computing degree here, get the support of being part of the university (and have a ready made bunch of friends i.e. other students).

I'm not at all convinced you're ready to make such a decision right now as some of the things you say in your post still don't sound like you've thought things through. What's all this stuff about getting married? And for what reason do you think living in Japan will be beneficial for your health? You can't really be sure of this until you've been here for some time. As you say yourself, you might not even like it here.

 

[GoldCoinLover]

Thank you SIlverpoint. I went to the site. Still confused on how to sign up. I'm going to be graduating soon from high school soon. You mean I can study and get my degree overseas in japan? Wow that would be great. How exactly do I sign up? Do I have to pay for my airfare? Does the University of Devry or the University of Phoenix have this option?

Thank you alot.

 

[Emoni]

I do not know if I can marry in japan. I don't think its possible so I will have to grow up without a wife. If I married a wife in the US surely they wouldn't want to move to japan with me. I posted about moving to japan earlier, and that I had depression. I'm trying to put all that behind me. I am taking medication and visisting a therapist. However, damn, I wish people wouldn't see it as a handicap. Everyone says I can't visist japan because I feel depressed. I think that is not fair.

Slow... down... You're unsure of marriage and already decided to grow up with out a wife? Seriously, you don't want to be thinking about marriage until at least late twenties or so. This doesn't even have anything to do with Japan. You're getting a lot of issues mixed with a couple week vacation. Relax, take a summer class and read about Japan. Also, don't plan your escape from the annoyance that is America to Japan just yet. ☝

Some questions.
1) After I graduate high school, I plan to get a job, fulltime, and get enough money to live in japan for 2 weeks. How much will I need? Will I need a parent with me?
2) Where can I find japanese classes? (I live in arizona)
3) How do the japanese treat gaijins? Do they not like americans?
4) Can I visist japan by myself?
5) Can I meet with someone on these forums? (I cannot read much japanese)


Thank you

1) I'd set aside 4k-5k at least for a trip that long and hotel costs.
2) You'll have to check community colleges first, then four year colleges. Community colleges are your best bet now. Sometimes Buddhist churches in the area teach classes on Japanese if there is a decent Japanese population i the area to sponsor them.
3) Depends on the individual, area, your looks, your behavior... How they will treat you we can only make guesses on. Just try your best.
4) Getting into Japan on a visitor's Visa may not be hard, but you're still under 18. I'm not sure 100% on this, but you won't be getting to stay longer than 4 weeks or so if I remember the length limit.
5) I'll be busy with classes so not possible for me here. You might be able to meet up with someone, but don't expect too much. They won't be your tour guide.

 

[PopCulturePooka]

Everyone says I can't visist japan because I feel depressed. I think that is not fair.

Most of the English companies will be very weary about hiring you. I had depression. Quite minor depression, at 19. When I applied for NOVA and stated that on my medical history form they made me get a signed letter from my doctor declaring I was fit for travel, and were still weary about it. It makes your chances harder.

Yearly for english teacher was 250,000 yen a year, or less or 27,228 dollars a year. This is not a good living for someone in america, where things are cheaper than japan, but in japan somethings are more expensive. However this is not to say you cannot get a good deal on somethings.

Lol dude. Its 250,000 a MONTH! Not a year.

I plan to visit japan first for 2 weeks. I think living in japan would be very benefical for my health. I may not even like japan when I visit, however from what I've heard it does seem I will like it.

I'm not sure dude. Sorry but the first few months especially can be very hard. Not many freinds, limited social contacts, no family, a strange and demanding workplace, a new culture and lamgugae and limited money. It can get rough.

Remember when I said I had minor depression? It came on pretty strong while over there, to the point that I almost packed it in and came home.

1) After I graduate high school, I plan to get a job, fulltime, and get enough money to live in japan for 2 weeks. How much will I need? Will I need a parent with me?

Don't think so, if you're over 18.

3) How do the japanese treat gaijins? Do they not like americans?

Theres enough info around this forum to answer that one.

4) Can I visist japan by myself?

See number 1.

 

[Keiichi]

On a note, a two week vacation in Japan is not going to decide how it's going to be like living in Japan. You'll probably be staying in a hotel with special treatment, eating at fancy restaurants at least once a day, visiting places like Shibuya, taking pictures of things, buying souvenirs everyday, and the list goes on. Unless you're gonna actually considering doing that in Japan everyday when you do move there, I wouldn't count on on the vacation as a deciding factor.

As I've mentioned in another post (yeah, all these should really be under one thread..), go to college first. While there, try an exchange program where you actually can experience living in Japan (minus the hard things of living..). Then after that, decide if you can or want to do this in life. Think of it as a transition as opposed to a sudden change (a gamble that can screw up your life or become the thing you need).

Keiichi

 

[Mike Cash]

Not only should they be in one thread, he should actually try carefully reading the replies. Many times he keeps asking things which people have already answered for him.

 

[Ewok85]

Yearly for english teacher was 250,000 yen a year, or less or 27,228 dollars a year. This is not a good living for someone in america, where things are cheaper than japan, but in japan somethings are more expensive. However this is not to say you cannot get a good deal on somethings.

Hmm, well I live off half that right now in Australia, and have whats considered a normal wage for someone my age... 250,000/mth is nothing to sneeze at, especially considering you are barely doing any work to start with.

 

[Silverpoint]

250,000 will buy you a reasonable standard of living. It depends a little on where you live - if you're in Hokkaido , or somewhere out in the country it'll go further than in a major city. One thing you can't do in Japan is convert your earnings back to what you would expect to get in your home country. The same goes for anything from buying food to renting an apartment. Just live in yen and think in yen - it's far easier.