Expat in Japan planning to come home!

[mikEXpat]

Hi all! 

I'm Mike. 45. American. I've been living in Japan since 1999 and will be returning to the states in a few years. I just need to tie up some loose ends here and save up some money. I'm hoping to learn a lot from this nice community in the meantime. Hopefully I can also share things I've learned as well as research answers for others. 

I have a blog at http://mikexpat.com which documents my journey back to America as an expat. If you were/are an expat and you have any advice about moving back to the states, I'd love to hear from you. If you have any questions about living in Japan you can ask me also. I'll try to help.

I've also started a vlog on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Mikexpat 

I'm planning to move back before 2020. Right now I'm thinking of getting either a truck and trailer or a truck camper. I'll be spending my time on the west coast because I'm from California. I especially like the Pacific Northwest. Mountains, lakes, and trees are for me. I love cooking, crafts, and learning about almost everything. I teach English as an adjunct at a few universities in and around Kobe which is 30 minutes west of Osaka and Kyoto.

Well. Hopefully that's a decent introduction. 

Thanks in advance. Hope to meet many of you in the future.

Mike

 

[Theadyn]

Hi and Welcome!!

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard the CRVL forums Mike
I think you'll learn a lot here in 4 years....

 

[SaltySeaWitch]

Hello and welcome Mike!

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums MikEXpat!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[PatsyG]

Welcome! I hope you find what you are looking for.

 

[mikEXpat]

Thanks all for the warm welcome. My handle is FindingHome on YouTube when I comment on videos.

Hope the weather is treating you all well during this cold season. Same here in Japan. Cold!

 

[my_vantasy]

Greetings from Ohio! I teach preschool and at one time a third of my class was Japanese. (We have a Honda plant in the area and they were here for a few years in connection with the plant) I tried to learn a few words in Japanese, but it didn't work out for me. Learning some Spanish was much easier!

 

[Lj Unlimited]

Welcome Mike. Hello from snowy Michigan.

 

[mikEXpat]

Greetings from Ohio!  I teach preschool and at one time a third of my class was Japanese.  (We have a Honda plant in the area and they were here for a few years in connection with the plant)   I tried to learn a few words in Japanese, but it didn't work out for me.  Learning some Spanish was much easier!

Pre-schoolers. So cute. I bet they fit in just fine. They like to say unko (poop) and unchi (cute poop.) Pronounced oonko and oonchee Long o and e. And yes. Spanich is much easier. I lived in Germany for a few years and found that language even easier to learn.

 

[waldenbound]

Konnichiwa Mike!

 

[mikEXpat]

Konchikuwa!

Chikuwa is a fish cake roll. It's a play on words.

 

[mikEXpat]

Welcome Mike! Is it going to be hard to leave a country where there are beer vending machines on the sidewalk?
https://www.google.com/search?q=bee...X&ved=0ahUKEwjRwdGgl8_KAhVQ7GMKHYDuAl8QsAQIGw

Guy

Nah. I haven't bought a beer from one of those in years. I earn enough these days to drink draft.  

Alcohol is so cheap and so available here (24 hours a day). It's an alcoholic's dreamland. I'm looking forward to escaping the temptations.

Cheers!
Mike