I know a lot of people (like myself) probably have mixed feelings about leaving this year. So let’s share some positives about going back home!
For me, besides the *obvious* answer of seeing my friends/family/pets, I’m mostly looking forward to eating at restaurants I love again. I’m American, so that means: Chik Fil A, Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, Cheddars, Culvers, Starbucks. Don’t know where I’ll decide to eat first! 😀
Plus, being able to find *cheap* baking supplies again, and baking in a bigger oven that allows more than 9 cookies in at a time, haha.
What about the rest of you? What are you looking forward to the most about going home?
20 comments
Target.
I’m looking forward to traveling Japan the most before I leave.
Homemade meat pie and sausage roll.
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And probably moving onto an actual career, not that this hasn’t been a positive experience, but there’s no growth potential.
Marshalls and Chick Fil A
Not having to do foreign taxes. Haha.
I’m leaving JET but not leaving Japan. I’m really looking forward to finally moving into a new, empty apartment that I can furnish and decorate to my liking instead of putting up with the old, cheap, ugly junk provided by my BoE/ left by my pred.
Hopefully I will get to visit home for the summer, in which case I’m looking forward to seeing my family and friends, country pub lunches and trying the vegan burger king and KFC. Also introducing my partner to my homeland and culture (if he can come🤞)
1) Access to wellness: cheap and big gyms, organic food, more space to run (tokyo JET), softer water, more living space. 2) Career: starting a coding bootcamp, being able to come back to work in Tokyo if I want w/better pay & growth. Have loved my exp here, and I’m excited to come back if I still want that later 🙂
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Being close to family and friends again.
I never thought I’d say this but I’m also looking forward to working in IT again.
Japan was awesome, there’s no doubt about that. But there are definitely some things I’m really looking forward to.
Not being illiterate will be nice. Not that I enjoyed adulting back home, but being able to read everything certainly makes it easier.
Also pretty excited for having a western style kitchen again, with room for a full size fridge, an oven and a dishwasher. It’s been a long 5 years without those!
Multi-ethnic food 😢 if I have a sweet taco one more time I’m ending it all
Anyone planning to stay and work in Japan post JET?
I’m not a current leaver, but when I left was excited to not stand out everywhere I went or be the token foreigner. Not getting constant stares anymore was going to be so refreshing.
I was also looking forward to summer evening drives in my car with a QuikTrip soda (Midwest thing), windows down, music up, and endless roads ahead. I had a car in Japan but definitely not the same cruising vibe as the US.
And the possibility of getting almost any job I wanted (my options would have been limited to teaching if I would have stayed in Japan). The career possibilities seemed endless back home. The job hunting reality was harder lol, but at least I had so many more options than if I stayed in Japan.
Leaving Japan was hard for me because I had a really positive experience overall, but I was totally ready to move on with the next chapter of my life. Hope you all make the most of the transition and new beginnings!
really looking forward to actual spicy food lol also having a big kitchen with an oven is going to be nice. i missed baking and also just in general cooking in a kitchen twice as big as what i work with right now
For me, I’m staying in Japan once I finish but moving to a less remote location. I’m really looking forward to not having to take a 2 hr boat (one-way!) back & forth just to get to a city. Also all the services main island people can find!! The trains! “Fast” food other than Hotto Motto.
Being back with friends. Inaka life is rough. Lots of good acquaintances, but no friends. Got here right before the pandemic started, so didn’t get much of a chance to really get to know anyone. Even if I want to see someone, I have to schedule to see them like a month in advance. Back home, I’ve got tons of friends I can hit up and see within a few hours.
Taco Bell
Burgers. The ones I’ve tried here are okay, but it’s not the same as back home.
Being able to eat ice cream again. I’m lactose intolerant and options in Japan are basically non-existent.
My bed.
I’m staying at home for a few months before returning to my work province in Canada and the image brings really comforting memories for some reason.
Also my mom cooking for me cause I miss the food and not having to do things for myself.
So uhhh, I miss being lazy haha.