True Stories of Life in Japan, pt 9: So You Want to be an Expatriate

[coriolinus]

One of the more common reactions I get from people newly learning that I've lived in Japan is "I wish I could do something like that." It's actually not all that hard; all you need is a bachelor's degree, some patience during the application process, a few thousand dollars to get you over there and set up before your first paycheck, and the will to

Comments

[moonplanet]

Is that your name on the inkan? "Good speed"? Or does your name sound like those words?

[coriolinus]

Yup. Just take out the space and you've got my surname.

[onesweetgirl]

I never got a hanko and I had a bank account. They even let me complete a wire transfer from UFJ to my US bank account by signing in the little circle.

[coriolinus]

Weird; none of the banks in my town were willing to do that for me. I guess this is a case where mileage is being demonstrated to vary.