Just to get it out of the way: No, I’m not asking about gender-reassignment. You people are so bad with the corny jokes donchaknow.
Ok, I’ve been thinking of what I’m going to do after university. I just finished my first year so it’s a while yet. I haven’t decided if I’ll do gradute work yet and I won’t (decide) for a while.
One idea I came up with was moving overseas to live in a new culture and country. I have a interest in Japan, the language and their culture so when I consider living abroad that’s what I picture.
I was wondering what kinds of experiences people have had living abroad. Is adjusting difficult? How did you go about getting a job and a place to live? What kind of financial situation where you in before you left and how important is that?
Also, what kinds of places would you suggest going to?
Some background info: I’m working on a degree in Engineering Physics and I have an aptitude for languages (I already speak French - the Quebec kind - because of my mother). I guess when I think about it, I imagine getting an engineering job wherever I go but I have no idea how I would go about doing it.
Well, up and moving to a whole different country can certainly result in major culture shock. I know people who have done it, thought it would be cool, and it was the most miserable experience of their lives. There are also people who it works out for in tremendous ways (example: me.)
If you decide to move to a different country, one smart thing to do beforehand would be to try to build relationships with people native to that country. Let’s say you decide to move to Japan. Are there any Japanese kids studying abroad at your university? I bet there are. You can approach them with, “I’m thinking about moving to Japan, can you teach me a little bit about what it’s like?” You can learn about their culture, and you may help them feel more comfortable with yours.
Do it! I’ve spent time abroad as a student three times, and am still kicking myself that I didn’t up and move to Russia for a year after college when it was relatively easy to do so. Everyone I know who has done it (a bunch of people, in a bunch of different places) has found it an immensely rewarding experience.
Of course, don’t spend all your time hanging out with the American expat community.
I lived overseas for ten years, returning a couple of years ago.
Just remember your desire to live in a foreign country may not be matched by a country willing to accept you. Each country has their own immigration requirements. Unless that country says you meet their requirements to live there, whatever personal desires you may have are irrelevant.
Living abroad is not a cakewalk. It has its own unique challenges that are hard to fully appreciate unless one can say, “been there, done that.” Some things, some experiences, just do not translate. Then again, living abroad also presents life experiences which you will obtain by no other means.
Finally, as a caveat, no matter how well you learn the language (if not native to you), understand the people, immerse yourself in the culture, yadda, yadda, many natives will treat you as an outsider. Don’t assume all we act that way toward you, butmany will. This poses another set of unique challenges and opportunities.
My opinion overall? Reread my very first sentence.
Go! (and I do not mean the wonderful board game that you could probably learn in Japan.)
I have said often on this board that if I were ruler of the world, I would make it mandatory that every person lived in a different country for a minimum of one year.
You learn that everything you know is not “normal”.
You learn there are other foods, fashion, music, literature, culture and “vices” you have never even heard about.
It will make you a better person if, and when, you return back to your home country.
And if you do venture out and see the world, I can almost guarantee you will never grow up to be a bigot. You will always take a breath, realize things are different in other countries, in other cultures, and…if nothing else, you will be open to new experiences.
I cannot think of one person I know who has regretted it…some get homesick and move home sooner than others, but nobody has ever said, “Gee, I wish I had never left.”
" How did you go about getting a job and a place to live? What kind of financial situation where you in before you left and how important is that?
Also, what kinds of places would you suggest going to?"
I always say to have a minimum of two months living expenses and park your ass in one place. Use that money to pay for a month’s rent and go out and hang at the local cafe’s and bars and whatever. Let it be known you want to stay and are looking for work. Tell everybody. Try to find people from your home country and let them know you are serious and want to stay. Teaching English as a foreign language is always a good start. Offer to help bus tables, offer to help paint, offer offer offer. As a foreigner, you are (generally) considered a curiousity.
(one slight aside. I have read horrible stories here on the SDMB about anti-Americanism in Japan…perhaps as a Canadian you can avoid that but beware.)
I personally would suggest going to Europe, but that is a bias on my part. Perhaps some expats in Japan can fill you in better.
i had a friend who worked at a karaoke bar when she lived in japan. it’s sort of an amusing option, although not one i would take up myself! i’ve lived abroad in two countries, one in europe, one in asia. adjusting helps if you know more of the language, or if you are familiar with the culture… meeting local people helps too, as well as having an expat friend or two. and even if you don’t know much of the language when you go, just being open to learning some with each experience will help.
i think wherever you go, you have to be open to go out and explore. seeking out places and people and experiences and not worry about not being understood or being lost. those will both happen and that’s ok. you’ll also find understanding and other rewarding things. it’s so wonderful to find kind beautiful people that help you even though they don’t understand you. and a lot of people want to bring you along to things because they are proud of their traditions and want to share them with you. and it’s always fascinating to see other cultures (i’ve wandered past a traditional pig roast in the middle of an apartment complex park and seen costumed gods marching down the street on my way home)
if you are interested in teaching english in japan, there is always the JET program - http://www.jetprogramme.org/index.html
most people who have done that have good things to say about it and their experiences there. if you’re not into the english gig, maybe there are some websites for engineering related jobs abroad too. or maybe one of your professors has contacts somewhere and you can set up an internship type of situation.
when i taught in hungary, they arranged a place for me so i didn’t have to worry about rent. in taiwan, i lived first with a friend for a few months before finding an apartment with another friend from school. i had a few thousand saved up before i left, which is about what i have before i move anywhere.
so, that’s just some brief thoughts from my experiences. i say go too! then you can share with us your experiences.
YMMV but I think going abroad is fantastic. It isn’t for everyone, so go with a round trip ticket and the knowledge that coming home cause it didn’t work out for you isn’t failure. You may never return to the US.
I’d second the jet program. Also, of course, if you really want to enjoy Japan, you need to learn Japanese
As a Canadian, you’ve got some neat options open to you that the Yanks don’t have. Canada and Japan (as well as Australia, NZ, and maybe a few others) have an agreement where young people (under 30, I believe) can stay for six months on a “working holiday” visa, which allows them to do any kind of work they want, full-time or part-time (other visa have various restrictions on them, such as the “Humanities and Internatonal Specialist” visa that most English teachers have that is only good for language-related work. No waiting tables or working on the farm allowed). You may not even need to have a job lined up before entering, which is an extra benefit. This visa can be renewed up to two times, for a total of 18 months, and you can change to a new type of visa when that runs out.
As for culture shock, I’d recommend getting in touch with people already in Japan* so that you have some contacts when you arrive. Having friends around who know the ropes can make things a lot easier. Or you can just do what I did: work for a company that had me standing in front of a class less than 24 hours after landing and kept me on such a busy schedule that by the time I shook off the jet lag and caught my breath, I found I’d already adapted.
One word of warning: I also had planned on coming here for ‘a year or two’. That was eight years ago this June.
Good luck!
[sup]* In other words, feel free to click that button marked ‘email’. [/sup]
When you first arrived were you lonely? How long did it take you to make friends?
If you went to university before-hand, how much time did you take between your graduation and your move?
One of the reasons I’d want to get an engineering job is that there seems to be a momentum people have when leaving school that helps them get a job. I’m not sure how that would be affected if I went abroad and taught english for a year or two.
There’s also some things that could get in the way of any plan I make. Like having a serious girlfriend at the time who wouldn’t want to move with me.
quinoa’s internship idea sounds good. Has anyone done something similar to that?