let's move to hong kong or korea or france or someplace else and teach english there. then we can have adventures and listen to the new kids' remix album all the time. it'd be amazing.

Happy belated, mistarpanda!

Seems like the general consensus is for you to not return to the states yet; either stay in Japan or move to another country for a bit first. What do you think?

I don't feel like I'm in any position to try and influence your living plans. I'm younger and have even less experience to draw on to dispense words of wisdom. ^_^ However, I will say that if given the choice myself, I'd choose to travel some and see where I fit in.

Will you regret it terribly if you don't stay in Tokyo? Do you badly want to explore a different part of the world? If so, and if you do choose to move to the city, would you be willing to uproot yourself again to go somewhere else?

At the end of the day, none of them are "wrong", really; just not what you want most at the moment, perhaps. Good luck with the decision process. :)

Cheers!
tchamster

You know what I think you should be downing for a living, I know you got the art/design skills for it. Time to really start using them. As far as a place to live goes, I say go where the people are. I mean, it sounds like you are getting tired of Japan. America is a real shit hole right now. There is a huge religion/political/racism/poverty/everything war going on right now. Hell, some schools in the south are starting to teach intelligent design along side evolution in SCIENCE class. We are definitely going backwards over here. But if you can't resist the 3+ dollars for a gallon of gas, come back as fast as possible!

happy birthday darling. i sowwy I forgot it. but actually i dont think I knew when it was to begin with.
You are ordered to move with me to Tokyo to begin our business careers. Mine at Sanrio, and yours in the labs trying to create cuter vegetables. (heart shaped cabbage)

Happy Birthday a little late. Hope you have a great year.

I know you wrote some good things about Tokyo, and you are right in some respects. I think Tokyo might be better than living in deep inaka.

But dont think that moving to Tokyo is going to make you happy.

People here are just as racist and rude as inakajin are.

Whether you have to live in a Gaijin House because apartment managers dont allow gaijin to live there, or you go to Shinjuku or other places and the sign near the door says "No gaijin allowed".

The mayor here Ishihara Shintaro hates foreigners. Especially Non-Japanese Asians and Americans. It might have been a fluke to elect him once, but he has been mayor since 1999.

Here is wiki about him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishihara_Shintaro

People stare make rude remarks etc.

The other night I went to the corner Jidohanbaiki to get a drink and the 12 year old boy practically shouted "sugoi!! gaijin da!!!"

I like my life here, dont get me wrong. But Tokyo is not some wonderful fairyland of racial tolerance and wonderfulness.

As for what you should do...
Do what you think best.

Everyplace has its problems. America, Japan, Panama...you name it. I dont think there is any inherent ideal place to live.

If you like Japan and are willing to put up with some of the hassles here, then you should stay here.

Hope you had a fun birthday