sammyz

.....or that's the plan anyway!!! Hiya all! I'm a newbie,coming out of lurkdom covered in algae and gasping for some fresh air! Have been following various threads on here for quite a few months now and love the banter...God,I miss the ole British sense of humour and I can tell you it's admired around the world...well,I am rambling..

I'm married to a gorgeous Japanese guy and we have been blessed with three diamonds.Twins aged 5 and a chubby one and a half year old. We originally met in N.Zealand..ohh..bloody 'ell,it's 13 years ago.Moved to Japan 'just for a few years' but ended up staying longer. We want to try and make a go of it back in the UK.Various factors involved as to why.Awful inlaws,miss my family,zero family support,don't like the education here or what has happened to the 'medical' system (a term used very loosely),government racism towards foreign parents,job prospects.........and we just miss England!

I must apologise as I am just blurting this all out so please bear with me!
I don't have degree.I'm not specialised in anything.I write for a couple of mags out here.I have some very basic TEFL/TESOL qualifications and have also been teaching English....a job I adore!!!!Hubby speaks very good English and is a really hard worker.We don't know how the job side is going to pan out but we're determined to just make it work.At the mo,we're trying to save enough dosh to get back and be okay for a few months or so until jobs are found!

As said before,just off loading..no panache at all.We just want to leave and start a life,what is for me back home.Of course,I get the shivers at times...'Are we doing the right thing?" kind of jeebies but I just feel it in my bones!

Okay.I've rambled on but feel that by posting it on this forum,I've kind of made it that tiny bit more concrete!

Cheers!

Mata!

Sammy

Exile

Hi Sammy,

Welcome to the forum. I just lurk most of the time, but your post caught my eye as I used to live near Asagaya.

Yes, Tokyo is the kind of place that can drag you in and the years pass and before you know it you've been there too long. Like you, the frustrations started to get to me a bit so we bailed out to Australia, but we're now back in England.

Where in the UK are you heading?

Good luck,

Exile

sammyz

Thanks for the welcome,Exile!

I'm originally from the NW,heading back to Lancaster area.Researching olympic style at the mo! Whereabouts near Asagaya did you live? We live in a gorgeous,traditional style japanese house with....der der der......a garden.Quite a catch in Tokyo! Kichijoji is my favourite shoppingfest area.It's a cool part of Tokyo to live in!

There are lots of things I love about being here.....the food,traditional culture such as green tea,caligraphy,the lingo,the festivals,fantastic transportation system (probably the best in the world) but since the kids came along all sorts of ugly cultural/racial factors have bobbed to the surface and it's too hard for me to stomach.I mentioned that hubby is Japanese and he feels the same way.

Yeah,Japan can kinda suck you in.We only meant to stay here 5 years max while hubby finished up his studying but.......

Anyway,I don't regret any of it.It's been a fantastic experience and I've would like to think I've learnt a lot from it.Hopefully it's made me into a better person!

Thanks for the reply again!

Mata!

Sammy

Exile

Hi Sammy,

Yes, it's definitely a great area as Tokyo goes. We lived for few years in Tanashi (now Nishi Tokyo), between Musashi Sakai and Tanashi stations. We also lived in Koganei for a while, and in Ogikubo a long time ago. I used to belong to a club that trained at Asagaya primary school.

We used to cycle to Kichijoji a lot, and spent a lot of time in Koganei Park. Good memories. I think that was the only way we managed to stay (relatively) sane in Tokyo for five years with young children.

I hear you on the cultural/racial issues. It's hard to feel like you belong, which you can accept as an adult looking for something interesting and adventurous, but I think having children can change things. My wife is Japanese, but she never really felt like she fitted in too well either.

I do miss Japan, but don't think I could live in Tokyo again. You never know, though.

Good luck with the research.

Exile

Bevm

I know people who work in the UK teaching English to immigrants. I don't know what qualifications they have, but there seems to be plenty of demand.

Best wishes for the move,

Bev

sammyz

Arhhhhh...thanks Bev! Very kind of you! Yeah,I'm looking at study choices as well. If I started a UK recognised course over here,it costs nearly double as I am outside the EU.Not a viable option at the moment!

Some folk might call me crazy but I like to use 'optimistic' about our future! It's not going to be easy but there again,nothing ever is!

Thanks again!

Sammy

Londonuck

My wife did it in Vancouver then again when we came back to London. The 4 hours of pay you get a day just doesnt pay enough. She loved it in Vancouver, the kids she taught were excellent. Japanese, Koreans, Taiwanese, Chinese and all the Latin American countries. She did a CELTA course i think it was called.

sammyz

Thanks Londonuck! I'm looking at all moi options and nosing around! So many possibilities........

Cheers!

Sammy

Londonuck

Bring your sushi skills with you. Sushi in London looks like a slug crawled over some uncle bens.

Just back from Florida where i consumed a small ocean of fresh sushi 3 days running. 18 bucks for 40 pieces. Here in Ireland that would cos the same as a new car.

fulwood

Sammyz. good luck with everything. I'm a Lancashire lass and love Lancaster. Keep us informed as to your move back to UK. I am kind of in same boat in terms of career. been gone since 1984 have degree in Gerontology but feel need something more. going to do speech language pathology. have looked into finishing this in UK but as not been resident for many years would have to pay astronomical tuition. so I stay in states, finish grad degree, work so I get enough experience and then try and move back. I would love to go now but just not right in many regards for me. good luck..

JAJ

Do your children have British consular birth certificates and British passports? If not, you should get these.

sammyz

Thanks for the replies!

Londonuck,me matey! Hubby is a fantastic cook and makes the most scrummy yummy onigiri (rice balls) and sushi you can imagine! I adore sushi! Japanese food is pretty delicious! Hubby does have aspirations of setting up his own sushi/onigiri stall!

Fulwood,huge snogs to another Lancashire lass.Have missed me chip butties.....my American maties don't understand half my lingo.....not to mention Shepherd's pie amongst others! Good luck on your travels too.I firmly believe that if you have faith in yourself and just bloody stick to your guns,things will eventually turn your way.

JAJ! You bet! In the process with the smallest one now! Don't know if you are aware but Japan hasn't signed the Hague Treaty and is a haven for child abductions.In Japan,I basically,as the foreign parent have no rights to my kids. Very feudal over here still.My marriage is strong but hubby's parents are very....how shall I put it diplomatically...... 'traditional' and if anything ...all digits crossed here......happened to him,I know for a fact they would go for custody....and if we were residing in Japan,they would get it over me.Pretty scary stuff! Another reason why we want to move to the UK,to be near sane....or relatively sane family members!Thanks tons for your concern !

Cheers again to all!

Sammy

Londonuck

Well if he is and you dont move to Ireland you're very selfish.

Good luck!