[Firebird]

Thanks for that great thread, i just wished the "i want to live in Japan" people would read it all.
Quite a few people in this Forum seem to think that Japan is a Wonderland where everything is shiny and Manga and easy ,......
and it can be, if you have the money....
But beeing a teacher, or a "manga-ka" or whatever is not that easy. You will run over the same if not more problems living here as living in your own country.
Dont misunderstand me, i love Japan and i really enjoyed my last 7 months here and im looking forward to the next 5, but working (long term) and living here is a different story. And i understand that this was the mainpoint from MMM´s first post. "I want to live in Japan" people, wake up! Its not gonna be that easy as you imaging and there will be many problems and many hills to climb. If you really want to do it, start learning the language, plan a trip to there, try to make some japanese friends. Than come here and see if you like it. If you have the chance get a Working Holiday Visa or go with the JET Programm but dont just think you can come over here and be a Manga-ka just because you can paint, or work in a nice company because you have a degree, or become an actor because...whatever.

And once your really here, get out of the tourist areas and see how people really live, try to talk up normal people, if you speak a little Japanese people will be happy to talk to you. If you are on a WHV or with the JET Programm make Japanese Friends, live with Japanese in a share house (as soon as you get away from Sakura House thats easily possible) dont only hang around with other gaijin.

Anyway, thank you for this interesting thread, i hope some people will wake up.

Oh and about dryers: The Guesthouse i lived in had dryers and the place i live now has dryers, but i never saw one in a private home (actually the same as in Germany). Oh, the youthhostels and Hotels normally have dryers to.
Squat toilets: In many places i found a western style and a squat toilet. When you get to small traditionel Restaurants or out of the Citys/tourist aread you might end up having to use one. But i had very few accomodations wich had only a squat toilet.