[ny4u87]

I am so glad you posted this, MMM. I'm only sorry I wasn't here near the beginning when it was still on-topic. I've been very interested in Japan and in visiting or even living there for a long time, and I've always looked around for information on what it's like, and been disappointed. I've been casually studying Japanese as a hobby for about three years now, and I enjoy a little anime and shojo manga, but I'm more interested in the history and culture of Japan.

Most of the time when I look for information on what it's like in Japan I get generalized statements such as "People are hard working there" and "It's crowded." Or worse, starry-eyed visions of a population of perfect human beings who spend all their time saving the city from giant robots and eating pocky. This is the first time I've gotten real, first-hand accounts of Americans living in Japan (without a bottomless wallet), and the realities of life there.

I think I still want to live in Japan for a short time, but I'm much more sure now that I've read your posts, MMM. I feel much better about calling a long-term trip to Japan a goal of mine now that I have some idea of what that will entail. I still don't have a real plan for how I will go about doing that, but at least now I know that Japan is a real country, not the Fantastic Mangaland so many of my crazed otaku freinds here try to convince me it is.

In fact, I think I like it more because of that. I'm still not going over there without a whole lot of money, a really good plan, and a WHOLE lot more knowledge in Japanese though.

Thank all of you with first-hand accounts for your posts, they were exactly what I've been looking for.