I believe I have read almost every single reply in this posting and I have found some very very wise comments. The people who say " I want to live in Japan because I hate America", these people will not realize what they are missing when they leave. I've traveled to only two different countries and being away from home in the US really gets to me. The lack of communication with the rest of the world will shock you. Unlike the US, Soooo many countries do not have open acessability to communication. Phone cards are expensive if you want to call home, internet is usually found in the internet cafe, you are confined to a smaller living area, you do not know how to get around the area you are in (worse if the person doesn't know the language). There are too many reasons for these fanatics to really get a grasp on reality.
I have been taking Japanese for about a year and a half now. I'm not great, I'm just beginning in reality I find that there really is alot to learn. I do get really 'annoyed?' when another anime quoting person jumps in the room and talks nothing but the anime and i want to learn japanese because I want to work with anime and play the voices draw them, etc.
I have chosen Japanese as well as Chinese and Spanish for career opportunities with first world countries. I would absolutely love to work with international communications. It really does seem so interesting.
But to learn Japanese, I believe I'm going to go for a study abroad. I don't think I'll live there for the rest of my life, but I really do want to go for a language learning opportunity.
I have stayed in third world countries many times and believe that I can deal with a cultural change sincerely because of experience.
Yuli
