Help please, I just want to leave

[Michael2100]

After more than 5 years here in Japan I really want to go home to Australia. I am just too depressed here. But I don't know what to do to leave.

• I have a few things, nothing much, so what what companies would ship and store stuff temporarily in Australia until I found a place to live?
• What do I do when I reach Australia? I don't have family there anymore and would have to find somewhere to stay for a while.

Please, any advise would be really appreciated. I really need some help.

[FG Lurker]

A lot depends on what you want to ship. Electronics? Large items? Breakables? Are you attached to the items for sentimental value?

If you don't have much I personally would take what I could fit into my luggage and sell/throw away everything else, but that's just me.

If you can give a better idea of what you have and how much of it you will probably get more help...

[Midwinter]

After more than 5 years here in Japan I really want to go home to Australia. I am just too depressed here. But I don't know what to do to leave.

• I have a few things, nothing much, so what what companies would ship and store stuff temporarily in Australia until I found a place to live?
• What do I do when I reach Australia? I don't have family there anymore and would have to find somewhere to stay for a while.

Please, any advise would be really appreciated. I really need some help.

Wow dude. I totally know what you're feeling and I wish you the best of luck in your endevour. From past experience, I can tell you that Australian customs will charge you duty on personal items such as televisions, vcrs, etc brought back into the country, even if they were personal items in Japan. The rules may have changed since I was caught by that one, however sometimes its best to expect the worst and as FG Lurker recommends, only take back what you absolutely need.

I can't remember the service I used at the time, not much help I know, but what I can tell you is that it wasn't as expensive as I initially thought it was going to be. I believe I paid for a shipping container and had most of my goods picked up from the apartment I was at, and 2 months later delivered back into Australia.

Anyway, I made the silly decision of coming back to Japan, so I wish you the best of luck getting home. Be well, my friend

[james]

After more than 5 years here in Japan I really want to go home to Australia. I am just too depressed here. But I don't know what to do to leave.

• I have a few things, nothing much, so what what companies would ship and store stuff temporarily in Australia until I found a place to live?
• What do I do when I reach Australia? I don't have family there anymore and would have to find somewhere to stay for a while.

Please, any advise would be really appreciated. I really need some help.

i would say anthing that is bulky w/ no sentimental value and easily replaceable you should sell / give away / throw out. what you'd be paying to store it would more than eat away at any residual value or the cost of a replacement.

as for australia, do you have friends you could impose on, even for a couple of weeks? what do you have in the way of savings? the y might be your best bet until you can find work and get an apartment.

also, if i were you, i'd try to line up work before leaving japan, gotta be something you can get set up, even if it's temporary. perhaps if you've made some australian friends while over here, they could give you australia specific advice.

so, just out of curiosity, why after five years are you so eager to leave?

[Samurai_Jerk]

I don't have any advice for you, but I feel your pain.

[baka tono]

http://www.jluggage.com/
I know of a couple of people who used this company and said it was fine. although Im not sure if they are what you are looking for.

[Big Booger]

I too will be leaving here in a year heading for the USA so I know how you feel, but I am leaving because of job issues... I want a career change and feel Japan only offers for me teaching Engrish.

If I were you, I'd sort a job first:

http://www.seek.com.au/

Make sure you have something or at least some decent leads.

Then I would prearrange some housing:

http://sydney.craigslist.com.au/sub/

As for friends, they'll come with the job, joining a club, gym or some other organization.

Then I would sell all my shit on gaijinpot, craigslist, ebay, yahoo auctions, etc and then recycle the rest at one of those recycle shops, and pitch in the sodai gomi whatever is left.

Then, pack up, secure a ticket, and move.

[kamome]

A great way to get rid of the stuff that you can't sell is to donate it to charity. Some charities will bring a big truck right up to your door and haul away what you don't want. Not only is charity donation convenient but it helps the environment because it enables you to recycle your goods instead of tossing them into the trash.

A few years ago, I happened to find an English-speaking charity in Tokyo that assists less fortunate fucked gaijins in Japan (many of them immigrants from poorer countries like the Philippines), so I was able to offload my items at no expense and help other people at the same time. I can't recall which charity it was but I am sure you can find good charities in your area through a web search.

[kusai Jijii]

After more than 5 years here in Japan I really want to go home to Australia. I am just too depressed here. But I don't know what to do to leave.

Give a months notice on your appartment.
Chuck out / give away all your shit
cancell your keitai
book a jetstar ticket
get on a plane.
Simple.


There are plenty of jobs back in Oz. If you need to get out of Japan, just go. I have seen more than a few FGs develop serious mental health issues because they felt they 'couldn't' get out of Japan. You can. Things will work out. The world is bigger than Planet Nippn.
Good luck mate.

P.S. I dont wanna confuse you, but you ARE going to miss the J-pussy.

KJ.

[Michael2100]

Thanks for the replies and advice everyone. I wouldn't take much back with me, just a notebook computer and a few peripherals (I'm sure Aus customs will charge me) plus several boxes, mainly of books and a few personal items. I'll donate everything else that may be of value to someone (fridge, washing machine, etc all in very good condition) and don't care about discarding the rest.

I'm just sick of work here and the horrible way some big foreign companies are treating employees in the current conditions, as if they have us by the balls and feel they can treat people like crap.

I hadn't thought of getting a job first in Aus., but now will investigate first. Australia does seem to be doing well, so hopefully it wont be too hard, even if I just leave first.

[succubusqueen]

Give a months notice on your appartment.
Chuck out / give away all your shit
cancell your keitai
book a jetstar ticket
get on a plane.
Simple.


There are plenty of jobs back in Oz. If you need to get out of Japan, just go. I have seen more than a few FGs develop serious mental health issues because they felt they 'couldn't' get out of Japan. You can. Things will work out. The world is bigger than Planet Nippn.
Good luck mate.

P.S. I dont wanna confuse you, but you ARE going to miss the J-pussy.

KJ.

I completely agree...just get out if you dont want to be there!...there are other countries and so many places to get to know!...things always work out some way or another....

[Michael2100]

I am still here

[kusai Jijii]

I am still here

Are you waiting for the Gaijin Fairy to come and extract you?
Get on a fucking plane mate. Go. Start the next chapter of your life. Holy fuck...

[CrankyBastard]

Thanks for the replies and advice everyone. I wouldn't take much back with me, just a notebook computer and a few peripherals (I'm sure Aus customs will charge me) plus several boxes, mainly of books and a few personal items. I'll donate everything else that may be of value to someone (fridge, washing machine, etc all in very good condition) and don't care about discarding the rest.

I'm just sick of work here and the horrible way some big foreign companies are treating employees in the current conditions, as if they have us by the balls and feel they can treat people like crap.

I hadn't thought of getting a job first in Aus., but now will investigate first. Australia does seem to be doing well, so hopefully it wont be too hard, even if I just leave first.

Well, Michael if it's just the job that's making you want to leave, look for another job!!

[Mock Cockpit]

Are you waiting for the Gaijin Fairy to come and extract you?
Get on a fucking plane mate. Go. Start the next chapter of your life. Holy fuck...

Hear fucking ye.
Someone needs to send Chopper round.

[kamome]

I am still here

Why the delay? Trying to land a job first in Aus before leaving Japan? That's a good plan but hard to accomplish from afar. You might have to save up your money while working in JP to cover you for one or more months of unemployment after you leave Japan and while you search for a job from within your home country.

[Charles]

I am still here

Escape while you still can.

[bolt_krank]

I'm working in Sydney now, so let me know if you need a hand with anything.
Also - what field have you worked in ? How's your Japanese ? I might be able to hook you up with something.

[nottu]

[TFG]

Michael2100

Please take a deep breath and write down on a piece of paper exactly what you dislike about your life here and indeed what you like. Then write down what you will like about the place you are going to and also what you won't like.
Look at it all analytically and make a decision.

I am just afraid that you may be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire and I have seen so many people leave Japan like this and regret it later.

[Marked Trail]

... so many people leave Japan like this and regret it later.

Of the dozen or so lucky souls I've meet who have escaped, on the whole leaving Japan had many, many, more positives than negatives. Leave.

[Phantom]

Of the dozen or so lucky souls I've meet who have escaped, on the whole leaving Japan had many, many, more positives than negatives. Leave.

What do they say are the major positives of leaving?

[pheyton]

What do they say are the major positives of leaving?

Their "gayness" goes into remission.

[Marked Trail]

What do they say are the major positives of leaving?

If you are not employed and re-employment is not immediate, LEAVE Japan.
Not only is time any time spent in Japan considered a resume hole but many companies know that J-experience is a Red Flag--a solid indicator of otaku unemployability.

[Behan]

With 16 years here of teaching English, I am royally f-ed when I go home.

Maybe Walmart will still be hiring.

[james]

With 16 years here of teaching English, I am royally f-ed when I go home.

Maybe Walmart will still be hiring.

this line of thought sounds all-too familiar.. (yours truly, still out in the boonies of shimane).. walmart eh.. don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but to the best of my knowledge, walmart doesn't hire the pigment-impaired or native speakers of english. another strike against you would be your likelihood of demanding the legal minimum wage.

[akatsuka]

Michael2100

Please take a deep breath and write down on a piece of paper exactly what you dislike about your life here and indeed what you like. Then write down what you will like about the place you are going to and also what you won't like.
Look at it all analytically and make a decision.

I am just afraid that you may be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire and I have seen so many people leave Japan like this and regret it later.

here here.
the grass may look greener but...

[Phantom]

If you are not employed and re-employment is not immediate, LEAVE Japan.
Not only is time any time spent in Japan considered a resume hole but many companies know that J-experience is a Red Flag--a solid indicator of otaku unemployability.

WTF, really? Just say you were taking an extended holiday and making the most of the opportunity of being in Japan prior to returning to where ever.

Ok, on second thoughts, given my experience with employers, I think you may be correct. Any break is looked on as a sign of something dodgy and that you are too worthless to get a job. Work, consume, die citizens.

[amdg]

Work, consume, die citizens.

No, that's not the message, just do something.

[kusai Jijii]

At the risk of repeating myself, if you have no real ties to Japan (and by that I dont mean your local izakaya or dojo, bit rather FAMILY), and you want/need to get out, then JUST FUCKING GO!!! If you keep posting shit like 'I'm still here' (:violin: ) when you obviously dont want to be, then you will start to look (in my eyes at least) a pathetic idiot with a victim complex.

[SIZE="7"]FUCK OFF HOME[/SIZE]