Expats from Oregon lament the economic reality that making a living in Japan is easier than in the U.S.
Oregonians living in Japan like me have taken a hard look at our futures since the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and the unfolding nuclear and economic crises. Radiation leaks, contaminated crops and water, plutonium released into the air and ocean, have made expats in Japan question whether to stay or head back home, especially in the face of pressure from family and loved ones.
Relatively few Americans live in Japan, fewer still from Oregon. Through work, I've become friends with a few Oregonians who share the same circumstances and tough choices.
I'm from Portland, 42, and live in Inuyama. I've been in Japan for 10 years, mostly teaching English, but also freelancing as a photographer, writer and video producer.
My two friends and I have a number of things in common. We enjoyed our lives in Oregon, but things weren't panning out as well as we had hoped and we sought a new adventure, which America-friendly Japan provided. Living here has been a series of trade-offs, exchanging one set of headaches and concerns for different ones.
The question is, in the face of health concerns and financial hardship, is it time to trade them back again?
"I don't see the prospects of me going back being very economically viable," he says.
Even though Japan's job market is challenging as well, there are always teaching positions for native English speakers like Doyle. But going back to America expecting to teach English, especially without a college degree in education, is almost impossible. Like me, he wonders, "If I went back, what would I do for work?"
Yup, there's always those English teaching jobs.
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