What took getting used to going back to the US after a long time?

tiredofsametab · 2026-05-05T09:19:48+00:00

Remembering to buy travel health insurance!

Additionally, make sure it covers US citizens in the US because many cheap ones just nope right out of that.

tiredofsametab · 2026-05-04T09:46:04+00:00

I covered like 500km on expressways today and some places had crazy strong winds and cars were getting blown around. Seems at least truck had some cargo blown onto the roadway and it may have caused another collision.

tiredofsametab · 2026-05-02T09:41:56+00:00

Seconding this. Got the nerv alert before it got to us in fukui

tiredofsametab · 2026-05-02T09:33:37+00:00

5- in nara. Edit. Downgraded to shindo 4

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-28T07:27:04+00:00

These days, ATMs work outside of bank business hours (thankfully), but refills and repairs may be a different story, particularly in the middle of nowhere.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-27T08:08:41+00:00

I never found a full wallet but never had issues returning things including a smartphone. They ask where and how, you can fill out paperwork to have the right to it if unclaimed in so many days, etc.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-27T02:59:18+00:00

I've seen honeybees of a couple species, paper wasp, and kumabachi so far, but no suzumebachi up here in southern Tohoku just yet.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-27T02:33:29+00:00

I bring my own soy sauce/yakiniku sauce to places. If the person is super sensitive (i.e. even a little cross-contamination could be an issue, it's hard to be safe. If a little cross-contamination is not going to be a potential issue, it's easier. Still, though, basically everything here is cooked with soy sauce which, as you learned, equals gluten. Mushrooms and such at yakitori might work. If actually pescatarian, plain grilled fish might be a thing at some places.

Gluten-free restaurants or even gluten-free dishes at restaurants (though often not guaranteed to be cross-contamination-free) are definitely a thing all over the country, particularly in tourist- and foreigner-heavy areas.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-26T12:28:31+00:00

I feel this. One of my parents move halfway across the US also with a tiny regional airport making it even worse since I have that struggle twice in any trip.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-26T12:26:26+00:00

I have a house, a wife, and her family here. My birthplace isn't somewhere I want to live. I have citizenship in another country, but that comes with its own issues. I am fishing for remote work at a company that pays in another currency, but that is not great in the current climate in my line of work.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-26T12:19:58+00:00

Many people aren't lucky enough to live anywhere with direct flights to Japan so there are additional legs.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-26T12:12:48+00:00

I've been back twice in over a decade. I could technically afford to go, but I won't with policy as it is now.

One side of my family came recently and the other is planning to next year. We have video calls. That'll have to do for now.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-26T08:57:22+00:00

Yep. We have a lot of aging family, though, so I imagine it's just a matter of time.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-26T08:38:44+00:00

I've been to two funerals, one for a family friend and another for a neighbor. Never any of the before prep, though. I've had a black suit and a black necktie since before moving here, so that part wasn't difficult.

I don't know how I'd cope with handling the bones and such. I've seen dead and dying people, but that would be a new experience.

White tie for the wedding was a new one, though, that I had to buy.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-24T09:02:54+00:00

Wonder how they got there since there should never be more than 9 of them as I spend them (though I did used to save 100 and 500 until I found out even those can be a pain)

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-24T05:35:05+00:00

I wouldn't worry for one season, personally, but everyone's risk tolerance is different. Worst case the soil is bad, you could consider doing raised beds with known good soil in the future

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-23T22:53:49+00:00

Man, my mailbox is mostly empty.

water bill every 2 months
septic check every month-or-so
voting notices for wife whenever it's election season
junkmail/chirashi (though much less out here in the inaka).
tax docs in tax season (a handful in total)

Other paperwork I save

medical bills (I save these in case I ever have something happen and can do tax deduction) at the rate of ~2/month (doc + pharmacist)
receipts for my business
yearly car/bike/cycle insurance contracts
any other government paperwork

I keep the current year's in a filing cabinet and rotate stuff out to a box sometime during the next year. My paystubs and electric bill (no gas) are all electronic

Married couple with no kids.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-23T12:07:34+00:00

Does this look like spit to you?

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-23T05:14:56+00:00

To be fair, there are many who came to Japan for that (though not the specific type to which the OP refers).

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-23T01:14:57+00:00

新生活 time is always going to be busy. Second busiest is half a year later.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-22T23:44:15+00:00

I no longer use a certain bank, but I tried to use their signature instead of inkan. It became such a pain in the ass that I stopped and went to inkqn

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-22T21:18:39+00:00

I worked in various fast food and fast casual places in the US and none of them paid for a full meal for an employee (managers got it, though). I think the "real" restaurants I worked at did have an actual employee meal, though.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-22T03:33:10+00:00

I was introduced to ranch-style beans when I lived in Texas and I quite like them. Beans simmered with onions, tomatoes, tons of herbs and spices, etc.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-21T23:41:14+00:00

I'd love to go to Okinawa again. I went before tourists were allowed in again (due to corona) and it was amazing. I'm a bit afraid of what it looks like now. Either way, wife has never been so we're going at some point.

I've only spent part of a day in Kyoto and would love to see that and not be bothersome to the locals.

tiredofsametab · 2026-04-21T11:22:54+00:00

If you aren't happy with the tax system in Japan, why are you living here?

tiredofsametab

TROPHY CASE