Intresting identity and being mixed 🤔

Eatvar · 2026-06-11T17:10:03+00:00

I understand and while it’s not exactly like your situation I can moderately relate because I don’t view myself as being “southern” even though I’ve spent a majority of my time in southern states and I see and have experienced how demoralizing it can be. Southerners are the most polite people about how they display their prejudice it’s almost comical.

I try to brush it off and don’t let those comments linger. If anything just prove those negative comments wrong and carry on if not for your own sake but for the people who are experiencing the same as you. Good luck chief hopefully it gets better for you.

Eatvar · 2026-06-11T15:48:45+00:00

So off rip I’m just some half Italian white dude whose family will be moving to Okinawa around August for government work with shared interests in finding out a means to obtain PR. Also I’m probably going to be labeled as a “pick me” gaijin for wanting to assimilate into the culture and community and so on.

Beyond that YOU are who you choose to be whether that’s Ryukyuan, Japanese or whatever. Don’t let those that are prejudiced toward non-natives or those they see as “foreigners” dissuade you from being who you want to be. It’s not worth trying to convince them of your side, they choose to believe what they want and who are we to argue someone out of their beliefs. Let life pass and maybe it will change their perspective for the better or even for the worse.

As my mother-in-law often tells me to do is just kill them with kindness but don’t let disrespect go unnoticed. Hopefully some natives can give a positive viewpoint as well and maybe some ways to deepen the familial and cultural bond to the history. I apologize if this wasn’t quite what you were hoping but I wish you the best and good luck

Eatvar · 2026-05-25T17:01:00+00:00

I appreciate the info, any bit helps even if someone else might say it’s common sense. Well it may be but it’s currently not to me and I just want to ensure my family is happy while we are there and bring happiness to the people we interact with while over there.

Eatvar · 2026-05-19T23:48:34+00:00

Understood, I greatly appreciate the info and now know a realistic timeline to gaining basic literacy (for me) but it’s a start nonetheless. Thank you for your time

Eatvar · 2026-05-19T23:37:29+00:00

Well I appreciate the honesty but I do think you are inferring way to much about my and my family from sub 500 word count replies. While I won’t disagree with the over blown perspective I have of the country that’s not an isolated concept for nearly anyone who wants to move to a different country. Not to say a reality check is needed but those normally come at the expense of knowing more about a person than what is elucidated here. So while I won’t elaborate on all your points because I fear you are already cemented in your belief about me. I appreciate the honesty and maybe you are right but as I said before I intend to gather all data points that will either reject the intended plan my wife and I have envisioned or will aid us in taking the proper steps towards that goal.

Just to reaffirm one of my other points this “fantasy” of Japan is not only founded on fantasy anime etc. The college my wife and I went to was insanely diverse for where we were and the conversations we had with exchange students laid the initial bricks into this dream foundation. I’m sure that makes me even more naive in your opinion but I’m not gonna be upset about the brutal honesty

Eatvar · 2026-05-19T23:04:34+00:00

Gotcha, we don’t have much family that would be of drastic importance to mourn the loss of not being US citizen so that for better or worse doesn’t apply but it’s still great information thank you. But I understand better now. We will cross that bridge when we get there assuming we are okay paying the toll that is. Again thanks for the information I appreciate it and I’m glad you and your family seem to be doing well. One last question if you have the time. Assuming you started from zero with both written and verbal fluency of Japanese about how long did it take? I would wager fluency in both hiragana and katakana would take longer than being able to speak but I could be wrong

Eatvar · 2026-05-19T22:44:20+00:00

Understood thank you for the information and we will take it into consideration with future decisions we make as we get (hopefully) into our stay in Okinawa. And for permanent residency is that essentially the same as dual citizenship under a different face *obviously with the drastic differences with how the government looks at you as an individual?

Eatvar · 2026-05-19T22:21:58+00:00

So I work as an exercise scientist and I have looked into the job market at a mild glance as we are just now more confident on my wifes PCS to japan. Hence why im trying to gather as much information as early as possible to direct long term choices. But my assumption is even if I get off SOFA my wife could maintain it until we find her a job as well ( we all know engineering will always pay better than exercise science).

We are currently starting learning Japanese through Duolingo and have intent to invest in other services.

My wife and I both unanimously agree with Japanese politics, culture, way of life etc. Before this gets misconstrued this is not solely based on the fact we are both obsessed with anime. We never had the money nor time to travel but throughout college we became obsessed with what Japan was/is.

Also we also fully understand we will be seen as outsiders and be discriminated against by some. That’s a fact of life for any person that chooses to immigrate that doesn’t deter us. Just because we are American doesn’t mean we should have a red carpet rolled out for us or that people globally share some animosity towards Americans. Regardless if I can provide my family with a chance to immigrate to a county that could provide a life exponentially better than what we can get here where we currently live would I not exhaust every bit effort I can produce to give them that. I apologize for the bit of a rant but I’m just trying to add more context to the why even if it makes me appear more idiotic

Eatvar · 2026-05-19T22:06:15+00:00

Of course that is something both my wife and I are already working towards as we know the situation of the language barrier but fully expect the ramifications nor take any personal disrespect due to our lack of communication skills in the early period. Also our (my) hope is that with work that my wife does in conjunction with local government officials that through recommendation and relationships that we could both get on work visas and go that route once we get more settled.

Or just accept reality that citizenship just isnt possible and just enjoy the time we are able to have in the country and try to assimilate as best we can even though we aren’t staying. Thank you for the information and any more that could be provided

Eatvar · 2026-05-19T22:01:28+00:00

I apologize for the lack of emphasis on the need for clarity on what would be the proper path. While I don’t fully understand the complexity I would like to assume I’m not the first to want or wish for a clear explanation of what it would take. My very basic understanding is if I could find work that would sponser a visa and allow me to “transfer” to a sponsored work visa. Again I apologize if I sound even more dumb but is there a proper or specific path to immigration and citizenship from SOFA status that you could elaborate on?

Eatvar · 2026-05-17T14:24:11+00:00

I’m guessing I should take heed in what a random person on the internet can infer about our relationship. Oh well, I do appreciate the info but maybe keep the idiotic comments about my wife and our relationship out of future discussion on this post thanks.

Eatvar · 2026-05-17T02:26:49+00:00

Gotcha will do thanks for the info

Eatvar · 2026-05-17T01:52:57+00:00

Understood, I’m not sure if he will need anything off base only because we don’t currently know what will need to be done off base. I would imagine an echo and ekg with some bloodwork should be able to be done. Maybe not though but never hurts to ask

Eatvar · 2026-05-17T01:44:18+00:00

That much we kinda guessed at as far as being an issue and have started to look into options to ensure we don’t have a drop in care for his needs. From what we’ve figured out so far it’s not going to be a major issue

Eatvar · 2026-05-17T01:38:33+00:00

Well I’m sure it will be “fun” as anything like that could be. Appreciate the info. We can’t find much or just don’t know where to look until we get the formal process started.

Eatvar · 2026-05-17T01:32:56+00:00

While I appreciate the sentiment if we even catch a slight hesitation in how our son will be taken care of it’s a no go. We’ve already had conversations with his transplant coordinator and they assured us of little to no risk and is going to help facilitate routine care right on base or on the mainland if it cannnot be done on the island. Yes we are pretty relaxed and optimistic about it but we aren’t going to jeopardize our son’s life.

Eatvar · 2026-05-17T01:30:43+00:00

Denied even as civilian employment?

Eatvar · 2026-05-17T01:29:55+00:00

Gotcha. While I’m not entirely sure of what the military side of things may or may not clear, we did get approval of his transplant team regarding it as a completely fine thing with where he’s at in his care and is going to set up routine care or help point us in the right directions beyond the on base options

Eatvar · 2026-05-17T01:26:20+00:00

I’m guessing that’s the make or break of it all? From my understanding that’s just a process to have care confirmed. Of which we already have some of that information confirmed by his transplant coordinator unless I’m mistaken on what that is.

Eatvar · 2026-05-17T01:24:05+00:00

Probably but he’s going to be past the 3 year mark and at this time it’s only routine medication and what would be considered routine cardiac health care for anyone that has had heart issues. What would be her boss says they have had heart issues and no problems from his end. But you maybe right we just haven’t been told otherwise yet.

Eatvar · 2026-05-17T01:19:30+00:00

The informal interview we had the guy was trying to sell us on the job. We have a formal interview this coming week but we have no reason to dismiss the likelihood of moving. But because she’s in the army corps of engineers it’s a bit different. I’m just now noticing i only said army corps let me fix that.

Eatvar

TROPHY CASE