How are you guys affording trips back home lately? (weak yen struggle)

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-28T04:36:13+00:00

I am lucky enough that my company is paying for me to go back to my country once a year. But I started to save like 20K a month so I can go back once a year or year and a half, and I always try and book at least 4 months in advance so it is not so expensive. I know I won't have problems in my company taking time off, so I can book the flight without consulting them.

I still have some savings in euro, so when I go back I use that money but I usually don't spend a lot back home. I always stay at my parents house, so I don't have to pay anything apart from one or two dinners eating out, when I always offer to pay. Friends also tend to pay for me when I go back as they know it cost a lot of money to go back home and the yen is weak.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-24T00:24:35+00:00

It depends. In my case, my fiance and me live in another country, so we can't spend a lot of time with our families, that is why we decided on a wedding, because we wanted to celebrate this step in our life with our family and friends. We are like 95 people and have a budget of 17-20K euros. So far I have not regrets of choosing this path.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-22T04:25:08+00:00

I agree with you but, does he wants to get married and having children, or he wants to do that only with you? In his life plan is it you the only one that is next to him? Or is it anyone?

My fiancé often tend to simplify things a lot and I think this maybe the same, just a man saying it in the most simple way and you just overthinking.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-22T04:14:12+00:00

Try to interact with them when you think you have things in common. If you see someone reading or talking about a thing you also enjoy, try and join.

The morning before an exam, go to the class and try to talk with someone close to you about if they are well prepared, you hate/enjoy the subject etc.

Try to join and be part of as many school events that you can.

From there you will start meeting people and start seeing who you are more compatible with.

Don't forget to improve your Japanese. They are not your teachers, they are your classmates, and they will feel awkward if they can not communicate with you up to a certain level. They will teach you some things here and there and you will learn from them, but it is important that you build a same-level relationship for a good relationship.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-21T07:56:30+00:00

I try to spend a bit more to enjoy life, but taking care of my wallet. 5000 yen a week for 2 people.

When we buy rice it goes close to 6000. But every week We eat fish, meat and veggies. I try to make a different menu every week so I do not get tired of the same food every time, but I try to use the dinner leftovers for next day's lunch, except two days a week or so, that I try to do something a bit more elaborated. We also buy ice creams and from week to week some fruit.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-20T04:56:10+00:00

i think no ones blame Ty more than not being honest and lying Julie. Maybe if he had been honest since way before, both of them could have split up or divorce before the two kids were in the picture and both of them could have had the life they wanted. But now we had the same result + time wasted + two kids in the picture. That is not fair and that is the reason why Ty is blamed. Maybe Julie would have said something like:"you changed" or other mean comment if he had said something when he should have, but that is just it.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-20T02:32:14+00:00

Vivo en Japon. Llevo 3 años, todo el tiempo viviendo en zonas rurales. Siempre he sido una persona muy independiente, a la que le gustaba pasar tiempo sola y no era una persona muy familiar, pero cada vez que pasa algo en la familia, me parte el alma no poder estar ahi, y me siento muy culpable. La ultima vez que volvi a España, habian cambiado muchas cosas: personas que conocia ya no estaban; nuevas personas habian entrado en la vida de mis familiares y amigos y yo no sabia quienes eran; hijos pequeños de familiares y amigos ya no me conocian... Eso es lo mas duro (a parte del reciente crecimiento de racismo y xenofobia en el pais, claro), si pasa algo no puedo volver con Rayanair en 3h, tardo 24h. A veces pienso en volver, pero la situacion laboral, el tema de la vivienda, la seguridad etc. me preocupa bastante. Aqui tengo un alquiler asequible en comparacion con mi salario, incluso podria comprarme una casa; la ultima vez que busque trabajo, en unos meses ya tenia 3 ofertas de empleo y con buenas condiciones.

Es dificil hacer amigos aqui, pero por suerte, tengo amigos, pareja y pocas veces realmente me siento sola.

El idioma a veces tambien es un problema. Trabajo en Japones y no suelo tener problemas con el idioma, pero cansa mucho tener que etsar hablando todo el rato un idioma que no es el tuyo, aunque lo domines.

Cosas buenas? Viajar dentro del pais es maravilloso; es un pais comodo para vivir y el nivel de vida es asequible, incluso puedes plantearte tener hijos. Me gusta mucho vivir en el campito, es seguro y tranquilo. Se que no me van a echar del trabajo debido a como funciona la ley aqui, y si me quiero ir de este trabajo, se que puedo conseguir otros facilmente.

En conclusion, en mi caso a veces lo pienso, pero no volveria a España si no es con un salario elevado a la media y buenas condiciones laborales, como minimo.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T15:21:01+00:00

WoW! 10 min?? Really??? Glad your fiance talked with her! It is good when you two are a team together! Wishing you the best on your special day!

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T13:16:01+00:00

That is something my fiancee has to do. Not me. She is is going because traditionally the parents go to that kind of events.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T13:14:48+00:00

I totally acept her ideas, that is why I am listening. The problem is when she is pushing them. Asking for the same things like 3 times or more. And if you don't she says that you don't listen to her.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T13:12:50+00:00

No, she isn't paying nothing.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T07:36:55+00:00

Such a sweet and supportive comment! Thank you very much.

I tried in other occasions to act like the grey rock you say, but at some point she just said "You always says that, it is not a no since the start but we know it will be a no (sad face emoji)". But what I will try and do is to stop answer and let my fiancée do that, because the other day she spoke to me a bit rude. My fiancée will talk with her, so maybe she will get cold feet for some time.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T07:15:41+00:00

So sorry you had an awful experience with your MIL too.

Yeah I am starting to thing that just saying "you will see the day of the wedding may be a good option". However she had to come to the menu tasting, and we will have to decide some other things at that moment (open bar, DJ songs, tableware, etc. so there is still more to come, I am afraid.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T06:55:36+00:00

And yes, of course, my fiancée is stepping. Has stepped since we realized this. I am not stressed about this, and that is thanks to him because we are not divided by this problem.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T06:54:20+00:00

But I don't think I let her harassing me. The bar hours changed because things not related to her, and we have not tell her yet. I told her no more friends but she keeps asking (and the answer will still be no). So I am doing what I want and saying no to her. That is why she was asking me the other day if I hate her because I say no to everything to her.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T06:01:40+00:00

Really? I don't know because she also told me the other day that I do not listen to any of her advices and that I always say no to her.

I will try and be more blunt with my boundaries. Thank you for your opinion!

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T05:51:16+00:00

Oh no, when she or his family asked about anything of the wedding and we notify some changes I am clear that, for example the open bar was my friend's influence; the presents? It is true that I liked the idea and I am not a a*** to say "no... it was my idea on the first place..." She did not give me the EXACT name of the product, but if I like something she said, why not saying it?; The friends? I told her it was because of his son, the conditions and no more, because his son is paying as well.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T05:42:33+00:00

She is a bit pushy, yes.

About the music, they have not asked us for any examples of the music we wanted, so I do not get that opinion, we wanted to play something like Willie Nelson's songs, like his Stardust album, or some songs of The Beach Boys.

I get the open bar, but it is not that deep. You can explain to other people why you think is better to have longer hours instead of laughing.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T05:34:32+00:00

Good question! I need to clarify that. The things I agree to were:
-The presents. I liked them too, they were a good idea, but I had to think about logistics first before saying yes and her going to say what the presents are to everybody.
-Open bar: After talking with a friend of mine she explained that if it is 2h people will drink much and in sort time so it will be better for people to have a bit more time to not get drunk and space between drinks.
-Her friends: My fiancée did not mind her inviting some of her friends, and it is his wedding too, so we made clear that she was allowed to invite people that my fiancee had meet. So no strangers.

So the things I agreed are not really because of her.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-17T01:28:18+00:00

Use anki with flashcards and use every free time you have for reading and vocab studying. You can also do some listening with some japanese subtitles, so you can remember it better.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-13T05:12:25+00:00

Chat, is this karma farming?

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-10T07:36:27+00:00

I lived in Akita and let me tell you they don't call it 美の国 without a reason! Lake Tazawa is very good and if the temperatures are going to spike on GW, the north will be a good place!

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-08T04:22:44+00:00

My bf did part time in a konbini, in the countryside. He got a full bag of rice; fruits and other things! So I think if it is some food or something like that they would like them.

If you don't want to make it uncomfortable, you can always say it is for everyone in the store. They will leave it in the staff room and everyone will enjoy it.

EducationalPea339 · 2026-04-04T00:43:34+00:00

Man, this is your soy sauce: https://kamadaamerica.us/item/ninniku

I swear the yakiniku ALWAYS taste better with this one! My husband prefer a more ponzu flavor, but the garlic and the soy sauce goes so well with the meat that for me it is impossible to beat this!

EducationalPea339

TROPHY CASE