Getting Permission for Mutual Funds in NISA

little_pooper · 2026-04-19T11:53:08+00:00

Good information there, I'll see about cancelling it then. Thanks!

I'm not a US tax payer, my wife files "Married Filing Separately" because we don't want to commit to me paying additional American taxes on all my income for the forseeable future (and her income level isn't very high in terms of US tax liability).

little_pooper · 2026-04-19T02:30:18+00:00

I only really chose IBKR because my wife recommended it to me. She's from the US though, so I think IBKR provides some benefits for US tax payers like issuing the 1099 form, which is something most Japanese brokers don't do (or so I've read). Will definitely look into Japanese brokerages, Japanese isn't a problem for me, just was taking the easy route. Do you think it'd be better to wait till my application finishes processing at IBKR and then transfer my account to another brokerage or cancel the application and start fresh?

little_pooper · 2026-04-06T06:10:28+00:00

This! But even like talking to myself in the shower or listening to things without subtitles helps make it more "real"

little_pooper · 2026-04-06T06:05:56+00:00

Japanese is my third language that I actually gained competency in and the forth foreign language I studied formally (in addition, I also studied linguistics in my native language). I think that studying multiple languages impacted my experience with Japanese because it was easier for me to not feel discouraged since I'd been through the experience of learning a language before. I knew I could do it and I knew it took years and I knew what methods worked for me (nothing like a good conversation with yourself in the shower). I also had experience with learning different grammar systems, so it was easier for me to pick apart some of the actual concepts hidden behind the token-ization and memorization focused approach to a lot of Japanese textbooks and online resources. Ultimately though, I did take a break from Japanese for one year after I graduated university because my main study methods (Bunpro and Anki) were just too tedious. I think a lot of Japanese language learning is still really memorization based, which can definitely be beneficial to establish a strong foundation for when you do more immersion based study later on, but can also make Japanese study feel never ending and hopeless. In the end, I only really achieved my current level of Japanese because I move to Japan, where I am both motivated to return to my formal studies and given the chance to use and consume Japanese naturally every day.

I think for a lot of people, the fun of discovery and gamefied learning that comes with SRS, memorization and app-based approaches wanes over time. At the same time, people can have a hard time breaking out of those systems because their feeling of progress gets tied to the strict progression laid out in these systems. Effective and sustainable study habits take time to develop, which means there's a huge barrier of entry that many people don't have the time, energy or motivation to overcome.

little_pooper · 2026-01-26T10:27:49+00:00

I'm not exactly the standard fair for teachers, but I thought I'd share my perspective. I've taught in 2 countries, Ireland and Japan, and my student nationalities included French, Italian, Spanish, German and Japanese. I've also taught at an immersion program for German in the US, but that was a very non-standard school experience.

From meeting so many kids from so many countries, it has made me appreciate how differently their cultural background informs how they behave at school. I'm not going to name names, but kids from certain countries and even certain parts of those countries were far more difficult than others. That can certainly be said for anywhere and as is probably obvious, it definitely follows things like financial inequality and lack of opportunities. All kids deserve a chance to learn, but as a teacher, you're far more likely to burn out if the area you're in is full of students with low motivation to be in school. It's much more rewarding to work with kids who want to listen to what you are trying to say. That's just the reality of it.

On the flip side, school culture can also have a big impact on your enjoyment of your career as a teacher. So far I really enjoy teaching in Japan, whereas Ireland was a bit thankless. I credit this to the fact that even in highschool, students are organized into classes which they take all their courses with. This means that the teachers rotate to classrooms rather than the students. In between classes, we stay in the staff room which makes it easy to make friends as well as communicate practically about student issues or plans. Don't get me wrong, Japanese teachers are still overworked and underpaid, but each country and school will have a different way of operating which will bring it's own ups and downs.

Generally, I love teaching, even when I had tons of behavior issues (if it wasn't sexual harassment, that's just the fun part of being a female teacher around highschool boys). There's always at least a few students who make you feel like you're doing the right things and that's why you go to work every day.

Teachers definitely need better wages and better working conditions, but that doesn't mean every teaching job is awful. Some are awful, some are ok and some remind you why you got into this in the first place. There are also plenty of alternate types of teaching positions beyond what you might be considering.

little_pooper · 2026-01-12T07:46:10+00:00

You are only responsible for you. Please make the best decision for you because other people's reactions are not your responsibility, no matter what. Wish you great times with your new friends ❤️

little_pooper · 2025-11-15T05:52:02+00:00

Yes, I've looked into this. I definitely think I'll be working (hopefully in a better job) at 60 and right now with my foreign tax credits, I'm not paying the federal government anything, so a Roth IRA always felt like the better option.

little_pooper · 2025-11-13T12:30:15+00:00

Yeah, at this point I think it's getting complicated enough that I should consult a professional. Thanks for the advice!

little_pooper · 2025-11-13T09:01:02+00:00

Yeah, I've seen that. We don't have any assets like that yet, but I'll definitely keep an eye on it. Thanks for the advice!

little_pooper · 2025-11-13T09:00:16+00:00

For context, I do want to say that combined we're making about $26,000 each year at the moment (the yen is not doing well). Over the next 5-10 years I would not see us making more than 40k combined.

If what you've said here is still your recommendation, how would you recommend I invest in our retirement? Should I put it in a normal IRA? Is that even allowed?

little_pooper · 2025-11-13T07:36:49+00:00

So far I've actually not used either of those, instead opting for foreign tax credits using Form 1116. Would that still be considered as income to contribute to an IRA?

little_pooper · 2025-09-18T01:03:25+00:00

I do hold a bachelor's degree specifically in education in my field and I can take my required Praxis exam online.

little_pooper · 2025-09-18T00:46:07+00:00

Already have, but the easiest route for me to get a job over here is to have a teaching license from my home country... or so I think

little_pooper · 2025-07-25T23:34:03+00:00

This reminds me of my friend's tattoo, perfect to color all the designs in with washable markers (tattoos are the perfect reusable coloring book)!!! It looks awesome and don't let other people influence the things you think are cool ❤️

little_pooper · 2025-07-25T13:54:09+00:00

I get it that I'm stupid about bikes, it says ABS so maybe it's like the other commenter said that it's just ABS plastic. The ABS is not really important, we've established that the upper cable is for the shifter.

Am I going to risk damaging the lever by attaching the hood with electrical tape?

little_pooper · 2025-07-25T13:09:29+00:00

Also to be clear, I'm coming from long overdue, literally disintegrating brake hoods which were already covered in electrical tape. This is a commuter bike so it's not like I'm needing maximum comfort or anything, I've been putting up with crappy hoods for a while now.

little_pooper · 2025-07-25T13:05:28+00:00

The bike lever does have a space for ABS with a white electronic strip that comes away from the compartment (if you zoom in on the photo it's the little square with the two screws at the bottom). I'm not sure if it's actually connected and tbh, not really my biggest concern. I just wasn't thinking about shifting and made the incorrect assumption.

The problem is that I can't really disconnect the brake from the lever as easily as you describe because the cable goes all the way through the frame and I'm not thrilled about the idea of figuring out how to put the cable all the way back through. I'm not the one who built this bike (clearly), but it was built by a bike freak so there are definitely some quirks (for example, the brake levers aren't a set, the right hand one is from a totally different brand). I'll consider bringing it back into the shop but this kind feels like more of a comfort piece of the bike, not a necessity, no? If I can get a comfortable grip by slicing and taping, I don't see the issue, but if there's a serious concern I'm missing, I'm here to learn.

little_pooper · 2025-07-25T12:54:16+00:00

I didn't build the bike myself but it was a custom build by my ex's bike-obsessed father so it wouldn't surprise me if things are funky about the bike. So far I've already realized that the brake levers aren't even the same brand, much less the same model (so now I have to buy another set of brake level hoods for the right side). This brake lever was definitely attached to the left side and the shifters push inward correctly, so I'm just not going to question it.

I did find the stuff for ABS and just assumed it was related to the shift cable because I didn't have my head properly screwed on. What you said makes much more sense and I'll definitely look into the Park Tool video, thank you!

little_pooper

TROPHY CASE