Thirty Years Abroad: What Happens When You Build a Life in Another Country?

What happens when you leave the country you know and try to build a life somewhere else? Not just visit for a few weeks, but actually live there, work there, make friends, deal with the unexpected, and slowly begin to feel at home?

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I’ve spent approximately 30 years living outside the United States, and the experience has changed me in ways I couldn’t have predicted when I first started out. There have been wonderful opportunities, difficult periods, lasting friendships, and more than a few surprises along the way.

Now, living in Japan, I sometimes find myself walking through the streets of Tokyo, watching the city go about its business, and thinking about how different my life has become from the one I might have had if I’d never left America.

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Living overseas teaches you things that are hard to explain to someone who hasn’t done it. You learn to see familiar ideas from another perspective. You discover that the way you grew up doing things isn’t necessarily the only way, or even the best way. And you begin to understand how much of what we consider normal is simply a product of where we happen to live.

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Of course, life abroad isn’t a permanent holiday. There are days when language gets in the way, simple errands take twice as long as they should, or you miss the comfort of knowing exactly how things work. Making friends as an adult can be difficult, too. Some days, the differences are fascinating. On others, they’re just tiring.

Still, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

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Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing a series of personal videos filmed here in Japan. I’ll talk about my experiences living overseas, the people I’ve met, the lessons I’ve learned, and the realities of starting over in a different country.

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I’ll also discuss some of the things people don’t always consider before making an international move: finding work, adjusting to a different culture, building a social life, and figuring out whether a new country really suits you.

These videos aren’t about convincing everyone to leave America. Moving abroad isn’t right for everybody, and a decision this significant deserves more thought than a few attractive photographs or an enthusiastic travel story.

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But if you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to live somewhere completely different, I hope these stories give you something useful to think about.

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Through TheJEGroup! and Tokyo 101 American Orientation, I also want to help Americans understand the practical side of relocating to Japan, from exploring opportunities to preparing for the realities of everyday life.

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If Japan has been on your mind, you can reach Tokyo 101 American Orientation at 81.80.9041.6046 in Tokyo, Japan.

After all these years abroad, I’m still learning. And that’s probably one of the best things about living somewhere new: the experience never quite stops teaching you something.

What Americans Should Know Before Making the Move

Every year, Americans consider leaving the United States for a different kind of life in Japan. Some are looking for a job and a chance to build an international career. Others have visited Japan, fallen in love with the culture, and returned home wondering what it would take to stay for good. And some simply feel ready for a change.

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Whatever the reason, there is a big difference between enjoying a two-week holiday in Tokyo and actually living here.

That is where a company like TheJEGroup!, based in Tokyo, can help. Its Move to Japan 101 approach gives Americans a place to begin, especially those who have plenty of questions but aren’t quite sure which ones to ask first.

Start With the Practical Questions

For most people, employment is one of the first hurdles. Can you find a job in Japan? Will an employer consider an American applicant? Does your professional background translate to the Japanese market? These questions deserve attention before you start packing boxes.

The answers depend on your experience, qualifications, language ability, and the type of work you want to do. Teaching English is one familiar route, but it isn’t the only one. International sales, marketing, technology, hospitality, and other fields may offer opportunities, depending on the applicant and employer.

TheJEGroup! can help prospective movers explore their options, research career possibilities, and prepare for the process of looking for work in Japan.

Then there is the visa question. Having a US passport does not give you the right to live and work in Japan indefinitely. Your eligibility depends on the relevant immigration requirements and your circumstances, so it pays to understand the rules before making expensive commitments.

What About Finding a Place to Live?

Anyone who has searched for an apartment in Tokyo knows that finding a place you like is only part of the challenge. Initial costs can be substantial, paperwork can be confusing, and some landlords have specific requirements for foreign tenants.

There are other practical matters, too: setting up a mobile phone, understanding public transportation, arranging healthcare, and figuring out how everyday services work. None of these tasks is necessarily difficult on its own. Trying to handle all of them in an unfamiliar country, however, can make the first few weeks exhausting.

A relocation service can help you identify what needs to be done, what to research, and which questions to ask before you arrive.

Planning for Life Beyond the First Month

Moving to Japan isn’t just about getting here. It’s about building a life that works once the novelty wears off and Monday morning arrives.

Learning some Japanese, understanding local customs, meeting people, and developing a realistic budget all make a difference. So does being honest with yourself about what you want from the move.

For Americans considering Japan in 2026, TheJEGroup!’s Move to Japan 101 concept offers a starting point for turning an interesting idea into a workable plan. A little preparation won’t eliminate every surprise, but it can help you arrive with fewer unanswered questions and a much clearer idea of what comes next.

Because before asking “Where could I go?” there may be a more important question to consider:

“What kind of life do I really want to build?”

That’s where our conversation begins.

The first video in the series is coming soon.

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