If you had the opportunity to relocate anywhere in the world, where would you choose to call home?
Japan is a sought-after destination for international visitors, thanks to its excellent public safety, vibrant culture, and affordable prices.
While there have been reports of rising costs, the weakened yen still makes it a relatively budget-friendly choice.
Conversely, there are apprehensions regarding the frequency of natural calamities like earthquakes and tsunamis, the rise in scorching hot days attributed to global warming, and geopolitical challenges.
My husband and I have been discussing that after retirement, we will spend half of the year in NZ and the other half in another country.
When it comes to staying abroad for a long time, each of our countries of origin becomes a candidate.
That's why this trip to Japan was also a scouting trip with the possibility of living there in mind.
My husband seems to like Japan a lot. He ordered a textbook and has started studying Japanese.
However, there are many difficulties ahead, such as "手/te” (hand) becoming "た/ta” and "指/yubi (finger) becoming "ゆり/yuri”.
Traveling to a destination and actually residing there are two distinct experiences. The language barrier can also add another layer of complexity to the situation.
The next time we visit Japan, my husband has declared that he will take charge of ordering at restaurants. It's akin to a mother teaching her child to press the bus stop button.
As I hand over cash to my husband, I can't help but fret about the accumulating pile of coins, but I'm excited to witness his gradual maturation.
My husband is set to commence Japanese language lessons next week.
