Keith Watanabe * NET 2.0

Was talking to my helpdesk friend at work. She's pretty miserable in her day job. Don't think she likes Japan. It's interesting finding out which people like it here and which people don't. I always know I can move back home. But there are those who don't have that type of option. I kinda feel bad for those people because they didn't exactly have a choice where they would be born. It obviously just happened. But as fate ordains, they eventually find life to be better elsewhere. The thing for her was that America felt appealing because of the easy lifestyle. Some people here prefer the high stress lifestyle. They feel it's more "exciting." Heck, my neighbor at work pointed that out. I was amazed when she mentioned how California (at least So Cal) was boring for her. Most people are buzzing with joy if they're able to even visit. Yet my other friend finds the lifestlye of Japan harsh. Probably because she's a woman and has other things she'd prefer doing as opposed to working and commuting all day. Isn't it funny? I have to agree to an extent about the time differences when it comes to free time. In LA, I do think you really get more free time. If you're able to live by your office, you can have a pretty easy life. Your commute distance would be zero. Out here though, you don't often get that option since all the best jobs are in one spot and that spot is far too expensive. A single woman in Japan like my friend might have more problems. Age is a huge consideration so when she reaches a certain limit, her company might disengage her if the traditional values for women are kept. Not a very independent lifestyle. Also, just the small (or large) things like space in Tokyo/LA are so different. It might not seem like much, but when you start nitpicking over feet in your home, you know that you've got a problem. Then just being able to go to the beach is a hassle out here. I'm blessed in LA as my parent's home is roughly 10 minutes from the beach. Out here though, it's a real pain to get to a good beach. If you lived in a place like Yokosuka, Fujisawa or Chiba, you'd just face issues of distance from work instead. You just can't win out here unless you're Ayumi Hamasaki or some other overpaid geinojin.