Will Gomez, currently a public safety officer, came to Japan as a day-trader in 2016 as one of our very first clients, and ended up staying for two years on a student visa. He decided to move from Florida because he was desiring a change of pace. His workplace fortunately allowed him to work from anywhere and, having always had a fascination with Japan, he knew his destination of choice.
Becoming tired of moving from hotel to hotel, we helped him find a place to settle down. His first living space was a larger-than-usual apartment (69 square meters). He fondly described it as if “an Apple Store and a prison cell had a baby,” commenting on the nice concrete and technological features. It took him a while to adjust to how buildings are typically built longer as opposed to wider in Japan compared to America, but he quickly learned to love it as he realized since living in Japan that there are a lot of things he can do without. He embraces an open-mind and encourages anyone that travels to other countries to do the same.
Overall, he claims that he can’t pinpoint any so-called bad experiences while living in Japan. Of course, there were certain rules that he learned the hard way (such as trying to throw a party in his apartment and being met with the police, but he was very grateful that they treated him politely and with patience). He consulted us about how he should apologize to his neighbor that had complained, and we advised him to write a letter to convey his sincerity.
Despite only being in Japan from 2016-2018, he returned to speak with us and let us know that he is once again looking for real estate in preparation for retirement. He thinks he may go to the countryside rather than the city, this time, but the main idea is that he just wishes to return to Japan as he misses it every day.
A story that sticks with him is when he first came to Japan, an elderly man approached him and striked up a conversation. He asked Will what country he was from, and then if he likes it here. Will’s response was an enthusiastic confirmation, and the elderly man and his wife promptly told him “welcome home.” It was so moving and confirmed Will’s suspicions that he would come to love his new home.