-Where were you born?

St. John, Antigua

-In which country and city are you living now?

Osaka, Japan

-Are you living alone or with your family?

Live with my husband and 3 children

-How long have you been living in Japan?

8 months

-What is your age?

30 something

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Japan?

My husband accepted a job with  local airline. Commuting from Japan to the Caribbean would have been torture for us all. It takes 2 full days to get to Antigua

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

Not at all

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

That was organised by the company as part of the contract.

-How do you make your living in Japan? Do you have any type of income generated?

My husband was recruited by a contracting company.

-Do you speak Japanese and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

We are trying to learn the language as it is very important to communicate with the people. Some are happy to practice English, but others make no effort to help you if you cannot communcate with them. So we walk around with a translator.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

Yes I do miss home, especially my family. I miss hanging out on the beach on the weekends, and yes I am missing the food. I have not adapted to Japanese cuisine .

-Do you have other plans for the future?

For sure. Making plans to go home during the summer and take part in lots of water sports, and just doing typical island stuff.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We rent a 3 bedroom house for about $1400.00USD. Rent in Japan is very high.

-What is the cost of living in Japan?

Cost of living in Japan is very high. We think things are overpriced. But you are getting good value for your money.

-What do you think about the Japanese?

In our experience so far, we find the locals very aloof, they stare constantly which we think is rude, but we have learnt to ignore it. On the other hand persons in the service industry are very helpful. Your problem becomes their problem. We can't complain about that.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Japan?

Japan in general is very beautiful. There are so many things we can do here as a family. Things are organised and done efficiently.

On the other hand we think that the Japanese way of life/system is more difficult than it should be and because of that life is stressful for everyone.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Japan?

Be patient, be persistent. There is more than one way to get something done. Don't let language barriers hamper progress.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Japan?

I like to read the Kansai Scene both online and the monthly magazine. It gives a good idea of things to do, places to go. www.kansaiscene.com