Should I Stay in Massachusetts or should I take the job in Japan?

Since you are interested in living in Japan, if not now, when is a better time for you to live there? You will not have a hard time returning home, quite the contrary, you will be more mature and more experienced - and better able to see the good and the bad in both places. It really sounds like your friend is speaking for what she wants, and not what you want...("transient free-loader"; Geez!!) That said, your work experience in Japan won't help much back home, unless you are doing essentially the same thing. If there are good benefits in the job back home, from a long term perspective, it might tip the scale the other way. But there is no reason why you couldn't go to Japan for a year or two, and then take up your friend on the offer back home. Unless she decides to burn the bridges at your "betrayal".

Your friend has a thing for you, I think. It really is no problem to come to Japan for a year, two years or even longer, then go back into education. I know plenty of people who have done it. As for the whole "not being able to transition back to life in the US" that is quite simply the most laughable thing I have ever heard - and I've been on the gaijinpot forum! Geez, the way he speaks, you'd think Japan is a different world, when in fact it is just a different country. Come to Japan. Enjoy your time here. Then, when you've had enough, go back, finish your education and get on with your life. If your friend is really a friend, ti won't be a problem. If not, you've lost nothing.

I would do it. I lived in Japan as a military spouse for many years and found it to be far more interesting than i thought prior to going there. If it is what you want do it, it is an experience that many cannot afford to attain. If you have a job waiting and it is a place you always wanted to go, do it. As far as your friend it may be hard at first, it was for me at first, but bring up the positive that once you are established have him come for a visit and show him everything that you have seen. Overseas travel and work is great an oppurtunity not to let go.

I planned to stay for one year, and that was nine years ago. Basically you are the only one who knows the answer to this. Living in Japan for a year is a unique experience and it can't hurt you career-wise having hands on teaching experience in a foreign country. However, your ties with friends back home will decrease in importance while you're there. IMHO you are putting way too much importance in what your friend says. "you can teach ESL in America!" true, but half the purpose of going is to experience a foreign culture. Your friend has alot of reasons why you shouldnt go, but howabout taking friend's opinions out of the equation, and thinking of the costs and benefits of living and working in Japan for a year.

It's obvious that your friend is just being completely selfish, and has no clue about the benefits of going overseas and doing something like that. Not to mention that he's not even trying. He's just pulling negative excuses out of his a**. It's nice that he cares about you so much, but not nice that he is making things up to get you to stay - for him, not for you. There's not a single one of his excuses that is true. If you ask people who are teaching/have taught English in Japan about their experience there, 99% will say that it's one of the best things they've ever done. It will be life-changing. And you will grow as a person from it. There are nothing but benefits to be gained. Nothing would look better on a resume than having worked overseas. It shows that you can transition and adapt comfortably in different environments/cultures. Being able to acquire another language is always impressive. Having experience with/understanding of different cultures is always a plus for ESL. It's not just about teaching language, it's also about helping people to aculturate, because language and culture go hand-in-hand. Going out and experiencing someone else's language and culture will, oddly enough, make you more acutely aware of your own. One of the best things you can do, in terms of personal growth, is to get outside of your comfort zone. Another is to see how others see America and Americans. This is a great way of doing it, because you're not doing it as a tourist - quickly peeking in through someone's window and then going on to the next one. AND it'll be fun! Besides, one year will fly by in the blink of an eye...

From what I've seen, being in Japan for awhile actually helps people when they get back to where they came from, because they have a greater appreciation for not only their time in Japan, but for what they can have outside of Japan too. Many people see overseas experience as a benefit on a resume, whether it's for a job or for continuing education. A lot of people go to Japan with a bachelor degree, go back home, and get a Masters or even PhD. A lot go on to other things. Going for more difficult things back home suddenly doesn't seem so hard after you've spent a year overseas. It gives you the confidence you get from living in a new culture, studying a new language, and in Japan, generally being around positive people. If you already have the interest in Japan, the interest in language, the interest in kids' education, I have no idea why you wouldn't go. Your "friend" sounds very negative. Do you really want to buy into that negativity and prove him right? I don't know his motives. Maybe he just likes you around. That's not good enough reason to stay though. A good friend can get over physical separation for awhile. Heck, some couples do it for a long time, yet the distance can actually improve their relationship. Relationships aren't just about physical location. The kind of people that think they are have a lot to learn, and are pretty superficial.

You live for yourself, not for others. So why should you let others bother you? If the best friend you have known for 10 years refuses to accept the fact that you wish to teach ESL in Japan, I guess you would really need to reassess your friendship with him. If he is your best friend, he should be supportive of you and visit you in Japan, where possible. Going to Japan to work, even in teaching ESL, is an once-in-a-lifetime chance, something that not many Japan lovers even get to experience. You should count yourself lucky, and grab this opportunity to experience a foreign culture. For all you know, you might get to expand your social circle or even meet another best friend in Japan. Life should be full of surprises, and not living a monotonous, predictable life. Don't you think so?

Your friend has a few valid points. Teaching English at an eikaiwa won't impress most places when/if you return to the USA. I agree no long term things/benefits will come out of teaching English to Kindergartners here. Unless you count the experience and memories. Although one year here will fly by and you won't have a hard time transitioning back to USA culture. If you save money here (and hope the yen is still stronger than the dollar) you can return with some decent money in your pocket. Again it's YOUR choice and not his. I'm shocked your friend never mentioned the radiation concerns as a reason not to go to Japan.