At the beginning of October, I got the 10 years B-2 visa of the US. It’s just a tourist visa, so I won’t get a social security number even though I can potentially live in the US for more than 6 months legally. Unlike our lovely Japanese fellows, Chinese citizens such as myself are not even able to enter Hong Kong without a visa.
I originally planned not to go to any foreign countries before I got Japanese citizenship. However, I realized that it’s not quite realistic for me to just stay in Japan for the next 3 to 5 years for many reasons. For example, I may be sent to America by my future employer for training or business purposes. It’s quite possible especially in a financial department. I heard many people are being sent to New York to experience Wall Street.
Besides, I need to learn and experience the US culture first hand. I have learnt the English language for more than half of my life but still haven’t been to any English-speaking countries. It’s not good and or right. Even though I watch American Shows or YouTube videos every day, my view and information I get from those is limited. For example, I still don’t know how the tip system works. It’s the first thing I’m worrying about before I actually go to the US. If my financial situation is OK, I want to live in a major city like New York for 2 months. During that period, I want to live like one of the locals and pretend as if I have lived here for many years. That shall be interesting.
Also, many Japanese people around me travel to the US or other western countries frequently. When we go drinking, they share those experiences with others. Listening to their experiences is interesting, but I also feel a little embarrassed that I have nothing to share with them. Also, I thought it was a bit unfair. You see, their parents had already been able to travel to a country like US when they were young. On the other hand, my parents were not able to even travel around their own town.
Last, but not the least. There are some activities I can’t do in Japan which are totally legal in the US. I’m talking about using a real gun. I don’t seek to own one of them but just try some guns at a firing range.