In 2024, Lexi Smith, 24, was working as a instructor in Atlanta, Georgia, when she determined she was prepared for a change of surroundings.
Smith started exploring the potential of educating English overseas and labored with Xplore Asia, a company that assists people in acquiring their TEFL (Educating English as a Overseas Language) certification to work and research overseas.
“I wasn’t fairly loving the college system from having an overbearing administration that did not admire me to having a tough time dwelling on my wage,” Smith tells CNBC Make It. “After I came upon that I may educate overseas for a a lot simpler life and the flexibility to see extra tradition, I needed to bounce on it.”
Smith pays $238 a month for her one-bedroom, one-bathroom condominium.
Naotomo Umewaka for CNBC Make It
Smith acquired her TEFL certification and taught English as a overseas language within the U.S. for a bit whereas Xplore Asia labored to search out her an employer overseas.
Finally, Smith landed a educating place at an eikaiwa, a non-public language college targeted on conversational English, within the Chiba Prefecture of Japan and moved in March of this yr.
The Chiba Prefecture is positioned on Japan’s jap Pacific coast to the east of Tokyo. It’s a few four-hour drive from the nation’s capital metropolis.
“Residing within the countryside of the Chiba Prefecture is kind of completely different than Tokyo. Issues are so much cheaper out right here. The tradition is extra respectful, and what you see while you go searching is rice fields,” Smith says.
In lieu of an oven, Smith’s kitchen has a mini grill.
Naotomo Umewaka for CNBC Make It
One of many perks of Smith’s job was that her employer was in a position to safe her an condominium earlier than she even acquired to Japan. It is a one-bedroom, one-bathroom condominium with a balcony and a walk-in closet that rents for 35,000 yen or $238 a month. The condominium can also be inside strolling distance of the college the place Smith teaches.
Smith admits she was nervous about transferring to the countryside, having grown up in a metropolis like Atlanta, but it surely was a a lot simpler transition than she anticipated.
“I actually did transfer right here on my own with out understanding the language or anybody right here. My household is aware of that I am a little bit of a wild youngster, and I need to see the world. I am a free spirit, in order that they accepted it,” Smith says. “They had been a bit of bit nervous for me, however after nearly assembly my boss and seeing how effectively ready I used to be, they weren’t that involved anymore.”
One in all Smith’s favourite design options of her condominium is her walk-in closet.
Naotomo Umewaka for CNBC Make It
Smith’s employment contract contains her employer masking the prices of some bills, like key cash —a one-time, non-refundable fee given to the owner when renting an condominium or home. Smith additionally did not need to put down a safety deposit, which is often the case within the U.S. Her employer additionally pays for her fireplace insurance coverage.
The condominium additionally got here with a transportable washer in her lavatory, and she or he makes use of the balcony to dry her garments. One of many distinctive elements of the condominium is that it got here with an emergency bag containing gadgets, like a security helmet, wanted in case of occasions like a tsunami, fireplace or earthquake.
A few of Smith’s different month-to-month bills embrace water, fuel, electrical energy, medical health insurance, and groceries, which whole roughly $376 a month.
Smith’s condominium additionally has a balcony.
Naotomo Umewaka for CNBC Make It
Although Smith is having fun with her time in Japan, she already is aware of she is going to transfer again to Atlanta on the finish of her one-year contract.
“There’s a large a part of me that does need to keep longer than a yr in Japan, however there’s a lot of the world to see. As a lot as I really like Japan, I can not wait to additionally increase myself to see the remainder of the world as effectively,” Smith says.
“I miss my household. We’re actually close-knit, so it is laborious being 7,000 miles away from them, but in addition being a Southern lady, I miss my soul meals a lot. Japan’s meals is nice, however there’s nothing like a very good collard inexperienced on the finish of the day.”
Smith nonetheless is not certain what she’ll do when she strikes again to the U.S., however is contemplating pursuing a graduate diploma or a return to educating.
“I am not fairly certain what the longer term holds for me, however I am excited to take no matter path it has,” she says.
Smith’s condominium got here with an emergency equipment in case of tsunamis, earthquakes and fires.
Naotomo Umewaka for CNBC Make It
A method that Smith is ensuring she will get essentially the most out of her expertise dwelling in Japan is by documenting her journey on social media, which is she began doing three months after relocating.
“I made a decision to start out sharing my expertise as a result of individuals do not know what common life is like. I really feel that Tokyo will get plenty of viewership, however all of Japan is not Tokyo. A number of us stay within the countryside and stay common lives, and I wished to share that with the world. Lots of people are excited about leaving the States and I wished to share my perspective on it too,” Smith says.
Since she began sharing her life in Japan on TikTok, Smith says the reception has been constructive.
“Lots of people who stay in Japan do see themselves in me. They really feel like I’m sharing the genuine Japanese expertise and which means so much to me that I can create that visibility the place it won’t in any other case exist,” she says.
“And for different individuals who appear to be me, [they can] additionally really feel empowered that they will do it too. I really feel that understanding extra concerning the place that you are going and seeing different individuals doing it will probably take a number of the concern out of doing that transfer.”
Conversions from Japanese yen to USD had been accomplished utilizing the OANDA conversion charge of 147 Japanese yen to $1 USD on August 30, 2025. All quantities are rounded to the closest greenback.
Wish to be your personal boss? Join Smarter by CNBC Make It is new on-line course, How To Begin A Enterprise: For First-Time Founders. Discover step-by-step steerage for launching your first enterprise, from testing your concept to rising your income. Enroll in the present day with coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory low cost of 30% off the common course worth of $127 (plus tax). Supply legitimate September 16 via September 30, 2025.
Plus, join CNBC Make It is e-newsletter to get ideas and tips for fulfillment at work, with cash and in life, and request to hitch our unique neighborhood on LinkedIn to attach with specialists and friends.
[/gpt3]
