In the 80s and 90s I had lived as an expat in Japan for several years, spoke the language reasonably well and was going back and forth between the US and Japan five or six times each year for my own business. I considered myself a Japan expert.
I knew that the Japanese were very brand and style conscious so the first time someone told me that used clothing was the next big thing for Japan I told them they were wrong. Japanese never wore old or torn clothing and certainly would NEVER wear clothing that had been owned by others.
Two months later during a business trip to Japan, one of the buyers of a company I sold to asked me about “furugi”—used clothing. Flannel shirts, t-shirts with logos, Levi 501s, sweatshirts and a host of others. I dutifully went back to the US and visited a thrift store. I bought several samples and shipped them off to Japan thinking that would be the end of it as I KNEW Japanese would never buy used clothing.
Ten days later I received a fax with 20 items listed along with “200pcs each” and a price per piece that ranged from 5 to 10 times my cost.
Over the next three years the business grew to several hundred thousand dollars in annual sales.
I almost missed this profitable opportunity because I was more interested in being right than being open.
How old are you, where are you from, where are you living now and what took you there?
I am almost 57; from the US (Boston, NH); living in Sliema, Malta; left US because of health insurance problems, unemployment and also met a man from Europe.
How long have you lived there and how long will you stay? What keeps you there?
Been here now about one and one-half years and hope to stay indefinitely; I love the climate, people, sense of community and the architecture. Malta is beautiful.
What do you do to make a living?
I am a writer with assignments from the US; and also an EFL teacher in Malta; I was trained in Malta to teach English.
Describe your average weekday and weekend day.
Every day I walk about 4 miles; work a lot on the PC or I’m in the classroom when I teach; meet with expats every weekend; talk to my two daughters in the US; spend time, fight and have fun with my partner from Germany–we live together now.
What skills have you learned while living abroad?
Took the CELTA–how to teach English to adults
What are you missing (professionally) by not being in your home country?
Nothing.
If you could live anywhere, where would that be and why?
Malta; or Italy–because I love the Mediterranean
What is your favorite gadget that makes your work life abroad better?
SKYPE
Do you have a favorite book that inspired you to travel or consider a different way of living?
No, but there was a program about what people in their 90’s regretted. And they didn’t regret the mistakes they made; they regretted the one they didn’t make–the chances they never took and could have.
Other than your blog, An American In Malta, do you have a favorite expat blog?
Maitresse–about living in Paris.
