Getting Across The Ocean

[skyclaw441]

OK, the United States economy is on the verge of collapse, and there is no way to stop it from going down the tubes. Even though I'm saving up money now, the United States Dollar will become entirely useless. Now, I'm already saving money to go to Japan for college (for the plane ticket, etc.), and for life in Japan after college. When the dollar becomes worthless, I can't possibly purchase a plane ticket, one-way or not. And I know of no ship that departs from the U.S. to Japan for an across-the-ocean voyage, other than military ships, and I am *NOT* joining the military. The question is- how the fuck can I get across the ocean with no plane ticket?

[Junior Jacon Jeese Jurger]

Swim.

[PirateJoe]

OK, the United States economy is on the verge of collapse, and there is no way to stop it from going down the tubes. Even though I'm saving up money now, the United States Dollar will become entirely useless. Now, I'm already saving money to go to Japan for college (for the plane ticket, etc.), and for life in Japan after college. When the dollar becomes worthless, I can't possibly purchase a plane ticket, one-way or not. And I know of no ship that departs from the U.S. to Japan for an across-the-ocean voyage, other than military ships, and I am *NOT* joining the military. The question is- how the fuck can I get across the ocean with no plane ticket?

Hitchhike up the west coast, skip across the Aleutians, hook up in Russia, south to Kamchatka, then a boat to japan.

[Ford Prefect]

http://www.careers-at-sea.org/
http://www.yachtingcrews.com/
http://www.workonaboat.com/

Chartering a boat from Alaska to Russia would work too. Man I'm glad I already made it overseas. :)

[lostmyface]

*edited*first off op, if you are trying to escape a failing economy perhaps japan would not be the best of options. that being said if you are looking for away into japan how about you check out orbitz. i found a bunch of flights,http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=fexp&flag=q&city1=PIT&citd1=NRT&date1=02/09/09&time1=362&date2=02/16/09&time2=362&cAdu=1&cSen=&cChi=&cInf=&infs=2&tktt=&trpt=1&ecrc=&eccn=&qryt=8&rdct=1&mdpcid=21187-1.ExpediaUSAir|%20Flights|%20freesearch&eapid=21187-1, all but one of them is under $1000. op if you do some research i am sure you can find a even cheaper flight than that.

[AtrainV]

First of all, do you know Japanese? There aren't many universities in Japan that teach courses in English (aside from English courses, of course).

Secondly, the economy, while bad, will most likely jump back up in the next 5 to 10 years.

Thirdly, you might want to consider getting a job with a company that is heavily Japanese managed (i.e. Toyota) and then ask to get transferred to Japan.

Alternatively, apply for fellowship programs like JET or PIA. However, most of these programs require you to have a degree already.

[skyclaw441]

The thing about it is that I'd always wanted to go to Japan since my childhood. The sinking economy is just an excuse, I guess. XD. Someone told me on the chatroom that the Dollar would be useless by then, but I highly doubt it. Just looked for a flight with ANA (fuck flying JAL, too many safety issues), and a ticket is $2,700. I can get a job in my country legally when I turn of age this summer, so even then, I wouldn't be able go get enough money by then. I may actually need this advice.

[Sybil]

The thing about it is that I'd always wanted to go to Japan since my childhood. The sinking economy is just an excuse, I guess. XD. Someone told me on the chatroom that the Dollar would be useless by then, but I highly doubt it. Just looked for a flight with ANA (fuck flying JAL, too many safety issues), and a ticket is $2,700. I can get a job in my country legally when I turn of age this summer, so even then, I wouldn't be able go get enough money by then. I may actually need this advice.

If you really want this, you wouldn't care how you fly, as long as it gets you there. Get a ticket from 400 dollars or something. I just can't believe, I won't believe that the cheapest ticket is 2700 dollars. Unless you're planning on flying first class or something?

[skyclaw441]

If you really want this, you wouldn't care how you fly, as long as it gets you there. Get a ticket from 400 dollars or something. I just can't believe, I won't believe that the cheapest ticket is 2700 dollars. Unless you're planning on flying first class or something?

Well, that's ANA's rate, they're the safest. Again, fuck JAL.

[AtrainV]

Why do you hate JAL so much? They're a fine airline. Have you ever flown with them before? Do you personally know somebody who has?

[AtrainV]

Furthermore, I'm sure you can purchase a ticket from Northwest or United for around $1500 or a little less. Don't get me wrong, these are two of my least favorite airlines to fly (especially on long flights) but you need to get over yourself on this safety issue.

[Euda]

The question is- how the fuck can I get across the ocean with no plane ticket?

You could travel by freighter.

http://www.freighter-cruises.com/

http://www.freighterworld.com/places/fareast.html#LykesAsia

[skyclaw441]

Well, I've just learned that I'm quite a stupid fucker. I looked last night on Travelocity, and I found a one way from LAX to NRT (Narita Int'l) for $836 on Canada Air. I also found a flight for $870 on China Airlines. Initially, China Airlines appealed much more to me (I never take the very cheapest option, if you know what I mean). But then, I looked at time reliability as rated by Travelocity. Canada Air- 84%. China Airlines- 45%. I then looked at the stop-overs and saw that Canada Air made one stop in Vancouver to move to a bigger plane, while China Airlines stopped in Toronto, then somewhere in Taiwan. I figured "fuck it, Canada Air looks better".

The thing about the safety issue is that ANA is the very safest airline in East Asia. JAL has safety awards, too, but there have been way too many disasterous crashes for my taste on that airline, considering that the most deadly single-plane accident happened on that airline, killing over 500 (it was in August 1985, granted). But I guess I'll take what I've got. Another problem was that I was looking from my local major airhub in Des Moines, and I'd have to go through O' Hare. I also looked from Vancouver, $500-something dollars. If it takes driving to Vancouver, I sure will. The thing is, I have relatives in Los Angeles, so I'd rather stay with relatives for a last night of comforting sleep rather than in the Vancouver area in some cheap hotel or motel praying alone that I may survive my flight.

On TOTSE, I had a thread asking what I could do to make sure that I was asleep throught the flight, excepting takeoff and landing (by my guess, 8 hrs total). I really love flying, I just don't like the safety risk involved. I'm almost convinced that whenever I step on a plane that I'll die in a crash. And people give me the statistics all the time about it being safer than a car and stuff, but there's just something about it that scares me. Granted, I could take Xanax and sneak some wine in the airport and take it before I go through security. That wouldn't put me to sleep, though. -_-.

[AtrainV]

Yeah, you do want to avoid the cheap Chinese airlines. Chances are, you'll be fine, but there have been way too many accidents with them for me to really feel safe.

You're looking at more like 13-15 hours from Chicago to Tokyo. What I always do when I'm heading home from or back to Singapore (Cincinnati being home), is stay up the whole night beforehand and then sleep on the plane at the time when I'd be sleeping in my destination's time zone. This way I sleep on the plane and avoid as much jet-lag as possible. It's always worked for me.

However, I've known other people who take sleeping pills or drink as much alcohol as possible or whatever.

[skyclaw441]

Yeah, you do want to avoid the cheap Chinese airlines. Chances are, you'll be fine, but there have been way too many accidents with them for me to really feel safe.

You're looking at more like 13-15 hours from Chicago to Tokyo. What I always do when I'm heading home from or back to Singapore (Cincinnati being home), is stay up the whole night beforehand and then sleep on the plane at the time when I'd be sleeping in my destination's time zone. This way I sleep on the plane and avoid as much jet-lag as possible. It's always worked for me.

However, I've known other people who take sleeping pills or drink as much alcohol as possible or whatever.

Well, that's the thing. I don't want to wake up flying on my way to another city because I took too much Sominex (another brandname of Unisom that's sold around the Midwest). Air Canada looks safe enough, except for a number of incidents over the past three years involving no fatalities, but a number of it involves aircraft catching fire. I'm trying to make sure that I don't die. I'm an insomniac, so that helps. I have to take Valerian just to get myself relaxed enough to go to bed at a normal time. So, I guess that that may aid me.

[Ford Prefect]

Well, that's the thing. I don't want to wake up flying on my way to another city because I took too much Sominex (another brandname of Unisom that's sold around the Midwest). Air Canada looks safe enough, except for a number of incidents over the past three years involving no fatalities, but a number of it involves aircraft catching fire. I'm trying to make sure that I don't die. I'm an insomniac, so that helps. I have to take Valerian just to get myself relaxed enough to go to bed at a normal time. So, I guess that that may aid me.

Stop being a pussy. I've flown with every fucking budget airline out there and have never even had a scare. Ha, except that one time in a six seater in Nepal. I swear the pilot was fucked, he almost flew us into one of the Himalayas. But I digress, you will NOT DIE flying china air, and if it's good enough for over a billion Chinese people it's good enough for you.

You sound like my fucking grandmother.

[skyclaw441]

Look, don't hate on another's fears. I'm not flying China Air. Fuck stopping over 2 times, especially in fucking Taiwan.

[Sybil]

Well, that's the thing. I don't want to wake up flying on my way to another city because I took too much Sominex (another brandname of Unisom that's sold around the Midwest). Air Canada looks safe enough, except for a number of incidents over the past three years involving no fatalities, but a number of it involves aircraft catching fire. I'm trying to make sure that I don't die. I'm an insomniac, so that helps. I have to take Valerian just to get myself relaxed enough to go to bed at a normal time. So, I guess that that may aid me.

I hope you don't drive a car, or ever drive as a passenger in a car. If you do, look up how many people die in car accidents every day, probably even in the same brand you're driving in. Though I'm guessing you get the point.

[AtrainV]

Look, don't hate on another's fears. I'm not flying China Air. Fuck stopping over 2 times, especially in fucking Taiwan.

The fuck is wrong with Taiwan?

[skyclaw441]

The fuck is wrong with Taiwan?

Nothing, it's just that Canada is closer if indeed I am to stop over. Two stops vs. one, take your pick, you know. And yes, I do get the point about the car. Doesn't help, for some odd reason.