Take a paycut to experience Okinawa?

Hi all, I (32, male) just got offered a job in Okinawa.

My current job pays me ±57.000euros (NL-based) at full time, although I comfortably work 4 days a week (making it 46.000euros). The job offer in Okinawa is 6.5M yen (equal to 40.000euros), where 5-9M was stated on the vacancy. This would mean I would earn a chunk less for a day of extra work. Furthermore, I am rather overqualified for this position, as my current job is in the same field, but broader and more in-depth. 

Things to consider:

  • I would love to work abroad for a 1-2 year period, Japan draws me, and a Tropical Island would be best of both worlds, especially as I would envision myself getting diving certificates.
  • I do want sufficient free time for exploring the surroundings such as Taipei, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo, and to learn diving of course.
  • The job includes health insurance, pension, commute allowance, housing allowance (40k max), and schooling for e.g. Japanese (I started learning last year and have passed N4 in July).
  • Vacation days are 10 in a year, 7 extra in the summer months, 29th of Dec until the 3rd of Jan, and the national holidays and way worse than the lenient unlimited sick days in the Netherlands: just 7 a year. 
  • I have a mortgage in the Netherlands which I need to keep paying.

How do these terms sound to you, with an eye to my future career back in Europe?

I would love some feedback as it feels as if my brain is just so clouded with thoughts at the moment.

by Tortoski

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