35F from Japan — Is it too late to take a career break and study abroad?
35F — Am I too old to take a break from my career and study abroad?
I’m a 35-year-old woman from Japan, and I’ve been thinking seriously about studying abroad.
I’ve been working for the same company for about 12 years. My job is stable, and I’ve built a life around it, so walking away from that stability isn’t an easy decision.
However, studying abroad is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a teenager. For various reasons, I never actually did it when I was younger.
Recently, I traveled alone to Kazakhstan, and that experience made me realize that my interest in living abroad wasn’t just a vague dream. I genuinely want to experience everyday life in another country and improve my language skills.
I’m now considering spending several months to a year studying in Kazakhstan, probably starting around age 36. I’d like to study Russian and possibly Kazakh while living there.
My biggest dilemma is that I’m at an age where I’m much more conscious of money, career stability, and the consequences of leaving a job I’ve had for more than a decade.
Part of me thinks:
“If I’ve wanted to do this since I was a teenager and I still want it at 35, maybe I should finally do it.”
But another part thinks:
“Is it irresponsible to disrupt a stable life at 35 or 36 for something like studying abroad?”
I’m considering different possibilities, including taking a leave of absence if my company allows it, rather than immediately quitting.
I’d especially like to hear from people who studied abroad, took a career break, moved overseas, or made a major life change in their mid-30s or later.
Did you regret it?
Did it hurt your career when you returned?
Was studying abroad different as an adult compared with doing it in your 20s?
And looking back, would you make the same decision again?