Aren't you the same case? Speaking as if you know what I mean. The "friends" are not internet friends. They are people who studied in my Japanese school and some are siblings of my friends...
I would not agree to most of what aquamarine said lol I don't know about getting citizenship but I know several people going over there and not having such troubles in their life and also I heard from people who studied there that people with American passports are more favoured and would have...