I read your post and took me 10 minutes to reply and even now I'm sure if I'm able to find the right words. I admire your courage to take the next step and pursue your dream. I have no talent of such, so I'm not in danger of making this decision. It is definitely a form of art that is gaining more spotlight.
In any case, I hope you can find a place in a nice country, where you can learn and practice your art.
Good luck and keep us updated as I'm definitely interested :)
RE: Becoming a tattoo artist: what's the next step?