Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The Ise Derby
I guess I neglected the blog for a solid 20 days. And no, I have not reached a decision on next year. My supervisor here encouraged me to stay on. Both my ALT colleagues are probably leaving. But I'm not really closer to a decision, probably because I don't yet have to be.
All is well over here. Trying to save some money in the months before going to America, as there a few things I'd like to buy over there. This is a difficult task since being social is pretty expensive, and not being social means being a shut-in. Of course one could be social without spending too much -- this would be an ideal goal.
Friday is Halloween, and I'll go to a party at the local bar. This year a few of us decided we'd be a group of guys in horse masks (of course you can get horse masks in Japan). Some friends will be Mario characters. The idea has been floated to have a derby (the British pronounce this "darby" for no obvious reason) during which the Mario characters ride the horse characters. If this actually goes down, I'll give a full injury report later.
All is well over here. Trying to save some money in the months before going to America, as there a few things I'd like to buy over there. This is a difficult task since being social is pretty expensive, and not being social means being a shut-in. Of course one could be social without spending too much -- this would be an ideal goal.
Friday is Halloween, and I'll go to a party at the local bar. This year a few of us decided we'd be a group of guys in horse masks (of course you can get horse masks in Japan). Some friends will be Mario characters. The idea has been floated to have a derby (the British pronounce this "darby" for no obvious reason) during which the Mario characters ride the horse characters. If this actually goes down, I'll give a full injury report later.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
A year from now ...
With most jobs, when you want to leave, you give a reasonable notice, a month or more if you're nice, two weeks to stay within the norm.
With the JET program, the re-contracting process for the August 2009 to August 2010 year has already begun, with information about what to do circulating, meetings on the process looming, and various colleagues asking if you're planning to stay.
In case you've lost track, I'm now at the beginning of my second JET year. It started in August and lasts until next August. But I'm right in the middle of thinking over whether I'll stay for a third year. I have to make this final decision by the end of January, and it's not an easy decision to make.
There are plenty of factors. But perhaps more interesting to start with are the option:
1. Stay with JET on my current job for a third year.
2. Return to the U.S. First, of course, to Oregon, and then to wherever I can find a job in journalism.
3. Return to the U.S. and dive right into grad school for journalism (but where? And with what money?)
4. Leave the JET program but find a new job in Japan, be it in media or education, in another location.
5. Attend grad school somewhere other than the U.S., like the University of Hong Kong's journalism program (again, money?)
Those, as of now, are the wide list of options, which include the easy to pull-off (staying another year; returning home) and the difficult to imagine (grad school in Hong Kong? Really?). But that's where I am now.
And as of now I'm not learning heavily in any direction. There are times when I think that I'd love to be back to living in the states. There are other times when it's hard to imagine leaving this school and the students and teachers I've come to know. Then there are times when I'm drawn to journalism, be in practicing or studying.
There are times I'm drawn to normal, that is, being home. But then I'm immediately pulled back to the sense of adventure that comes with living abroad. Sometimes I'm bothered by the routine being the same every day; the course work the same each year. But then I realize even if the material is the same, the students are new.
Sometimes I'm happy to be in the workforce, earning a paycheck instead of running up debt to academia. But then I miss being a student, or I'm drawn to the idea of earning that master's degree or lining myself up for a top tier internship with a major news organization. And while it's nice to be working and earning, even if you like your job, work is work, the morning is the morning, and stress is stress.
And the point of this writing isn't to flesh out my ideas, but to share them. This is where I am now, which is, nowhere near a decision. Perhaps later I could expand on the pros and cons of the above choices. Maybe you have your own thoughts you want to share here or in an e-mail. Maybe you'll just wait it out, and let the suspense build.
For now, the the larger question looming on my horizon is: what's for dinner tonight?
With the JET program, the re-contracting process for the August 2009 to August 2010 year has already begun, with information about what to do circulating, meetings on the process looming, and various colleagues asking if you're planning to stay.
In case you've lost track, I'm now at the beginning of my second JET year. It started in August and lasts until next August. But I'm right in the middle of thinking over whether I'll stay for a third year. I have to make this final decision by the end of January, and it's not an easy decision to make.
There are plenty of factors. But perhaps more interesting to start with are the option:
1. Stay with JET on my current job for a third year.
2. Return to the U.S. First, of course, to Oregon, and then to wherever I can find a job in journalism.
3. Return to the U.S. and dive right into grad school for journalism (but where? And with what money?)
4. Leave the JET program but find a new job in Japan, be it in media or education, in another location.
5. Attend grad school somewhere other than the U.S., like the University of Hong Kong's journalism program (again, money?)
Those, as of now, are the wide list of options, which include the easy to pull-off (staying another year; returning home) and the difficult to imagine (grad school in Hong Kong? Really?). But that's where I am now.
And as of now I'm not learning heavily in any direction. There are times when I think that I'd love to be back to living in the states. There are other times when it's hard to imagine leaving this school and the students and teachers I've come to know. Then there are times when I'm drawn to journalism, be in practicing or studying.
There are times I'm drawn to normal, that is, being home. But then I'm immediately pulled back to the sense of adventure that comes with living abroad. Sometimes I'm bothered by the routine being the same every day; the course work the same each year. But then I realize even if the material is the same, the students are new.
Sometimes I'm happy to be in the workforce, earning a paycheck instead of running up debt to academia. But then I miss being a student, or I'm drawn to the idea of earning that master's degree or lining myself up for a top tier internship with a major news organization. And while it's nice to be working and earning, even if you like your job, work is work, the morning is the morning, and stress is stress.
And the point of this writing isn't to flesh out my ideas, but to share them. This is where I am now, which is, nowhere near a decision. Perhaps later I could expand on the pros and cons of the above choices. Maybe you have your own thoughts you want to share here or in an e-mail. Maybe you'll just wait it out, and let the suspense build.
For now, the the larger question looming on my horizon is: what's for dinner tonight?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
October: The month of the horse?
Since that previous typhoon missed, another has threatened and missed. Now, it's sunny.
Today was the second and final day of the school festival, which I described on the blog last year. Briefly, on day one, students, parents and staff enjoy festival food, some student performances, and theme-decorated homerooms.
On day two, we move to a culture center downtown, and there are more student/teacher musical performances on a big stage followed by a semi-famous musical act. Today's act was Redballoon, a rock/pop group that didn't have much recognition among the students but put on an energetic show.
October has brought mild temperatures, and when it's not raining, it's wonderful outside. Since it's so nice today I'm thinking of what to do other the lay around watching TV or movies. I might venture out to the Thursday-night Japanese class, a place I haven't been in many, many months. I stopped going to the class last winter and never went back. The volunteer teacher who I worked with most of the time saw me at a summer festival and invited me back. Maybe I'll oblige today, then stop by Nanaimo for a pint ... just one though, because I have very little money in the wake of ...
URGENT BREAKING WINTER UPDATE
I'm visiting Oregon in December. Those who read this blog probably already know this, but it will be from Dec. 17 to Dec. 30. Kinda short but the best I can do.
Thanks to help from the parents and a big chunk of my paycheck, the ticket has been purchased and the Broke October begins.
...
And I just re-read October 2007's posts ... Haloween was a common theme. Last year I went as a Mormon to the JET-sponsored party. Then a few months later a pair of American Mormon missionaries started visiting often, but I didn't answer the door most of the time. Sorry, guys. They caught me and a friend riding out bikes to the bar one night, and stopped us to tell us their basic message: that their religion is the one true religion. Nice opener. They also said we should chat over a meal of McDonald's someday. Getting warmer, but I'm with Bill Maher on this religion stuff.
Anyway, Halloween is approaching, and this year a few of us might invest in horse masks and be a group of horses wearing suits. Gold.
Today was the second and final day of the school festival, which I described on the blog last year. Briefly, on day one, students, parents and staff enjoy festival food, some student performances, and theme-decorated homerooms.
On day two, we move to a culture center downtown, and there are more student/teacher musical performances on a big stage followed by a semi-famous musical act. Today's act was Redballoon, a rock/pop group that didn't have much recognition among the students but put on an energetic show.
October has brought mild temperatures, and when it's not raining, it's wonderful outside. Since it's so nice today I'm thinking of what to do other the lay around watching TV or movies. I might venture out to the Thursday-night Japanese class, a place I haven't been in many, many months. I stopped going to the class last winter and never went back. The volunteer teacher who I worked with most of the time saw me at a summer festival and invited me back. Maybe I'll oblige today, then stop by Nanaimo for a pint ... just one though, because I have very little money in the wake of ...
URGENT BREAKING WINTER UPDATE
I'm visiting Oregon in December. Those who read this blog probably already know this, but it will be from Dec. 17 to Dec. 30. Kinda short but the best I can do.
Thanks to help from the parents and a big chunk of my paycheck, the ticket has been purchased and the Broke October begins.
...
And I just re-read October 2007's posts ... Haloween was a common theme. Last year I went as a Mormon to the JET-sponsored party. Then a few months later a pair of American Mormon missionaries started visiting often, but I didn't answer the door most of the time. Sorry, guys. They caught me and a friend riding out bikes to the bar one night, and stopped us to tell us their basic message: that their religion is the one true religion. Nice opener. They also said we should chat over a meal of McDonald's someday. Getting warmer, but I'm with Bill Maher on this religion stuff.
Anyway, Halloween is approaching, and this year a few of us might invest in horse masks and be a group of horses wearing suits. Gold.
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