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Kenrokuen, Kanazawa
One of the most beautiful gardens in Japan So much time has passed, and so many things in my life are different that I feel like I need to start afresh. For starters, it's now 2009, yes a whole year since the events of my last entry and I won't even begin to try to fill you in on everything that's transpired in between, but a few things need to be noted.
Yes I am still in Japan. That I suppose is the biggest news of all, and believe me it still even surprises me at times. I finished up my second year of teaching with Aeon on April 11th and it was an ending filled with mixed emotions. At that time I still planned to be returning home to Australia for good, in 10 days time. And although I was really looking forward to spending some quality time with friends and family again, seeing my beautiful country, and most of all enjoying no work, there was a sadness inside me. I think I was ready to finish up with my job, 2 years was enough for me. I still enjoyed it the majority of the time, I feel like I got out of it at the best
Noto Peninsula
GW 08 road trip time: while it
was still enjoyable. It was very sad saying goodbye to all my students and coworkers though, a lot of my students I had taught for the whole 2 years and I had watched them grow (literally for the kids) and progress with their English, it's very satisfying knowing you helped them achieve that.
They held a farewell party for me on my last day and it was so great to have everyone there to say goodbye. I got many presents and thank you notes which were all the more special knowing these people tried their hardest to show their gratitude in a different language, which wasn't easy for a lot of them. But my 2 years had come to an end and I felt like a mother, and my students were my children, and that I had cared for them, given them all the advice and support I could and that it was now time to let them go.
I think the thing that made me feel the saddest about saying goodbye was the thought of leaving this mystical country and all the wonderful friends I had made. Yes of course I could come back
Umbrella
A Japanese umbrella in Kanazawa and visit, and yes I could still keep in contact with my friends, but the moment or moments where we were all together in Japan would be over. Forever. And that's what hit me the hardest. I think especially because I'd done it before was a deciding factor in making me want to stay. After my exchange year in Hakodate, when I had no choice but to leave, I know how gut-wrenchingly hard it is to leave a place and people who you have grown to love and who have become your surrogate family. I wasn't looking forward to doing that again. However, I felt satisfied with everything I have experienced and achieved and I have so many fond memories that will stay with me forever. So, tears were shed and I was bitterly preparing myself to leave.
So what happened that actually cemented my decision to stay? Love. I've been with my boyfriend, Ryan, for 7 months now and I didn't want to be separated. Ryan has always wanted to live in Tokyo for a while and when his contract is up at the end of May he had planned to move there. We both knew I was
leaving and he was moving but I suppose the closer it gets the more realistic it becomes. So a few months back I started looking for other jobs in Tokyo, and I was very unsuccessful. I didn't want to teach English again at an English conversation school and there aren't too many other jobs for foreigners in Japan. But one week before I was to leave, I got a call from one of the companies for an interview. I went to Tokyo and they hired me that day. All of a sudden my plans had changed.
It does take a lot for me to say that I changed my plans and postponed my dreams for a man. You see, after spending a few months at home I was planning to travel for about 6 months, and that's something I've wanted to do for a long, long time. But I've learnt some very important lessons over the last few years. I refused to put off my dream of living in Japan for a man, because I thought our bond was stronger than the troubles that spending time apart would cause. And although we did stay strong for a long time,
travel changes you and having experiences that are so different to someone you care about is a hard thing to overcome. I suppose I was naive to think it would work out, and for some people it might, but it didn't work for me and I learnt a very hard but valuable lesson from that. Which is why this time I was prepared to compromise. I now plan to stay in Tokyo with Ryan for a year longer and then he has agreed to come travelling with me. That way, we both fulfill our dreams and experience everything together, and save ourselves the heartache of separation.
Since I already had a flight booked I still did go home to see everyone for a very short time but I had to be back in Tokyo soon to move into a new apartment, organise my visa and start my new job. And that's where I am right now: on the first step of the next stage of my life. And it's so exciting. I moved into our new apartment in Tokyo at the beginning of May and it's a lot bigger and a lot more convenient than all my past apartments
in Japan. Ryan still hasn't finished his contract in Nagoya but as soon as he does he'll be moving in too. I start my new job soon: I'm working at a specialised gym for kids, the classes are in English but I can use my Japanese for other business related matters, which is an added bonus. And I'm enjoying having some free time to explore my new surroundings, and set up my new life in Tokyo. So, yes a lot of things are different than they were a year ago. Life is full of so many surprises, some not so good and others exciting. But I'm here to experience them all.
Photos from things I did over the last year are included
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Chris and Nikki
Chris
Cool picture!