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Published: July 17th 2006
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Pondering out the window
I had a lot of pros and cons to consider, but I feel confident about the decision I made. Well, the final decision is in. I am going to be spending at at least the next two years of my life in Sapporo, Japan. It's been a couple of intense, mind boggling days here at the job fair in Massachusetts. In the end the decision came down to a school in Thailand and my new home school in Japan. I will be living in the pristine great white north island of Hokkaido. It snows all the time there creating a veritable winter wonderland. I was told that they only close school if they have more than three feet of snow in one day, which they actually have had in the past. I don't care where you're from, that's a lot of snow!!
It was tough to give up the dream of living in a tropical southeast asian paradise. The Thailand people didn't make it any easier with their talk of living in special lush grounds complete with a swimming pool and a fitness center. I could just imagine myself poolside every evening with warm Thai breezes massaging my skin.
However, I felt the school in Japan was a much better fit for me professionally. I like the small
Charles River
I walked around Boston to clear my head. My hotel is there on the left. size and close knit atmosphere. I also like the opportunity it provides me to be involved in basketball. Not to mention the intangibles. There have been a number of people who have already expressed interest in visiting me in Japan. (This is great because I was told I will receive a two bedroom apartment as a part of the package) Of particular interest is my dad. Back in the day he was based in Japan while in the navy shortly after WWII. He has always spoken fondly of his times and adventures there. It would be great to have him make a triumphant nostalgic return to the land of the rising sun roughly fifty years later.
I am also so stoked about the fact that I will now luckily be able to attend my second straight world basketball championships. I was so blown away by my experience with the 2002 world championships in Indianapolis that I have been craving going back ever since. Team USA, coincidently, will based in Sapporo for group play. So I am excited to be able to see Kobe, LeBron, and the boys go up against such stars as Yao Ming, and try to take
Afterward
In case you were wondering I did get snowed in by the blizzard and had to wait an extra day to journey home. out their revenge on Puerto Rico. Hopefully, I will also be able to fly down and see the final in Tokyo on the first weekend in September. I had a funny feeling four years ago that I'd be attending these games in Japan. It's kind of crazy the way things turned out.
The job fair has been a great experience. There are so many interesting people wandering about the hotel. And they are so friendly and open, just in the way they are so interested in everyone else. It is absolutely fascinating to find out about all these diverse schools in exotic locations. There are people milling about who have lived every place and that are talking about the posts they plan to take up all around the world. I mean where else can you here places like Egypt, Switzerland, Tanzania, and Singapore thrown about so casually. This weekend has been unique, not just for the elevator I always seemed to be in. I feel like I've found my people so to speak. I'm a little sorry that it is over so soon.
It has been fun to walk around Boston in an effort to get away from it all. Walking along the Charles River reminds me of my year in Cork walking along the River Lee. A little bit colder though. On my walks I saw the boathouses of M.I.T. and Boston University. I discovered Boston University was just over the river and strode along its city street campus. The past two nights I have made stops at an Irish pub called Crossroads, fitting huh. Nothing says Boston like watching the Bruins play hockey while sipping some Irish stout.
One thing before I sign off for the night. I do not know if I am getting out of here tomorrow. There is a huge noreaster type blizzard blowing in tonight. At least a foot of snow is predicted. I have already switched from a plane flight to a train. The thinking being that a train may be able to plow through the snow. Near whiteout conditions are expected. Did I mention it snows a lot in Sapporo?
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