Karmi-chan to Japan

The Flight Over

2008-05-19T04:03:00.000-07:00

The Flight to Japan was a long one. Just over 14 hours. For most of the flight I tried to sleep. I remember being over Alaska for a very longtime and being insanely impatient.
So here are some photos of snow in North Western Canada and Alaska:

Nan desu ka?

2008-03-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Things are finally starting to come together.

Passport
International Driving Permit
Visa
Plane Ticket

My TEFL course is coming along.
It is requiring more work than I would have thought given the material.
I will complete the assignment tomorrow (or by Sunday...I need to have time to proofread).
My concern is that I have developed many bad habits and I don't want those habits to hinder my getting the certificate.

My Japanese self-learning lessons are coming along too, although I am still very slow. I need to do more listening exercises.

International Driving Permit

2008-03-02T17:32:00.000-08:00

I went to AAA and got my International Driving Permit.
The day before my Certificate of Eligibility arrived. I will be getting my photos done for the visa tomorrow and I won't go to the Embassy of Japan until Wednesday or Thursday.

I still can't grasp that I am still going.
I am concerned about luggage and weight constraints. On the one hand, Company A tells you take only what you can carry but on the other hand they tell you to bring everything you may need. This is especially true in terms of reference books and learning materials. I know I can't take everything and I will have my family ship some items to me once I am settled.

Time is coming up short...I hope Company A clears me to buy my plane ticket soon.

This best not be a problem...

2008-02-21T20:05:00.000-08:00

So, I have been in contact with Company A off and on. They send an email saying that they will send something or giving me additional info and such.

Well, I get a call from Company A wanting to know when I plan on filling out this online form. I thought I had overlooked something and stated I thought I had already sent that item in. When I checked my email, I discovered I never received the link to the online form Company A was talking about. The fact that they sent me an email on January 25th talking about this email and it has almost been a month before they sent it to me..and then to make me feel like it was something I overlooked...not cool, not cool at all.

I filled out the form and sent in the information. I hope this doesn't mean something happened to my original assignment...that would suck

Long time, no post...

2008-02-20T07:11:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates.
Things are moving along nicely.
Company A sent me my orientation kit.
I need to get my International Driving Permit.
I will have the photos done tomorrow. Walgreens has the best prices for passport photos.
I've started looking into flights and I am trying to sell my car.
I hope someone buys it soon so I can start relaxing more. I need to tell Company A that I may need a loan.
.
..
...
I am taking an online TEFL course. I hope I can finish it before I arrive in Japan.

The Survey Says...

2008-01-31T17:39:00.000-08:00

I heard back from Company A.
They had a placement for me. It wasn't anywhere near any of my preferred areas so I had to think about it. The great thing is that is changes my departure date. The person from Company A that I spoke with said that the Japanese government in that area had already accepted and the job was mine if I wanted it.

Ideally, I wanted to be placed anywhere south of Tokyo (but not in the mountains..don't like cold weather). I definitely did not want to be placed in Hokkaido. I was so wishing, hoping, praying for Fukuoka or Hiroshima or anywhere in Kyushu..Hamamatsu even..I had studied and planned and just knew there would be school for me there...

They placed me in Kurihara (Miyagi Prefecture).
I looked up Kurihara on Wiki and pulled images of the area. It seems rather subrural. That is a word I made up for an area that is suburban in it's shape but is far from the bustling city (therefore making it rural). It seemed very similar to where I live now.

I had correspondences with my states side recruiter to get her opinion. She pretty much told me to go hard or don't go at all. I had to re-evaluate my reasons for going to Japan. I had to look into why I was so interested in Southern Japan and not so much Northern Japan (those reasons I will keep to myself). I'm looking for an adventure and I will probably get one. I figure that they probably need people up there.

Also, I feared saying "no" because I was told that they (Japanese government) would frown upon it and possibly not accept me anywhere else in Japan. And if I declined this post, I may end up in Hokkaido after all. Those areas I wanted to be placed in probably have many people (more experienced people) wanting those positions. I should just take what is given to me and be grateful for the opportunity. I will have a chance to visit the south. And if I stay for more than a year, maybe I can transfer...right?!?!

I accepted the position in Kurihara.
I pray that I made a good decision and that this will lead to me to my final goal and destination. \(^o^)/

Waiting for confirmation...

2008-01-27T20:40:00.000-08:00

O'k.
So, I have signed the contract and now I waiting for my visa certificate and other such forms.
Once all that has been cleared, then I will sell my car...get my plane ticket and set about the task of cleaning up my life here. I want to settle all my credit card debt and put a sizable dent in my student loans.

I did finally tell my family.
My father wanted to know why I didn't discuss my plans with them first.
He should know by now that I normally don't seek advice and there was nothing to discuss.
My mom seems to be taking it well. She is almost excited for me.
My sister knew I would be going at some point. She made comment at a party a few months ago. "One day she will just tell us she is going to Japan and that her flight leaves the next day," that is what my sister said to friend. Not quite that dramatic.

I am pretty excited. I am anxious to know what date they want us there. We were told they want us in Japan in March instead of April. I am hoping they mean mid-March...that way we will be training in March and ready to start in April. In my case, it would have to be that way because the whole process itself takes about 4 - 6 weeks. They won't receive my signed contract and certificate form until Wednesday...oh well. I kinda want to sell my car now instead of waiting, but if something falls through I don't want to be without my car. We do have another car (a '97 Protege) and it runs fine.

So that is my update, I am waiting for more news before moving forward with the clean up process...

XOXO

The Devil is in the Details

2008-01-24T15:54:00.000-08:00

I just found out that I have offered a teaching position with Company A. I am very excited and accepted the job offer.

I also just found out that the start date has been moved from April to March. That means I have less than two months (or a little more than a month depending on how you look at it) to prepare myself for departure. That means obtaining the money to buy a plane ticket as well as having enough to survive for my first two months there (there is lag time between when we start work and when we get paid). I haven't told my family that Company A offered me the job and that I have accepted. I am seriously considering selling my car to at least of set some cost. I want to pay of my credit cards before I leave. I also have to look into public storage to store many of my things that I will not be able to take with me.

The devil really is in the details. The broad picture has been painted and I see a great outcome there just the financial obstacle I must overcome. I still have time. A lot can change in a day. A lot can change in a week.

I received some more learning materials today:

I have to say these are the most exciting educational materials. A huge boost in my learning!
I have been listening to my Shadowing CD and it is very hard. I mean, they are speaking so fast I can't even begin to repeat what they are saying to speed. It will take time, but I am confident.
:sigh:
I need to tell my family my plans soon.
I fear what their reaction is going to be. They can be so negative at times...

They are finally here...

2008-01-14T18:50:00.001-08:00

The rest of my items arrived today I am so happy!
The keyboard is nice, but I don't know how the keys are suppose to work.

I'm not sure on the whats and whys of the hiragana on the keyboard. I am sure there is some other settings in Windows I am suppose to enable and I do have my Japanese as one of my languages on Windows. I will work with it and see how it goes. I would read the directions, but they are in Japanese (naturally XD).

Then there is matter of the drill books...I think I need some CDs that go with them.

but they will still prove useful, I think. I just have to have some other books and dictionary with me to help me sort it all out. I am already picking up stuff. I knew which was the hiragana drill book and which was the katakana drill book.

Yes, my lessons should become much more productive :)

The final piece of the puzzle...

2008-01-13T16:41:00.000-08:00

O'k, so I got my transcripts (I ordered 5 copies) and sent them to Company A1 and now I wait. They won't receive them until Tuesday...I hope I am accepted. I still don't know how I will pay for this....I will cross that bridge when I get to it. Things in my life always seem to workout somehow.

********
My language lessons have stalled for now.
Since my classes have begun again, I am more drained than usual.
Tonight I will put my "shadowing" CD onto a minidisc and listen to it tonight.
My computer can't handle doing too many things at once.

Closer to the goal....

2008-01-07T05:30:00.001-08:00

A week before Christmas, I sent my applications and resume to two ALT/ESL companies.
I had a rush interview session with one this past Saturday. The contacted me on Thursday saying they wanted me to get them more info (fill out more forms) and I didn't get the official invite until 5pm on Friday. Not much time to prep, but I did my best considering I had never had an interview quite like it. I still need to get my transcripts to them and I will be calling the school later this morning to work that out.

The other company I applied to advised that I reapply closer to when I want to leave...
That is the problem.
I am currently working and the company A would need me to start April 1. But that is in the middle of school year here. I would be leaving my current employer in a huge hard spot because she has me doing most of the classes. She does her fair share too and there is one other woman who only does one class. If I get an acceptance letter then ....I'll just have to leave. She will get plenty of notice.

The other problem in money. I don't know how I am going to finance this plane trip as well as have enough live on until I get my first paycheck. Then there is the issue of my current bills (mainly my student loans). This is going to be sticky.

I still haven't received my materials from JList yet.
I even placed a second order and have received that order:

I will start using the Shadowing CD today.
I am very excited at the possibility of living and working in Japan.
Although my interview had some rather horridly scary stories about how people will say one thing to your face then undermind you behind your back and how appearance is everything and conformity, I will deal with it. It will most definitely be a challenge at first but then I tend to act how the people around me act.

I finally revealed to my family my plans for the future.
My dad took it the worst. I wasn't crying but he is very stressed at the idea of me not being around. My mother and sister are putting up a positive front, but they don't understand why I want to leave. Why all the way on the other side of the globe.

These next few months are going to be interesting....

A Sunshiny Day!

2007-12-22T11:19:00.000-08:00

I am sitting in front of the computer getting ready to have a panic attack over this essay "Why Do I Want to Live and Work in Japan."
I made an outline earlier and I have the points I want to make, but when I try to start it off it doesn't feel right. I guess there isn't any hurry really...but I need to get this done before the New Year.

Oh yeah..I am totally addicted to Frog Style Mini Toys

O'k..I'm going to see if I can get my head together...

Cold Feet?

2007-12-17T17:52:00.000-08:00

I certainly hope not!
But I fear i do have them.
I have my passport and now, as I start writing my reason for wanting to go I am getting nervous.
My biggest fear is that my reasons are not good enough.
That I am not good enough.
And then what if I am hired, they make you pay your own airfare...how will I afford a plane trip.
I don't make a lot of money as it is.
Most of what I do make goes right to bills...
I can't ask my family as they have done so much for me already. Plus why would they pay me to leave when they would want me to stay?

I must say, I am not a very religious person but I am rather spiritual.
Whatever I have prayed for and prayed for guidance on has always turned out well.
So, tonight I will pray for miracles and direction and strength.
I have set in my heart that I will do this.
I see my destination, my goal...the path is laid out before me like a puzzle.

I am still waiting for my other Japanese learning materials.
I also have a dharma on the way..very exciting.

My dream is more real today.

2007-12-12T16:39:00.000-08:00

Today, I received my new passport.
I just mailed it out two and half weeks ago and already it is back.
Now I can begin applying for positions!!
I'm so excited!

I'm still working on my reasons for going, my motivation....
My new keyboard and mousepad as well as my lessons book have not arrived yet.
Maybe tomorrow...

And now for the essay

2007-12-10T10:34:00.000-08:00

While I wait for my passport to arrive, I have decided to get started on my essay. Many of these ESL employers want an essay explaining why you want to go teach in Japan. Is it wrong that my reasons are totally personal. I don't have any super lofty goals. But I have to be able to word my reasons in way that is compelling. I hope the rest of my educational items arrive today. That reminds me...I am unsure what to do about professional references.
Sure, I have them but I don't know how the people I would turn to for references would feel about writing a letter of recommendation. I cannot use my current employer mainly because I have not official come out and said "Hey, I'm trying to get job teaching in Japan!!" Not only that, but it would be rude and unprofessional...therefore I will blog about it instead.

So back to the essay, I am compiling talking points to be further fleshed out in the coming weeks. Oh, and I thought my plan was unknown but my sister has been telling people it is only a matter of time before I go to Japan. She said to a friend, while I was standing there, "yeah, I just know we are going to wake up one day and she [me] will tell us,' I'm going to Japan and my flight leaves tomorrow...so bye!'" I won't be that abrupt, but I won't tell them anything officially until all the details are worked out.

One deadline has passed...

2007-12-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

I keep getting cold feet about this whole "live in Japan for a year" thing. But then I read my horoscope the other day. I don't remember it exactly, but it pretty much said that I need to stick with my plans and that good things will come, but those closest to you won't understand. And they won't. My family will have a fit. The biggest fit ever!! It will be of biblical proportions. No doubt they will throw in my face my Dad's age (even though he is pretty healthy) or go one about how much they depend on me (and they do...they really do). But it isn't healthy. I'm not a teenager anymore. I have to step out and do something, not spinning my wheels while being on call for my family. I hate being the eldest child.

Right now, I am looking into my options for teaching English in Japan.
I have already missed the deadline for a program I wanted to apply to, so that option is out.
There are others options that I am looking into. I sent out my paperwork to get my passport renewed about a week and a half ago.

Hopefully the renewal process will not be as long as the original application process (but that department is seriously understaffed...I should have gotten my passport renewed over the summer...oh well). It will happen, I just gotta go with flow. I can't control everything.

And yes, I am attempting to learn the language.
It doesn't hurt anymore. I can understand a little...like recognize words. My home brew immersion process is a trip. I watch NHK television and Japanese TV shows. I listen to Japanese music (hey, that process helped me to understand Spanish better). Of course you need text books and conversation tapes. I converted my tapes to Mp3 form so I could listen to them on my player at night. Here are some of the books I have to help me learn.

I have a few more books on the way.
I'll post pictures of those too. In addition to books, audio, and tv programs, I also have a CD Rom program...yeah I am very serious about this.

Slowly getting started

2007-11-03T06:21:00.000-07:00

So, I had my passport photo done this past week. I will have to wait until my next payday before I can send the form back (unless I get money for my birthday...).

Attempting to learn Japanese is really hurting my brain.
I keep getting a headache and my eyes tear up. Like it is physically hurting me.
I really don't care though.
I need to learn this language. And yes, it is going to kick my ass. It is kicking my ass.

I just finished my commission piece so now I can focus on some other projects and hopefully really fill out my portfolio.

I've taken a slightly different approach to learning the language.
I listen to the language CD at night in bed. The idea is to listen to them while I sleep. I did pick up on question formation and more words are becoming more familiar to me. The hard part was not trying to think of the phrases in French or Russian...funny Spanish didn't even come into play. I hope that with the addition of Japanese my other foreign language skills will improve as well.

Until next time...

Looking for Funds pt. 1

2007-10-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

Today I starting doing research into art grants and grant writing.
I am an average artist who dabbles in everything.
I do have a growing interest in a particular type of art style. I am looking into paper art. This is huge: Chigirie!
That is a topic that we are covering this week for my job. It was like a gift. This is the topic, this is the style of art that I need to break free from mediocrity. So, I will start there.

I have not done my language lessons this week.
I need to keep up on my learning of the language if I ever want to be able to hold a basic conversation.

Introduction

2007-10-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

What is one thing you would love to do before you leave this earth?

My one thing is to travel and study in Japan (for year or something).
Why Japan?
Why not. I have never traveled to that part of world before.
I am trying to learn the language and I am interested in the art and culture.
What better way to learn about the nation and study the language than total immersion!
For sure I would need a travel companion who spoke the language fluently, but it would still be a total culture shock. And a shock to the system is just what the doctor ordered for this artist, ya know what I mean?

I suppose I am somewhat of a Japanophile. I've never given it much thought before.
Just one day I woke up and said, "I need to go to Japan."

How soon do you plan on leaving?

Ideally, I would leave in August.
Why August? Because it is the eighth month. I also need time to raise funds for such an adventure as well as research and plan my trip.

This journal will be to document all stages of my journey to Japan.
The first thing I need to do is renew my passport!