Twenty-six years of life. I have accomplished some things during that time yet there is still so much more I want to do. I have a bachelors degree in a field I have no career interest in, and I have traveled some, most of it in the first half of my life.
My first 13 years of life were spent moving every 3-4 years as I followed my mother, a member of the U.S. Navy. I was born in Spain though I moved only three months after being born to Hawaii. From there I moved to Illinois and then onto Alaska. Finally with my mother retiring she and I moved back to Michigan, where she was raised.
For the last 13 years I grew up, went to high school and then university in Michigan. I missed traveling and seeing new places. Over two years ago I started applying to teach English in Japan via the JET program. After nearly getting in on my first attempt and not even making it to the interview on my second, I made it on my third and even got my first choice for placement.
For the next few years (at least 1) I will be living in Higashiomi City, a rural area in the Shiga prefecture of Japan. I am excited, I will be away from those who know me and expect me to act certain ways. I can be on my own and do my best to improve myself to be the person I want to be. It is my first time traveling since I left Alaska for Michigan 13 years ago. Hopefully it is the beginning of another set of travels that will take me across the world.
When my stay on the JET program ends in 1-5 years I have many options to chose from. I could stay in Japan and find a job there, I might come back to the states and work on getting a degree in a field I could see myself getting into (Education or Culinary Arts). I might join the Military as my mother and grandfather did, or I could go to Europe and teach English there for a few years. The JET program lets me prepare, both by finishing off student loans in my past and letting me save up money for things in my future.
I intend to record this time in my life. For friends and family to share what its like to live in another country, for myself to see how I change during these times, and for any others who have an interest in Japan.
So welcome to my journal, I will be improving it as time goes on. I may even begin video blogging if I can make it interesting enough.
