And we're off... ?

Okay, so it's been a good couple of weeks. Saw a good festival in Nagasaki, went rafting. This is all good fun.

Now yesterday, I was handed my re-contracting forms. I can honestly say that it didn't even flinch my decision to stay or go. I'm still debating whether or not to hand them in just yet. They're definitely going in as me deciding to not re-contract.

The big question is... what then? What is life aftet JET? It's a big step. Go back home, go somewhere else... back to school... what exactly does one do. I think the fact I'm still young, I have a great deal of time. Although, if living in Itsuki is any indicator, it is a window. As of August next year, I am unemployed... and homeless! That's the bottom line, clearly some planning needs to be done, but whatever the case is. The rest of my time here is going to be preparing to leave... in style if possible.

I've had an interview and a few leads, but these private English schools are really flaking. One called to give me an interview and called a few days later to cancel it. One said a job would be given in September, now they're talking April. I guess right now, since I am not staying, I have to worry about finance as the main concern. I have debts to pay. That's the bottom line. 10 months isn't really a good time frame to be exploring new jobs unless of course one does pay much, much more. Doubtful of course. Even if the one job does pan out in April, it's still a good enough time frame for me to up and leave.

As is now, they're actively been discussing team-teaching around me and naturally as this affects me directly, I haven't been included in this discussion. Maybe my view of Japan is a little skewed, as far as raw deals go... I was given road rash. Maybe I can widen the net to include places that I actually want to live, even if the job won't change much. Osaka, Kyoto... Tokyo perhaps? We'll wait and see... right now I've never been as free as I have... or as trapped. Quite the paradox I must say!