Hmm, hmm.

[haibarasan]

I've been doing the same thing for so long, that the thought of going home for good (and what I'd be doing there once I got back) always seemed nebulous and undefined and scary. I feel like I'm finally winding down from my time as an ALT and that there's something better waiting for me once I return to United States. I'm looking forward to leaving my little island world and docking on a completely different port. Stability (having the same position forever and ever and ever) isn't enough anymore. I can't say that I regret doing a total of three years on JET, but I'll be really glad to move on to something more challenging. It took two and a half years to eke it out, but I've got a clue as to what else I'd like to pursue, and I'm happy to have it. I want to work on localization of Japanese to English translated documents or scripts: that is, customize them into understandable, conversational English. I really enjoyed doing that when I worked on the Conan scripts for the year and half or so that I did that. I was delighted to find out that there was an actual job market for positions like that. I like the creative aspect of editing translated scripts, and I think that's where one of my current goals lies. I read a book called 48 Days to the Work You Love last summer, and I'm ready to craft a kick-ass resume. Or I'm ready to read the book again and actually do the part about crafting the kick-ass resume.

Everything's not crystal clear about what kind of work I'll eventually be looking for during my first year or so back on U.S. soil, but I'm not as scared of the unknown as I was before. So thanks to author Dan Miller (of 48 Days) and to all the nice people who've talked with me over the last year and given me ideas for the future! Go, team!!