(no subject)
New plan - move to Japan.
What? You want more details? Psh, fine. Once upon a time, when I was taking Japanese classes and planning to major in English, I found out about the JET program where native English speakers spend a year in Japan teaching English (and helping the Japanese English teachers improve their own English). This is an actual job, for which I would be paid, not a study abroad I would pay thousands of dollars for. I did a lot of research into it then, and planned to go after graduating (since participants are required to have a bachelor's degree). Well, things changed, as we all know, and I switched to accounting and forgot all about JET, graduating and getting pumped about getting an accounting job.
Well, last weekend I suddenly thought of JET again. I don't believe in coincidences, so when I suddenly think of something that I haven't thought about in several years, I pay attention. So I thought about it...and thought about it. Interestingly, when I was thinking about getting a job in a new city, I thought about all the stuff I'd have to do to move and my reactions was, "Ugh, too much hassle, I don't want to do that." But when I think about doing JET, which would involve more hassle, I don't feel like it's a pain and I feel more willing to go through with it. That's a strong sign. Also, the applications for next year are about to open in a week. They only open once a year, and they just happen to be right now. Another strong sign.
I tried making a list of all the work I'd have to do to do this, and even though it's a lot, it doesn't seem overwhelming. The list of paperwork I have to get together is also huge, but I don't feel daunted when I think about it. If I sign up for "early departure," which is in April, my contract would be about up anyway and I could just move my stuff into a storage unit (or an empty room at my parents', if they have one). Or regular departure is in July, so again I could move out when my contract is up and stay at my parents' until I leave. I'd have to close down my online shops but that wouldn't take too much effort. And I shouldn't have a problem surviving until then, so I won't have a job to leave.
I also had to consider the fact that I'd be teaching. I haven't made any secret of the fact that I didn't want to be a teacher; the reason I left the English major was because that's the main occupation available to them. But teaching English as a second language is very different than teaching English here, reading literature and writing papers. And to be honest, I love English. People are always saying how much they love a language they learned in school or while abroad, but I don't mind tellin' you, I love English as my native language. I'm proficient at it, and I think I would like teaching it as an actual language, not writing papers or looking for symbolism or other such fiddle-faddle. I also love the idea of working with a Japanese English teacher and helping them with their English. I love the idea of that. I think I would like doing it. And a whole year? I'd definitely be fluent in Japanese by the time I finished, which is another big plus.
If I can pick, I think I would opt for elementary kids, mostly because high school kids are so annoying. But I think I could deal with them if I had to, haha. Elementary would be fun, but at the same time the high school kids would know more English already, so I could potentially communicate with them more right off the bat. They also said most assignments are in smaller towns, not big cities, so I like that too. I'm a small town girl mahself. Plus the cost of living would be better there.
I'm thinking about applying at Joann Fabric, since they're hiring seasonal help for the Halloween & Christmas seasons. That would get me some extra money to get me through, it would be part-time so I could also do my online stuff, and it would probably let me save up enough to get through to when JET leaves and have some money on hand when I get there (to help me survive until my first paycheck).
Basically, the point is, I'm going to apply. And I think I'll get in. I meet all their requirements, I should be able to get all the right paperwork and glowing references, and my spoken and written English is excellent. People were constantly telling me before that "they reject people all the time," but their FAQs list ineligibility or faults in the submissions as main reasons for rejection, and since I have pretty much full mastery of English and can string a sentence together, I think I stand a good chance of getting hired. And you know what? I have no commitments, and this may be the only time in my life when I am completely free to go wherever I want and have any adventure I please. So right now, I think I choose moving to Japan.
(And please - refrain from linking me to that blog about the guy teaching English in Japan and talking about how monstrous his students are. Yes, I've seen it. Also please refrain from telling me that Japan isn't necessarily how it is in manga. I'm not getting all my info from manga. I have been there before, so I at least have some idea what I'm walking into.)
What? You want more details? Psh, fine. Once upon a time, when I was taking Japanese classes and planning to major in English, I found out about the JET program where native English speakers spend a year in Japan teaching English (and helping the Japanese English teachers improve their own English). This is an actual job, for which I would be paid, not a study abroad I would pay thousands of dollars for. I did a lot of research into it then, and planned to go after graduating (since participants are required to have a bachelor's degree). Well, things changed, as we all know, and I switched to accounting and forgot all about JET, graduating and getting pumped about getting an accounting job.
Well, last weekend I suddenly thought of JET again. I don't believe in coincidences, so when I suddenly think of something that I haven't thought about in several years, I pay attention. So I thought about it...and thought about it. Interestingly, when I was thinking about getting a job in a new city, I thought about all the stuff I'd have to do to move and my reactions was, "Ugh, too much hassle, I don't want to do that." But when I think about doing JET, which would involve more hassle, I don't feel like it's a pain and I feel more willing to go through with it. That's a strong sign. Also, the applications for next year are about to open in a week. They only open once a year, and they just happen to be right now. Another strong sign.
I tried making a list of all the work I'd have to do to do this, and even though it's a lot, it doesn't seem overwhelming. The list of paperwork I have to get together is also huge, but I don't feel daunted when I think about it. If I sign up for "early departure," which is in April, my contract would be about up anyway and I could just move my stuff into a storage unit (or an empty room at my parents', if they have one). Or regular departure is in July, so again I could move out when my contract is up and stay at my parents' until I leave. I'd have to close down my online shops but that wouldn't take too much effort. And I shouldn't have a problem surviving until then, so I won't have a job to leave.
I also had to consider the fact that I'd be teaching. I haven't made any secret of the fact that I didn't want to be a teacher; the reason I left the English major was because that's the main occupation available to them. But teaching English as a second language is very different than teaching English here, reading literature and writing papers. And to be honest, I love English. People are always saying how much they love a language they learned in school or while abroad, but I don't mind tellin' you, I love English as my native language. I'm proficient at it, and I think I would like teaching it as an actual language, not writing papers or looking for symbolism or other such fiddle-faddle. I also love the idea of working with a Japanese English teacher and helping them with their English. I love the idea of that. I think I would like doing it. And a whole year? I'd definitely be fluent in Japanese by the time I finished, which is another big plus.
If I can pick, I think I would opt for elementary kids, mostly because high school kids are so annoying. But I think I could deal with them if I had to, haha. Elementary would be fun, but at the same time the high school kids would know more English already, so I could potentially communicate with them more right off the bat. They also said most assignments are in smaller towns, not big cities, so I like that too. I'm a small town girl mahself. Plus the cost of living would be better there.
I'm thinking about applying at Joann Fabric, since they're hiring seasonal help for the Halloween & Christmas seasons. That would get me some extra money to get me through, it would be part-time so I could also do my online stuff, and it would probably let me save up enough to get through to when JET leaves and have some money on hand when I get there (to help me survive until my first paycheck).
Basically, the point is, I'm going to apply. And I think I'll get in. I meet all their requirements, I should be able to get all the right paperwork and glowing references, and my spoken and written English is excellent. People were constantly telling me before that "they reject people all the time," but their FAQs list ineligibility or faults in the submissions as main reasons for rejection, and since I have pretty much full mastery of English and can string a sentence together, I think I stand a good chance of getting hired. And you know what? I have no commitments, and this may be the only time in my life when I am completely free to go wherever I want and have any adventure I please. So right now, I think I choose moving to Japan.
(And please - refrain from linking me to that blog about the guy teaching English in Japan and talking about how monstrous his students are. Yes, I've seen it. Also please refrain from telling me that Japan isn't necessarily how it is in manga. I'm not getting all my info from manga. I have been there before, so I at least have some idea what I'm walking into.)