(no subject)
Time for a quick recap of my summer shenanigans before the summer comes to an end.
First off, after waiting three months to get a doctor's appointment, finally got some anti-depressants and its working well. Wow, so this is what it feels like to be a functional person? How the hell did I manage to slog through the last year? Fall and Spring were the absolute worst. I've been told that its like night and day. In the words of my aunt 'I don't know what you're taking but its working'. Lol.
Anyways, back to the summer recap:
Earlier in the summer I got off to a promising start in my hunt for a job in Japan before I stalled once more. Its the middle of the school year over there at the moment so summer, particularly August, is a pretty slow job wise. Yet I managed to get 2 interview offers so I'm quite pleased.
The difficulty in Japan job hunting wasn't so much in finding positions to apply for as it was finding a potential employer who was willing and able to sponsor a visa for overseas applicants. Since the US of A is not part of the 'working holiday visa' nations (drat!) that means I am restricted to a handful of companies that recruit overseas to get that initial visa unless I feel fool-hardy enough to get on a plane and pray I get lucky. While I'd give anything to go back to Japan, such a crap shoot is not worth blowing through a small fortune. In retrospect, could I have been more proactive in looking for work this summer? Yes. Would it have made a difference? Not really. Seems silly to waste time and energy applying to jobs that require a valid working visa.
Considering branching out and looking for ESL jobs outside of Japan since the job market is so tight and my options so limited stateside. Still in research mode but have been focusing on Korea as a place to teach for a year or two. South Korea has a JET like program where you can work in public schools. They don't start taking apps for spring semester until October, bout the time JET opens up for the 2011/12 school year. Havn't given up on Japan, not by a long shot. But being realistic and looking in places where the jobs are while trying to keep an open mind about opportunities outside of Japan.
Spent 2 weeks in Maryland to get the hell out of dodge and have a change of scenery. Had to go back eventually to get all the stuff I left when I had to leave everything this winter due to an unfortunate auto vs deer incident. Love having my zoujirushi water heater back. Though with it being 105 degrees outside, hot beverages arn't that appealing.
Worked on the boat while I was there (regulars/neighbors were glad to see me back) and swung by SERC briefly to say hi to my old boss and ran into one of my former co-workers who came back to work summer camp. Was a bit of a surprise to see him. I knew he was working a summer camp but I thought he was still in New York. Got to give him a 'congratulations on graduating' hug but didn't chat long cause he was on his way out to lead a canoe trip.
A week after getting back from Maryland I was off to Florida for my grandmother's 86th birthday. Nothing to write home about there except that there was lots of talking behind people's backs, bickering, and generally getting irritated with a few of my relatives. I just wish my aunts hadn't waited until the last minute to plan this trip. All and all it was a fairly nice trip and I allowed myself to enjoy it though my mind kept drifting back to all the things I felt should be doing instead of sitting on a beach for 2 days.
Just got back from Colorado which was the vacation that had been in the works for months before my aunt sprung the last minute Florida trip. My dad has been wanting to go on a family vacation with my sis and I for near 2 years now so it finally worked out that for one week this entire year we could all coordinate our schedules.
Its 105 in Memphis right now. Been in the 100's fairly regularly the last few weeks. Brutal. Was so nice to go up into the mountains of Aspen/Snowmass. Aspen is a cute town. Wouldn't know there's a recession there. Felt like the whole town was a tad separated from reality.
But oh my god, the dining was amazing! So many fine restaurants in such a tight radius. Had an amazing meal every night I was there. Drove to Basalt and got in some fly fishing and on another day took a shuttle down the mountains a bit to Glennwood Springs to take a float trip on a tamer portion of the Colorado River. Little white water early on, but again, mostly a float trip, taking in the scenery and marveling at the canyons and mountains. Took the lift up to the top of Aspen Mountain and walked around a bit. That was the day I got a tad altitude sick. Was the only day I didn't drink lots of water and the sun at 11,212 feet is intense. Even back down at 7,000ish feet where our hotel was I'd get out of breath walking up a mild incline. Working out to keep up my exercise routine I'd get dizzy about the 30 minute mark into my 1 hour routine.
Didn't really do much shopping other then the window variety. Bought the obligatory t-shirt and a pair of cute moose pjs though. In another 3 months when it cools down in Memphis I will be all snuggly and warm with my moose pjs and long sleeve colorado flag shirt.
I miss the 70 degree temps but I was more then ready to come home. Bout day 4 of 6 I started to get a tad bored and feeling like I should be getting back to work with the job hunt, studying, ect. After day 4 I was less and less able to enjoy myself, worrying about jobs and school and feeling guilty for not accomplishing more over the summer then I did.
Managed to fill up my fall already and am itching to get back to working towards something. Taking a full time grad school course load at UMemphis working towards my Master in Teaching and initial teacher's license. I'm a non-degree student at the moment as I won't get up graded until December cause I have to take the Praxis 2 but I'm starting towards the degree. Then if I can get a public teaching job in Korea or Japan I'll petition the school to allow overseas teaching experience count towards my MAT degree in ESL. Also taking the LSAT this fall to make my dad happy. Got nothing else better to do and if I like my scores, they keep for a few years.
So that's what I've been up to in a nutshell.
Keep on keeping on folks. Try not to fry in this heat. Thank goodness for AC.
First off, after waiting three months to get a doctor's appointment, finally got some anti-depressants and its working well. Wow, so this is what it feels like to be a functional person? How the hell did I manage to slog through the last year? Fall and Spring were the absolute worst. I've been told that its like night and day. In the words of my aunt 'I don't know what you're taking but its working'. Lol.
Anyways, back to the summer recap:
Earlier in the summer I got off to a promising start in my hunt for a job in Japan before I stalled once more. Its the middle of the school year over there at the moment so summer, particularly August, is a pretty slow job wise. Yet I managed to get 2 interview offers so I'm quite pleased.
The difficulty in Japan job hunting wasn't so much in finding positions to apply for as it was finding a potential employer who was willing and able to sponsor a visa for overseas applicants. Since the US of A is not part of the 'working holiday visa' nations (drat!) that means I am restricted to a handful of companies that recruit overseas to get that initial visa unless I feel fool-hardy enough to get on a plane and pray I get lucky. While I'd give anything to go back to Japan, such a crap shoot is not worth blowing through a small fortune. In retrospect, could I have been more proactive in looking for work this summer? Yes. Would it have made a difference? Not really. Seems silly to waste time and energy applying to jobs that require a valid working visa.
Considering branching out and looking for ESL jobs outside of Japan since the job market is so tight and my options so limited stateside. Still in research mode but have been focusing on Korea as a place to teach for a year or two. South Korea has a JET like program where you can work in public schools. They don't start taking apps for spring semester until October, bout the time JET opens up for the 2011/12 school year. Havn't given up on Japan, not by a long shot. But being realistic and looking in places where the jobs are while trying to keep an open mind about opportunities outside of Japan.
Spent 2 weeks in Maryland to get the hell out of dodge and have a change of scenery. Had to go back eventually to get all the stuff I left when I had to leave everything this winter due to an unfortunate auto vs deer incident. Love having my zoujirushi water heater back. Though with it being 105 degrees outside, hot beverages arn't that appealing.
Worked on the boat while I was there (regulars/neighbors were glad to see me back) and swung by SERC briefly to say hi to my old boss and ran into one of my former co-workers who came back to work summer camp. Was a bit of a surprise to see him. I knew he was working a summer camp but I thought he was still in New York. Got to give him a 'congratulations on graduating' hug but didn't chat long cause he was on his way out to lead a canoe trip.
A week after getting back from Maryland I was off to Florida for my grandmother's 86th birthday. Nothing to write home about there except that there was lots of talking behind people's backs, bickering, and generally getting irritated with a few of my relatives. I just wish my aunts hadn't waited until the last minute to plan this trip. All and all it was a fairly nice trip and I allowed myself to enjoy it though my mind kept drifting back to all the things I felt should be doing instead of sitting on a beach for 2 days.
Just got back from Colorado which was the vacation that had been in the works for months before my aunt sprung the last minute Florida trip. My dad has been wanting to go on a family vacation with my sis and I for near 2 years now so it finally worked out that for one week this entire year we could all coordinate our schedules.
Its 105 in Memphis right now. Been in the 100's fairly regularly the last few weeks. Brutal. Was so nice to go up into the mountains of Aspen/Snowmass. Aspen is a cute town. Wouldn't know there's a recession there. Felt like the whole town was a tad separated from reality.
But oh my god, the dining was amazing! So many fine restaurants in such a tight radius. Had an amazing meal every night I was there. Drove to Basalt and got in some fly fishing and on another day took a shuttle down the mountains a bit to Glennwood Springs to take a float trip on a tamer portion of the Colorado River. Little white water early on, but again, mostly a float trip, taking in the scenery and marveling at the canyons and mountains. Took the lift up to the top of Aspen Mountain and walked around a bit. That was the day I got a tad altitude sick. Was the only day I didn't drink lots of water and the sun at 11,212 feet is intense. Even back down at 7,000ish feet where our hotel was I'd get out of breath walking up a mild incline. Working out to keep up my exercise routine I'd get dizzy about the 30 minute mark into my 1 hour routine.
Didn't really do much shopping other then the window variety. Bought the obligatory t-shirt and a pair of cute moose pjs though. In another 3 months when it cools down in Memphis I will be all snuggly and warm with my moose pjs and long sleeve colorado flag shirt.
I miss the 70 degree temps but I was more then ready to come home. Bout day 4 of 6 I started to get a tad bored and feeling like I should be getting back to work with the job hunt, studying, ect. After day 4 I was less and less able to enjoy myself, worrying about jobs and school and feeling guilty for not accomplishing more over the summer then I did.
Managed to fill up my fall already and am itching to get back to working towards something. Taking a full time grad school course load at UMemphis working towards my Master in Teaching and initial teacher's license. I'm a non-degree student at the moment as I won't get up graded until December cause I have to take the Praxis 2 but I'm starting towards the degree. Then if I can get a public teaching job in Korea or Japan I'll petition the school to allow overseas teaching experience count towards my MAT degree in ESL. Also taking the LSAT this fall to make my dad happy. Got nothing else better to do and if I like my scores, they keep for a few years.
So that's what I've been up to in a nutshell.
Keep on keeping on folks. Try not to fry in this heat. Thank goodness for AC.