And so a pretty good year has come to an end.

It started off pretty wretched and I was very, very miserable. BUT. I still got to go to New Zealand for a month and while there get accepted for a new job. So. It all worked out in the end, didn't it? That was the big news. What else?

• Travel: I went to New Zealand (Auckland, Waiheke Island, Tiritiri ( Read more... )

Words cannot express the rollercoaster that this year has been - and the craziness that the end-of-the-year move to my new apartment will bring. From Australia back to Japan back to LA and thence to Washington D.C., this has been a crazy hectic year for me. It has been an amazing, amazing year full of unforgettable memories, the wonderful people, ( Read more... )

Time is slowly passing but too slow for my tastes. I sit here in the desert wanting - needing - something more to do than this. I randomly check online for things to do or things to apply to but come up with little to nothing - or without enough time to do what needs to be done for the application process.
I had a pretty decent day today, though. ( Read more... )

It`s so quiet now. I don`t have anything I need to do or anywhere I need to go. I don`t have to show anyone around or go touristing or help buy omiyage for people. I don`t have to think of good Japanese restaurants to go to or famous things to show off or inform about. I don`t have anything to do, actually, and I suppose I`m a little saddened and ( Read more... )

Imagine that? I've been in Australia for almost a month now...
Thoughts so far:

• I hate winter. I'm excited about the prospect of spring soon, now that we're finally getting up from the 40's and 50's to a much happier 61 degrees F today. Yay. Weird to think about Christmas summer vacation though... Christmas dinner = shrimp on the barbie?!! Maybe.
  
  
• I' ( Read more... )

Congratulations to me. I've managed a full year here in Japan and yesterday was my one year anniversary of coming here. I came to Japan one year and a day ago. Wow, pretty crazy to think about.
And as for the next year to come? Well, we'll see what plans come to fruition.

This is it ladies and gentlemen. I leave for the airport in three or so hours and I have yet to sleep. Frankly with Jerry here at my parents' house (how weird is that?!!!) I don't really want to... It has been an interesting and strange and awesome last day in the United States until August??? Maybe??? Well, sometime later on next year anyway.
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I'll be moving to Osaka in early December!!!!

Got a picture from me mum:


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I'm not exactly sure what this entails but I graduated college today with a Bachelors of Arts in International Studies with an emphasis in Asian Studies (ie I had to take 3 years of Japanese). While I don't yet have any pictures of me in my cap and gown, I will shortly. Here's me before the ceremony at the Japanese garden on campus:


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