Why I Resigned

Who would've thought it'd come to this?

Let's think way back, over 9 months ago, back to when I lived in Australia. Feels like ages ago, huh? My plan was to live a year in Japan, teaching English, and then decide what I wanted to do from there. I've never been good at planning in advance, but I've been fortunate that things have usually played out pretty well. For that I'm both grateful and a little creeped out. It's been an interesting ride.

Then the time came, earlier this week, when I sat down with my boss to discuss my possibilities post-March 2009. The era after my contract expires. It wasn't something I'd thought about much, to be honest. I just scribbled my name down on a new piece of paper and that was that. As of yesterday, I've signed on for another year.

And yes, I'm aware of the ambiguity in the title between resigned (left) and resigned (re-signed / signed again)... but having it this way is so much more fun!

My time here in Japan has possibly been the best time of my life. It's certainly been the most rewarding and educational. ("HA-HA" to my parents who paid for all those school fees!) So it'll probably come as no surprise to most people that I want to enjoy this amazing experience just a bit longer.

There are tough times, of course. My job is very demanding, my boss really puts the pressure on, and sometimes the hours are out of control. (It's true: they work you hard here!) Not to mention the occasions where the kids act up and just generally make the day difficult. But I have great relationships with a bunch of them, which is so damn special - especially considering that I don't understand 95% of what they're saying and they don't understand 95% of what I'm saying. My colleagues are just wonderful people to be around - both in and out of work - and I have great friends outside of work too.

And there's something about Japan - something unprecedented, that took me totally by surprise: I've fallen in love with this place. The people, the scenery, and the culture! There's just so much going on at any point in the year, and it utterly captivates me. Just last weekend I was invited to a dondoyaki, where old ornaments are burned outside a shrine. It's largely an event for kids, though it's considered especially healthy if you cook mochi (rice cakes) on the fire. At the shrine I attended, in a group of not many more than 50 people, I was of course the only foreigner. And everyone made me so welcome, offering me sake, all sorts of traditional food, and conversation, despite my very humble Japanese.

This world is full of wondrous places, if you dare go out and find them. I've found one, and though I can't promise how long I'll be here, I'm going to make the most of my time here, learn what I can. And I'll just generally do my best to make this limited life of mine as happy and as meaningful and as special as it can possibly be.

Herein will follow my next year in Japan: The Adventure Beyond.