Nippon no more

Anyone who knows me is undoubtedly aware that I have long been planning to move to Japan. There are many reasons for this, notably my strong desire to become fluent in Japanese, a language I have spent years studying but have never fully got a handle on. I believe that total immersion would really supply what I've been missing in my studies. Other reasons include a strong desire to study martial arts in Japan, learn authentic Japanese cookery, and the importance of living somewhere else in a different culture and out of my comfort zone for a bit.

...

guh, I started writing this yesterday, and just don't have the will to relate the whole story. Basically, my goal has always been to apply to JET. Last year I completely screwed up the application, and never even sent it. This year, I rectified this by busting my ass and producing what I thought was one hell of an application packet. I found out yesterday that I was not accepted. I was not even invited in for an interview. This is surprising and highly disappointing. I had been told by many people familiar with the program that with my back ground and particular passion for Japan I was more or less a shoe-in. Not being accepted was always a possibility, but I thought that the rejection, if it came, would be after an interview. To not even qualify for an interview, and not know why, is incredibly hard to swallow.

If I had been going to Japan, I would have been leaving in August. Now I don't know what to do. It made me realize that I need to take a more active role in the direction of my life. I have been very fortunate to have the job that I have, but it is a passive and uncreative (though, admittedly stable) way to live my life.


Let's see what is next.