the adventure continues

I know this decision is not one that everyone will totally support, but maybe after a proper explanation, it'll make sense.

I've returned to Ye Ol' Eikaiwa as a sub-teacher.

Here's a break down of my reasoning:
1) I need to find a doctor. I messed up my wrist in July and it's gotten a lot worse after schlepping around toddlers for a week. I can't ride my bike because it hurts. I can't braid my hair. I started to hesitate before catching falling children. The pre-school didn't offer med. insurance or very much money. I'm sure a doc will want to x-ray me at least. It's not something I can afford to do without work insurance and it's not something I can really afford not to do either.

2) I needed to find second job anyway for money. after the stress of finding another job, I'd be working more hours for less money than I would with Ye Ol' Eikaiwa. and, in the end I'd be way more stressed with 2 or 3 jobs than just one.

3) the lack of intelligent conversation will seriously make the LSATs harder in the spring. A sampling:
yea!!! potato.
yea!!! potato.
yea!!! potato.
...yea! potato.
yep. potato.
uh hu, potato.
potato.
enough with the potato!!!!
(patient smile)
oh look! a carrot!


4) Subbing will be fun because I get to train new teachers and be a problem solver and being a "she'll get it done right" person is exciting. I think it'll be a good type of challenging.

5) the old trainer who treated me and all other teachers like dime-a-dozen lazy crap, was demoted. He was insensitive, unprofessional, disorganized, etc etc. He was a bad boss so the higher-ups demoted him to teacher. The new trainer is much better. He's shown that he respects me and has worked hard to get me to come back. He has already proven to be more reasonable and organized than the last and I respect him more.

So that's the deal. The guilt and disappointment of leaving the pre-school is mostly gone already. It wasn't pretty, but that's just the way it goes. I've got good things ahead with Ye Ol' Eikaiwa. {{Edit: I'd like to say I'm done with the guilt but it's not true. The people at ABC are good folks and I feel horrible that I had to leave so soon and didn't give proper notice. I'm sad that I disappointed them. I'm sad that the kids got attached to me and I got attached to the kids after only one week. but I need to see a doctor.... and that's just the bottom line, I guess}}

Here's the tentative Long Term Plan, for those who like to be informed of such things. Others of you, feel free to laugh at my misconceived notion that I can shape my future. But plans make me happy. So this is the plan:

Use three day weekends to go to Kyoto, Nara, Sendai, ect. There are a number of Japanese Bank holidays in the Fall, so a traveling I will go. Auditions for travel partners are commencing as we speak.

Come back to the states for Christmas. Details TBA.

Take the LSAT in the spring (yes, itâs offered in Tokyo) send off applications in the Fall. My LSAT score will determine which schools I apply for but probably most, if not all, on the W. Coast.

Basically explore Japan as much as possible for the next year on week or shorter vacations while saving up lots of money. The promotion to sub will probably let me save at least $500/month even after weekend trips.

So save $10K and explore close to "home." Leave Japan winter 2007, visit 'merica and then travel S. America for 6 months. Be in Brazil for Carnival, volunteer in wine WWOOF farms in Chile, dance the tango in Buenos Aires... Come back, settle into whatever university town Iâve chosen and kick ass in Law School fall 2008.

sound like a plan? yeah, I think so.

the adventure begins! er, the adventure continues!!