I must be mad!!!

My first year here in Japan has had many ups and downs. As much as I like roller coaster rides, this was one that i couldnt wait to disembark...

My decision had been made to jump ship and move to a new location - my heart was set on Osaka, Kyoto or Nagoya. 

Last Friday my friends dropped a bomb shell on me - they told me they thought i was making a mistake and that staying another year would be a better choice...i was literally days away from confirming with my manager my final decision.

Albeit, nothing was set in stone - the unfortunate thing with the office thats runs the area is they usually have mostly new teachers coming in from far and wide rather than people staying on or transferring to their branch - so this means they are one of the first to sort out their contracts which results in anyone wanting to transfer having to give up their job before securing another - its a huge risk.

I was told this last Tuesday - so forgive me was being slight worried that all could go wrong and i would end up with no job.

So putting the two things together (possibility of no job and friends thinking going is a bad choice) made me start doubting my decision...so bring on the mother...yes when ever i have difficult decisions to make i always go back to my mum and ask for her imput - lets just say i was expecting words of encouragement to move, but instead i was faced with a concerned mother...her honest opinion was that she would be worried about me moving to a large city and how she thinks im moving because of a bad first year etc.

So for the whole weekend i've have tried to think things through - what is best for me?

In the long run i wanted to be somewhere for 2 years so that i could get to know my school and people better (1 year is never enough), i also wanted to be somewhere i could learn about japanese culture and learn japanese too...i'm actually in the idea location...and when i look back at my 10months being here i have done so much - Ive attended a japanese wedding whereby i sang my girl with my new found friends to the bride, i danced in a 2 hour long parade festival and also pulled a large float for 2 hours - after which i went we all the japanese people from the float to the upstairs of a japanese restaurant and ate and drank until late at night, ive tried food i wouldnt even go near at home (shark, cows heart, sushi), ive been camping a few times, bike riding a round a lake surrounded by mountains, went on a outside cooking daytrip whereby we cooked a cake on a huge piece of bamboo, i went to Tokyo Disney, temples, shrines - so many things in such a short time...and i havent even mentioned the "normal" socialising aspect or school stuff.

My friends reminded me of all this and that i would be giving up so much - in fact every day more options open up here, including private classes and more involvement in the community - its been a long time since any one in the area has seen a british person in their town.

So with much consideration i have decided to stay in my town for another year - a year that my friends have promised much excitement...and to get it started between contracts I will hopefully be moving to a brand new, 2 bed apartment that i will share with a friend - no more drafts, paper windows, cold tatami, frozen pipes...and best of all a proper modern shower with proper water heater.

So stay tuned for more blogs (and hopefully more videos and pics) from Japan

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