Here I am. It feels as if Japan has completely skipped past fall and decided to park it firmly in the cold of winter. Today, in particular, felt like the coldest weather so far this season. The wind was absolutely biting and even though I was layered up, it was still felt. The heater in my apartment struggles to keep the place warm. The only way it works adequately is if I shut the door leading to the kitchen hallway. It makes for a fairly snug living room, but once I crack that door open to get to the bathroom or kitchen, it's like walking into a meat locker. Instant freeze.
In other news, I just got back from a nice weekend my the little misses and was able to accomplish some Christmas shopping for family members. I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to get, but I had this feeling that if I saw
it then I would buy
it. The thing is, I didn't know at the time what
it was going to be. However, I'm pleased with what I found, thanks in part to the little misses for her recommendations, and I'm hoping the folks back home will be pleased as well. Obviously I won't be divulging what it is I bought until after the holidays. I'm a big tease, I know.
I've been in a weird state-of-mind lately. I'm here in Japan, doing my thing, accomplishing a long-set goal, but the longer I stay here I can't help but be reminded that it isn't forever...right? What's next for me? What do I want to be next for me, is the bigger question? I wouldn't call this a quarter-life crisis or anything that dramatic. Lord knows I haven't run out and bought anything incredibly unnecessary and expensive, and I don't think that what I'm doing, mentally, is me being my typical worry-wart self. It's simply me thinking ahead and trying to be responsible in planning the next stage in my life, whatever that may be. My lady friend put it to me this way, "What is your specialty? You're here in Japan, teaching English, so English is your specialty here. What's your specialty in America?". This has stuck with me, because well, it just makes a lot of sense and it's something I should know. Alas, I don't, because I've never given it much serious thought. I've been thinking of what I'd like to do back in the States and I've been thinking about what I've put a lot of time into. I've put a lot of time, and I mean a lot of time, into learning the Japanese language. Am I fluent? No. Am I more adept in it than the average Joe? You bet. That being said, I've put so much time into learning this language that I'd hate, and would be incredibly disappointed in myself if I let it fall to the wayside. What does this all mean? It means I'd like to start taking my studying more seriously...especially since I'm living here in Japan for the time being. I'd like to eventually get a job working in Japanese translation, putting this long-learned skill to good use. Just throwing out ideas, production assistant/translator for a video game company...BOOM...the idea instantly turns me on. No, not in that way, ya freaks. But being able to speak Japanese more fluently than I do now would open the door up to such a position. So there ya go, my new goal for the new year. I'm giving it to you a bit early, but there's no time like the present to hit the books. Wish me luck!
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| Think pizza-flavored Cheetos puffs. Not good. |
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| This was way tasty. |
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| The lady's cute dessert. |
