Hello dear blog. It's been awhile. I feel compelled to write today because I had one of my "oh, my gosh, I live in Japan" moments again today. I was getting out of my car at the local ACO to see if I could find an electric fly swatter (think love child of normal fly swatter and bug zapper) and I looked over at the hills and the pachinco parlor blinking in the distance and I was filled with that warm glow I get every time it hits me - I am in mother-freaking Japan, baby!!!! And its been almost 2.5 years and I still get this feeling. So that's got me thinking - what/how am I gonna feel when I am gone in 10 months?

Cause I kinda/sorta have to leave. JET won't let me stay and my lack of Japanese skills kinda highlights the fact that I am not remotely qualified for any other job in this country. I could look at teaching with another company, but honestly, I think I've milked my job at an ALT (part, part, part time worker) in Japan long enough (though I wouldn't rule this option out as a possible way back should life look grim in the future). And despite any desire to remain, I still don't have ANY desire to torment my brain with learning Japanese (it's tricky, I know, but I can't help it).

So now the question is... Where do I go from here?