i don't know what more to ask for - i was given just one wish*
The month of May is coming to an emotionally bombastic conclusion. A lot has been happening. Last week was a super-stressful week at work due to last minute big project changes. I don't remember if I blogged it or not, but on the 14th, I told my boss about my impending move to Japan, so while that released a lot of built-up pressure, it also created a bit of collateral stress in relations with coworkers. All that stress made this past 3-day weekend feel really good. It was amazing how by Sunday night I was feeling something close to human again.
This week has been going quickly, thanks to Monday being a holiday. Yesterday, I received notification of my placement for the JET Program. I will be teaching in a small town called Assabu on the southern peninsula of Hokkaido (the northernmost island). I originally mistook the town to be Asabu, which is an area in Sapporo city (a bustling city of 1.8 million with 3 types of wonderful public transportation). I am still pretty excited, but I think it might take a while to get used to being the only foreigner there.
Because of finding out my placement, I didn't sleep a wink last night. (Did I mention they have one of the largest populations of Ezo Higuma (Japanese brown bears) there? They look a lot like grizzlies...) Tossed and turned all night and really didn't feel like getting up for work today. Got here and there's not much work to be had - yet.
Another happening is that, as of today, I am officially released from the Army. I have completed all 8 years of my contract. As of today, I am once again a civilian with all of the freedoms inherent in that role. I wrote about this event in my personal (aka paper) journal last night before going to bed and I went much more in depth. At this point, I wish I could rhapsodize about my service, but I just don't have the energy or concentration. There is more emotion connected with this ending than I anticipated. I had only anticipated joy at the end of my contract; now, I realize that it really is the end of a personal era and that comes with a mixed bag of emotions.
On a completely different note, this weekend is already jam packed with entertainment. Every once in a while I have one of those weekends where there is no time; the kind where I'll be out doing
stuff most of the weekend. The bad thing about that is that I have A LOT of stuff to start doing in preparation for my overseas departure... I really need to get my act together on that one.
Squirrely News of the Odd*Royksopp - What Else is There?Labels: JET program, life, work
