Deadlines

In my line of work, I don't face too many serious deadlines. I prepare lessons, yes, and I have to have everything ready by the time the students walk in the door, but... it's no matter of life and death. And being the procrastinator that I am, there's always the last minute "I'm-winging-it-hoping-my-students-don't-notice" lessons. However, these days I'm confronted with one deadline: my re-contracting deadline. Should I work on the JET program for one more year until July 2008? Can I handle this country another year?! I'm just not sure. I need your help, por favor.

Here are the options. Please send in your responses and based on audience opinion I'll make my decision.

1. Stay another year on JET. Work the 3rd year at my same school, teaching the same exact lessons again. I will teach 11 hours a week but be at school 40 hours. So, for you math whizes, I'll have 29 hours a week of free time to prepare lessons (yeah, riiiiight), study japanese, go for my afternoon jog and do whatever else my little heart pleases. I will make good money for a no-stress life, and I will have lots of time to travel around Asia and enjoy myself.

2. Stay in Japan another year, but find a cooler, more challenging job. I will explore different job opportunities, maybe in tourism, international business, or even some pr stuff. It's a risk- I'm not too sure of my qualifications but at least it will be a chance to try something else and gain some new skills in case I don't want to teach forever. And, while I'm young, why not take some risks? If I take a differnt job, I will have to move out of my free housing and will undoubtedly earn about the same if not less and have to pay more in housing as well as not having as much vacation time. Not to mention I will probably actually have to work when I am at work. Imagine that. But... on the upside, I can get a job where I speak more Japanese and will be able to increase my language skills while earning money.

3. Peace out of Japan and head to Europe. Yeah, well, if I'm done with Japan, the next place calling my name is my good ol' hometown in Spain. I will look for work possibly teaching, or tourism with the Japanese people. I will live with my family there rent-free, save some cash and work as little or as much as I like. I have a passport, so I don't have to worry about the visa, but I realize that I can be in Spain anytime so there isn't too much rush. If I do take option 3, I will be leaving Japan with conversational level Japanese, but it won't be business level yet. I will also have no work experience directly related to anything but teaching... so what kind of work will I actually be able to find in Spain?! Who knows. Good thing I do love teaching, because that will probably be my best bet.

4. Forget Japan. Forget Europe. Join a gang of pirates, sail the ocean and take lots of booty. I will get to have a cool pirate name, wear an eye patch and cool striped outfits, and can drink beer while I mop the deck. Maybe they will even give me a big sword or machete or some other equally scary weapon. I will also be really tan from lots of sun while on the deep blue and I will be in top physical form because I will spend my days beating people up to get their treasure. I think it could be a good life.

So, let me know what you guys think. I'm leaning towards option 4, but I need to get some second opinions. Ladies and gentleman, cast your votes soon... the deadline is approaching and the clock ain't standing still.

T'estimo Barcelona

Here are just a few pics of my family in Spain and some of the sights I visited. Spain is always the perfect balance of home life with a little sighseeing on the side. I couldn't ask for a better way to spend 3 weeks... good food, great sights, a family to make anyone envious. Yeah, you could say I had an alright time in the fatherland.

Check it out...



Queralt, turning 9 this year. She is convinced Santa is real and it is the cutest thing ever.



Enric, turning 4 in March. He was trying to escape the camera but I caught him on the floor and snapped a pic while he laughed.



Then there's Robert, Sofia, and I in Girona, a historical city just north of Barcelona. My family and I went there for a daytrip and we snapped this pic on the famous Girona bridges lined with houses. (check out the pic below)



It was a beautiful sunny day so we walked around the city and checked out some of the architecture and sights. The city has a small river that flows through it so there are lots of bridges and the houses are built all along the river. Imagine waking up to that view.



Last up, I went up to Banyoles, another city in Catalunya to visit the lake, go out to the countryside and get some fresh air. Here's the lake of the city surrounded by a stunning park where we saw many a happy hiker or biker enjoying the crisp winter day.

Isn't Europe beautiful?!?! (and by that I mean, isn't my family beautiful! haha) I'll be sure to post more pics soon, starting with our 3 day adventure in Madrid that included pitchers of sangria, museum overload, and almost getting killed in a middle-of-nowhere-park. Ahhh... nothing like life-threatening events to spice things up. ;)

Before there was me in Barcelona...

Before there was me in Barcelona, a little bit of Barcelona was brought to me.

Here in Japan, the annual Toyota Cup brings in the best club teams from around the world to compete in Yokohama. This year, Barça, having won the Champions League, was able to come and play. Not only did I attend the semi-final, at the game I met 3 men working for the club team who needed a translator to help with their 40 Japanese volunteers setting up the half-time show. I got a free ticket to the final match, got a super-duper reversible puff jacket, and a full day speaking Catalan and Japanese- my two heritages somehow colliding at a soccer game. Despite the unfortunate loss of my hometown team, it was a day I will not soon forget. Check out the pics.



The beautiful field in Yokohama before the game starts.



Some Barça fans with a lovely home-made sign that says, "I Love You Pibito" in Catalan. (Pibito is a player- duh)



The Three Amigos. Ernest. Jordi. Miquel. After the half-time show was over we had plenty of time to have a celebration beer and then lots of cheering. Just hearing Catalan in Japan was like being in a dream. A great, great dream.

By the way, a BIG shout out to my girl Cassie, who let me re-schedule our Christmas dinner plans so that I could go to the final match. Thanks!! We set up Christmas dinner for our Japanese tutors and re-scheduled for the next week. Cassie made delicious chicken anpotatoesos. I brought a salad and sparkling cider and for the first time ever, I tried Christmas pudding. It's really a cake. I don't get why the British insist on calling it a pudding, but that's besides the point. Here are the pics of the fun.



Here are Cass and her tutor, Hiromi.



Our beautiful Christmas pudding. Did you know it's like 80% raisins? No, I didn't either! :)



The four of us, Cass and Hiromi, Yukie (my tutor) and me. Junichi, Yukie's brother and my other tutor, isn't anywhere to be found, though. I think he's taking the pic, but if you want to get a look at him, check out my fishing blog when he took me out on the lake for the day.

Anyway, that was our lil Xmas dinner in Tokorozawa. After dinner we swapped stories about Christmas, Santa, the Easter Bunny and then the Tooth Fairy. It was pretty hilarious explaining the concept of these fictitious characters to Japanese people. Along the way, though, I found out that in Japan, teeth that have fallen out don't warrant cash, but they do have their own traditions. Upper teeth are buried in the ground to ensure that the next tooth comes down firmly, while lower teeth are thrown over the roof of the house so that the next one will grow up strongly. All this in the country that has the worst teeth I have ever seen. No joke.

After Christmas dinner I finished my last day at school, my last-minute shopping and headed to the airport to fly off to Barcelona. Lots more to come about Barcelona, Madrid, family and friends.