Paul just passed his tuberculosis test! Good thing, he studied so hard.
Anyway, that was the last thing he needed to get for the JET program so they could process his paperwork and now we just wait to hear back about his placement.
As an update, Paul got upgraded in the JET program and is now a participant. Provided his placement is what we have considered safe (and the safe parameter for us is much larger than the official Japanese government parameter), we are going to Japan this fall!
The only sad thing for both of us is that, if he goes, it will be on July 23 (yup, one day before my birthday) and I won't be leaving until November. From what I know, strong couples who dream big have to deal with these types of times apart as they pursue great big plans-so I don't consider Paul and I to be the exception.
If all goes according to plan, Paul's leaving in TWO months, and I am leaving in SIX!
I am very excited as I embark on the next phase of life, and experience these things that I'd only dreamed of before.
More info is on the way!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tsunamis and Earthquakes
Poor Japan. What an extremely unfortunate week this has been. According to JapanToday.com, the death/missing person tolls are above 10,000. Whoa. The nuclear reactors are now releasing 4,000 millisierverts of radiation within a 20 mile radius, and 1,000 millisierverts are said to increase the likelihood of deadly cancer by 5%.
I looked up South Korea's radiation levels, and it seems like (because of the direction of the winds) they are unaffected thus far. Here is a news article to help ease your mind. I am going to have a serious discussion with Paul tonight about the possibility that Japan is just not going to work. I want to be with him for a long, long time...and not die of cancer in our forties!
Right now, I would love to either go to South Korea now, or go to Chile first and then go to Asia when things calm down. Either way, we are both set on traveling and living abroad by the time 2012 rolls around!
My thoughts and prayers are with Japan. I really hope they will recover from this tragedy soon. MUCH LOVE NIPPON!
I looked up South Korea's radiation levels, and it seems like (because of the direction of the winds) they are unaffected thus far. Here is a news article to help ease your mind. I am going to have a serious discussion with Paul tonight about the possibility that Japan is just not going to work. I want to be with him for a long, long time...and not die of cancer in our forties!
Right now, I would love to either go to South Korea now, or go to Chile first and then go to Asia when things calm down. Either way, we are both set on traveling and living abroad by the time 2012 rolls around!
My thoughts and prayers are with Japan. I really hope they will recover from this tragedy soon. MUCH LOVE NIPPON!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Waiting...
Paul had his JET interview on the 17th of February. This isn't his first time getting an interview. Last time he was put on the "alternate" list which basically means "you're good, but not AS good as the peeps we want to employ". He feels a lot better about this interview so our fingers are crossed!
I must be a lot more nervous than he about the outcome, because I had a moving dream the other night where we both rented uHauls, left our apartments, and realized we had no where to stay. I'm sure the actual transition to a foreign country will be organized and exciting, and won't involve uHauls (can't drive one of them to Japan!).
I'm most likely going to wait until October or November before I move, regardless of whether Paul gets JET or not. If he gets JET, he will be leaving July 23rd (yes, that is one day before my 25th birthday....*tear*).
I'm just sitting and waiting right now, and very antsy to know what our next move is. I can't wait to actually get there and make this blog VERY exciting for all of you. I know it's fun reading about my nervous uHaul dreams and plans for applying for jobs and all...but won't pictures of Japan and stories of karaoke outings be just a little better??
Ciao for now!
I must be a lot more nervous than he about the outcome, because I had a moving dream the other night where we both rented uHauls, left our apartments, and realized we had no where to stay. I'm sure the actual transition to a foreign country will be organized and exciting, and won't involve uHauls (can't drive one of them to Japan!).
I'm most likely going to wait until October or November before I move, regardless of whether Paul gets JET or not. If he gets JET, he will be leaving July 23rd (yes, that is one day before my 25th birthday....*tear*).
I'm just sitting and waiting right now, and very antsy to know what our next move is. I can't wait to actually get there and make this blog VERY exciting for all of you. I know it's fun reading about my nervous uHaul dreams and plans for applying for jobs and all...but won't pictures of Japan and stories of karaoke outings be just a little better??
Ciao for now!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
One down, a million to go!
The JET office decided to forego the opportunity to interview me for their program this year. I shed a couple tears out of disappointment, stood up purposefully and declared "Well then, if they think I'm not a good fit for them, perhaps I am not! The company that I will work for is out there somewhere!", and I moved on.
I have been researching a lot of JET alternatives, and there are plenty of exciting ones in Japan. A couple really important perks of JET that I no longer have access to (in 2011 anyway)are:
1) Interview in Denver
2) Free round-trip flight to Japan
3) 300,000 yen/month salary
That's why JET is so competitive, they SET YOU UP! But another company that I think sounds fantastic is called Kohgakusha. They pay 260,000~280,000 yen/month, they subsidize part of your apartment (which, I might add, is generally twice as big as the JET apartments) and they place ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) in the metro areas! We're talking Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka!! JET is mostly rural, but not as a rule. I think I would love a rural setting, but I'm not about to say no to urban!! Especially Japanese urban!
I need an interview. I'm alright on paper, but this thespian would blow an interview committee away! Give me a chance, people!
Much love, all!
I have been researching a lot of JET alternatives, and there are plenty of exciting ones in Japan. A couple really important perks of JET that I no longer have access to (in 2011 anyway)are:
1) Interview in Denver
2) Free round-trip flight to Japan
3) 300,000 yen/month salary
That's why JET is so competitive, they SET YOU UP! But another company that I think sounds fantastic is called Kohgakusha. They pay 260,000~280,000 yen/month, they subsidize part of your apartment (which, I might add, is generally twice as big as the JET apartments) and they place ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) in the metro areas! We're talking Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka!! JET is mostly rural, but not as a rule. I think I would love a rural setting, but I'm not about to say no to urban!! Especially Japanese urban!
I need an interview. I'm alright on paper, but this thespian would blow an interview committee away! Give me a chance, people!
Much love, all!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Intro Post
Since I plan on going into the world and mention of it piques the interest of friends and family I have decided to start the long promised blog about it!
Step one of taking the world by storm occurred on November 18th, when Paul and I sent in our JET applications. JET stands for "Japanese Exchange and Teaching", which is a fancy way of saying that I will be teaching English and also be an American Ambassador in Japan (if hired). Fingers are crossed for that!
We plan on continuing to apply for various programs of the like, and I will update when that happens. Of note is how much I want to visit South Korea. I have my prayers and happy thoughts in that area, and I hope that the North and South can coexist someday...
Step one of taking the world by storm occurred on November 18th, when Paul and I sent in our JET applications. JET stands for "Japanese Exchange and Teaching", which is a fancy way of saying that I will be teaching English and also be an American Ambassador in Japan (if hired). Fingers are crossed for that!
We plan on continuing to apply for various programs of the like, and I will update when that happens. Of note is how much I want to visit South Korea. I have my prayers and happy thoughts in that area, and I hope that the North and South can coexist someday...
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