One month!! How did this happen?

One month in pictures. Still no Internet at home (not until may 19th!!!) so this will have to do for now. Most of these require no explanation. I'll take lots of pictures of my apartment as soon as I get a little more set up!

OMG I LIVE IN JAPAN

Pretty much every time I leave the hotel, that's what I think. OMG I LIVE IN JAPAN.

In the last 48 hours I have:

• Pointed at the only picture on the menu and burnt my face off because the udon was too hot. 
• Met two of my new coworkers, both of whom are friendly, interesting people. 
• Went to the spa on the roof of my hotel and sat naked in a hot pool with some Japanese ladies. 
• Realized I will be expected to buy a fridge for my apartment. And a lot of other expensive things. 
• Smiled and bowed a lot. 
• Decided I need to learn Japanese and fast. 
• Eaten fish and soup for breakfast in my Japanese robe in the lobby of the hotel. 
• Wandered around Kumamoto with said coworkers. 
• Discussed how lucky I am to be here. 
• Seen a lot of dancing people. Apparently Japanese people love festivals but no one I know seems to know why they are dancing. 
• Lamented how hot and rainy it will be in a few short months. 

Japan is great so far. Tomorrow, I will go to the university for the first time. I will then (hopefully) find an apartment really, really quickly and start getting other important things like a cell phone and a bank account. I have a couple of weeks of orientation and then start teaching soon. I'm looking forward to not living out of my suitcase and getting settled at work. I'll update you all in the relatively near future. You know how I am about blogging... 

Also, as you may have noticed, I changed the name and layout of my blog. I hope you like it!

P.S. My visit to the U.S. of A. was perfect. Thank you to everyone who helped me feel so at home again, especially to Nadine and Brendan who let me invade their house for a couple of weeks. I can't wait to see you all again. And you should all visit Japan!

Four Weeks in Korea, Three in America, Then Two Years in Japan!!

As of today, I have four weeks left in Korea. My departure is bittersweet. I think as anyone who has lived in Korea, especially as a teacher at a hagwon, life is good here. But it is also complicated. I have met wonderful people, eaten delicious things, seen amazing things I had never dreamed of before and generally had a great time. I would say that covers about 90% of my year in Korea. But I've also had trouble communicating, been scammed by cab drivers and other annoying things I can't think of right now. Mostly, I'm sad to leave, but I'm also really excited about my next step.

As of February 25th, I'll be spending three weeks living it up Seattle/Prosser style. Eating Mexican food, drinking dark beers, going wine tasting, hugging it out, living the retired life with Dad, breaking in Nadine and Brendan's couch with Diane, Andrea and Katrina, helping Laurie and Tim celebrate their baby, partying with everyone, hanging in the Sviks living room and a million other things I haven't done in almost a year. I can't wait. It's been too long. There really is no place like Washington. I'm excited that I'll have so long to enjoy it.

But all vacations must come to an end, so at the end of March, I will leave home once again, this time for Kumamoto, Japan.  I have somehow convinced Sojo University that I am the perfect candidate for my dream job. I think I tricked them. Don't blow my cover. I will be a lecturer, teaching English to Japanese university students. In addition to that, I will be helping develop curriculum and other things I'm not quite sure of yet. I will work two 15 week terms. That means 30 weeks a year. I am not only getting my dream job, but I'm about to be the queen of vacation. I'm really excited. I can't wait to explore Japan, be in Seattle a bunch and travel the world over the next two years.

Right now, a lot of things are still up in the air. I don't know all the details of my job yet, but I'll try to keep you all posted. I am so excited about the next couple of months. I guess I'll have to think of a new name for the blog, although I hear K-Pop is really hot in Japan right now. I'll let you know in a few months!!!!!!

Pictures!

I posted pictures to Facebook today after a long hiatus from sharing any information about my life. I've been busy, it's been cold, etc. Sorry for the absence. I don't have the energy to also post all the photos here, but I believe you can see the album even if you don't have Facebook using this link.

I hope you all enjoy!