I'm sorry for the lack of updates, everyone! It's just that I feel silly posting to this blog now that I'm not living in Japan anymore. But fear not, if you want to keep track of me and what I'm doing, you can find me here: http://thetaleyouwerein.blogspot.com/

Feel free to drop by anytime! ;)

Meri Kurisumasu!

Here are some photos from our family Christmas ^^

( Jingle bells! )

I've had a great, four-day holiday weekend so far ;) I spent Saturday and Sunday with my father, step-mother, and family and Sunday and Monday with the other side of the fam. There has been lots of delicious food, Christmas music, gifts, and laughter. What a blessing to have a big family celebration again (though I did enjoy seeing how different Christmas was in Japan). Though I'm happy to be home safe, I reflect often on my year in Japan and frequently miss the people and places I've left behind there. Hope everyone had a lovely holiday! I miss you all!

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update this journal. I've been busy job-hunting and spending time with my family and friends. Please enjoy these pictures!

( Click here )

Hello everyone! I'm so sorry that this entry is late, but as you can imagine, being home has kept me quite busy ^^

I left Japan after 5:00 pm on Tuesday, October 16th and arrived back in the United States at 3:00 pm, on October 16th. Due to the time difference, I made it back home before I had left! Jet lag has caused me to sleep at irregular hours, for long periods of time, but by now I'm over the worst of it. I spend my days unpacking, getting organized, cleaning, cooking, baking, and catching up with family and friends. It's fun to play housewife...for now. I hope to find a job soon, and one that pays me this time ;)

Regarding NOVA, the Japanese press seems to finally have jumped on the bandwagon and is now fearlessly running stories and news segments about the corporation's downfall. Mr. Sahashi has been requested to make an appearance at the Labor Standards Office, a meeting he surely can't avoid at this point. No doubt they'll question him about the delayed salaries and demand he pay up. And when he can't...well, hopefully he'll finally declare bankruptcy and end this nightmare.

Many of you are under the impression that I was forced to leave Japan because of the NOVA situation. Yes and no, really. I was planning to return to the States in November after my contract with NOVA was finished. As I've mentioned before, I hope to attend graduate school or become a licensed ESL instructor. The problems with NOVA only sped up my departure, and as stressful as all of that nonsense was, I still had a wonderful time in Japan. I loved Myohoji, I loved my students, I loved the beautiful places I got to visit. I really had a stellar year and even though it ended a bit roughly, I'm not sorry for it. I wouldn't change a thing. It was all so worth it.

( Click here for goodbye messages )

I do miss Japan. Every now and then, I'll remember some small thing, like the way the green hills looked or the way the mist hung about them on humid days. The gentle sway of the train, the smell of grilled rice from the neighborhood vendor stalls. And then I get a pang of longing and wonder when I will see and feel those things again. Someday, I promise. But until then, I will do my best here in America and work hard. I will still update this blog for the benefit of my Japanese readers, so please feel free to leave comments.

For those in Japan: I miss you all very much. For my family and friends here: it's nice to be back. And for everyone who has followed this journal faithfully, joining me on my adventures and frustrations alike, thank you. It's been quite the ride ;)

* Last train ride to Takarazuka

* Last irimachi, last time seeing Osa-san informally, and last time playing janken with Sumire Map

* Last show at the Grand Theatre (Mizu and Tonami were there at our performance!), last purchase at the QR (and it wasn't even for me...)

* Last fangirling date with Lucia and Jen

* Last lunch with Hiroyo, Hatsuyo, and Miyoko

* Last train ride into Kobe (and last train ride period)

* Last time traipsing through Sannomiya after dark

* Last time dragging myself up that ginormous hill to our apartment

* Last night in the apartment

I've sniffled a lot today, been choked up, gotten teary-eyed, but haven't actually cried yet. The reality of leaving hovers about me, but still hasn't quite sunken in. I imagine it will on the way to the airport tomorrow.

Less than twenty-four hours left. I'm not sure what to do with myself as I wait.

Words cannot describe how creeped out I was by this:



I made Rebecca go stand by it so we could take a picture, but neither of us wanted to get close. The way it wobbled around...it's missing face and lack of features... I don't know why exactly, when it first jiggled by us, my skin crawled. Maybe I've watched too many Japanese horror movies or something, but I was strongly reminded of the "Silent Hill" games.

Before I launch into this mammoth post...

Packing. Yikes. I knew it was going to suck, but can I just tell you how many times I have packed, unpacked, and then packed again? Oh my word. I've come to the conclusion that I don't need any more junk. Well, maybe some new shoes, because the un-even, cobblestone, Japanese sidewalks ate all of mine, and I don't want to look at most of my NOVA shoes ever again.

Anyway. I'm really behind on posting! ( The last two weeks are lurking behind this cut )

One more full day in Japan. It's a strange reality that I've only half-accepted. I'm happy to be returning to a more stable life, but I'm going to miss Japan and the wonderful people I've met here. Tomorrow's plans include one last viewing of Adieu Marseille with Jennifer and Lucia, a goodbye lunch with Hiroyo and Hatsuyo, more packing, and then some quality time with the roomies. It's going to have to be an early day, so I can get a good night's sleep before what will no doubt be an exhausting adventure with airport security and customs on Tuesday.

On a random note, I cannot stop eating. I'm like a teenage boy! Stress, maybe? Or maybe it's the fact that it will be a long time before I get another chance to eat yummy Japanese food and drink umeshu ;)

NOVA teachers and staff received a new fax from corporate today. We really shouldn't be surprised at this point, but I find myself appalled by this man's audacity.

"To all instructors:

I deeply regret to inform all instructions that we are unable to pay salaries on Monday October 15. This is because it has not been possible to gather sufficient funds as quickly as planned. Instructors are now scheduled to be paid on Friday October 19.

I am truly sorry about the lateness of this notice and the inconvenience and hardship this causes. I ask for your understanding and patience during this difficult period.

Nozom Sahashi"

An "inconvenience"? Wanting our "understanding" and "patience"? I would laugh at the ludicrousness of it all, except I'm so livid. Well, I'd be livid if I had the energy, but I'm exhausted right now. Fasten your seat belts, kids, because we're nearing the end of this wild ride. The teachers won't stand for it anymore, and resignations, protests, and walk-outs are sure to follow.

http://www.letsjapan.org/?q=no-pay-for-teachers-on-october-15.html

After this morning, nothing NOVA does will ever shock or surprise me again. I was trying to sleep in, but the doorbell sounded and I trotted off to find out whether it was the postman with Sumire Map goodies or the local Jehovah's Witnesses. Through the peephole, I spied a foreign woman and two Japanese men. I declared them to be the latter of the two possibilities and was preparing to return to my room when the door began to unlock. I stood there, frozen with horror, with my pajamas and un-brushed teeth, and was soon face to face with the gaijin.

Perfect stranger: "Er... hello."

Me: "Um, hi."

Perfect stranger: "I'm your new roommate."

Me: !?!?

Yes folks, NOVA had sent Rebecca and Mara a new roommate with no notice, no information, NO nothing. I flailed on the spot and told her we weren't informed of her arrival. She and her strapping men then proceeded to bring her eleventyhundred bags, suitcases, and boxes into our small living room while I stood there, mentally swearing like a sailor. The commotion soon roused Rebecca from her dozing and she emerged from her room looking just as confused as I was. Our new roommate proceeded to tell us how she had been evicted from her apartment because, shock of all shocks, NOVA hadn't been paying the rent. Despite the fact that it's illegal to evict someone from their home without a court order, her landlord had threatened her and her other roommates and changed their moving date to an earlier day-- today. Danielle (the new roommate) then complained that she would inevitably be moving again because NOVA accommodation told her that they were losing the lease on our apartment at the end of October. Which means, my friends, that NOVA hasn't been paying our rent and, instead, has been pocketing our rent money for the past couple of months. 62,000 yen a month, stolen from me along with the insurance premiums I've been paying every month. I'm speechless with frustration and anger, and yet, don't have the energy to be properly infuriated. I will say that I'm so very tired of being cheated, lied to, and screwed over in general.

Rebecca and I have spent the last two hours furiously cleaning the apartment, moving our belongings, and changing rooms. Fortunately, Mara is in Mexico now and I'm temporarily inhabiting her room until she gets back on the 15th. I really feel for her and Rebecca, as this is quite a nasty shock. I'm fortunate to be leaving so soon. After such a whirlwind morning, I feel that I am in serious need of caffeine and the Doctor, which, lately, seem to be the only two, sure-fire things that calm and placate me.

Memoirs of a Gaijin continues to post insightful information about the collapse of NOVA. Check out his last few entries, especially "Day 624: Nova Shiga losing teachers". Very poignant stuff.

http://www.memoirs-of-a-gaijin.blogspot.com/

Just a short video I made as a tribute to my friends and co-workers in Japan ^^