Good bye

On Friday afternoon I found myself in a place I haven’t been since I first arrived in Japan. I was standing on the stage in the school gym, sweating in the heat while wearing a tie, and reading a speech I wrote in Japanese. The first time I was there I was introducing myself to the students and teachers of Ajimu High School…and this time I was saying good bye.

It’s amazing thing to stand in front of all my students and tell them how much they’ve meant to me these past two years. I was deeply touched by their applause and cheering as I walked off stage and given a bouquet of flowers. I will miss them all so much…even the ones who always slapped my butt and grabbed my crotch.

This is ESS, English Speakers Society, English club. These kids were some of the best. Man we've had some crazy times.

On Sunday I leave Ajimu and the inaka life I’ve known since arriving in Japan. Along with this farewell are the many good byes to friends who are returning to their home countries. Saying so many sayonaras is draining, but I like to think that no farewell is permanent and that somewhere alone the way, in the future, in another life, I will see these dear friends again.

This chapter in my life is coming to a close…but the story is far from over.

See you later everyone!

Shark Friend, Series Finale

One more video to cap off a year of extreme personal growth.

Final Decision

Finally, we know where I'm going...

Bling and Irises

Well July has suddenly come upon us and the countdown to the end of the 2006-2007 JET Contract year is on. What better way to spend one of the last remaining weekends than donning oneself in flashy bling for a fancy dinner and then viewing lovely irises the following day? Still with me, mom? Let’s just go to the pictures…

BEHOLD, Justin all blinged out. No, I am not Michael Jackson.

Here’s Diego reverting back to his thug image days. I told him the bandana suited him, but he refused to wear it into the restaurant.

Our lovely female friends at dinner (Rhoda was the inspiration for the evening).

After out night out (and sleeping in Rhoda’s house where temperatures approach that of the sun) we teamed up with Sheena and took a stroll into the countryside to view some irises. While I wasn’t bursting with anticipation at first, the flower viewing turned out to be a very nice afternoon. Except for when spiders starting attacking us in the gazebo over the dried up lake.

The field of purple and white stretched endlessly into the green hills (flower pictures! it's like your blog, Julie!).

RABBIT! No wait, INDIAN!

Me and Diego.

I feel like I’ve neglected my blog recently…this is because I’ve been so unsettled about my future that I’ve been waiting to post until I had something BIG and IMPORTANT to announce. Just to give you all an update, I will soon be deciding whether or not I’ll be staying in Japan another year. After months of discussion with my bosses in Oita-ken, it turns out that I cannot remain a third year on JET. However, I’ve been looking for other jobs and have been offered a position with a private English company. I’m at an important crossroads and this week will involve a lot of thinking and praying about the future.

My love to you all.