First, a quick review of the past three months. After Golden Week (in the beginning of May), I had something of a crisis. I wasn't happy in my junior high school (which is 3 days a week) because I'm treated like the handicapped kid, and I felt overwhelmingly frustrated with my personal and career goals, as well as my relationships. Also, as mentioned in my last post, I hurt my finger quite badly and thus was unable to climb or play tennis, which meant I didn't really exercise. I shut down socially for about four weeks, and continued to struggle for about four more weeks. With summer vacation and my parents' visit imminent, I did better, but still outside of work I tried my best to avoid thinking about the future.
My parents and I had a good time I think, but it was really busy. We met on Thursday evening in Hokkaido and flew back to the main island the following Wednesday morning. The weather wasn't very cooperative for most of our time there, but we did our best to enjoy the scenery. I think we all agreed that our favorite place was Furano, location of the famous lavender fields. After flying back, we spent a very hot day in Nagoya before taking the train back to Nagano. I was in charge of this part of the trip, and I packed it a bit too full, but I think we saw at least a glimpse of nearly everything there is to see around here. We also spent a full day in Tokyo at the end of their visit.
It was quite helpful to talk to my parents while they were here. Even so, I felt somewhat frustrated by my lack of a clear future, and my motivation to be productive felt shallow and ready to dry up at the first sign of difficulty. Then on Monday, I took the new teacher shopping and talked with him for a bit. He brought up trying to get teaching certification while he was here. I didn't actually ask him, but I thought, "How is that even possible?" In the past I looked at NC state certification exclusively--maybe it was possible to get other state certifications purely online. So I googled it that night and sure enough, it was (although field work was still required). This was such an exciting relevation to me that I couldn't sleep, so I sent Mom an email about it.
In her reply that I got the next morning, she encouraged me to consider the master's degree option. Given the questionable nature of the academic accreditation of these programs, I didn't feel that a master's degree from them would be worthwhile, so I looked for other possibilities to get a Master's as well as state teaching certification outside of the US. I'm still looking, but I haven't had any success yet, so I looked at doing a master's in the US. Even when I moved to Japan I thought that if I tried for a master's in education again, I would do it through Liberty University, since it's a Christian school and shouldn't be as permeated by the dogma of public education. Looking at the Liberty University program, I figured out a plan that would be convenient and make good use of my time. According to this plan, I would return to the US at the end of March of next year.
For Japan, maybe more than any other place, it's important to already be in the country to get a job. Therefore by leaving the country, the possibility is good that I won't return. Even after thinking about it for three days I find that, surprisingly, this excites me more than it disturbs me. My biggest investment in this country has been my study of the language. As long as I have something to show for that even outside the country, I feel like that investment will have paid off. That isn't to say that I don't want to return--it is still my favorite place that I have lived. This prefecture, Nagano, is especially beautiful and has a nice climate, and the church I go to is particularly great. But the location's beauty and comfort can't make up for the aimlessness that I feel living here now. I also kind of wonder if I have the capacity to stay in one place for a long time. If not, then I think pursuing further education is the best step to a more fulfilling future.
My parents and I had a good time I think, but it was really busy. We met on Thursday evening in Hokkaido and flew back to the main island the following Wednesday morning. The weather wasn't very cooperative for most of our time there, but we did our best to enjoy the scenery. I think we all agreed that our favorite place was Furano, location of the famous lavender fields. After flying back, we spent a very hot day in Nagoya before taking the train back to Nagano. I was in charge of this part of the trip, and I packed it a bit too full, but I think we saw at least a glimpse of nearly everything there is to see around here. We also spent a full day in Tokyo at the end of their visit.
It was quite helpful to talk to my parents while they were here. Even so, I felt somewhat frustrated by my lack of a clear future, and my motivation to be productive felt shallow and ready to dry up at the first sign of difficulty. Then on Monday, I took the new teacher shopping and talked with him for a bit. He brought up trying to get teaching certification while he was here. I didn't actually ask him, but I thought, "How is that even possible?" In the past I looked at NC state certification exclusively--maybe it was possible to get other state certifications purely online. So I googled it that night and sure enough, it was (although field work was still required). This was such an exciting relevation to me that I couldn't sleep, so I sent Mom an email about it.
In her reply that I got the next morning, she encouraged me to consider the master's degree option. Given the questionable nature of the academic accreditation of these programs, I didn't feel that a master's degree from them would be worthwhile, so I looked for other possibilities to get a Master's as well as state teaching certification outside of the US. I'm still looking, but I haven't had any success yet, so I looked at doing a master's in the US. Even when I moved to Japan I thought that if I tried for a master's in education again, I would do it through Liberty University, since it's a Christian school and shouldn't be as permeated by the dogma of public education. Looking at the Liberty University program, I figured out a plan that would be convenient and make good use of my time. According to this plan, I would return to the US at the end of March of next year.
For Japan, maybe more than any other place, it's important to already be in the country to get a job. Therefore by leaving the country, the possibility is good that I won't return. Even after thinking about it for three days I find that, surprisingly, this excites me more than it disturbs me. My biggest investment in this country has been my study of the language. As long as I have something to show for that even outside the country, I feel like that investment will have paid off. That isn't to say that I don't want to return--it is still my favorite place that I have lived. This prefecture, Nagano, is especially beautiful and has a nice climate, and the church I go to is particularly great. But the location's beauty and comfort can't make up for the aimlessness that I feel living here now. I also kind of wonder if I have the capacity to stay in one place for a long time. If not, then I think pursuing further education is the best step to a more fulfilling future.
Hey! Great to see you are writing again! We did have a great time visiting you! It was busy... but we saw and did many things that one can only do in Japan! Thank you for being our host. You did a super job planning our time in Nagano. I loved the Miso soup and the factory, the drumming, the Bon Bon festival, the karaoke, the volcano hike, Matsumoto Castle (which you HAVE to do) Suwa and the lake, and the bike ride. What a trip! Love you bunches!
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