Wanderlusting

Ohisashiburi desu ne...It's been a while!

2008-09-25T02:07:00.004-04:00

Wow, the last entry in this poor neglected blog was nearly 2 months ago! I promise to do better

I'm currently in Tama-shi with my dear Miki-chan. She's been working for almost 2 months now, loving work, loving Tokyo, and loving life in general. Good for her--I've been leaching off her, but I finally got off my haunches and applied for a few jobs, one in Tokyo, the other in Fujiyoshida--a city nestled in the shadow of Mt. Fuji, and about a two-hour bus ride away from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. I already interviewed for the job in Fujiyoshida, and I have an interview for the Tokyo job on Wednesday.

Miki and I have met some really amazing people here. We've started a theater troupe called "Topdog/Underdog". Our first meeting is October 5, 2008. I'll let you know how that goes. Also, here's the website: Topdog/Underdog.

PS: Many people are afraid that CERN's LHC (Large Hadron Collider) is going to kill us all. Find out more:

Stop obsessing Keigh

2008-08-01T21:57:00.003-04:00

So Miki left from Detroit to Tokyo earlier this morning. Since then, I've been feverishly checking the NWA website to see where her flight is (I'm guessing it's somewhere in the middle of the Pacific right now). I've also been putting in random google searches like "plane + crash + NWA + Japan"

A bit scary, I know.

I can't wait until she finally lands in Narita. It should be about 3am Ohio time, and I will definitely be up to take her call.

Anyway, The Soup is on. The perfect thing to lift my spirits. :)

Materials and Sheffield

2008-07-16T23:23:00.004-04:00

I have all my materials for Sheffield, so I will be sending those out by the end of this week. Hopefully I will hear from them soon about when I will know (definitively) whether I am in or out.

Miki is leaving for Tokyo July 30th. I'm sad, but at the same time, I'm excited for her. Tokyo is an amazing place full of amazing and crazy things. Hopefully she doesn't get swept away by the huge crowds in Shibuya, but I think she'll be fine.

Must finish writing essays and other things for jobs in Japan. I also need some sort of headset for a skype interview.

Meanwhile, Ronald Mallett is building a time machine:

The Job Search Begins Again

2008-07-14T12:25:00.003-04:00

So I decided I don't just want to go to University. Because my program is distance learning, I'll only be meeting up with my classmates twice a year. That's pretty lonely, so I think the best course of action would be to get a job.

So far, I've gotten two interview offers, and I'm in the 2nd stage with another school. I haven't passed 2kyuu yet to be able to get a non-teaching job, but I don't think I would want to work in a Japanese company anyway.

So that's that.

It's Not a General Visa

2008-07-09T11:59:00.003-04:00

So I talked with immigration at Detroit, and they informed me that there is no such visa as a "general" visa, and that I had mistaken the heading of "general" as the name of a visa. I was actually looking at the cultural visa (which they gave me specific instructions on how to get).

As it stands, though, I'm looking to get a job for an August or early September start, so that I don't have to worry about renewing a tourist visa, or scurrying to get a cultural visa. It's too much work, and I hate all the red tape.

In other news, Miki has gotten her apartment, and the former tenant has decided to leave her a television, a couch, and a shoe rack. How lucky is that? I think the apt. already comes with a refrigerator, a washing machine, a toaster oven, and some other stuff. All I need is a rice cooker and some nori.

Tourist or General?

2008-06-29T20:17:00.003-04:00

I will be calling the Japanese consulate in Detroit tomorrow to figure out exactly what visa would be best for me. I would like to get a General Visa, which lasts for one year but if that is not possible, I will just have to get a 3 month tourist visa and try to figure out a way to change that to a General Visa.

Hopefully the embassy workers will be helpful, and immigration will be kind, but if it's anything like Mexican immigration, I know I'm in for a lot of red tape and excruciating headaches.

It Begins

2008-06-18T20:04:00.007-04:00

The search for an apartment in Tokyo begins.

Miki found a job in Tama-shi, where she'll be teaching the little kiddies how to be ~~assholes~~ good English speakers. I passed the LTI Japanese exam, which means I can finally get my diploma (after a year of semi-graduation limbo) and visa for Japan. I am searching for PT work while I complete my MA in Japanese Language and Society from The Uni of Sheffield (actually a UK university), which shouldn't be that hard.

I emailed some people on craigslist and a few of the Japan-oriented forums asking about apartments and the like. Hopefully some good news will come in the next few days. Tomorrow, I have a meeting with an unnamed university, where I'm going to try to squeeze out the last bits of leftover financial aid, and put it to good use.

In other news, there is a full moon* "huge moon illusion" tonight, so don't miss out on that.

*Did you know there's no such thing as a full moon? As you like it, Spacemen.

The Plans Have Changed...Yet Again

2008-05-14T15:45:00.006-04:00

I usually never tell my friends and family details about things I plan to do in the near future because my plans almost always go through a few changes.

Earlier this year, I was supposed to be in Japan with the now-defunct NOVA Group. After they crashed, Miki went to grad school, and I found out I didn't pass my Japanese language exam for graduation.

Fast forward 3 months, and Miki gets the idea for us to go to Korea. 2 weeks later, we both decide we're going to Indonesia. A month later, I decide I should try to check out Korea again. It looks like we're going on separate ways.

A month ago, Miki and I had a talk, and we finally decided on a place we'd like to go together: Japan. So the whole thing has gone full circle.

Right now, we're looking at places outside of Nagoya, or the Tokyo/Chiba/Saitama area. Miki has had some great prospects, which is fantastic. She'll most likely be leaving in July, while I'll leave for Japan in September.

Anyway, that seems like a plan. Seems like. Who knows what will happen a month from now

Pluto is still a planet, damnit!

2008-04-24T00:41:00.002-04:00

I'll never let you go, Pluto!

One of my recruiters contacted me and offered me a position with the Seoul Metropolitan Office HOWEVER I need 2 recommendations by early May to forward on to my school in Korea. Heh? How am I supposed to get these recommendations in such a short time? I'm not in school, and I don't feel comfortable asking my amazing professors only two weeks in advance to write me a recommendation.

They might as well ask me to fly to Pluto or something equally ridiculous...but I'll probably buckle down and do it.

In other news, I have another interview with a private language school which should be coming up this weekend. I might just end up going with a private school, because I don't know how "up" I am for working with 30 kids for 5 classes a day. It's just not in me. 10 kids I can handle, and give due attention, but I don't know about 30. I'll have to work up to that, I suppose. Maybe at a summer camp.

Maya should be heading off to Indonesia in July, and I guess I'll be leaving for Korea sometime in August. Damn my diploma taking so long. Oh well, I'll probably try to find a Korean tutor to help me learn the basics before I head out. That should be fun.

Smale's Paradox

2008-04-16T23:08:00.004-04:00

Want to learn how to turn a sphere inside out without poking a hole through the middle?

Here is the longer, 21-minute version titled "Outside In."

I've been obsessing over this for the past week or so. Maya says I may have a problem.

More interesting geometry:

It gets you thinking about what, exactly, is the difference between "inside" and "outside" if there are no distinct areas represented in one object.

How to make one:

In other news, I had two interviews today. They went pretty well, minus a comment in one interview that I was "excited to teach Korea in English." Mon dieu.

The Earth is....growing?

2008-04-12T16:36:00.003-04:00

I had my interview yesterday. I think it went terrific. My company will contact me with job listings (and offers) within the next few weeks. Exciting times.

In other news, some people believe the Earth is growing.

Amazing.

The 4th Dimension

2008-04-10T17:40:00.004-04:00

Most physicists agree that the 4th dimension is time. But if you could think of the 4th dimension as some sort of physical thing, you could imagine it as at every possible instant in time that we 3d beings exist.

Interesting stuff.

I've decided to reject the contract from Indonesia. I haven't heard from them in a week, and I've got to get moving. I can't keep waiting around.

I have an interview with a recruiter tomorrow at 2:30. It's a Canadian company that specializes in placing native English speakers in public schools in Korea. Another Canadian company is interviewing me on Wednesday.

I've applied to 2 of the big companies (I think they call these hagwons), and received a reply from the 1st one. The only problem I have with the big companies is the poor vacation time. One company doesn't give any paid vacation time...scary, in my opinion. You can't work people to death.

I wish I was in Korea right now, just so I could see what life would be like. If I could somehow cross through the 4th dimension, I would be able to travel to the future to my in-Korea self. Impossible, but still. :)

Korea...Indonesia???

2008-04-08T20:17:00.004-04:00

Hey folks, this is Maya writing!

I hijacked Kay's blog because she's really busy studying for exams and she's hardly got any time to sit down and write! Things have been very interesting as of late...check out my blog entry for what's happening with Kay as far as Indonesia is concerned.

Also, she's gotten about four or five phone calls and contacts from recruiters in Korea, and she is extremely excited to begin the process for employment Korea. She has her first phone interview for Korea tomorrow around 8pm I believe.

As you already know, I'm 100% behind her in her decision to go to either Korea or Indonesia (as long as I get the portable DVD player in the end, lol)!

So, wish her luck on her interview tomorrow and keep your fingers crossed!

A Bump in the Road

2008-04-04T12:55:00.002-04:00

I had my interview last night. It went fine, there were no curveballs, but at the end of the interview, the director told me that there would be a possibility that I might not be asked to contract with the school.

The problem is: before I applied, they extended contracts to two other teachers. The teachers, however, haven't gotten back to the school, so now I have to wait to see what happens with those other teachers. If they get back to the school, I'll be out of a job. If they don't, I'll have the job. Interesting...

But no worries: I'm applying to more schools in Medan. I don't think it should be a problem. The worst case scenario is that I'll be in a different location (perhaps Jakarta or Papua?) and I'll have to visit Maya every two weeks or something like that, which isn't a problem. It would be nice to be with Maya, though it's not like we haven't been apart for long periods of time.

Mmm...I'll update when stuff happens :)

Phone Interview Moved

2008-04-02T20:55:00.001-04:00

My phone interview has been moved to tomorrow. Guess this gives me more time to think about what they might ask. :)

In other news, I've applied for another position, just in case, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be at this first school.

Life is good. I went for another (mini) run today with my dog who may or may not join me and Maya in Indonesia.

Updates after the interview!

Phone Interview

2008-04-01T08:28:00.003-04:00

The phone interview is on Thursday and, although I'm nervous, I have comfort knowing Maya already went through the process and it turned out fine for her.

I went for a run yesterday, and started thinking about how my life will change in Indonesia. I'm nervous about that, too.

Pay It Forward

2008-03-30T21:15:00.006-04:00

New blogs.

Treespotter.
Life in the Topics.

Check out these other blogs.

Indonesia

Life of a Black Chick in Indonesia
Jakartass
Matambo/Neilson - Family Living in Indonesia
XPat Indonesia

South Korea

The Seoul of Black Folks. (get it?)
The Supa Dupa Fly Seoul Sista

Also: Culture Shock! Jakarta: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette

In other news, I watched "The Hawking Paradox" on The Discovery Channel/BBC Science today. It's basically about how black holes destroy information.

"More precisely, if there is an entangled pure state, and one part of the entangled system is thrown into the black hole while keeping the other part outside, the result is a mixed state after the partial trace is taken over the interior of the black hole. But since everything within the interior of the black hole will hit the singularity within a fixed finite time, the part which is traced over partially might "disappear", never to appear again."

A part of me wishes I was born smart enough to sustain a career in physics. I'm trying not to get sucked into the vortex that is the "see also" section of Wikipedia.

I have too much Bahasa Indonesia and Japanese to study.

Interview

2008-03-27T15:33:00.001-04:00

I just received an email from a school saying they want me to interview on Thursday for a position as a teacher.

*whew*

I wasn't very confident with my lack of a finalized degree, but it seems like it shouldn't be a problem.

I wonder what they'll ask me? :)

Job search

2008-03-26T20:41:00.004-04:00

I might be heading for Medan, degree pending. It seems that I need to have a copy of the degree by June 30, 2008 to be able to accept employment with a potential school.

I will pass my exam in May, so I'm wondering if Ohio University will be able to give me an apostille degree or a degree bearing transcript, and if that would suffice.

Hmm.

I'm applying to another school in Medan that teaches not only English but Chinese and Japanese. Hopefully, I'll be able to spark some interest because of my Japanese language skills, but who knows?

My lovely doggie Fritz might or might not be able to travel to Indonesia. The United States is not a rabies-free zone, but Indonesia is, presenting some potential customs issues.

I hear a lot of bad things about dogs (and other animals) in Indonesia, specifically that they're unclean and not as good as humans. While, if I had to chose between saving the life of a good human, or saving the life of Fritz, I would always choose the human, it always hurts to hear of people who dislike animals, or a specific type of animal. Dogs are curious, intelligent, fun and one of the best companions Man has. I don't see what the big deal is. Then again, I didn't grow up Indonesia.

PS: I may or may not have a phone interview next Thursday. *crosses fingers*

So it begins...

2008-03-25T16:12:00.000-04:00

Last night, Maya was told that she would be getting an offer for employment for a National Plus school in Medan, Indonesia. Today, she received her contract, and she's going over the finer details. There is a high probability that she will take their offer.

Look out, Medan...here we come!

Expect updates sooon. I want to learn as much about Medan as possible!

Fingers Crossed

2008-03-25T00:33:00.000-04:00

At this very moment, as I type these letters, Maya is giving a phone interview with a prospective employer over in Indonesia. It's almost 1 o'clock, but in Indonesia, it's almost 12pm. Or something like that.

I wish her the best. I'm sure she'll do fine. :)

Degree, TEFL, and Japanese

2008-03-23T21:13:00.001-04:00

My family has never been stuck in one place. Since high school, my sisters and I have traveled to Europe, South America and Asia, learning about the people and cultures of the places we've lived. Back in the day I was a fresh-faced 19 year old hopping off the airplane at Narita airport in Tokyo, amazed but slightly freaked out as I tried to navigate through one of the busiest airports in the world. Nothing was familiar: not the language, not the people, not even the serious-faced Americans who rushed from terminal to terminal searching for their connecting flight black to Los Angeles.

Man, I miss that feeling, of being fresh, of not knowing anything. Searching. Looking. Trying to figure out my place.

It's four years later, and I'm just as excited at the prospect of working (!) and living (again) in Asia. Indonesia seems like an interesting destination, and I'll admit: I have my fears. Terrorism scares, the Bali Nightclub Bombings, the horrific riots of 1998 that I read about in class...they all cross my mind when I think about living there. There's a huge possibility that Maya will go ahead of me to Indonesia, and I fear for her safety as well.

I suppose it comes with the territory. If I let fear rule my life, I'll never explore anything, and that's not the life I want to lead. Not at all.

I've been studying Japanese like crazy this past couple of days because I need to (finally) pass a LTI exam. The Japanese LTI exam is a national Japanese exam that tests oral proficiency. I took it 6 months ago, and while I didn't "fail" it, I didn't get the required level needed for Ohio University. It's my own fault, really. I should have taken the test the moment I got back from Japan. I'm paying for it, now, because I can't receive my degree until I pass this exam. This is my last thing, and hopefully, come May, I'll be ready for the test.

TEFL is also something that I want to do before I head off to Indonesia. I am volunteering with an ESL group at home so that I can prepare for TEFL training.

Well, that's it for now.

*goes back to looking at pictures of Indonesia*

The Search Begins

2008-03-21T14:17:00.000-04:00

Being black isn't something that happened overnight. I didn't wake up one day, look in the mirror and see a black person. For 23 years, I've lived my life with brown skin, curly black hair and a broad nose.

My skin color and hair texture might seem like a strange topic for my first blog entry, but I wanted to make something clear: this blog will talk about being black, living black, and seeing the world through a black woman's eyes. I don't consider myself that different from my non-black friends, family and colleagues, but it wouldn't be fair to me or anyone else to ignore the fact that my experiences have been and will continue to be shaped by my skin color and culture.

With that said:

The search for jobs in Indonesia (and, for safe jobs in S. Korea) has begun! My sister, the lovely Black Girl in Indonesia will be sending her CV out to at least 2 companies today, to judge the response. Some others have asked for a photo, and while many potential ESL teachers wouldn't cringe at the thought of supplying one, for me, there's always a slight hesitation because I know, 95% of the time, the photo along with the application, will go into the trash. C'est la vie, of course. It makes finding that 5% all the more enjoyable.

I've been reading blogs about black American women living and working in Asia, specifically Japan (where I once spent a year as an undergrad) and South Korea. Check out the sidebar for their websites.

Until next time.