I’ve picked a bad time to consider teaching English in Japan. The largest English-language-teaching company in Japan, Nova Group, went bankrupt this past week and has a debt of over 43.9 billion yen. This has left over 4,400 foreign instructors without wages for the last several weeks of employment, and now the company has closed down all of its schools.

Needless to say, with so many people out of jobs, there will be plenty of competition for the English teaching positions that still exist in the country. Based on the requirements of the specific program I’ve been considering (JET), I don’t know that many of these newly-unemployed individuals would be able to apply for these positions, but it will make it more difficult regardless.

I’ve also picked now of all times to become satisfied with life. I’m not complaining about this… I’m actually quite glad to be where I am. Work isn’t perfect, but it never will be and I’m enjoying getting to know the people around me on the bus, at work, church, and elsewhere.

Tags: Japan

I began the application for a job teaching English in Japan. This time, it’s the real deal, not the second-runners with iffy reviews and limited interview-locations. No, this time it could happen. I’ve got to finish the application by December. They do interviews in Seattle which helps. If I’m destined for Japan I’ll find out in March and fly there next summer to do the job.

I’ve also been looking at a program teaching English in Chile, but it costs money and most likely is beyond the means of affordability unless I can get a magical deferral on my student loans or some other sort of financial assistance. This one is more of a longshot, although equally enjoyable to contemplate for the sheer “holy f##k, you’d really want to do that?” responses.

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My crush at work ended today. As I watched her blow the smoke from her lips, I could feel my insides sighing. At the same time, my body ached for the sweet familiarity of a second-hand cigarette and its nicotine release. The scent lingers in the fond memories of days past and places left behind. The memory resides on the same bench in my mind, at a railway station between then and now The Smoke sits with its worn shell and eyes looking downward at the pavement. Guinness and Corona banter about the old days.

“Yeah, I remember that jackass,” says Corona. “He was sitting in his recliner watching some Lindsay Lohan movie and he drank four. You could tell he was lonely. Still check his website sometimes and he still sounds like a lonely bastard, but he never calls me anymore.”

Guiness stares up with bloodshot eyes. “I know what you mean,” he replies. “We used to meet up at least every couple of weeks. I felt like we’d grown a strong bond, but now I hear nothing from him. Whatever, he can just rot wherever he went, it’s no loss to me. I’ve still got other people in my life. And even when they’re not there, I’m full of everything I need to get through the days.”

All of a sudden, Crown Royal, walks by pushing a grocery cart with bags full of cans and bottles. “What’re you pansies doing? What a bunch of f###ing whiners. People come, people go. Screw them.” He continues along and a wheel on the cart squeaks as he passes into darkness on the other site of the lamplight.

Tags: alcohol, Japan, job

Updated
Turmoil speaks of a haphazard, busy life full of action. It’s the wrong word.

I’m considering many different possibilities which has me constantly thinking.

1) Job: where should I look next?
2) Wife: does a Mail Order Nebraskan Bride website exist?
3) Location: do I want to live in Japan next year?

I’m serious about all but one-half of one of these options. If you know me, you’ll figure it out.

Update: I’ve decided this post is dumb and overly cryptic. Basically, I’m saying I wish I had a good, godly Christian woman around here that I could woo off her feet and marry, but most of the ones I know all live in Nebraska and it’s gonna be hard to get the same quality up here near the Puget Sound.

Tags: Japan, marriage, Nebraska, women

“Why are you looking to change jobs?”

Wrong answer: Because I hate talking to people. I want to live in Japan.

Right answer: Because I am looking to progress in my career path and see This Place as a step along the path with many subsequent opportunities.

Tags: career, Japan

Tower Records exists no more. The well-known music and record store has met its demise. It’s been in bankruptcy for quite a while, has now been auctioned off for $134.3 million, and will be liquidated immediately. (Source: AP.net)

This sucks.

I haven’t bought many albums from Tower Records because I don’t have any locations near me, but the few times I’ve been to Tower Records are quite memorable.

The first time was when I was in London, England, in the summer of 2000. My family and I were at a Tower store there. I didn’t have any cash on me, so I used an ATM machine to withdraw some British pounds (which actually took my account balance negative I found out later). I went inside and bought the brilliant green’s self-titled album. This was a huge deal for me because it was my first Japanese music purchase. Also, it’s a good album that I listened to many, many times over the next three years. I’ve still got the album now.

My second memorable visit to Tower Records was at its store in Utsunomiya, Japan, during the summer of 2002. I listened to many CDs at its kiosks on that day. Listening to American music helped remind me of home and my life during the two months I was in the country. I ended up buying MxPx’s compilation album “Ten Years and Running” featuring the best hits from their 10 years as a band. I rocked out to “GSF,” “Chick Magnet,” and “Move to Bremerton” all summer long.

Those are the two big memories. I believe we also drove by Tower Records when I was in L.A. for Spring Break in 2005 with Phil and Varv. It may have even been the store they in West Hollywood, California, that’s featured in the Wikipedia article (the image also attached to this post).

It is unfortunate this has happened, but this is the state of the modern recording industry. The good parts die, yet the record labels remain the same.

Tower Records, you will be missed.

Tags: Japan, London, Tower Records