Hello all, first of all, I would like to officially welcome John Budge to Amity in Tottori *round of applause*. He is my new co-teacher. John is from Minnesota, to which one of my students asked him, "How is the soda in MinnesoDA" hahahahaha!!!! John is a year younger than me and just as silly. He went to the University of Minnesota and got a degree in Japanese and International Relations. He knows Japanese, which is great because we are each others' wing men when we go out to meet all the ladies, hahahha. But really, John is a fun guy and we laugh at work a little more than we should (considering it's work and all).
Secondly, and if you are not sitting down (which I don't know why you wouldn't be, you are reading this on a computer right? I guess if you have an iPad or something..ohh...iPad..do want...) you may want to sit down for this next bit of news (especially if you are close family or friends).
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I have been accepted to teach primarily adults at my sister company AEON. I will be teaching in Hiroshima Japan!!!!!!!!! Now, I know some of you are smiling, and some of you are frowning, and some of you are smowning (smile and frowning). Here are the details:
I will be ending my current contract with AMITY May 29th. I will be coming home to Charlotte, NC on May 30th. But before some of you get too excited you must know that I will be coming back to Japan June 10th...of 2010...so I will only have about 10 days at home before I jet right back out here.
To my kids from Oakhurst: I love you, but I have to stay out here and I'm sure you all are going to be wonderful first graders come fall, I am sorry I won't be able to see you guys for your birthdays or your first days of school (well around there), I want to see every single one of you when I get back somehow.
To my friends: Guys, girls, you know I love you all too, and it is kind of surreal that I have been out here for a year already and I'm already talking about the new friends I have made and the new experiences that I have had and that I will be out here for ANOTHER year, but know this, the bonds of friendship are strong, and most of you I do not see everyday anyway so just think of it as a prolonged "It's been too long". I hope to be able to see most of you (within traveling reality) when I come back too, we are gonna party it up and say "Welcome Ba...GOODBYE!!" hahahaha
To my family: I am so happy to have you as my family and am even happier that you guys supported my decision to come to Japan 100% even if you didn't always like it. I am saddened that I will only be home for such a short time, but I am going to be 24 years old and I have a prime opportunity to have ANOTHER experience of a lifetime, so I know that you know, that I know, that you know that you are happy that I am happy and that you know this is the best thing for me.
So, that's the great news. On Monday when I asked everyone for a prayer request it was because I was headed to Okayama to do a 2.5 hour interview. Obviously, it went well and they offered me the position the next day.
The Specifics: I will be in Japan for another year at LEAST (I know it's not what you all want to hear, but it is possible that I will extend again). I start June 12th this year (training) and then my contract ends near the end of June next year (2011). I will be staying in Hiroshima Prefecture (think of it as a state) and I will be in the city of Midorii (which translates into English as Green...hahaha...I've lived in Green place before..Green Bay...hahhaa) which is 20 minutes by train outside of Hiroshima city (where I visited in October when I saw the Dome).
Whether you believe in God or not, this has to be said from me. God is amazing. I said (and you can go check this on my Hiroshima post), "I can totally see myself living here." When I had doubts about my next step as far as Japan or home, the decision to stay with AMITY and be almost guaranteed a bigger city with a better train station, but still possibly be worn out by the kids and the crazy schedule at times, or do I go home where I'm not sure what to start applying for because of this economy and because I was afraid I'd miss Japan so much...and then God offers me this. I mentioned to my head boss that if I were to switch to AEON one of my cities I would want to work in would be Hiroshima and he had the best contacts with the head office that runs the Hiroshima prefecture and by his own doing he got them interested in me and gave me a solid verbal recommendation. And it just so happened that they had a position opening in Hiroshima RIGHT after I finish my contract with AMITY. No bridges burned, no hurdles jumped, just God working everything out for the good of those who love and obey him.
So, what does this all mean? Well, this means that I am going to be in one of the most famous cities in Japan (or at least near it). This means that my Japanese is going to continue to get better and this MIGHT mean a Japanese girlfriend which by the looks of it, some of you are DESPERATE for me to find one so you can meet her, it's hilarious, you guys crack me up!!!
But this also means that I get to do what deep down in my heart I knew I still needed to do which was, stay in Japan, I just wasn't sure about the form or fashion, but obedience to God and constantly wanting His Will on your life does some amazing things for you, trust me, I know.
Fam, friends, kids, I love you, thank you for your prayers and your support this past year and I look forward to seeing many of you in June when I am home for a bit. Have a good one!
Jeremy aka omg-batman-he's-actually-going-to-be-teaching-adults-he's-flipping-out!!!!
