it's not life that matters but the journey...

I just received a letter from my company stating that as of March of 2011, Fuji city (where I'm currently living and working) will no longer be utilizing private ALT supply companies for their foreign English teachers. So that means that even if I had wanted to stay here in Fuji (i.e. if my husband got a job here and we decided to stay in Japan for awhile to make money), I will no longer have a job as of March 28th of 2011. So we will need to either move to a city like Tokyo or Osaka, or move back to the U.S. Because there really are no other options for me in this small city, and without my employment, my husband and I will have no income at all.

Wow! In a way at least it has given us a definite direction for our future. But it's kind of scary to know that the cities in Japan are cutting back on the money they are spending on English education. I don't know if this means they are going to discontinue the foreign teachers altogether, but how sad for the students! And it’s going to make the jobs out there (for teachers) more in demand – harder for me to get a new job! But in a place like Tokyo, perhaps there will be more options. Tokyo!?!!!? Or it’s back to the U.S., which seems to have been taken over by Republicans after the latest elections… kind of a scary option at the moment too.

My future is a bit shaky…but what else is new??

Anyway - on that note, happy almost-the-end-of-the-week! well, at least it's almost the end of the week for me:) And my week was broken up by a mid-week holiday - I had yesterday (Wednesday) off, which was very nice! It's almost like having two short work weeks - though I'd much prefer a whole week off, to be honest! I've been super tired lately, which seems to often manifest itself in dizziness and general lethargy - and I'm not really sure why. Ever since I returned to work (at the end of September), I've been working like crazy, and I hardly seem to have any time to just do stuff of my own - except on weekends and occasional days off. And even then, I still seem to be thinking about stuff related to my job. When I'm at my schools, I'm teaching 4-5 classes a day on average, and I've had so many new lessons that I'm spending my evenings making lessons and searching online for activities to make the classes interesting. And when I teach at one of my elementary schools, I usually have to prepare 4 separate plans, since I'm teaching two lessons per class per day! I've said it before, but I'm really starting to feel that this job is for someone much younger and more energetic! I love teaching, but this constantly having to prepare activities and lessons is exhausting! Plus I have this new private student once a week, and I'm spending time getting her lessons prepared too! Perhaps I need to start taking vitamins, or just exercising more - or maybe my eyes are tired and I need to start wearing my glasses. Who knows... but I'm ready for my winter holidays!

And speaking of winter… after a couple weeks of rain and storms, the weather has been very nice this week - sunny and cool, very fall-like with a hint of warmth during the day. Basically it's sweater weather - no jacket is needed after 9 a.m. But as soon as the sun goes down, the temperatures drop, and it's been very cold at night and in the mornings. Luckily the air conditioner/heater we installed in the second floor room works really well, and the room heats up in just minutes! So, I've been using this room as my dressing area since it began to get cold. With the onset of fall and colder temperatures, Fuji-san is just starting to show some snow at the very tip top, and it's so pretty! I need to get some pictures taken, but I keep forgetting to take my camera when I go out. Forgetfulness is my middle name lately! (I hope this isn't some form of early-onset dementia!!!!)

Before I go and take my shower and prepare tomorrow’s lesson, I thought I'd post a few pictures for your viewing pleasure - a few of an outing I took about two or three weeks ago (to a local park), as well as some pictures of our pets. Most of you know Leo, my 11-year-old cat. But my husband's parents also have this adorable little bird that my father-in-law found in a nearby field about four years ago. Her name is Piko – and while I haven't always been a big fan of birds, this one is special - she's just so cute and has so much personality! She always comes to the side of the cage and lets me rub her stomach when I go down for dinner, and sometimes I feed her lettuce or cabbage! and she's a total ham for the camera!













and a couple pics of Leo when I was stuck in bed for 3 weeks - he was sitting under my legs!









and here's a few pics I took at this park about 10 minutes drive from my house. it's really quite pretty there, and on a cloudy day it was kind of quiet and peaceful.





























ok - it's time for my shower and relaxing time. bye for now!!