Can you say C R A Z Y???

Okay, so I haven't been on here or anyone else's blog in a while.

Things have been quite busy as we are getting ready for the move. I realize it's not until February, but we must prepare to send our things over early, which is what we've been doing.

I've been on holidays from work since the 23rd of December. From the 24th of December I was feeling sick and by the 26th I was downright out of commission. Battling tonsilitis, bronchitis, sinusitis and every other 'itis' one could imagine. I actually began to feel better this past Sunday. So more than an entire week of my holidays I spent in the house and in bed.

Now we are short on time, as you could imagine. We have done loads of re-distributing, organizing and packing. The boxes are almost done and ready to be sent. I am hoping to be able to call the moving company this week to come and get our stuff next week.

At times, I wonder if it's even worth paying the money to send over all this stuff, but my husband brought up a really good point.

We are not rich and with him having been unemployed an entire year, we haven't been able to save what we could have saved. I am still not debt-free and apparently, according to Canadian financial advisors, 2010 is NOT the year to be in debt and are suggesting one do whatever they can within their means to reduce and get rid of debts this year.

I was looking over apartment prices and HOLY COW!! The cost of living in Ontario has increased DRASTICALLY since the last time I lived there.

So, with all this financial strain yet to come, my hubby said that it doesn't make sense to give away or sell everything we have here, for $50, if we are LUCKY to get that, when we've spent thousands of dollars on this stuff. Only to go to Canada and have to pay thousands to get it all again over there, on top of a new apartment, a new car and everything else we will need to live.
Since we've already spent the money and have the stuff, we might as well just keep it. This way, our 'start-up' expenses will be cheaper.

I suppose he's right. But I still wish things were easier.

You'd think after being away for so long I'd have more to show for it, financially. But I was never good at saving. I made stupid decisions on how to get my education and have been paying my college fees multiplied by 10 now, and I'm still not free. It's not smart to pay for college on a credit card, but it was the only option left for me with the circumstances I was in.

Living abroad, my country refused to help me with student loans. Living abroad, my bank refused to help with a loan. So if I wanted a degree, I'd have to pay for it with plastic. Which I did. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I've paid my university fees off years ago but have been paying interest fees ever since. It just doesn't stop.

*sigh*

On another note, while I was under the weather, I finally had the time to finish my cross-stitch embroidered pillow. It only took 6 months! LOL

But here is the final product. It is a little off as it should have been square and not rectangle, but that was my misjudgement. Nevertheless, I am very proud of myself. And that little pillow is coming back home with me.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just wish I had more time to dedicate to learn more crafts and to learn how to do them better. It's such a peaceful and satisfying way to pass time.

I've been writing articles but haven't heard anything yet on my submissions for my books. Still crossing my fingers. I SO want to write for a living.

That would be a true blessing. To be able to go back home and begin a writing career. I could finally stop teaching.


Well, it's 1:30 in the morning here and I'm not tired in the least, but I will sign off.

Have missed my TWF friends and everyone else. Hanging on with happy thoughts, okay a bit mixed, but trying to focus on the 'adventure' of it all!

Profiled in the magazine

Well, here is a scanned copy of the profile they did on me, as the magazine rep for my prefecture.

It's strange to see myself in the mag ;)

Now I must work on being profiled AS A WRITER!! ;) lol

Lindsay Ann Hawker's killer caught

Well, it looks like Tatsuya Ichihashi either turned himself in, or had no choice to.

He is being held in Osaka, Japan.

Here is the link.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/coventry_warwickshire/8352230.stm

It appears he had a bit of reconstructive surgery to his face and it seems that info has leaked that his mom is apparently a dentist!

I am just so relieved that he is now in police custody. Ever since I wrote the memoriam article about Lindsay, I have kept thinking of her and her killer...

I imagine the Hawker family is very relieved, but I am sure now they will have to face more ugly details to finally get closure.

But perhaps now, whatever ghosts haunt them can finally be put to rest and they can move on.

New energy

My poor husband :)

I've been on such a high since we received the news! lol

I took out all my Canada pictures and showed him the places I want to take him to. It gave me such a feeling of pride and homesickness.

It's funny. Up until the moment we received the initial rejection for my husband to come into the country, I was never homesick. And to be honest, I wasn't sure when I'd return.

But the moment I knew I couldn't, the urge was just so strong. On top of the fact that we lost a favourite uncle and almost lost my father, the desire to return consumed me.

Now that we can, I just can't wait! Spring feels like a lifetime away!

I know it will pass fast, but I'm just so happy and relieved and all warm and fuzzy inside, I am like a little child. lol


At the risk of sounding like a geeky Laura Ingalls, I must say: Home is the best word I know!

Happy thoughts, everyone!! :) Because mine are ecstatic!

Another published article of mine

Well, I just got another article published. It went up today.

This one is for Avenues Magazine, here in Japan.

Here is the link:

http://www.centraljapan.jp/history_details.php?id=93


Things are coming together :)

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!

We received my husband's ACCEPTANCE into Canada today!!!!

I cannot believe it! They advised it would take 6 months and we received it after a month from the first letter from Tokyo.

It arrived by registered mail today. I signed for it and while praying fervently to God, opened it up. The first line says: You will find your VISA affixed to your passport.

I must have read that line about 15 times before I could move forward. I had to keep rubbing my eyes to make sure it was right. I skimmed through the rest and then picked up his passport and opened it.

The moment I saw that BEAUUUUTIFUL red stamp, my hands started shaking and the tears came...and boy did they come!

I went to the bedroom to wake up my husband, but by the time I got there, the tears were flowing full-force I could barely breathe.

So he woke up thinking someone had died. I flashed his passport in his face because I couldn't talk. Then he thought he was rejected. Still not speaking because of the tears I opened it to the VISA stamp.

When he saw it, then he knew. And all I could do was nod my head up and down like a dummy, because I still couldn't talk. lolol

So now we know: WE ARE COMING HOME!!

God, it feels so good to say that :)

I'm crying while typing this by the way...lol

I could have never gotten through this with a solid thought if it hadn't been for my dear friends Mike and Heather. You guys are completely awesome and gave me such a stronghold. Thank you for everything.

Now, we are thinking about the best route to consider with timelines as well.

He has another month and a half to finish his photography course, then it will be Christmas, which will be too expensive to fly as well as the dead of winter. So we are going to wait until after Christmas and the New Year and send over stuff by crate.

We are thinking to stick to March as the time to come. That will be when the freezing cold is over and perfect timing to arrive, find a place to settle in, then fly to Brazil to meet his family for a month then come back.

We'll be back in Canada by April or May, which is the right time to start interviewing for teaching jobs.

Things all worked out and I am just overwhelmingly grateful.

I can't wait to step foot on Canada soil, see my country's flag, my people, my family. I can't wait to introduce my special husband to my amazing family.

I can't wait to drink Tim Horton's coffee, to have dinner at Swiss Chalet, to see the snow, to speak English, to watch English TV, to visit Canada's Wonderland, Niagara Falls, to drive up to Barrie, Ontario and make maple syrup (which I hate, but will eat when I come!!) and to be among my fellow Canadians.


Canada...my home.

I'm coming home, guys.

Signing off with tears and happy thoughts.

xo

Ever had a Yo-Yo day?

Okay, this is not a happy post.

Things have been very different for me these last couple of years. I have lost lots of 'friends' and have been struggling to get my hubby accepted into my country.

I always thought the one thing I could rely on was my job. I've been here for quite a few years, have had an amazing rapport with my boss, who just happens to be the head of the Board of Education. He's the head honcho.

Unfortunately, an 'ex-friend' has kind of swept in and seems to have made himself appear like a GOD and I've felt the rapport with my boss has changed. He no longer asks my opinion on things and no longer treats me the same. Not bad, just not the same.

This ex friend is ONE: a man and TWO: fluent in Japanese.Those two things alone make the Japanese swoon over him as if he is Buddha incarnate.

Like I said, I thought I could rely on my job, until tonight.I just received a phone call from my boss asking what my plans are after my contract is up in 6 MONTHS.

I've worked for the man for almost 5 years. Contracts are not discussed until x-mas time. I told him that I'm waiting on the Consulate's decision for my hubby's application and we were advised we should find out by Feb-March. My contract is up March 31st.

I understand they can't wait until the last minute to find out if I'll stay or not, because they will need to replace me if I leave and March will be too short of a notice. But I DID expect they give me at least until January.

He made it clear in his own Japanese beat around the bush sort of way, that they need to know NOW. And if I can't tell them NOW, then I can't expect to have a job after March, if my hubby is denied.

This came out of the blue and I am really deflated. I can't shake the feeling that my so called friend had alot to do with this. And it disgusts me.

I hate hypocritical people. I hate people who think and act like they are better than others. The only thing this guy has on me is his Japanese skills, because when it comes to the job, I have more experience, more know-how and I've had the most results.

So now, come March, either my hubby will be accepted into my country and we can leave as soon as my contract is ended. = the perfect scenario (and we all know how often THAT happens.) OR I will be out of a job, out of a house and with a husband who cannot live with me in my country.

This is a very crappy night.


BTW, we are in the middle of a typhoon...sounds like my windows are going to shatter from the wind and rain.


I'm feeling so down. Have you ever just felt so defeated, so double-crossed and felt like the whole world is against you?

In all my years in Japan, if I were to leave tomorrow, I would be leaving this country with 0 friends. Count 'em. ZERO.

Yes, I have 'friends' we hang out with sometimes, but it's just that kind of temporary friendship as they too have found that finding true friendships in Japan seem almost impossible. Being on work contracts, everyone just seems to be out for themselves.

I can't tell you all how ready I am to leave here. I miss my family, my friends, and a reality I can deal with.

Japan is just too superficial for my liking. And I've been here long enough to know about it. I am tired of this place.

I can't believe how things have turned out. I don't know how this has happened. I have had the worst luck with people here. I swear.

I'm trying to stay positive but it is so hard.

I just received a message from the BAB magazine and they would like to profile me for their magazine next month. I mean, that is great news, right? It's an honour. So yes, I'm trying to focus on better things, but tonight has just got me thrown for a loop.