Job Discussion Forums

[denise]

There's a current thread about your first month away. OK, now how about the other end of the spectrum? How about your last month(s)?

I've got just about two months left in Japan. Somehow, in just under two years, I have accumulated enough clutter to fill a small stadium. I've got to start packing up and moving out (which in Japan seems to involve about 9,457 steps and a lot of money...), lining up job interviews, making arrangements to head down to South America, saying goodbye to people, etc. And, of course, I need to stay focused on the classes that I've still got. I'm living in both the present and the future right now.

Do you guys/gals find it difficult to keep your mind on your classes once you know you are leaving? Do you start making arrangements for your next job early on, or do you give yourselves some down time between jobs?

d

[ntropy]

A small hint about packing.

You'll have everything big already shipped and your bags all ready to go then groups of Japanese will visit your place on the morning you're headed to the airport to say farewell. They'll all, of course, have parting presents.

Too rude to leave them behind and some are so damn nice you want to bring them. Count on an extra empty bag that will be filled by the time you actually reach the airport.

.................................

Because I was working at City Hall, my kacho asked me to visit each Dept the morning I was leaving to personally say goodbye to each section chief. There were dozens of them. I had never met some of these people in 3 years. Yet each had to hand me an envelope with a parting cash gift. Very embarrassing for me. I did not want to take that money but could not find a way out.

2nd moral....count on having to GIVE some goodbye presents you never expected. If I'd had some small items to give in return I'd have felt better.

[Gordon]

ntropy, you must be a better man than me. Can't say I'd feel bad about accepting money from people I didn't know.

Yes, you have a good point Denise about how you have a foot where you are and the other where you're going. It has been awhile since I've moved, but it is difficult. I hope you still visit us on the Japan forum still.

[denise]

Ntropy--

Too bad (or is it?!?) the company that owns my school is trying to run us out of town so that they can replace us with a more watered-down facsimile... I don't think I'll have to go around to everyone and say goodbye!

Gordon--

Of course I'll still visit the Japan forum! I'd hate to miss all of the goings-on over there. Well, some of the goings-on, at least.

d

[struelle]

I felt this way last Dec / 04 in Shanghai. Although it wasn't continuous, I had spent about 3 years living and working in that city and it was time to move on and begin working on my PGCE here in Vancouver.

The last month I was too busy with classes to pack much or think about 'going home'. Actually the busyness was more of a way to distract from those thoughts, because I didn't want to leave. At the same time, there were a million other things to to prepare for departure - I did them mechanically without thinking too much about the future.

2 days before leaving, classes wrapped up completely. I went on a packing frenzy, which also included dropping off cards and gifts to people. The last day in Shanghai was the most hectic of my life.

Before I knew what had hit me, I was on that airplane. The weather was nasty: foggy, rainy and windy. I thought (hoped) the plane wouldn' be able to take off. But it did. I soon fell asleep, and woke up as the plane was descending into Vancouver. Then the weather was sunny and clear. I re-entered the world on this side of the pond, into a new chapter of my life. The last 3 months were brutal re-entry shock, but now it's smoother.

Still, I really want to go back. After this program finishes, that's the plan.

STeve

[nomadder]

It would be interesting to hear the plusses and minuses of China vs. Canada or is that SHanghai vs. Vancouver? I'm sure other parts of China would be a very different experience.

[valley_girl]

Where to next, Denise?

[fluffyhamster]

Maybe Denise could camp out in all that lovely wide-open space you got there to the right of your pic, valley? (Heh just a joke, I like the pic and should try to import one myself. Perhaps Ryan Phillipe or something like that?).

[denise]

Next, Chile. I am so excited!!! I had a Chile dream last night. Specifically, a snowboarding-in-the-Andes dream.

d

[shmooj]

cool denise is that two years already... seems you only just got there in some ways. As for the final classes, yeah, I basically had parties in all of them instead of teaching. Students weren't very motivated by then either. Obviously depends what kind of classes you've got...

I trust your avatar won't be moving home just yet though

[denise]

Yeah, it'll be just about two years when I get out of here. I'll be leaving on good terms, but I wish I were leaving under different circumstances--with the school being closed and another one being opened while we are still there, I am witnessing everyone's motivation--students, teachers, my own--dropping a bit. We've recently witnessed the owners (Corporate Imperialist Pigs, as I like to call them) painting over our name on the sign outside, on the school van and bus, etc., and writing in the name of the new school, even though we're still there! A lot of the students in my program already dislike the new program, which doesn't even start until next week.

My avatar is very happy where he is, if that's OK!

d

[ntropy]

Shucks. I thought I was going to be the new avatar on your ankle(?)