GREI got my official score report in the mail just now and the mind-boggling (for me) Verbal score of 700 stands, 125 points above the average for the program I want to get into. The math score also stands at 700, but it's only the 70th percentile and 6 points below the average. But whatever. The analytical writing turned out to be a 4, which is not good for my program. I'm trying to figure out if I can retake only that section, because I doubt my ability to reproduce my other two scores.
Work...has been crazy lately. It seems like they are trying to make up for the 2.5 years that they made me spend sitting on my butt doing nothing by piling everything on at the last minute. Now I stay at work until 6:30 or 7 to help the girl's volleyball team 3 nights a week, and I just went to their tournament on Saturday and Sunday (they got 3rd place and thus won't be going to the prefecture finals- they were gutted). I have to do a demonstration lesson, practice for that demonstration lesson, teach at the fire fighter's academy, teach my adult conversation class, do my yearly health check, go to elementary school every day of the week from now on (usually I only go 3 days a week), and fit two month's worth of kindergarten visits into my final two weeks. I worked a 14-hour day last Tuesday. Not to mention the upcoming 6 or 7 farewell drinking parties. I am already exhausted.
Post JETAnd on top of all this, I'm trying to start moving out of my house. I have so much junk to get rid of after three years. I looked in my garage and found a box of plastic drink bottles that I've been hanging onto since my first week in Japan when I didn't know where the garbage collection spot was. Also have a lot of old clothes, toys, cookware etc. that I'm going to donate or sell as much as I can to cut down on shipping costs. The cheapest service I have found so far has been $500 for one cubic meter. Any other former JETs or expats out there have any advice on this matter?
I've got lots of friends in New York, a special friend in Boston, lots of family in Seattle, perhaps lots of job opportunities in California... I don't know where to go next, but it will be really nice to spend some time with my parents in my good ol' podunk hometown while I try to figure it out.
Job searchA friend of a friend of the family has a company in Germany that exports to China and Japan. Word got back to him that I can speak all these languages and now he wants to meet me when I get back. That could turn out well. I'd love to live in Germany again. I miss the schnitzel and rotkohl. Other than this one opportunity falling into my lap, I haven't really gotten anywhere on the search though. Calling people in the states during business hours is virtually impossible unless I wake up at 4am, which for me is an equally impossible feat. I'll send out a few resumes any day now... as soon as I'm not busy at work... which means probably not until I get home.
Comments (3)
i don't know much about jets, but there could actually be a "store" in which jets like you could sell your things to when you leave the country - and when the next batch of jets try to establish themselves in japan, they could get some bare necessities from this store of sorts.
having said that, second hand things don't seem to be popular in japan, or else why would they ship so many of their cars for offshore markets?
For one big box (well, the biggest they had at the store) was about 1man. I ended up sending about 10 boxes home. I gotta say that they all made it, and although you dont have to pay extra for FRAGILE, the US doesnt handle things so nice.
Good job, smartie pants! If you in Germany, I come visit! You can teach me a thing or two about my fatherland.
There's a postal shipping discount on books, if that helps; I shipped several boxes of books home. Actually, I do that every time I go to Japan. You may have to go to the central PO in Yamagata, though, to get the discount mail bags.
Also, I managed to carry a shitload of stuff onto the plane, but that was before everybody lost their minds after 9/11. Remind me to tell you how I got 5 carry-ons onto a Malaysia Air flight (Hint: Ski boots and snow shoes only count as a carry-on if you aren't WEARING them).
You teach at the fireman's academy?