Sometimes Less Is More

What I have come to discover on my path to traveling abroad is that I am not the first nor the last to do so. Not really a surprise, but I was under the assumption that in a small town the would run into one or two people. No matter whom I've come across they seem to have a sibling, child, cousin, best friends 3rd cousin twice removed on their mother's side that has gone abroad.

Such stories are helpful when they include amusing anecdotes and tales of adventure complete with breath taking photo albums. The fact that the person in question is not being spoken of in the past tense is certainly helpful when assuring parents that you are not going off to a certain demise in a foreign land.

But please, good story tellers, omit the part about your children/obscure relation, not returning after their trip. It may seem cute to joke how they have fallen in love with the culture or found a romantic interest they could not part from. But for the family of those leaving, like myself, this is a very real terror that keeps them up at night. Your cute stories of love overseas are not helping.

My father is seriously considering having me sign legal paperwork, preferably in blood, that says I will come home after the year. His scenario involves a long distance phone call where I say something to the effect of, "I've met this boy Mitsubishi, we're in love, and I'm not coming home. *click*"

To which I remind my father, I am a modern woman, the boy follows me. I also maintain that said hypothetical Japanese boy will most likely be built like a Japanese car. Small and compact enough that I could smuggle him back in my luggage without having to shell out for an extra ticket.

I am a cheap b@stard at heart. A romantic but cheap.

Not There Yet - but close!

Hello world, this is Manda-chan! Currently reporting from an undisclosed location in the states. Because no one cares where in the USA I am (and if you do you may have some stalker tendencies you'll want to quash to avoid a restraining order in your future).

They always say it is the journey and not the destination that is important. However my destination is the purpose of this blog. Manda-chan will be in Japan by December 2nd! Not for an ill timed family abandoning vacation of sorts but for a whole year of working abroad. Granted it was a bit sooner than I had anticipated. When you are told an early spring assignment that suddenly becomes the first of December - there are some adjustments to make.

Try telling your mother you wont be around for Christmas. Try it without tissues on hand and you are in trouble.

In missing the family Christmas I am pretending I am getting the entire country of Japan as my early Christmas present. Demented, delusional and foolish - yes. But it beats being depressed over losing a Christmas (Japan has not yet fallen prey to this gold mine of consumer manipulation).

In theory the idea of moving halfway across the world for a year did not seem as insane as the practice is showing it to be. I had a general idea of what I would need to do and then found out I had the equivalent of a stick figure drawing compared to the big picture. To mention a few, there is the pre-flight prep of trying to compress your life into a few small bags that can be no bigger than 62 linear inches or weigh more than 50 pounds. Or that international baggage fees are waived to Japan, but applied in all other Asian countries by adding your total weight of checked baggage and carry on. One may only visit the Japanese Embassy for an Entry Visa after obtaining the Certificate of Eligibility. Which took a fair amount of paperwork and individuals vouching for me and promising that I have a place to go and a real job. The postal service was never happier than when I got my paperwork and stopped camping out by the mail box or stalking their carriers in eager anticipation. On the plus side I have finally discovered what professional business attire is and that I had nothing of the sort. (Apparently my co-workers in their leggins and Uggs were not displaying 'business professional'.)

Not everyday is going to be exciting and warranting a blog post. I also have a little catching up to do. There have been some sweet things said to me, some incredulous looks and disparaging statements, and a growing list of things I should have been considering before hand.

I can promise you a few things. Most days I will be upbeat and trying to crack the occasional joke. Whether it works or flops is your misfortune I'm afraid. I am of the mistaken opinion that I am funny. There is the potential for some anxiety ridden rants as I adjust to my new life abroad. And finally, you will have the privilege of noting the irony of my teaching conversational English when I make enough blunders with my own.

Hello world - nice to meet you - and goodnight.