Moving On...

Well, I'm moving on. Both in the short term and long term.

Firstly, I'll be moving to a new place in Japan, but only temporarily. At the end of February, I'll be residing in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It's supposedly a very historical area, and I'm quite excited!

I basically volunteered when my company said they needed someone to move there for three months to help out while they're understaffed. They hope to have new blood being hired from overseas by three months time, but regardless of what they hope, I've been promised I'll be returned to my old job at the Multimedia Center here in Osaka. Given the company's past track record, I'll be looking for some new jobs just in case.

Regardless, it is a pretty sweet deal because the company's paying my rent and internet, so I'll keep paying my rent on the Osaka apartment (even though I'm basically wasting that cash, it'll be nice to have a place to sleep in Osaka that's *mine* and also it'll be nice to have a place that is completely independent and in no way beholden to my employer.)

I've had too many incidents of this company trying to screw me over to sleep easy knowing my only shelter is owned by the company.

Regardless, I don't seriously anticipate any problems, and very much look forward to my new locale. Last night was the last lesson I'll teach at my old workplace, and there was a bit of a surprise for me at the end of the evening; apparently everyone had chipped in to buy me a present... (originally, there was a list of 14 folks including myself, who were going to get fired unless one of us went to Okayama... and with that threat hanging over everyone's heads, still nobody volunteered and it was looking grim, so I thought "what the heck, I'll volunteer and save us the drama, but everyone on the list owes me a beer".)

Well, I got five beers and four bottles of top shelf imported liquor! A bottle of Cognac, a bottle of Black Bush Irish Whiskey, a bottle of Bourbon, and a bottle of single malt Scotch! I was a bit overwhelmed and quite appreciative of the gesture of thanks, to say the least!

Anyways, I'll be moving this weekend and will write up some first impressions of my new place hopefully in the next week.