Phew. I am starting to feel more together than I have in months, just as the year comes to an end it seems to be wrapping itself up rather nicely. I mean, there are still things... for example, I am not working as much as I would like, the temp work is not very frequent at the moment and I wanted to try to save some money over this period, but at least my Youth Allowance has been reinstated so I know that I can pay the rent. So, things could be worse. I still have the Thai restaurant, and it's not so bad to have a holiday.

On the other side, the Boy has started to get some temp work this week which is great, as well as applying for some other fulltime jobs and I think he also has a second interview for a job coming up... so things are looking a lot better for him. I think the fact that his mother wants him to come back to Sydney to live has spurred him into action once more to get himself a good job here :)

I also have a second interview today, for the job in Japan. I'm feeling really quite ambivalent about this, I'm not sure what I want to do, and I didn't really expect to get to second interview, but here I am. The Interviewer suggested there would be about 6 (of 20) invited for second interviews and there are three positions, so I guess I will know after this afternoon what the competition is like... he also said that the second interview may paint a few dark clouds, as well as give more info, so I will be in a better place to decide after this afternoon, I am sure.

At the moment though, the downside of this job that I could see is that the provide training in Japan, so I would not actually receive a TESOL qualification and this could impede my chances of getting other jobs teaching English. I would also be accepting my first offer, without having had a chance to see what else is out there, and I have heard that other countries have great benefits - such as including airfare and paying for accommodation and this job does neither (although they do provide accommodation, it still must be paid for). The other thing is the long hours - the schedule I saw yesterday showed 9 hour days, while I have heard that typically English teachers work 20-30 hours on average. Hmmmm...

On the other hand, there are good sides. I spoke to Sunny's mum and sister today as they used to live in an area located nearby where the school is, in the same prefecture. I've been told that the wage offered in this job is a good one, even for Japan, that I could live comfortably and save some. They both told me that Takasaki is a beautiful area, not too big and busy, close to mountains, about an hour from Tokyo if I wanted action and close to train stations to travel elsewhere, nice food and air and good water, and plus I'm sure they may even be able to tell me some people to visit.

So I don't know... I guess I am getting ahead of myself but I'm just trying to consider the options. Is it an opportunity I would be mad to turn down, or should I do the course and shop around a little more for a job with more benefits and less working hours (as I have been assured they are definitely out there)? Well, I guess I'll go along today and see what happens. Perhaps I won't have to make the choice. In a way, I kind of hope so :)

As for the immediate future... well, while I'm working that out, I'm working my way through all the books on my shelf that I never got around to reading - I'm reading 'Day of the Triffids' just now and it's creeping me out in a kind of 'War of the Worlds' way... *shiver* I am also going out to dinner with the Boy tonight, using the last of my vouchers for the swanky seafood restaurant to celebrate my exam results :) I'm getting back into yoga and for the first time this morning my muscles were not hurting in that really BAD way, although I'm still miles from where I used to be, but it's looking more possible now. At the moment I am almost as thin as I have ever been in my adult life (though breasts are still grossly enlarged due to the Pill, but I suppose I won't have to put up with that for too much longer anyway) for no apparent reason because although I've been eating pretty well there has been more than the occasional transgression lately (but hey, not complaining!)

And finally and certainly not the least, I have my job back at Woodford! I am so happy and have promised hugs to the volunteer coordinators :) So all in all, big decisions aside, I guess things seem to be wrapping up pretty nicely just now.

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