Job hunting

Listening to: Hot Child in the City by Nick Gilder
Currently drinking: Triple pumpkin spice mocha (fyi it's super fun to order this)


Hi all! Wow...what a while it has been. Obviously I am not in Japan anymore, and unfortunately, I don't think I will be going back this year :( I miss all my friends dearly and hope you're all doing well!

I am finding myself with quite a lot of free time lately, I just recently graduated and haven't started working yet, so I decided to update everyone on what's going on over here in the Pacific Northwest.

Christmas with my mom's side of the family

A lot of changes have happened over this past year/few months, one which includes my parents separating. I am actually glad that both of my parents are moving on with their lives in a positive direction, but, this being the first Christmas where my immediate family had split up into two different holiday celebrations, it has been an especially difficult period when I realized that all of our old family traditions will never be the same. Of course, I'm not saying that all change is bad, but the process of getting used to it is definitely not something to dismiss. Anyway, Christmas with my mother was spent with her side of the family at my grandparents house while my father's was spent down in California at Disneyland (the first time I've ever been!) with his girlfriend and her family.

The gang (kids version) in front of the castle

Alright well moving on... I have officially moved down to the Seattle area after graduation. It has been sad saying goodbye to Bellingham, my home for the past four years, but it has been a very necessary change. Right now I'm living with my dad in his big, beautiful house on the water, but am currently searching for new digs more in the city.... hopefully a place that allows dogs ^^ It's kind of funny because I've never really explored Seattle before this point, but I've been having a blast hanging out with Miss Wood, who also moved down to Seattle, and romping through my new urban playground.

The biggest motivating factor for me moving out of the Ham and into the "big city" was, what the Japanese call, job hunting. I distinctly recall all of our Nippon friends getting increasingly stressed out, over the course of our stay, as they filled out application after application and waited with baited breath to hear back from potential employers. Well, I now know the feeling. At first I applied to teach abroad in Japan, and am actually still mulling over sending in my application for EPIK, but with the recent instability in NK, I've decided to postpone any travel to that area of the world. So, for now, I'm looking to work in the Seattle area (though I am for sure open to Portland and San Francisco), and actually have already received several job offers. I won't disclose the companies right now, but I am extremely excited about them and it's been a really difficult decision and I'm still having trouble choosing (I know... first world problems right?). I will keep you more updated as my decision progresses and finalizes, but for now just know that I am doing well and can't wait to save up some mulahs so I can come visit you all!


That's all for now <3
Lattes of <3<3<3<3<3's