The future

“People tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will descend like fine weather if you're fortunate. But happiness is the result of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly.”

― Elizabeth Gilbert

October is a good month for me. I am feeling pretty positive and blessed. I have achieved a lot in my life and I know what I want to do in the future. 

I have travel the world. Experienced different cultures. Met people from all walks of life. Studied and worked at many different places. Seen the most beautiful sites. Eaten the the most delicious food. All this by the age of 27. 

I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to do this. My parents were not born rich, but they both worked hard for me and my brother and because of this we have had the most wonderful lives. Both also worked and are still working for their own dreams. To me they are inspirational. They did this either by studying or changing jobs. They simply work hard to enjoy their lives. I have not seen a day my mum doesn't smile. Even when she is grumpy, she still smiles at least once.

Not only this. They also gave me freedom. Freedom to chose my own life and path. They supported every choice I made. Even when I traveled across the world to japan. In which, my mum still reminds me I broke her heart in doing so..... They supported me when I moved in with an ex boyfriend  and even helped me move back out a month later. They supported all my mistakes, but were always there to pick up the pieces after. They only ever gave guidance and help. For this I thank them both. I hope to be just like them if I ever have children.

There are times we are all in a dark place. For me this is when life becomes repetitive and stale. I never want to just live day to day. I wish to enjoy everyday. Of course this is impossible. Some days (or some months even) we are just simply in a bad mood. But when those days come, it is good just to have the good days to look forward to or even look back on. Also, surround yourself with good friends and family.

These few months I have been at my happiest. I think this is because I know what I want to do. I really thought about what direction I want my life to take after I leave Korea. Before this year I always had a nagging at the back of my head. It was telling me I should be doing something towards my dream. But, at the time I didn't know my dream so it was like a cycle of thoughts in my head. 

To be brutally honest. I always thought I should get a job, marry have kids. What was expected from society. But, my heart was never given to any of my ex boyfriends. As soon as the lust was gone, I went back to having a strong desire to be alone and pushing them away. I think no-one can fully give their heart until they know what is in it. What desires and wises reside in that heart. 

I never knew my dreams and wishes. Not until over a year ago. I had a bad break up.  I thought I had found the 'one'. I soon realised he wasn't the one, and during that time I discovered I need to know my own wishes before focusing my energy on another person. I would never be happy until I did that. 

I tried really thinking about my wishes for the first time in my life. And I mean really thinking. A years worth of thinking in fact. I decided to try to do a CELTA. There I discovered I wanted to go back and study and do a second degree to get in to my field of interest. I will have to work hard for the next 4 years, but it is all for the end goal. 

There are going to be days when I won't see the finish line and may feel sad. But during those days I can think back to what I have achieved and what is to come. I can remember sitting in Chiang Mai eating strawberries and surrounded by flowers. I can also remember meeting a geisha. I can remember all my friends from around the world, and perhaps my itchy travelling feet will subside for a few years,

I have 4 months left in South Korea. I have spending my time applying to my course and making plans for when I return to England. I don't know my future but I realised it's starting to seem a lot less scary,

Hakone, Japan

Hakone, Japan

I went on a day trip to Hakone whilst I was living in Japan. I really enjoyed it there. It was nice to see some green after being surrounded by buildings for so long. Normally people go here over night to enjoy the hot springs, but at the time I wasn't used to getting naked in front of strangers. I really regret not going to a natural Japanese hot spring now. Perhaps in the future I will go back.

Mount Fuji-san

To get around Hakone you need to pay to use a few forms of transport. We first went on an uphill tram. It was really strange. I went on a similar one in Wales and I can never get used to them. We then went on to a cable car that took us over the sulfur mines. The whole area smells of rotten eggs. Lastly, we took a boat across the lake where there were buses going back towards Tokyo.

My favourite thing has to be the views of mount Fuji. On a clear day you can get excellent pictures. I took some good ones even though my camera was soooo old.

Sulfur mines

Hakone

Pirate ship

Scary!!!

Cable cars

Crossing the lake

Hakone

The best season to visit Japan.

Japanese cherry blossoms

I love Spring in Japan. I feel it is the most beautiful season over there. I think Japanese cherry blossoms are more beautiful than any I have ever seen. During Spring they are everywhere and the ground is covered in pink petals and there are rows of trees. There are picnics everywhere (though get there very early to save a spot) and loads of festivals. I love festivals in Japan. There is so much food and it is so delicious!! <3

If you want to travel to Japan then you must go in Spring during cherry blossom week. The palace is surrounded by cherry blossoms trees and they are lit up at night with coloured lights. For me England is best in the Summer, Japan in the Spring and South Korea in the Autumn. I just need to find somewhere for the Winter. Perhaps, Australia?? haha.

Japanese cherry blossoms

Food festival

Enjoying the blossoms

Blossoms in Asakusa

Cherry blossom picnic

Disney sea and Disneyland!!

I love Donald!!

I think I went to Disney sea and Disney land 6 times during my 8 months in Tokyo. I love Disneyland in Tokyo. Everyone is so happy and friendly. Unlike California. When I went there the staff seemed angry.

I went during school time so they were not busy. We all went on the rides until we felt sick. If you are going to Tokyo, you have to visit one of them. I prefer Disney land but others like Disney sea more.

My leaving day out!

Donald Duck

Everyone wears them!!

Happy staff

Enjoying Tokyo. Shibuya

Shibuya

One of my favourite places in Tokyo was Shibuya. I was a lot younger when I lived in Japan, therefore it appealed to me.  I also felt it was what I had imagined Tokyo to be. Busy and colourful. I heard Shibuya crossing is the busiest crossing in the world. There is a Starbucks just next to it so I enjoyed sitting there watching the crowds.

Shibuya was also fantastic for shopping. I spend many hours window shopping looking at clothes I couldn't afford. I really want to go back one day for a big shopping trip.

Shibuya

I once went to a horror restaurant there. All the staff were dressed up and the tables were in cells. There was also a horror menu. It was great! At point one the light went off with a scary clown running about. It was also someones birthday so they bent him over and pretended to put a giant injection in his bum.......   Oh Japan!!

Horror drinks

It was dark when I took this picture. 

Birthday boy

 It also has a Disney shop! They love Disney over there!!

Disney shop!

My first experience with teaching.

Leaving meal with students and the new teacher

Two months into living in Japan, I got a job as a English teacher at a private academy. I moved next to Tsurukawa Station.

They nearly put me off teaching for life. They wanted me to start the next day without any training. They knew I had no experience but didn't care. My friend who got a job at a different academy got training before starting. All I got was observing one lesson. And looking back I realise this was not a proper TEFL lesson. The old teacher didn't do lesson plans. I had nothing to refer to, except some bullet points. They blamed my accent for the lessons not going well, but in truth I was clueless and did not give the students the lessons they deserved. This was one of the worse points of my life. I felt powerless and I eventually gave up. I felt this ruined my whole experience by this points and decided to leave Tokyo 8 months after I arrived.

But, that being said, I am glad I had this experience. I used it later on during my training as what NOT to do. I did really well during my CELTA course and was told by my peers and students I was a great teacher. I have also been re-signed two times at my current job in South Korea. I could of given up teaching after what happened but instead I used it to improve. I did a TEFL course with classroom training before I came to South Korea with i-to-i and it was the best thing I ever did. If you are thinking about Teaching English then training is a must otherwise you will be over your head like I was.

Living in Japan. The start of my adventures.

First apartment

I arrived in Tokyo on my birthday in 2008. I had gone there with a working holiday visa. With a working holiday visa, you can work and travel as much as you like for a year. It was my first time abroad without anyone else, therefore I booked a package with a travel company. I think this was with Realgap. They helped you by collecting you from the airport and they were SUPPOSED to help you find a job. They really didn't.

The job office was the opposite side of Tokyo from the hostel they put us in. They also didn't have ANY jobs. Also, I later found out the sign up fee was so cheap. Considering the price of this service was 500 pounds, well, none of us were happy. Plus, I realised how easy everything was when I got there. You could do everything yourself for the fraction of the cost.The one thing they did help with, was meeting other people in Tokyo. I met some Japanese friends via Facebook, but I feel you need people from your own country when you miss home or just feel like complaining.

Japanese apartment

Japanese apartment

I mainly did everything myself. I got my first apartment from Shakura house. I have fond memories of this area and apartment. It was between the Asakusa and Ueno stations. I stayed here for only two months until I got my first teaching job. I worked as a waitress during my time here in Suji's restaurant near Roppongi. Working at Suji's was tough. We had to eat lots before work as we didn't eat until 4pm!!!!! No food since breakfast! ><

Tokyo tower

I also got to go on a tour with that rubbish company I mentioned before. I remember loving my first two months in Korea even though I was so busy with work and I had not much money.

View from Tokyo tower

Earthquake drill outside the tower

View from Tokyo tower