Well, not really. My bags will be packed soon, but I don't think that either Dylan or I are especially ready to go. For those of you who have not yet heard: Dylan and I are coming back to Canada.
After our epic two month battle with immigration and our even longer battle with the company Dylan worked for, our time in Japan is over for now. Immigration has turned us down for a work visa twice and, seeing as how Dylan hasn't been able to work for a while, we are quite low on money. So, without the time, money, energy, or morale to find Dylan another job, we are heading home.
There are a ton of reasons why this is probably for the best: we get to be home for Christmas, we get to see the people we love and have been missing for the last four months, we get to be home for the Olympics, I'll have more time to learn Japanese, it will be a chance for us to replenish our bank accounts, this whole trip will just serve as experience that will undoubtably help us when we decide to return to Japan (we're thinking 2011), etc, etc, etc. It doesn't mean that the last three-four months haven't been extremely hard on us and that we aren't incredibly sad to be leaving, to have failed at what we set out to do. Failed at something for apparently no other reason than incredible bad luck and timing - considering how many people have come, carried out the exact same steps we have and had everything work out swimmingly. It is difficult to not feel like no matter how much we love it here, Japan just doesn't feel the same way about us.
Anyways, Dylan and I fly out of Japan on the 11th to Beijing, have ourselves a consolation weekend there, and then fly into Vancouver on the 14th. Oddly enough, spending a weekend in China is cheaper than flying home directly from here (well, flying through China is cheaper, we just gave ourselves a LONG layover 'cause it would be sad to miss out on a chance to see the city to save the cost of a weekend at a hostel).
As sad as it is for us to be leaving, we're looking forward to seeing all of you. This trip has yet again showed us that we have some of the best friends and family that one could hope for and we love you guys.
Aw, we love you too!
ReplyDeleteAnd don't think of it as a failure, it's just an experience that didn't go exactly as planned, but as you said, will certainly help you whenever you may decide to come back! One of those stupid life lesson things, and a bit of bad luck, but just focus on all the cool things you got to see and do while you were there!
You guys are awesome and I'm sure Japan loves you very much, Canada sure does and we all surely can't wait to see you again!