It's been more than a year since I've moved back. All of the people, places and experiences that happened in Japan are still a part of me. I've still got my previous posts up and running on my old blog. I still enjoy writing, so I figured I might as well start a new blog. It seems like a handful of my twentysomething friends still do a fine job at maintaining their social media channels, which has inspired me to try the same! 

Unfortunately, I am still stuck in a strange liminal space. I know, I know. No one has their life completely figured out. When I quit my job as an ALT in Japan, I knew it was the right thing to do. It was time to pass the baton to someone else. Still, I find myself missing those kiddos a lot even to this day. I still get really excited when an e-mail sometimes fills my old "dearmsgemma" inbox, a greeting card arrives from Japan or I get a funny "Tweet" from my old students. They often ask "Ms. Gemma, what are you doing now?" Well, to be honest... I don't know!

Dave Tait, my second-year university reporting prof, taught me the importance of staying focused on your story. He brought forth the notion that "People are doing something for a reason." Indeed, he was reminding students that a focus statement needs to be at the crux of every story. This guiding principle will keep your story moving and compelling. 

And so, in 2011-12 I will be the first person to admit that I've been quite unproductive. I didn't have a "focus statement" for my own story - my life. Like most twentysomethings, I felt pretty dazed and confused. On top of that, I felt some strange emotions after leaving Fukushima just a few months after the big Tohoku earthquake. And in the rush of things, some of my finances got messed up. I tried to do the "right" thing to come to a solution, but lots of red tape and language barriers are not helping me smooth things over. So, I left it at that. I got a short-term contract last winter at the embassy, sifting through applications for the next wave of English teachers. And then I spent the following months volunteering here and there, and doings lots of thinking. Lots of thinking. I reckon I'm a girl (young lady?) of many talents. I can write. I can sing karaoke (sometimes without the lyrics scrolling on the tv.) I can maintain mediocre conversations with Siri in English, French, Spanish and Japanese. I can compile a newsletter for JETAA. I can cut bangs - not well. I have a lot of random things going on. Time to use those "talents" to land me a job that at least pays the bills. (Oh, the bills that I have racked up. I belong on that budgeting show, Princess. You know, the one where the lady chops up a girl's credit and debit cards? Oy vey!) 

Time to get my thinking cap on for real, and make things happen. The following blog will include lots of ramblings. I expect my future posts are best pegged as writting by a twentysomething Canadian girl who was once an Assistant Language Teacher in Motomiya, and is now trying to figure out what's next!