There is a reason why I started a new blog. This blog allows comments from people without an account here, whereas my previous blog did not. This is important to me because I will be going to Japan, and I want my friends and family to have a way to check up on my adventures 
So, about that… Two years ago I decided to go to Japan. Over the two years reasons changed and interests evolved. I went for a job interview with a company called ECC (English through Communication for the Community). They have many schools throughout the Kinki, Chubu and Kanto districts, which are all next to each in central Japan. So I went for my interview which consisted of a group questions and answers session with a guy from the company and the two recruiting people, followed by a killer 1 hour English test with a minimum pass rate of 70% (that test knocked back about 40% of the applicants), a role play (pretending to teach beginner level kids), and finally personal interview. There were breaks in between each stage and it all lasted from 10am to 3:30pm. Talk about fast contact though, they called me at 5:30 to confirm that I was successful. After people failed the English test, there were only 13 people left, so they just talked about it afterwards, made decisions, and contacted us soon after.
So, in 3 or 4 months I’m expecting to go to Japan to teach English! It will be 29.5 hours a week. The pay is not amazing, but it’s enough. I’m going for the experience, not to get rich, and I’m really looking forward to it! I will be teaching adults and children, about 50% of the time on each. Well, that’s what I’ve been told to expect, but it could lean more towards adults or more towards kids depending on, well, a lot of things.
Well, the next step is to wait for placement info. I’m really hoping to get the kinki district, as that will mean Kansai, and very likely Osaka. Osaka’s dialect is very colourful and relaxed, very reflective of the people. Also, the only possibility for my own apartment (box) is if I am placed in Osaka. Well, wherever I end up, I will put my Japanese to the ultimate test, and see how living in a foreign country works out!
But before any of this happens, I’m going to CHINA for 10 days from the 23rd or March, where I’ll see Australia play China in a World Cup qualifier. It will certainly be interesting sitting in the green and gold army surrounded by tens of thousands of Chinese supporters. I’m going with my dad and brother, along with 3 family friends. I’ll have to brush up on my survival Chinese 
