Metamorphosis

After a couple of days of mulling it over I've decided not to look for a job, as my initial reaction was. My reasons are as follows:

• I'm lazy. Looking for a real-world job (as opposed to the luxury known as the co-op process) is too much effort. I'd likely expend twice as much effort to earn half the money I'm used to. I get chills imagining having to bike around Mississauga in my suit in the heat of the summer. And no, I can't re-enter co-op, I already asked.
• Since I'm living at home, I'm not exactly hard-up for cash.
• Priority #1 is still studying Japanese, and if I can keep it that way, money really won't be an issue.

That last one is a big one, and my main motivation to remain jobless. I've been studying lightly since school ended, while enjoying my vacation. (I'm about to finish Reading Japanese, which will have taught me the readings of 425 characters.) But now it's time to get down to business. Vacation's over. I'd like to say I'll be able to read all 1,945 joyo kanji by the time I'm finally in Japan (actually, I did say that didn't I?) but the only book out there that I know of that is as efficient and systematic as Heisig Vol. 1 for learning readings is Reading Japanese, and it only covers, as I said, 425 characters. I'm still only 20% (kanji) literate. This is the last puzzle piece I'll be struggling with.

In response to RT: yeah, I was really mad. But I have just as much reason to be angry with myself. I took way too long to apply for my passport and I should've badgered them from day one, without letting up. In any case, no point in lamenting past errors; I have a Plan B.

I already heard this news last week, through a fellow Epson co-op in the same predicament. I got confirmation for myself: you need to wait for two more months. The COE will be ready around late July, early August. (That's not even the visa)

So my month of freedom turns into three. I'll try to make the next two more productive than the first. How? I haven't decided, but I have lots of options.

It'll take a few more repeated viewings to be sure but I'd rank Revenge of the Sith pretty close to Empire and A New Hope.

1. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
2. Episode IV: A New Hope
3. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
4. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
5. Episode II: Attack of the Clones
6. Episode I: The Phantom Menace

It was exactly a month ago today when I excitedly exclaimed I'd have a month of freedom before heading off for Japan. Well, one month has come and gone and I still have no idea when I'm going to Japan.

I really have no clue what the delay is, but I'm very disappointed in Epson. One person told me everything is on track, and we can still expect to be in Japan by early June, while another said that our COEs were just submitted this week, and it may be another two months.

Onto happier news, a surprise party was held for me on Thursday. It really was a surprise, too. First, my sister surprised me by coming in all the way from Ottawa. Then, after picking up a sushi dinner for me and my mom (a clever diversion), my dad woudn't let me into the house as he yelled "he's here, he's here!". It was a nice reunion with an old friend from my elementary school days.

From Commonplace Book:

1. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid.
2. Curse my metal body, I wasn't fast enough!
3. Look at the size of that thing!
4. Sorry about the mess...
5. You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought.
6. Aren't you a little short for a storm trooper?
7. You've got something jammed in here real good.
8. Put that thing away before you get us all killed!
9. Luke, at that speed do you think you'll be able to pull out in time?
10. Get in there you big furry oaf, I don't care WHAT you smell!
11. You're all clear, kid. Now let's blow this thing and go home!
12. Get on top of it!

I may have received Epson's offer only two or three months ago, but this week one year ago is when it really all started.

Spring term '04. I was finally enrolled in Japan 101, after countless terms of disappointment at always seeing full enrollment by the time my appointment rolled around. The gears were in motion. On May 10, 2004 my girlfriend of three years and eight months and I broke up for the third and final time. I realized it was time to make some friends. The next day, while strolling through clubs day at the SLC, I did something very unlike me by spotaneously signing up for a few clubs. One of them happened to be Konja. For co-op, I was only ranked by three companies. One in Waterloo, one in Richmond Hill and one in Kitchener. I ranked them all "1".

Fall term '04. I was matched with the Waterloo job, working for Open Text, right next to campus. This allowed me to enroll in Japan 102 and to become an executive member of Konja as co-webmaster of the then-newly designed Konja website. Commencing October 17 and lasting for 10 weeks I entered semi-seclusion to undertake intensive kanji study using Heisig's system. On December 22, utterly exhausted I had completed the course, being able to write (but not read) over 2000 characters. I was offered a second term to work at Open Text, but I declined citing the first thing to come to mind: that "I'd like to find a job in Japan."

Winter term '05. Enrolled in Japan 201. I missed the first posting of co-op jobs because I was searching under the wrong term. I was about to miss the second posting too until a friend pointed out my error. And there it was in the second posting. Position: Software Development Support. Location: Japan. The moment I saw that opening the words I repeatedly said to myself as I wet my pants were, "I'm getting this job."

The following is a paraphrased transcript of an e-mail thread that transpired over this week with an administrative assistant at Epson:

Well, at least they were honest - I'm not any closer to Japan than I was three week ago. They'd better hurry because I seem to be inescapably entering co-op shopping spree mode and my tax return reserves are almost depleted.

Having an entire afternoon on Yonge St. yesterday, this is what I managed to escape with: