BIG NEWS: I'm coming home early!

As some of you know, I've been applying to medical schools since this summer in the hopes of starting somewhere next fall. Well, I'm really happy to report that I've already received several interview offers, which was a really big surprise for me. I'm incredibly excited about all of this, but unfortunately it also means that I'm going to have to leave Japan earlier than I had originally intended.

Of course I feel horrible about breaking my contract and leaving my students, co-workers, and friends, but everyone has been really understanding and supportive. They know this is my dream, and that I have to go to my interviews in order to be accepted to a school. If I wait to finish my contract before doing my interviews, then most of the spots at the schools will probably be filled. I'm having such a wonderful experience here in Japan, and the last thing I want is to resent my time here as something that prevented me from getting into medical school. There are emergency teachers for these types of situations, so I know that I'm am replacable here, but no one can attend my interviews for me. I still feel guilty about leaving early, but I know that this is something I must do in order to follow my dream. I guess there are decisions in life when you know you're going to disappoint someone, but you have to do what is best for yourself in the long run. Of course everyone has been really great about the whole situation, even people from the head office, so that has made everything a lot easier.

I'm going to miss all of the friends I've made here, but I can honestly say that I've done everything in Japan that I wanted to do and I can leave without any regrets. I've visited Hiroshima, Tottori, Kyoto, Kobe, Himeji, Tokyo, stayed in a ryokan, did onsen, wore a yukata to a festival, and climbed Mount Fuji. This past weekend I went to Aizu with my co-workers and had a fantastic lunch, made pottery, and visted an old-style village. There are still many things I'd like to do, but at least I've done all of the essentials. Plus, I still have a few more weeks to go so I'll squeeze as many things into them as possible.

My last day of work is September 24th, and I'll fly home on the 27th. I'll be doing my interviews during the first few weeks in October, and then hopefully I'll find a job and an apartment in the Bay Area until I leave for school next August. At least that's the plan for now, but stay tuned for any updates. Until then, enjoy pictures from my weekend in Aizu!