Checklists

Today's post is about checklists; things to do, places to go, people to sniff, etc.  But first, some questions to answer from the comments in the last post.  Blogless A.R. very reasonably asks, "What's the reasoning for purchasing a round-trip ticket?"  Well, my reasoning was that I was sure I'd want to come home sometime, and it's cheaper to purchase a round-trip ticket at about $1000 than two one-way tickets at about $700 each.  Also, I have a three-week break between school terms, and although the school calendar is not available yet, the break coincides with the Lunar New Year (a.k.a. Chinese New Year), so the timing is fairly predictable.  My thinking was that I could save some money.

On the other hand, I'd love to see the New Year's celebration in a major Chinese city like Shanghai.  I could also use the time to check off one or two things from my bucket list, like seeing the Great Wall of China.  Also, my parents will never visit me there if I come home whenever I have the opportunity.  And, it would be more expensive than just coming home for summer vacation.  In addition, the initial expense is greater, and after some research (more on that later), I decided that I might need the extra $300 in the short term.  So, I will probably purchase a one-way ticket after all.

Murielle asks "What part of China?"  For a full answer to that question, see the entry from 09 March.  And now, if there are no more questions, we shall proceed with today's topic.

I'm pretty good at packing without a checklist.  From six years with Boy Scouts, plus several family vacations, I know that I can pack from memory alone, and only leave out one or two minor things at the worst.  But this trip is significantly more complicated than a weekend campout, a skiing trip, or even a 50-Miler.  The last time I did this, I did pretty well, but I did end up having to check an extra bag, with mostly bed linens.  This time my school will provide those, so I am determined to avoid any extra baggage charges.  For this, as well as other reasons, I have decided to make a few checklists.  And, here they are:

Yes, they're big.  They're the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing I see when I go to bed.  This is what my life is all about from now until I leave.

You can see I have three lists:

• Purchases, or things I will need to buy (or want to buy), tangible and otherwise;
• Questions, or information that I need to assist in my preparations;
• Tasks, or small chores that might be forgotten or neglected.

You will note that there is no comprehensive list of things to pack.  This is deliberate.  Such a list would necessarily be very long, and include mostly things I am not likely forget, like slacks and shirts.  At one time I had a habit of forgetting pajamas or the equivalent, but I'm past that.  And a list is only as good as the person who makes it.

More to the point, the final packing list is not firm, and is not likely to be firm until the last bag is packed and weighed.  In compliance with a corollary of Parkinson's Law, it is likely that I will want to bring more of my belongings than I can fit into my free baggage allowance of space and weight.  I will have to make up the packing list as I pack, based on what will fit and how heavy the bag is.  Based on past experience, I should do pretty well.

One question that I need answered is the amount of money that I should take with me to pay for food and other expenses until my first good payday.  You can see that listed on the center list as "Initial Living Expenses".  One contact estimates that $1,000 would be a good amount.  I haven't heard from the other contact yet.  I hope it won't cost that much, but in order to reduce my initial expense, I won't be buying a round-trip ticket.

One thing that is annoying me is the list of restricted items.  I took up knitting about a year ago, and now I can't imagine sitting through an intercontinental flight without some knitting to keep me busy.  I even had a project all picked out: a helmetliner from the official Operation Helmetliner pattern, slightly modified, in 100% naturally black alpaca from Alpaca Direct, shorn from a locally raised alpaca named Sunny.  However, Korean Airlines (who appear to have the most economical fare to Shanghai) include knitting needles on their list of restricted carry-on items.  This is even more annoying because I know that knitters flying in the USA and Canada normally have no problem bringing knitting needles on a flight.  I'm thinking about bringing a couple of wooden pencils, and knitting a potholder or two, to be felted in China.

Of course, this is just a minor issue.  There are more serious concerns, like visa approval, and the question of whether I'll have enough money to live in China until my first decent payday.  Clearly, I need to keep some perspective, and trust God to take care of me.

Prayer Requests
As in my previous posts, please pray for my work visa request to be approved.  Also, I've been adding up the costs and looking at my account balance, and I might have to spread my butter pretty thin to make it to my first payday.  Please pray that the financial issues would be sorted out.  I also have another issue that's really worrying me, that is too private to mention here.  Please pray for a successful resolution to this problem.

Most importantly, please pray that God will give me peace about this whole process, and especially this private issue that's just come up.  Thanks for reading, and thanks for praying.

Invitation

Well, my friend finally came through. This afternoon he faxed me the letter, which I promptly scanned and sent on to Jane. About two hours later, Jane sent me the following e-mail, apparently from her iPhone:

GREAT!
I will give it to the related department early this morning.
It is 6:30 am on April 14 now.
I will let you know as soon as I get any news.
Thank you!
Good day!
Jane

I replied, expressing my appreciation for her work ethic, and asking when she expected to get the foreign expert certificate.  A few minutes ago she replied that they expected to get the invitation letter and send it next Tuesday by express courier, estimated transit time 4 or 5 days, which means I can expect it on Saturday the 23rd of April at the earliest.  When I get the letter, I will take it to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco to get my Z visa.  That process is estimated to take about a week.

This means that, Lord willing, I can expect to get the visa around Friday the 29th or Tuesday, May 3rd, since May 2nd is International Labor Day, an official Chinese holiday.  Theoretically, I can leave as soon as I have my visa.  Of course, in practice, I need to book a flight.  In theory, I would feel comfortable paying for a flight as soon as Jane tells me that they have the invitation letter.  Of course, when I pay for a flight I also need to choose a date.  If I choose a departure date before I have the visa in hand, I need to allow enough slack time to make sure that I will have the visa by the time I leave, otherwise I might have to change my flight, which would be expensive.

I do want my parents to be able to see me off at the airport.  I think if I book my flight for May 5th, that should allow enough slack time.  A quick check on three leading flight search sites indicates that a round trip returning at the Lunar New Year should cost about $1057, with a connection in Seoul.  Not bad.  I'll wait to book until Jane has the letter in hand.

Yes, I'm getting a little excited.  It's finally starting to feel real.

Prayer Requests

Obviously, I have very little control over the visa process, so please pray that it will go smoothly and quickly, and that the visa will be approved.  Also, unlike last time, I have no excuse for not cleaning up before I leave. So, please pray that I would be able to make the necessary decisions about the disposition of my possessions in a timely manner.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for praying.

Reference Letter

In my last post, I wrote about how the school wants me to come ASAP when the visa is ready.  Although I agreed, I'm not the one who's responsible for getting the visa ready at this point.  Jane is gathering those documents for submission to the Foreign Expert Bureau (FEB).  I would be happy to let her do that, but there are certain things that seem to be taking more time than they should, especially for someone who wants me ASAP.

For instance, I don't understand why, after she got my corrected résumé, it took her four days to request a reference letter from one of two previous organizations listed in my work experience.  Fortunately, I already had a letter from one of them, obtained for my previous job in Korea, which letter I promptly sent to her.  Unfortunately, it was a Word document, with no signature, and, although it was positive, it was quite brief.  Jane wanted a more detailed letter, with an authentic signature, to submit to the FEB.

So, I promptly wrote to my old business associate, who is still one of my most trusted friends, though we don't communicate very often since I moved.  I asked for a more detailed letter, with a personal signature.  After about a week, I hadn't heard from him, so I called him.  He's pretty busy, but he promised to help me.  After about four more days, I dropped him an e-mail to let him know (in case I'd forgotten to mention it) that there is some time urgency on this letter.  He then wrote back to me, expressing some confusion about what kind of additional detail was required, and asking me to put in the necessary detail, which he would then check and sign if it was acceptable.  So, I promptly edited the letter and sent it back for his approval.

The next day, he wrote back to me late, asking me to make a minor change.  The following morning, when I checked my e-mail, I made the change and sent it back.  Then I let Jane know that the letter was almost ready.  This brings us up to yesterday morning, the 11th of April.  That evening, which was morning China time, I heard from Jane, who finally let me know what the rush was all about.

Apparently, one of the math teachers is taking a two-week vacation to attend a wedding in the USA.  After asking for more info, I found out that this trip is expected to happen from the end of April to the middle of May.  It would have been nice to know this earlier!  I would definitely have been more proactive about getting the letter from Peter.  It would have been even better if she had requested the letter earlier, along with giving me this information in the original "We are looking for a maths teacher now" e-mail.

Actually, I think I know what's going on.  She had written earlier that she would give my documents to HR.  My guess is that she's my contact because of her English skills, and she's passing on the requests and information that she gets from HR.  It appears that someone underestimated the time it would take to get the reference letter, which so far is 12 days and counting.

At any rate, right after I heard from Jane about the time frame, I e-mailed Peter to let him know that there was more time urgency than I originally thought.  This morning, I was planning to call him around noon, if I hadn't heard from him.  But then, in mid-morning, he e-mailed me to let me know that he had been busy with appointments most of yesterday, but he had the letter in his briefcase and would try to get it to me today.  I trust that he will do that.

More importantly, however, I trust God to make sure that everything works out.  My primary concern with timing is the fact that it could take two or three weeks to get the visa, and I don't want to book my flight to China before I know that I will be admitted into the country.  That's just common sense.  At the same time, I want to book my flight well in advance to save money.  Last time I did this, I knew when I wanted to fly over a month in advance, and I was able to fly Singapore Airlines nonstop to Seoul for a very reasonable price.  This time, I may have to settle for a one-stop with a lesser airline, and even so it will probably be more expensive.

Update:  I just had a Google Chat with an old recruiter in Korea.  He invited me to visit.  I told him I might change planes in Incheon (인전, Korea's main airport), and said I might take a day and see Seoul (서울).  He gave me his phone number (I have it already) and said I could call him there.  He also said to send my schedule when I had it.  It's not likely I would have an extra day to do that, but it's possible, if God is willing.  I would really love some Korean barbecue.

2nd Update:  I just remembered what I wrote in my last post about containing my curiosity.  Apparently, I need to be judicious in my questions.  If I had asked about the reason for the sudden rush, maybe I could have helped better.  (Note to self:  It's not necessarily better to wait with questions.  Some questions are better asked sooner, in case the answers will affect current decisions.)

Prayer Requests
I don't know where to start.  Everything's waiting on this one letter of recommendation.  Then the visa process in China, then the visa process here, then fly to China.  Somewhere in there I've got to book flights and pack. Packing is dependent on knowing which airline(s) I'm flying to know the specific baggage limits.  Flights are dependent on knowing when the visa will be ready.  I know when I want to get there, but at this rate, I doubt the visa will be ready in time, even though I will do everything I can to expedite the process.  Please pray that God would sort out everything regarding the visa, the flight, and my packing list.  My experience will help me with some of that, but there is a lot that is outside my knowledge, my control, or both.  I expect that God does this so I will rely on Him more.  Please pray that I would be able to trust God and be at peace in the midst of uncertainty.

"We are looking for a maths teacher now."

First of all, if any of my friends or family were hurt by my last post, I apologize.  I understand that this isn't easy for all of you.  I understand that this isn't the course you would prefer for me to take.  Please forgive me if I have hurt you in any way.  This wasn't my first choice, either.

The thing is, I need to pay my bills.  No one else, no matter how strenuous their objections, is volunteering to provide an alternate way for me to pay my bills.  They are only offering suggestions based on conventional job-search strategies.  Well, that course didn't seem to be working for me.  Finding an alternative market, where my skills are in higher demand, does seem to work for me.  I have been getting pretty clear indications that it is time for me to go "out into the world to seek my fortune," as they say in the fairy tales.

Take this week for example.  Last week, I finally signed the contract and addendum, scanned them, and e-mailed them to Jane, the vice-principal at Wuxi International School who is my contact there.  I was going to e-mail her today if I hadn't heard from her by then.  Yesterday, however, I got an e-mail from her, at what must have been the start of her work week, Monday morning China time.  Here is the text of the e-mail:

Hi Sean,

We are doing the procedures of your visa these days. Is it possible that you come and teach here asap when your visa is ready? We are looking for a maths teacher now.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Jane

Now, bear in mind that the last date I heard from her was mid-August, to start the school year on September 1.  She had previously said something about summer school and early July.  This, however, could put me in China within two months IF all goes smoothly.  That seems to be a good, albeit preliminary, indication that this is the right thing to do.

Now for the 'if', and, yes, it is a big 'if'.  I don't know what prompted the unexpected change in the timeline, and I'm not going to ask now.  One thing that I've learned from my dealings with the overseas education business is that it's important to temper my curiosity.  I have many questions.  I do not need all the answers right now.  It is often easier for everyone if I hold my nonessential questions for a later time.  How big is the school?  How large are the classes?  How far is it from the school to my lodging?  These are questions that others are asking, and I could ask them by e-mail if I wanted.  However, my contacts are busy with many things, I'm sure, and I don't think it's wise to distract them with unnecessary questions.

In addition, my experience tells me that the most helpful things to know are usually not what I would think to ask about.  For example, the physical interaction style of most Korean kids would be considered very rough, even abusive by American standards.  Operating from my own cultural standards, I referred two kids for detention due to the violence I observed.  Later I was told that their detention was cancelled because this sort of interaction was, while not appropriate classroom behavior, not a big deal in Korean society.  This was an important lesson for me in Korean classroom management, and not something I would have thought to ask about.  Nor could it have been effectively explained by e-mail.

So, I didn't ask why, or what had changed.  I said yes.

There was an additional exchange about a chronological hole in my résumé, which needed to be filled.  (Apparently, this is to make the paperwork more acceptable to the Chinese Foreign Expert Bureau.  I trust that she knows what she's doing, and will do what it takes to secure my Foreign Expert Certificate.)  I told her what I had done, and she asked me to put it in the résumé.  I quickly modified my computer file and sent it to her.

While this was going on, the exchange (via Skype chat) continued.  She told me I would need to bring originals of all my certificates to China.  Diplomas, certificates from Korea, ESL certificate.  I agreed.

There are still a lot of things that are not yet clear to me.  For instance, how will she send me the Foreign Expert Certificate?  E-mail, air courier, or mail?  And what else might I need to bring to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco for my visa interview?  However, I don't think I need the answers to all of these questions right now, in order to move forward.  I will make sure that I get the answers I need when I need them.  At this point, I'm waiting for word on the progress of my Z visa application, mentioned in the first sentence of Jane's e-mail.  I'm hoping for good news within a few weeks.

Prayer Requests

At this point, I believe God is directing me to teach in China.  The position I've accepted looks like a good fit for me, the school wants me ASAP, and it would be good experience for my eventual long-term goal of teaching in the mission field.  If this doesn't work, I don't know what to try next; this was my plan B.  So, all the circumstances seem to line up on one side, and that's the best way I know to read God's will without direct revelation.  Therefore, please pray that the Foreign Expert Bureau in China would grant my Z visa application.

My family is not completely at peace with this process.  Different people have different degrees of concern.  I appreciate that there is danger involved.  However, I think it is like childbirth.  There is danger in the process for both parties.  However, there is more danger (if it were possible) in not giving birth; in fact, a successful postponement of delivery would mean certain death for the child if not for the mother.

Having gone to another country to teach before, I believe I am in a better position to understand the risks I face, both in going and in staying, than my family members, who have not.  I have weighed the risks and made my decision:  taking a job on the other side of the world is safer than staying here without good job prospects.  Having made my choice, I would ask everyone to please pray for my family to have peace about my decision, and support me in this process.

Blessings,

Sean M. Pearson

You're going where?

Well, I'm up to my old tricks again, threatening to leave my family and fly to the other side of the world, just to make a quick buck.  I've been making noise about this for some time, but today, it got serious.  Today, I just received and printed the actual contract.

Needless to say, my parents are not entirely happy about this, even though they've been bugging me to get out of their hair (and their house) for months.  In fact, I'm experiencing a little trepidation myself.  Of course, everyone agrees that I need to find some practical way of earning enough money to support myself, and move out of my parents' guest room.  It's long overdue.  At issue is how I choose to accomplish this.

About 18 years ago, I decided that I would never work with junior high kids, either professionally or in ministry.  I knew that someone had to do it, but I didn't think I was cut out for that sort of work.  About 18 months ago, however, I found myself teaching math to 5 classes of (mostly) Korean students in grades 6 to 10.  How and why I found myself doing this is documented in my earlier blog entries.  The point is, I loved it.  (Gotta love God's sense of humor.)

I loved it so much that, when there were problems with my E-2 visa application, I seriously considered marrying a Korean woman in order to get an F visa.  (That would have been wonderful, but it didn't work out.)  All I could do was try to explain to my students why I was leaving.  It was hard, and I don't know how much they understood, but I did my best.  Several of them wrote me good-bye notes, and a few even gave me gifts.  (I think those were the girls who had the most hopeless crushes on me.)  Then, it was on to a farewell ceremony, a good-bye dinner, divide up my classes, grade and return the last make-up exams, pack up my bags, sleep for a few hours, and ride to the airport.

When I found myself back in the U.S., I took some time to evaluate my experience, and what major lessons I could learn from it.  It was clear that, having matured a great deal from my own junior high days, I could handle kids in that age group.  (At least, I could handle Korean kids.)  Moreover, I could teach, and even enjoy teaching, with almost no training or preparation time.  I would probably do a lot better with some formal training in a credential program.

So, I volunteered at a local high school, took the necessary exams, and applied to the credential program at the local state university campus.  That was supposed to be a really good program, with a great reputation.  At first, it went well, after a minor hitch in the application process.  In the fall semester, however, there were problems with my student teaching placement, and the school did not (in my opinion) fulfill its obligation to find me a suitable placement.  So, I chose to withdraw from that program, and pursue other opportunities.  Having been warned that my previous visa problems would likely preclude further work in Korea, I did a little research and decided that China was the next best option.

Yes, that's right, China, as in the People's Republic of.  As in Red China.  Yes, I'm fully aware that it's a Communist country; that is, a country with a totalitarian government, limited personal and religious freedom, and state control or ownership of the means of production.  I'm also aware that it's the most populous country in the world, and its current economic prosperity is based in large part on their success in exporting manufactured goods to the U.S.

This means that those Chinese workers who can communicate in English have much better job opportunities than those who cannot.  Hence, there is a strong market in China for qualified English teachers.  And we're not just talking about a few years in high school and a few semesters in college, like the U.S.  We're talking from Kindergarten on up.  (Yes, it is possible to teach English to someone when you don't speak their language.  I've had some training.)  And at the higher levels, they want to learn correct pronunciation and expand their usable vocabulary, which is where I come in.

The point is, schools in China are actively hiring people with my qualifications.  They are even paying recruiters to find teachers for them.  It's a seller's labor market.  And, for someone who has a hard time dealing with the current labor market in California, it's a job hunter's dream.  Just post the résumé online, and choose from among the offers that fill your inbox.  (I'm simplifying slightly.)

Currently, I've chosen an offer from Wuxi International School, which is in Wuxi, a medium-sized city (about 4 million people) outside Shanghai.  I chose that school for multiple reasons.  They want me to teach Math in English, which is what I did in Korea.  They are a short train ride from Shanghai, which means a cheaper flight and no layover.  They want me to come in July or August, instead of February, which was a little too soon for my comfort.  Also, the salary offer is very reasonable.

At this point, I'm just about ready to sign the contract.  However, my parents have raised several concerns, so I'm choosing to hold off for a little while, while my mom tries to put me in touch with a friend's son who is currently teaching in China.  I also have something I want to do before I send the signed contract by e-mail.  So, I will wait while those things are dealt with.  I don't plan on waiting more than a week.  China is calling.

Prayer Requests
I've got a big decision to make.  And, as is normal with any significant decision, there are a lot of things that I don't know.  On one hand, this could be dangerous.  On the other hand, it appears to be the best option available.  Please pray that God would show me His will in this area.  If it's not God's will for me to go to China, I need Him to open a door somewhere else.  Also, please pray that my parents would not worry unduly.  There are risks in going, but I'm afraid there may be bigger risks in staying here.  Everyone needs to see things clearly.  Thank you.

Christmas Travels

There's an old proverb, "Every cloud has a silver lining."  I also like the equivalent, "It's an ill wind that blows no good."  Both of them, of course, mean that you never, or hardly ever, have something really bad happen without someone getting some real good out of it, that would not have happened otherwise.

One of the good things that resulted from the abrupt, unwelcome ending to my Korean adventure, is the opportunity for me to spend the holidays with my family.  Thanksgiving was spent at my parents' house, with a merry crowd from both sides of the family.  For Christmas, my parents are flying out to North Carolina to visit with my Uncle Dan (my dad's eldest brother) and his family for a few days.  I will fly out later to Baltimore, and take the train to meet them near New Freedom, PA, where my sister's in-laws live.  Then we'll spend Christmas with my brother-in-law's family.  I'm looking forward to that.  My sister married into a pretty neat family.

Speaking of which, a little bird told me that some of my family are still wondering about Christmas gift ideas for me.  (Fortunately, some of them follow this blog.)  For me, at this point, that's a difficult question to answer.  The things I want most in my life are not things that can be purchased, wrapped up in shiny paper, and placed under a tree.  Or, if they could be purchased, they would be prohibitively expensive for my family, who are not millionaires.  Or, I wouldn't have the time to enjoy them.  For example, I really want/need a good teaching job, a loving and supportive wife (I'm single), financial freedom (or even just debt freedom), a trip to visit my friends in Korea, martial arts classes from a Christian instructor,....  You get the picture.

This fall, I was forced to scale down considerably, and I still didn't reach my material weight-loss goal.  I got rid of a lot of clothes, a lot of books, and a lot of other junk.  Some was sold, a lot was given away, and some things were thrown away or recycled.  A few things were left in Korea when I didn't have room for them.  However, I still have too much junk holding me down.

So, I don't really need, want, or expect much in the way of material things from people this Christmas, and I don't want to be obliged to buy things for people that they don't really need or want.  I feel that Christmas has been turned into a guilt-ridden spending orgy, and I refuse to participate in the materialism.  I would like to adopt the gift policy of C.S. Lewis, who decided to only buy gifts for children at Christmas.

I'll tell you what I don't want.  I don't want people to spend money on me just for the sake of tradition, or just because they don't want to feel guilty.  There's no need to feel guilty.  My parents are buying me a plane ticket and a few nights at a hotel, so I can spend Christmas with them, and with my sister and brother-in-law.  That's really all the Christmas present I need.  (BTW, I'm getting tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat as I write this.)  Seriously, that's all I really want.  If you really want to get me something, see the list below.

Here's something else I don't want.  I absolutely, positively, don't want something that was made in China or Taiwan or the Philippines because the labor costs are cheaper there, and the U.S. doesn't have enough import tariffs to motivate domestic production.  Seriously, I have everything I need, and if you're adding to our national trade deficit by buying me an imported gift, I'll take it back.  If you really want to get me something physical, I would highly prefer something handmade by a local artisan.  You can be the artisan too, that would be wonderful; if so, please use domestic materials.  (Sadly, many of my possessions were not made in the U.S.  I'm not a hypocrite, but when I buy necessities, I don't always have the freedom of buying domestic.  Gifts, however, are not necessities.)

Gift Ideas
What about some concrete ideas?  OK, here goes.  I like handmade wool items, like socks, scarves, and sweaters.  A stylish wool hat (not a beanie) would also be good.  I have enough ties, but they're currently hanging on pants hangers in my closet; so, a handmade wooden tie rack would be appreciated.  Ditto with belts.  Cedar would be the best choice of wood for either rack, as they will be sharing a closet with wool and silk items, and cedar helps keep the moths away.  If there's not enough time to finish these items before Christmas, I'll happily take a rain check.

If someone needs to shop online because of distance or time constraints, please consider a sponsored donation to a worthy Christian charity.  One of my favorite organizations, the Rafiki Foundation, is in the process of transforming Africa for God by providing healthy orphans with a loving home and a Christian education.  In forty years (God willing), these children, raised in Christian families, will be the new leaders of several African nations.  Their website is http://www.rafiki-foundation.org/, and they sell donation cards at various levels.  They also have an online exchange, which markets the crafts that the kids learn to make, so they earn money for the foundation but do not compete with the local craftspeople.  Anything from there would be good, and if I can't use it, I'll give it to someone who can, knowing that the money went to the Lord's work with Rafiki.

So, that's the story with me and Christmas.  Now, I just have to practice what I preach, and get some appropriate, affordable gifts for the people who really mean the most to me.

Prayer Requests
I'm sure you read, earlier, the list of things that I want or need, that can't be gift-wrapped.  Please pray that God would show me His will in these things.

Right now, I need to get to sleep.  Good Night.  Thanks for reading, and thanks for praying.  God bless you all.

Layover in Japan

Japan was the first Asian country that I seriously considered visiting.  A few years ago, I was studying Judo, "the gentle art of self-defense", the modern Japanese martial art that, of all the martial arts I am aware of, focuses most on using the opponent's strength and movement to defeat him.  I was really into Judo, and I dreamed about having enough money to go to the Kodokan, the home of Judo, in Tokyo, to study there.

Considering that, I find it ironic that, when I finally did get to Japanese soil, not far from Tokyo, it was only a two-hour layover in the international terminal of the Narita airport.  It's even more ironic that, by the time I got there, I had a rather jaded view of Japan.  From my three months in Korea, I had become more sympathetic to Korea, and the harm that they had suffered under Japanese occupation from about 1910 to 1945.  I had also learned that, adding insult to injury, the Japanese government still refused to apologize to the Koreans for the lasting harm resulting from that occupation.  Moreover, I had been trying to learn Korean for three months, with some success, and here I was now, in Japan, with a language and writing system that I had never seriously studied.  But the most important emotional association was probably the fact that Japan and Japan airlines were my path away from Korea, where I really wanted to stay.

So, when I arrived in Japan, and during the whole time I was on Japan Airlines, I didn't have a very friendly feeling toward the language or the culture.  Of course, I didn't show any hostility, but I felt like a stranger on unfriendly ground, much more so than I had in Korea.  In Korea, the people had been very friendly.  In Tokyo, I saw a sign warning travelers about pickpockets and luggage thieves, which are not considered significant hazards in Korea.

Adding to this feeling of hostility, when I got to the gate for my connecting flight, I saw something rather disturbing on the television.  Of course, it was all in Japanese, so I didn't really know what the show was about, but what I saw on the large screen was a little Japanese girl, a toddler really, in the process of getting dressed.  I suppose the show was narrating her dressing activity.  My discomfort stemmed from the knowledge that Japan, like Korea, does have a problem with sexual exploitation of young women, and even sexually immature girls.  I feel that such a show would be likely to contribute to that problem, even if the content of the show was entirely innocent in its intent.

At any rate, I didn't have to watch that show.  The TV closest to my gate was showing a sumo tournament, which didn't really need narration.  An American gentleman on my flight sat down near me to watch, and explained some of the procedures, like the required ritual posturing and ceremonial scattering of rice.  Since the boarding call was a little delayed, we had time to watch the grand finale, which was good.

On the flight, I got an aisle seat in the center section of the 777-300ER, and my own little movie screen.  The only irritating thing was that the screen stopped for every announcement, and the announcements were in both English and Japanese, so it took twice as long.  Also, unlike on Singapore Airlines, I did not get a comfort pack (toothbrush, toothpaste, knit socks).  Despite the slightly delayed boarding, we caught a strong jet stream, so we made good time.  Since I would be arriving in the morning, I tried to sleep, with a little success.

After a little catnap, I checked the time in San Francisco, and decided to get ready for that time zone.  So, I set my watch and checked the movies.  I got to watch the new G.I. Joe movie, which was quite good.  I also got to watch most of the new Transformers movie, which I had already seen once, before the movies were turned off for landing.  Breakfast was decent, and the landing was quite smooth.

Immigration/customs was no problem, as I was not bringing back enough cash for them to be concerned about.  I did have to answer a few questions from one officer about the purpose of my visit.  Baggage claim took a little while, but I made friends with the attendants and helped them keep the baggage running smoothly.  I did have to wait at the curb for my mom, but I expected that.  Of course, she took me to lunch at Nona's Kitchen, a fabulous restaurant on Highway 1 in Pacifica, not too far out of our way.  (It's owned and run by Joreth Toropov, who is married to my cousin Virginia.)

After lunch, my mom drove me to her house in Brentwood, in East Contra Costa County.  I unloaded my luggage into the guest room (henceforth my bedroom), took off my nice clothes, and crashed on the bed until dinnertime.

Prayer Requests
I've pretty much gotten over my jet lag by now, which is harder going east when crossing the International Date Line.  What I need now is paid employment.  Please pray that I would find work.  I don't want to work retail during the holiday shopping rush, because most retailers are open on Sunday.  I want to teach, so I need to start by getting a substitute teaching credential, and applying at all the nearby school districts.  I also need to look at the private schools.

More importantly, I need to know God's direction for my life.  I've been on a rather circuitous and indirect course thus far, and while it may have been God's will, it's very trying to my parents as well as me.  On Sunday, I enjoyed a sermon from Pastor Larry at GHCC on that subject, which reminded me that it's my listening ability, not God's communication skills, that interfere.  Please pray that I would listen to God as He shows me His will for my life in this area.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for praying.  Now that I'm back in the U.S., I probably won't be updating this blog very much, unless I have something major to report.  If you have any questions, I'm sure most of you know how to contact me.  Otherwise, comments to this post will get e-mailed to me, and I will get back to you.