Down to the wire…

I’m officially under the two week mark. In fact, I only have ten sleeps to go!  I’ve slightly adjusted my countdown, as my flight leaves in the very early hours of May 5th, and I will be at the airport late the night before. So, technically there will be no sleep that last night in Canada. At the realization of my quick moving countdown, I have to admit to a slight pang of anxiety surrounding the state of my packing and obvious procrastinating over the last few weeks. 

So, you may ask, what is there to do in my last two weeks in Victoria? Well, as I’ve mentioned many times before, the packing process has been on-going, but there is still much to be done before take-off. I have a funny feeling this job will continue right up until the last possible moment. 

My second job of late has been attempting to learn some Japanese. I have a Japanese phrase book and grammar book, and am slowly learning some of the basics of the language. However, despite the fact that I’m learning the pronunciation of Japanese words, I haven’t managed to learn much about the kanji (or characters). I wasn’t sure how big of a deal this would be until I was looking for an online movie rental site in Japan, only to find that all of the top recommended sites have nothing but Japanese characters. Granted, I don’t know how indicative of Japanese signage and advertising this is, but it sure made me think about learning the Japanese characters. This is the first language I have studied that isn’t based on the Roman alphabet, and I’m not entirely sure about that best way to approach this. However, I’ve always found it easier to learn a new language when I’m immersed in it. I’m hoping I am learning enough of the basics to get by on arrival, but I’m sure I will learn so much more by necessity once I’m there. 

Of course, there have been lots of little logistical jobs to do as my timeline gets shorter. The all important work visa has been stamped in my passport and delivered safely to me. I have to say I like this one much better in appearance than my British visa, as I was not just allowed, but encouraged to smile for the picture this time. I also ordered some Japanese Yen, which came in the form of crisp new banknotes in amounts that make me feel wealthy! 

With all the big tasks to accomplish before take-off, the most important one for me has been spending time with friends and family. After living away from Victoria for the better part of the last few years, it’s been great to be back for a few months now. I’ve tried to see as many people as I could, although circumstances haven’t allowed me to see them all. I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time at home, but I’m getting psyched and ready to go on the next exciting chapter of my work and travels. 

I hope I’ll have time to put in one more post before departure day, but if not I will definitely have lots to say once I’m settled and working in Akashi! Until next time… 10 sleeps and counting!