What a perfect time to sit down and look at what we want for the new year. A chance to change directions, leave things behind, and march forward to new mountains ahead.
2025 I was so lost. I started in the Philippines, escaping the void in my apartment in Taiwan. But then I hit rock bottom on a hotel floor in Manila. I had no clue what I was doing there.
If I was broke it would've been way worse. But watching your savings slowly dwindle with no new income in sight leaves enough anxiety. I felt useless. A man without direction is a poor sight.
I found some pull by getting the hell out of Manila to find surfing and scuba diving. I finally had some purpose, even if it was just for fun. I was back in the travel mode.
But you can't stay forever. I had an apartment to get back to, and the next job to figure out. I needed to leave Hsinchu for something more. Japan was next.
I bought a one way ticket from Taiwan. My brother came to visit before I said goodbye to this place. He helped me move and we went back together to America. I could see my family for 3 weeks before I made the jump. A better direction.
I went to Japan with no idea of how I would stay. I got a ticket to Korea within the 90 day span for tourists. They didn't check. I thought worst case scenario, I could re-enter to add another 3 months. Better than nothing.
A new place, with still no purpose. I walked long walks to procrastinate figuring out my life. I had a place in Osaka, that was good. But what was I doing here?
People asked me why I came to Japan. I had no good answer. So I just said to learn Japanese, which was true. They would ask me why I left Taiwan. Maybe I was running away from something. I said I wanted a new challenge.
I looked for language schools to give me a visa. I looked at tour guide jobs. I was running out of money. I started teaching online again, and then got a job teaching English at a training center.
I got the visa. And then I got busy with two schedules for teaching. Some days were crazy busy. I finally had a purpose. But not really.
To stay and work in a new country was a huge step from where I had started this year. But this was not the life I wanted. Being busy, not making much money, and barely having time to enjoy Japan.
I decided to quit the training center. I still have the year visa, I think. But now I am underemployed and probably not gonna survive. What should I do?
I can try to get enough online clients, and maybe make enough money. But not a lot. And that's teaching all day on a computer.
Then there's the visa. If I work online then I can just leave for Korea and Taiwan and back to Japan to keep renewing as a tourist. I travel often anyway. Maybe that would be cool. Digital nomad.
I've been here almost 8 months now. I've had many ups and downs. I've been back and forth thinking I should go elsewhere, like China. I could make a lot more money teaching English.
But the more time I spend in Japan, the more I want to stay. There are more and more moments where I am out in the city, with friends or alone, and thinking how much I love it here.
So I have direction. I will stay in Japan. I will speak Japanese. I will get a good job. I will keep building a life here.
What a year it's been. A rocky road but I'm at a higher place. With a better lookout. I can see which direction to keep on.
The sun is rising in the east.
Happy New Year!
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Enjoy!