The Question and the options

At least once a day I am posed with some form of the question: "Do you know what you are going to do next year?" To which I reply with, "Nope! I have no idea." Which is true. I've got options in my mind but nothing is even close to being nailed down yet.  So here are the options that I've been contemplating(not in any particular order):

Option 1: Staying in Japan -

The one thing I do know about next year is that I won't be at CAJ, which is nice and not so nice.  It wouldn't be too difficult to find a job teaching English and there's a decent chance that I could start teaching lessons.  I know I'd miss CAJ but part of the reason this year has been so difficult for me is because I've been at CAJ very close to the position I was in (and LOVED) last year.  I've had more and more 懐かしい (natsukashi:nostalgic) moments from last year as this year goes on and no matter how I try to avoid it, everytime I have to take out the trash on campus or clean an area I wonder what good my degree is doing for me. 

Anyway, staying would mean that I would actually get to live in Japan and not at CAJ.  I really think that I would actually start to pick up the language and get a chance to move around a little bit.  I hate that up to this point I haven't really gone anywhere because I'm scared I don't know the language or I feel guilty spending the money.  Getting away from CAJ would change that, I hope at least.  I think it might also mean more jazz.  I'm actually starting to develop some contacts here and it wouldn't be too difficult to start playing around in different places.  I need to practice more in general to get my chops where they need to be for me to feel comfortable in such a setting, but progress is being made in that area. 

Even if I don't stay in Japan this year, I finally feel like I've established myself well enough that I could come back if I wanted.

Potential to happen: 4

Desire for it to happen: 7

Option 2: Faith Academy

This one is probably new for most people, but their is another international Christian school in the Philippines called Faith Academy that just so happens to be looking for a band director.  Now the job would be mine if I wanted it, but the main issue is that I would have to raise support and that's something that I don't feel all that comfortable doing, especially with my college loans.  The school doesn't pay teachers at all, but the cost of living is cheap.  I don't know how much I would need to raise, but I'm not the one to ask for help, especially when it comes to money (parents withstanding, THANKS MOM!).

There are a lot of cool things to this job though that make me at least pause and consider.  For one, it's in a tropical location so it's between 80 and 95 degrees year round... I mean wow, that compared to Chicago? How much would I really miss the autumn leaves?  Another cool thing is that the school just had a brand new performance hall built that is one of the best venues in all of the Philippines.  So nice I heard rumors that the national symphony might consider renting it out.  The auditorium was funded by a church in L.A. and not the school though.  The school doesn't really have any money at all apparently.  For example, the band director at CAJ sends all of CAJ's old instruments to the Philippines, so I'd be hurting for resources in that front.  I also need to consider that it is a third world country that isn't the safest place to live in (they have security guards with guns at the entrance of school). It may make me a bad person or whatever, but that just puts me on edge and I don't know if I could commit to something like that.

Potential to happen: 1

Desire for it to happen: 1.5

Option 3: Work/Teach in Tidewater

Every time I go back to Virginia I feel a sense of security and....maybe completeness? It's home, always has been and always will be and I like that.  I wouldn't need to teach if I went back to VA, at least not immediately, hence the work/teach in the option title.  I really have no idea what I would do immediately if I went back to VA.  I couldn't teach until I get licensed which just seems annoying, especially considering I'm 15,000 miles away.  So, I'd have to find some other job likely teaching lessons and working some retail.  The thought of retail really really scares me. I really need to figure out what I'd need to do to get licensed. Anyway, maybe I could start substitute teaching during the 2nd semester if I got licensed quickly enough and then find a job in the years to come.

Virginia is my end game of sorts.  That's where I want to end up when all is said and done, whenever that should happen. I am currently in a quarter-life crisis in which I have to much life to live and therefore have no desire to "settle down" in one place for a long time, but for some reason that rule doesn't apply to VA.  

There's a lot of love in VA, and I miss it.

Potential to happen: 6.5

Desire for it to happen: 9

Option 4: Teach in Illinois

This is easily the most likely option to happen if for no other reason than I am licensed to teach in Illinois which saves me a lot of time effort and money. I'm already in the process of applying for a job in Arlington Heights at Thomas Middle School.  This option provides a lot of comfort because I would be a familiar area and wouldn't have to worry too much about a transition to a new area.  I haven't just lived in Illinois, but I've actually worked in Illinois and have gotten to know the area as an adult which contrasts to Virginia and Arizona when I never really lived on my own or in my own place.  

Their are a few drawbacks to this option.  First is that I'll commit to whatever job I'm at, pretty much completely.  That means that as long as I don't hate the position I'm in the chances are that I'll be willing to stay there long term.  The one thing that's been frustrating so far in my teaching career has been the brevity of everything.  All the work that I've put in has been little flashes in the context of a subject that is meant to continuously build upon foundations setup previously. Basically what I mean is that I could see myself locking in and "settling down" to a job in Illinois even though I don't think that's what I want to do yet.  I need time to be young and live life...right? A large part of me doesn't think that will happen if I take a job in Illinois.  

The other major drawback to Illinois is the weather.  I have NOT missed the Chicago winter, at all.  The summer's are delightful, but not worth it.  I will say that Chicago has got the best food of all the options so far.  I love Japenese food, but there are no replacements for Chick-fil-A, Portillo's, The Smokehouse, a night at B-dubs, and Culver's. I just gained a pound thinking about it. Not to mention, Chicago is just an awesome city.

Potential to happen: 9

Desire to happen: 8

Option 4: Arizona/California (L.A.)/DoDS

These are the options that I more or less have to consider because it's irresponsible to not consider all my options.  Arizona would be a last case scenario because that would I had to live in AZ which I don't jive with. California would be great because I'd get to be so close to me neice and nephews.  But finding a teaching job in CA right now seems fairly impossible and I'd still have to go through all the certification crap anyway.  The DoDS (Department of Defense School) is an interesting option because I would basically be making more than twice what I'm making now and be be able to live somewhere interesting.  Basically it'd be a chance for me to pay off my loans quick and still have money to save. However DoDS schools are generally more difficult positions than their public school counterparts in the states.  The DoDS directors I know out have been stuck teaching all sorts of ridiculous classes and get burned out really quickly because of that. Is it worth it? Probably no.

Potential to happen: AZ - 3, CA - 1, DoDS - .5

Desire to happen: AZ - .5 CA - 4, DoDS - 1.5

Option 5: Grad School
This would probably not happen until second semester at the earliest, or might just start online.  I do want to further my education, just not as much as I want to teach.  Especially considering it would mean taking the GRE.  I'd likely also have to take out more student loans which I'm vehemently opposed to.  Ideally I'd find a job that would cover such an expense. The other factor to grad school is location.  I'd want to go somewhere I can function for grad school which basically means it'd have to be near a large city or in Tidewater area.

Potential to happen: 2

Desire to happen 3

So those are just some of my pondering of late and a little bit of what goes through my head every time somebody asks me that question.  It's starting to get a little frustrating, but such is life.

Until next time,

Take care and God bless.