some musings~

May oh my, has it been that long? I guess so...

Well, much and more has happened since May and yet it's hard to see it that way when I'm still sitting here at my desk in Japan. JETsetter has seen some action lately in my attempts to keep the blog up-to-date with my experiences here, but even that has been slacking as well. I don't give apologies for the frequency of my blogs, but I will say thanks for reading whenever I do update. Arigats!

That said, I've had the mindset lately to be more spontaneous with this blog. I got into a habit of posting perfectly thought out entries or keeping a series going without interruptions (It's the OCD in me). However, in an effort to combat that, I'm going to go crazy (by my standards) and just post whatever, whenever. My highly organized ways works for me in many regards, but that's exactly why I'm trying to limit it; so it doesn't limit me. I also don't mean to make light of people who are actually afflicted with OCD (I saw an episode of MTV True Life on it back in the day and whoa), but I just imagine myself to have to be mildly afflicted as I do become uncomfortable or distracted when certain things aren't just the way I'd want them. Those of my ilk will understand.

So what has been on my mind lately? That's simple: home. And I mean more than just Miami, I'm talking about America too. Highly relevant nowadays, I've been throwing myself into election season in an unprecedented fashion for me. This genuine desire of wanting the best for my perfectly imperfect country has me longing to be there where the atmosphere is thickest. What? You're surprised Tamba isn't abuzz with talk of American presidential elections? So was I! I mean, doesn't everyone talk about 'Murica all the time? hehe, I kid, I kid. Home has also been on my mind since most of my friends are planning to go home for Christmas, but since I was just home and live farther away than any of them, that's not happening for me.

I can't honestly say I ever imagined myself filling out an absentee ballot, but now I have. Nor did I ever think to be spending Christmas in Singapore, but that is a possibility now too. I mean, have you? Maybe this sounds exciting, but after being away for year, going home and then returning back to the foreignness again, it's not as exciting, but it's part of the experience. I want to be home for many reasons, but especially these two. As an American citizen, I have the privilege to help decide the so-called 'leader of the world' (as so-called by my non-American friends). And Christmas is a time when my heritage comes out and some of the best memories of growing up Cuban come out. I love my hodgepodge Cuban-American Christmases in Miami. It's freaking magical and part of who I am. Yet, for the second year in a row, I'm won't be a part of it. The world is wondrous place, but there really is no place like home.

Speaking of home and how I want to be there, I received my re-contracting papers for JET this past week. I walked up to my desk and found them there on top of my computer. I skipped straight to the back where I knew the question would be waiting, and withing two minutes of walking in, I sealed my fate.

✓ "I have decided NOT to re-contract for the 2013-2014 JET Programme year."

Done and done. I know this may come off as me being in a hurry to leave, but in reality, anyone who's spoken to me about JET will know that two years has always been my intended length of stay and so in reality, the decision was made long ago. This has been the adventure of a lifetime. I've grown as person, learned a lot about the world, and experienced all the things about Japan I dreamed of doing and then some. But as they say, all good things come to end and I know my limit. We're only October and I have all the way till next August to go, but for some reason I am eagerly looking forward to the next adventure, whatever it is.


So that's a small update on me and the what's been bouncing around in my head.
Until next time, here's something to muse on:

"Define what success looks like for you then go after it."