Ok, this is the last one in this trilogy series - see The JET Programme: From Application to Acceptance and The JET Programme: From Pre-departure to Departure for parts one and two. Please keep in mind while reading that I'm a Canadian from the Vancouver consulate - until you leave your home country, things vary by consulate. Once you get to Tokyo though, everyone's in the same boat until departure day to your prefecture.This one is all about the most exciting part - getting here!We left ...
Getting Ready
The JET Programme: From Pre-departure to Departure
Most of you know by now that I'm headed to Japan to teach English as a participant on the JET Programme. I wrote previously about how this was a long time coming (I first heard about it in 2006!) and a basic breakdown of the timeline. This post will be more detailed, and will probably only be interesting to those of you who found my blog while searching for info about JET, sorry! Please keep in mind while reading that I am a Canadian (Vancouver consulate) JET, and things differ by consulate and ...
The JET Programme: From Application to Acceptance
Most of you know by now that I'm headed to Japan to teach English as a participant on the JET Programme. I wrote previously about how this was a long time coming (I first heard about it in 2006!) and a basic breakdown of the timeline. This post will be more detailed, and will probably only be interesting to those of you who found my blog while searching for info about JET, sorry! Please keep in mind while reading that I am a Canadian (Vancouver consulate) JET, and things differ by ...
How to Become a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor
People ask me all the time how I became a dive instructor! I can say that it is not an easy (or cheap) process, but if you have a passion for diving and have the right personality to teach, it's an amazing way to do what you love - and if you want, live in some pretty interesting and exotic places.Since I can only speak for my own experience, this post is focused on how to become a PADI dive instructor. There are many training agencies around the world for basic certification all the way up to ...
I can fight fires, save lives, and put on a lifejacket.
I haven't been around all week!Wanna know why?You're looking at a brand-new STCW graduate! That means I've completed standardized basic safety training and can work on boats around the world. It also means that I jumped in a life raft in the pool, did some CPR on a dummy, and did full on real firefighter training. It was SO FUN!!! STCW is made up of four training modules: Personal Survival Techniques, Personal Safety & Social Responsibility, First Aid & CPR and Basic Firefighting. ...
The calm before the storm.
Things are easygoing right now, so I'm doing my best to enjoy it. It's hard to believe that in a week from today I'll be waking up for the first time in Roatan. I'll be hot and sweaty and disoriented, and then once the fog clears I'll realize that I just woke up in my new place...and I'm going diving... and I'm not going anywhere for a long time.These are my last few days in Vancouver.... my last sushi, last sunset at Kits Beach, last dinner with a friend, last appointments and ...
Everything falling together instead of falling apart.
I knew this would happen.I knew right from the beginning that so many things would be stressful, that I would feel like I couldn't do it, like nothing was going my way. But I knew in the end that it would all work out. And while I'm scared of jinxing myself, I feel okay saying now that it's all worked out.I hit my budget. I'm on track to have $2000-$3000 above my budget, which is absolutely fucking incredible given the fact that I decided just over 5 months ago that I'd follow this crazy ...
Where have I been?
When it comes to a blog, the old adage "no news is good news" does not apply.It's been quiet here because life has been out of control. I have just ten days left before I set out on my adventure!Here's the Cliff's Notes of what's been going on:- The saga of packing: I had to pack up my entire apartment by myself in about four hours as I didn't have enough time off my jobs to do it properly. Needless to say I threw out about half my shit, you're welcome Salvation Army. It was a ...
The last things.
Tying up loose ends around here....three weeks to departure!Good news - on Tuesday (payday from one of my jobs) I will have all the money I need for my trip ready to go in my savings account! YES!!! That's going to be a good day. And luckily I still have a couple paycheques coming so I can have a bit "extra"...I still have a few things to buy and as I've mentioned before, this budget is the bare minimum and I'm sure other things will pop up while I'm there. So saving a bit more will make ...
One month left.
Well, here we are. In exactly a month from this very minute I'm writing this, I'll be touching down in Roatan and leaving Vancouver behind for...who knows how long. Shits getting REAL around here right now!I am knocking stuff off my to-do list and I feel better about that, but the enormity of thinking about leaving my life here and moving to a tiny island with a few bags of stuff is starting to sink in. People keep asking me if I'm nervous or scared. Not really, because I am the kind of ...