O is for Occupation…
In an effort to improve on my writing I have decided to sign up for Encyclopedia of me which started over at Bella Dia (and which I found out about by reading Laura`s blog here...)…You probably all thought I had given up on this, but I will get to the end of it before the year is out (I hope!)*************************************************************************************
O if for Occupation…
I don`t really have an occupation, or a career…and that was never my plan. I always thought I would finish uni, travel a bit and then find a job, most likely in the PR industry and then work and be able to say “Hi I`m Lulu and I`m a ____” (Whatever I was) but it never really happened. Now that I am temping I say “Oh I`m a temp and at the moment I am a student coordinator for medical students at so and so hospital” But in three weeks that could change and I might be saying “Yeah I`m a temp working for the department of whatever working in admin” or as a personal assistant.
I do wonder if I`ll ever have a career yet I know the answer is probably not. In Japan I would say I was a preschool teacher but that never ever felt like me career since I never planned on being a teacher.
I went for an interview last week for the job I am currently doing as a temp and I was asked “Where do you see your career going” and I couldn`t very well say “No-where” now could I. I would be happy to get the job since it would mean a little bit of job security while I am here in Australia but I never thought I would get a permanent position anywhere since I am only here for the year but if I get it, then that would be a bonus. (I will find out by the end of the week)
Anyway, the question was asked and I stumbled and then said ” Well, once I return to Japan I would love to get into translation and proofreading work or doing some work writing” and hey while that isn`t completely untrue it was a bit random and out of context. It did make me wonder though….what will I do when I return. Sure I could teach again, but I don`t really want to do that full time. I could improve my Japanese and try and get into translating but I am not really sure I want to do that either (Or if my Japanese will ever be good enough). The truth is I really have no idea what I want to do- and sometimes that is more than a little worrying. It also makes me think of the fact that i might go through life and never truly have a career…and if I never do, am I missing out?
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Hey laura,
Haven’t commented in a while although I do stalk your blog often so i figured I’d shoot through a message. This issue is one that I grapple with all the time I have no idea what I “want to be when I grow up.” I guess the problem stems from the fact that we place so much emphasise on our occupation being an integral part of our identity. We are not really just choosing an occupation, we are choosing a part of ourselves. However, instead of “being” a profession, I guess we should just “be.” Easier said then done, i know.
Having said that I’ve always thought you should take action to try and write professionally whether it be for a magazine or novels or whatever. You were always a book worm. Alternatively, open up a book shop and then go on to dominate the literary world - like Borders. Yeah, that’s what I see you as. A literary corporate mogul. Totally.
Anyway, hope you are enjoying it back in Brisneyland and you aren’t suffering too much of that reverse culture shock.
This is a timely post for me, as some of the stuff that you’ve said reflects exactly what is going on in my head right now.
First off, your Japanese is great and with another couple years of study/practice I think you would have absolutely no problem with translation work. I think that since even when you get to Japan you’ll be in the Tokyo area if you do want a “career” it will happen if you look for it. I guess it depends what you want to do. I’m so ready to be a house wife lol. I’ve only been working 2 years and I just am not liking it.
However I love translating so working from home on assignments and then doing my own stuff in the meantime is perfect for me. (Or at least it will be… once Ryohei gets his job and can be the main breadwinner for the family while my translation money is put aside for special occasions or vacations)
I think that a life with or without a successful career can still be a great life. Everyone just wants and needs different things. For you (and me) right now is a huge transition period so don’t worry if things don’t seem to be falling into place all at once. I’m still just getting into the huge mess that is translations but (knock on wood) hopefully it will be going pretty well by the time you come back to Japan next year so I’ll be able to give you advice/tips if you are interested!
Hope you find something good to keep occupied in the meantime! Hugs!
I wrote about feelings similiar to yours about a week or so ago now. About my career, or lack of, because I will be moving to Japan. There is no opportunities for me in Kakegawa as an accountant… So basically my degree, and the money I have to pay back for it, is worthless, except for the experience I gained.
You know, it really depends on what you ‘actually’ want to determine if you are missing out or not. For me, like Sara said, I am ready to be a housewife!! lol. I always knew that I wanted to be at home looking after my kids. I went to uni for the sake of going to uni (and because I knew even though I might not actually want to be an accountant, I could do it if I wanted to).
I understand how you feel though… I am at the stage in my life now, I’m going back to Japan in 2 months and I have no idea what I am going to do, or even what I want to do. Do I really want to work for $6 an hour at the day care centre? Or should I try to find an english teaching job that pays more, but requires me to work on weekends (which I really don’t want to do), when we are planning on trying to start a family in the next 6 months? Is it really worth it?
What ever you decide though, something will come up. Remember, you live in Tokyo, the doors are wide open for you! And you never know, maybe Shun will love living in Australia, and never want to return to Japan? How would you feel about that?
Life is what you make it, Lulu. I think too many people get freaked out by the word career and the stereotypical meaning of it. Many people get tricked by it, thinking they should want one when it’s not for everyone. The best advice my mother ever gave me was: “It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it, therefore whatever it is you do, do it well”. This makes lots of sense to me. When I was about your age I freaked about not having a career too, actually it was the same time that I came back from Japan and found that all my friend here were finishing double degrees and moving into the workforce as professionals (lawyers, geologists, IT Specialists, accountants). I felt inadequate because I didn’t have a career. But now a few years have passed, I have realised that admin/customer service is my career and I am good at it. I help many people everyday and that’s important. I think as long as you have what matters most to you in life, you’ll be fine, the rest will just fall into place. You are luckier than a lot of other women out there, you have already found the man you want to marry, so in that respect you are quite advanced, the rest of us are still trying to figure out our love lives. But as others have said, you are good at writing and with languages, perhaps you could put this to good use. I often wonder if I could be putting my language skills to use in the workforce.