Comments on: O is for Occupation… http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/07/01/o-is-for-occupation/ An Aussie girl living in Tokyo with her Japanese boyfriend trying to make sense of her crazy yet funny Japanese life... Tue, 2 Dec 2008 01:08:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Katie http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/07/01/o-is-for-occupation/#comment-7523 Katie Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:53:31 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/07/01/o-is-for-occupation/#comment-7523 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. 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.

]]> By: Nay http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/07/01/o-is-for-occupation/#comment-7509 Nay Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:50:00 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/07/01/o-is-for-occupation/#comment-7509 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? 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?

]]> By: Sara http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/07/01/o-is-for-occupation/#comment-7480 Sara Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:44:08 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/07/01/o-is-for-occupation/#comment-7480 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! 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!

]]> By: Paul http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/07/01/o-is-for-occupation/#comment-7413 Paul Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:42:27 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/07/01/o-is-for-occupation/#comment-7413 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. 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.

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