Here There Be Dragons
Vital Information About Your Intrepid Heroine and This Blog
Welcome!
My name is Julie, and I’ll be your narrator for the foreseeable future.
I am a 26 year-old woman from Florida/Washington D.C. and I’ve been teaching English in Japan since August of 2006. I moved to Japan for a variety of reasons, many of which were related to the desire to “Explore the World” that most college graduates have. I’d just finished a rigorous liberal arts program at St. John’s College and I wanted an opportunity to work with children and cater to my interest in internationalism. I came to Japan Sure of Myself and Looking for Things, but the experience I’ve had is not the experience I envisioned.
This is where Douglas Adams becomes important. Reputable sources credit him with saying, “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.” This is the crux of my life at present. I came to Japan looking for Action, Adventure, and Crazy Stories. To some degree I have found this, but I’ve also found exhaustion, culture shock, impossible expectations, prejudice, accomplishment, growth, achievement, love, respect, friendship, family, and a home.
For most of my time here, I haven’t been very open about my experiences, but the time has come to start sharing them. That’s why I’m here (and hopefully, why you’re here as well).
Some interesting things to know about me:
My affiliation with St. John’s indicates that I am thoughtful, analytical, and more than a little bookish. I have been described as being an idealist who is too intense and obsessive for her own good. Also good to know about me: 85% of my life is taken up with my job, which I love and am eternally grateful for. The Job often gets in the way of This Blog, but I’m slowly figuring out how to do both.
(Especially since, most of the time, The Blog is about The Job.)
Sometimes Often Usually, I am snarky.
You might have noticed that I have an affinity for dragons, seeing as Earthdragonette is the handle that I use everywhere. I find that we have a lot in common, dragons and I. They like to collect things and keep them safe, I like to collect things and keep them safe. Additionally, we both like flying, are obsessed with treasure, are possessive, occasionally find humans to be pesky and foolish, have big dreams, can be hermits when we choose, fight to protect what we believe in, and enjoy roasted marshmallows.
I’m passionate about music, Disney World, the Great Conversation, and situational irony. I enjoy constructing extensive analogies that seem bizarre at first, but which are actually full of keen meaning and insight (or so I like to think). I strive for scenarios that refer to the human anatomy, food, or David Bowie. I can usually cover all three at once on my best days.
I am also fond of Stitch. This reflects my obsession with complications, challenges, and problem children.
Technology makes me nervous.
My ideal job would be sorceress-in-residence of a very large, impressive, and problematic castle.
My favorite word is 一生懸命 (isshohkenmei).
It means to do something with all of one’s strength or heart.
My goal is to live every day with 一生懸命.
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