in limbo again

i am never comfortable unless i am moving. i'm coming to realize that the personality trait that makes me continually learn and grow will leave me exhausted in constant pursuit of the "next big thing." be it relationships, jobs, or even getting ready in the morning, i can't complete one task without wondering what else is out there. i realize the magnitude of this folly, but being conscious of something is the beginning of tackling it, right?

that being said- i'm totally and completely over japan.
the food, the people, the bureaucracy, the complacency and the contradictions have made me feel like i'm in some 50s paradoxical universe. don't get me wrong, i'm glad i've stayed and stuck it out but it's out with the old and in with the new.

so i decided to quit my job and take what little money i have (thank you nova and the japanese government) and start moving again. february 19th i'm leaving nagoya and flying to bangkok where i'm meeting my best friend, jacobi, and another new friend, monika, for the beginning of a two month trek through south east asia. from bangkok, we are heading north to chang mai to ride elephants and visit the world famous night bazzar. from there, we are heading east to Pai and Mae Son, which is a mountain loop , boasting some of the most beautiful scenery in all thailand. depending on time, we will visit the golden triangle before heading into laos to do "the gibbon experience" we are going into a gibbon reserve and staying in treehouses which are connected by zip lines. we will search for gibbons and swim in waterfalls for 3 days before going into northern vietnam for about 2 weeks. we will head back into laos and go to luang prabang, vientiene, and float the mekong river down to cambodia. there we will see ankor wat, the world famous temple and the islands of peninsular thailand. it's a lot to think about and plan, but i am so excited about this transition.

so that leaves me in limbo, once again. it's really hard to enjoy the little time i have left in japan when i am working two jobs to make enough money and its so cold (36 degrees in the sunshine- and i'm at the point where that's warm!) and i have such hot, exotic places on my mind. i am so excited to be back in the states, surrounded by the people i love and going to cochella with laura and whatever friends we can muster (hint, hint).