What happens when you don't set a final date (or set one for later)

Before I start on this, I should mention that I really like my company. I do. I like the curriculum and the overall idea. I like that the children are actually learning to think in English and not just repeat it.

However.... while I am glad that my company thinks highly of me as a teacher and wants to keep me around, I really wish they would just make up their minds.

So, I gave my notice at the start of January after vacation with a vague TBA ending date because I knew they were about to open new schools and on a major hiring spree. This should be a good thing for them, right? However, it meant that we had too many teachers who were there, but not permanently there. So I offered to give them time to replace me if needed.

January, I was told that they would replace me by the end of June if I was really leaving, but then I was offered the position to move to one of the new schools outside of Tokyo (that was still pending because they hadn't okayed the location.) After a month of planning and negotiating, I was told that the location was no good after all.

February, I was told that I could stay in case they found a good location (this year, next year, ten years from now...) or that I could be out at the end of April. From June to April and it was coming up fast! However, about a week or two of stress on my part, one of the candidates who signed on to come dropped out. So I was again asked to stay until the end of June.

March, they managed to find enough teachers and got them all to sign contracts, so they thought they were safe. I was told that I could stay on until the end of June if I agreed to occasionally work at the other schools and help train new teachers. I was also told that I'd be only part-time for May and June. Hence my plans to move out of my apartment and into a share house (13 people, 2 toilets, 1 shower... but I'd finish work at 2pm and have the day to myself.) However, the share house let's me save ~40,000yen per month.

For one week I worked with my replacement. She had the perfect disposition for working with this age group (2-3 years old) and it was going well. Then came the call.... Monday night one of the people who was contracted to start in April e-mailed that she had taken another job. My replacement was moved to her position and my company will look for my replacement after April. I have again been asked to work full-time until the end of June.... while living in a share house with 12 other people!

So now... my dilemma is, do I continue with my plan and hope that they find someone sooner and I can opt out of full-time or that I find a boyfriend who lives alone and doesn't mind me sleeping over; or should I trust that this won't change yet again and opt to move into another one of their houses, like the nice one a few stations down that has only 5 single rooms (again with 2 toilets and 1 shower, but only 5 people instead of 13!) However, I will not be able to save money and in fact may be paying about 5,000yen more than I currently am in my apartment....

I could refuse the full-time option, but that might not be an option.... I think I need to have another chat with the director.

The rush before the move

Oh how I hate moving...

So, since my (now) former landlady was a complete spaz (and she recently sold the building which she said would take effect from April, but apparently is in effect as of the first of this month)... I wasn't sure she had accurately relayed my move-out date to the new owner. However, I managed to find out that all is well on that note and that I can move out at the end of this month with no extra rent to pay.

I also paid the deposit on the share house room. However, I am extremely disappointed in the company already. I got my acceptance to the house five days ago, paid the deposit 4 days ago, and received no notification that they had received it and the room was booked. Since they don't let you sign the contract until the move-in day, this seems to be highly inappropriate to me. So I sent an e-mail requesting they give confirmation.

Meanwhile, the selling is going well. I will be living in a big, empty, and cold room for the next three weeks, but as long as I can move everything out in time, what can I say? :)

I am almost regretting the whole thing, but I know in the long run I have made the best decision. Just have to keep reminding myself: I'm saving ~40,000yen (~$400) a month. Yay!

Other work to do... I still need to respond to Gaba about potential part-time work while in Tokyo. They say they do 6-month extendable contracts, but I want to work 3 months.... so I'm debating if I should do the six months, extend my stay at the guesthouse and come to Korea in December or January when job hunting again makes more sense.

I know you can always find jobs in Korea, but the good ones are usually the ones that can keep their teachers to the end of the year, right?

Oh well, need to contact Gaba before anything can be decided anyways~