HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This is where I will talk about the new goals I have made for 2007.  I do not make New Year's resolutions.  In fact, I make no resolutions at all anymore (those of you who knew me in Australia, I'm sure, will understand).  But there are a few things pertaining to myself and my situation toward which I would like to strive.

Before going to bed on Sunday night I decided that Monday was to be a no computer day.  I have been spending way too much time on the internet lately and it is interfering with my enjoyment of my holidays as well as the accomplishment of basic tasks like laundry, cleaning, and taking care of Byron.  (Today, however, I have (clearly) made up for my lack of internet usage yesterday...)

famous last words...

Goal number 1:  spend less time online and more time actually participating in my own life.

So, first thing Monday...uh...afternoon I got up and did an hour of yoga before  my 4 hour hike.

Goal number 2:  do yoga everyday and get back into shape.

When I returned from the hike, I spent several hours working out how much money I spent in December and on what.  It was pretty shocking (I spent about $20 on inari alone) and was a good wakeup call.  I also came up with a very strict monthly budget for myself to follow.  Included in this budget:  23 500 yen for food, 1500 yen to go skating tomorrow, 8000 yen for a new bike, and 2000 yen for other necessities.  Once I get paid on the 10th, I will send home all the money in my bank account aside from what has been allotted for bills and the above budget.  I will also put away my credit card and will not allow myeslf to use my Canadian bank account for anything.  According to this budget I would be able to save enough money to pay off my entire debt by the end of this contract (if it wasn't constantly accumulating interest, of course).

Goal number 3:  Stop spending!

And today I spent a few hours studying Japanese (before being sucked in by the lure of the internet once again).

Goal number 4:  Study! (or just generally make productive use of my time)

Luckily the lack of money budgeted for entertainment activities and the fact that I will not be using the internet as much means that I will have lots of time to study and exercise!!

I must always remember that I did not come here to have fun.  I came to save enough money to pay off my debt and continue my travels to countries that were actually on my list of "places I want to visit someday."  At the very most, I can have fun once I am done in Kofu.  Needless to say, I am no longer going on the ski trip to Nagano.

Oh yeah, and a new part to my plan... I am thinking that once my contract is up, since I will still have 5 months left on my working visa, I will move to Shibuya (Tokyo) and get a job hostessing for a few months--or as long as I can stomach it.  I know that I will hate it but I think it is a very Japanese experience and I should at least give it a try.  Plus, I could make a lot of money.  The money that I make during that time will be free money that I can spend as I like (probably on travelling around Japan for a bit).  Once I am done there, I will sign another one-year contract in a smaller town hopefully in Hokkaido and start saving for travelling.  My goal is to save at least $10,000 to start me off on my way to Europe.

So I know that you all think that these goals are the same old goals that I (and everyone else) makes every year and that they will not last long, but I really feel motivated this year and I know that I will be happier if I make these changes.  To be perfectly  honest, I have never really thought that I was going to keep any of the resolutions I have ever made before.  "But this time is different."  Famous last words...