Here I am, back in the US sitting at my computer at my parent’s house, no longer on the road and no longer in Asia. Thousands of kilometers have passed under my feet, hundreds of faces have paraded past, and countless places have been visited. The question is, so now what?
It’s a valid and very poignant question. What’s next? What are my plans? What do I want to do? Everyone I meet, friends, family, even strangers want to know.
The more I am asked and the more I am forced to think about it the better my answer becomes.
For now I must plant my feet firmly on the ground and get some work done. As much as I would love to just refill the bank account and be on my way again, off to some exotic place, that will not get me to where I want to be.
What, you ask, am I going to do for work?
Looking back at my experience in Asia, examining my personality, and thinking of my future I would like to find some kind of work that involves problem solving, planning, and of course travel. Unfortunately with this tough job market a person with my less traditional and pretty unique background will probably have a more difficult time finding work.
Business is my focus, has always been my focus in one way or another. Ask me what aspect of business interests me most and I will most likely reply marketing, strategic planning, or efficiency depending on my mood. In this era of specialization everyone has to have their niche, their one trick wonder, their own ‘hook.’ Me, well, I think my past says it all.
But what about photography?
Photography is and always will be a passion. The feeling I get from looking at a picture I think turned out right is like a drug, a good one. The problem is even a successful photographer these days doesn’t make close to the money I want to make. Perhaps sometime in the future when I am where I want to be I will be able to turn back to photography and dedicate myself to it.
So for now it’s the job hunt. Day in and day out I cruise the Internet, apply for positions, and follow up, all in hopes that one employer will see how valuable an asset I could be to their company.
My homecoming, my return to the US, is a welcome one. It may be tough as I readjust to my surroundings but as I breathe this fresh Wisconsin air and talk to people around me I know I made the right choice. Returning to Japan may be in my future but for now I am here and making the best of it.
Where in WI are you? I live in Milwaukee and work in Madison… I know, long commute…
Me? I’m in Milwaukee as well, or rather on the outskirts. Oddly enough, yesterday I was in Madison visiting friends. It’s a long commute, but not as bad as some of the ones I had in Japan.
If you want to meet sometime and talk about Japan or whatever, let me know.