Julie in Japan

So, I moved to Asaka, Saitama (15 minutes from Ikebukuro, Tokyo) in mid-August from Hawaii. In July of 2003 I thought I had a secure job in Japan that was to begin on August 17th. However, less than a week before I planned to leave, the company informed me that it could no longer hire me. They were in jeopardy because the Japanese Government did not renew their contract to hire Assistant Language Teachers (the position I was to hold). I made the decision to come to Japan anyway and find something here. I came here without a job and only a temporary place to stay. And so the story goes...