I never hated Japan. I hated my boss. My job wasn't always great (though again, that's largely related to my boss) but I doubt I'll ever find a job I love. And yes, the town I was in was fucking ass-backwards (even for Japan), which is why I left it every opportunity I had and quickly learned that the rest of Japan wasn't so bad. For the last month I was in Kyushu (I'd lived on Honshu) which was completely unlike where I'd been. If there's one thing I can thank Christianity for it's for making Kyushu a much more open and tolerant place.
Again, maybe it's just the reverse culture shock talking but I can't help but sit here thinking about going back, though this time with the JET Programme. After a while, I'd stopped asking myself "Wtf am I doing here?" while in Japan. Now I find myself asking the same question about being back here. Wtf am I going to do? Why did I come back? There were times even in Japan I pondered just exactly what I would be returning to in the U.S. A couple friends? My mother's house? Shitty job prospects? The only real plus was getting away from my bipolar, soul draining, wench of a boss. I could have, and had, done that in Japan. Maybe I would have looked for a job down south had I been able to cancel my plane tickets and get a refund.
hmmmm....I'm mostly just typing this out to help sort through my own thoughts.