Empower Laetitia's Japan Adventure

SHORT STORY:

From Laetitia herself:

"Hello!! I am trying to raise money to relocate to Japan for a job opportunity. This will change my life and my family's financial situation significantly

When I first interviewed for the job I had a transcription work from home job that was paying okay - however, with the introduction of AI there are not as much files for me to transcribe, so I am not able to save any money towards my relocation.

I need a plane ticket, visa, rent in Tokyo, food and traveling expenses within Japan (train tickets) for the first month. I have already asked them to move my start date twice (I need to be there by 15th November and start working 1 December. Any amount helps greatly!

Thank you!!!"

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Do you believe in second chances?

For real though?

Are you sure?

You'll be invited "to put up or shut up" if you continue reading...

Laetitia Smith is born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. She's "still here in the same house since birth LOL 31 years." She has tried to leave so many times... she always ends up back here!

In her own words:

"I have this feeling that I'm rooted in this spot no matter how hard I try to leave. lol Maybe temporarily but I have a feeling that I'll be back here where I started.

I wouldn't call it happiness... it makes me feel nostalgic. You know when there's an almost... a sense of oneness within you that makes you choke up a bit? You're not sad but overcome with this amazing feeling of having come home after the end of a journey that shook you to your core? And yeah, I guess there is a happiness to be alive thrown in there but mostly a thankfulness. A gratitude for being alive and for having this amazing opportunity to experience life, to connect, to cherish and see the beauty around you in a moment that takes your breath away? That's what I feel on an emotional level.

In my body, I feel like my G center is alight... like there is a tug forward and upwards in my chest region... and a warmth/comfort. I want to listen to it over and over again because it's beautiful

There's a song in isiXhosa... here is the English translation:

We're happy

We're in love

They tried to come between us

But they failed

Our ancestors concur

That we are meant for each other

Me and you

When we are one, I rejoice.

We're happy

We're in love

They tried to come between us

But they failed

Our ancestors concur

That we are meant for each other

Me and you

When we are one, I rejoice.

If you think about South Africa's history, how apartheid segregated us all by race (it was only demolished 29 years ago so we are a very, very young democratic country with very, very deep institutional racism). This song is like a mantra for us all as a nation. So now, we can freely love our families, finally. We are starting to see how we are one.

I posted a few months ago that I was going to Japan in July 2024... unfortunately, I was not able to save enough money (I have to support myself for the first month) so I asked the school if I could delay my arrival to October. I am still struggling a bit to save up because the job that I have is currently undergoing some changes... but I am hopeful!!

In any case... yes, I have a job waiting for me in Japan!!! It's so, so exciting and I had a few moon cycles to think about it as well... lots of fear that I had to work through because this will be my first time abroad!!! But I won't be alone!!! My best friend got a job at the same school (she actually told me about it)...

I finished my TEFL course last year in August!!! I'm so glad I did it because with my Uni degree it helped me land this position! I applied on Monday, the interview was Friday that same week...

I hadn't interviewed in YEARS and it went SO WELL. An hour afterwards they informed me that I got in...

I'll be living in TOKYO and I'm getting a salary that's more than the teachers in my country receive!!! It will really help me out of this weird funk I've been in since my grandmother's passing... and the contract is for 1 year with a strong possibility for renewal... so even if I do not enjoy it (which I highly doubt because hello? JAPAN) I can always return back here lol

ALSO I HAVE WANTED TO VISIT JAPAN SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER and when I was 21 I had an opportunity to go but I was too scared to take the leap and always regretted it "

Will you support Laetitia to get to Japan?

Thank you!!