I hope you're all doing well. It's been a while, and a lot has happened in my life recently that I want to share with you today. I had an unexpected turn of events while I was in Japan, and I want to walk you through how these past few weeks have gone. So, let’s dive in.

As some of you know, I was supposed to be receiving a notice from the Canadian government around the end of September, along with my consultant, to renew my work permit and head back to Canada. I was in Tokyo and my hometown, enjoying time with friends, thinking that things would move smoothly. But instead of the notice I was expecting, I got an update from my company. They received an invitation from the officer handling my case to have an interview, which then led to a request for additional documents to proceed with the company’s assessment.

Unfortunately, that means the process is taking longer than expected, and my stay in Japan has been extended. With everything feeling unstable, I decided to take this chance to get a health checkup—and that's when I received some unsettling news. I was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst, and the possibility of needing surgery hit me hard.

My first two weeks of October were filled with fear. I was overwhelmed, rushing to find a hospital that could take care of this in case surgery became necessary. On top of that, I knew I might need to return to Canada by the end of October, so the timing of everything was nerve-wracking.

But today, I’m happy to share some good news with you! It looks like I won’t need surgery right away. The size of the tumor isn’t large enough to require urgent action, which is a huge relief. While I’m still waiting on the Canadian government’s notice to finally head back, one big problem has been solved, and I can breathe a little easier now.

These past two weeks were like a nightmare. The fear, the uncertainty—it was really tough. But now, with this health issue more under control, I’m starting to feel like I’m coming out the other side. I’ve begun looking back on my trip and preparing for the next steps, whenever I do get to return to Canada. Thank you all for sticking with me through this journey, and I’m glad I can finally share some positive updates. On the next episode, I’ll be reflecting more on my time in Japan during this unexpected stay. There’s a lot to unpack emotionally and mentally, and I’d love to take you along for that reflection. Until then, I hope you all stay well, and I’ll talk to you next time.