Getting Fired for Japan

Well after reading Scott's flattering description of me in the 'Meet the crew' post, I figured I'd better make my first entry. Here at JAM in Japan all 3 of us can author posts. He's just the biggest loser and has the most time to write. I was working full time as a photojournalist for a news station in Phoenix, Arizona. Hired as an on board camera operator in the stations news helicopter, before being moved down to the station as a general assignment photojournalist.

I believe that this trip started with Dave, Scott and myself discussing the possibilities of going to Australia last year. It pretty much went along the lines of Dave and Scott ready to go, with me saying 'no' because of work. After Scott returned from a job in Japan, he was able to convince Dave it was a place we needed to visit, but I was still unsure. At the time and up to just a few months ago, I didn't believe that I would be able to get the time off. I was loving my job in Phoenix and knew for a fact that they would not let me out for a month. After some difficult situations at work and the beginning of the "corporate screw", I realized they were right (which absolutely pains me to admit). I am young, there is plenty of time later to figure things out and most importantly, when am I ever going to get a chance like this again. I had to take it.

Here is a transcript of the MS Messenger conversation that got me fired:

James says: (7:04:48 AM)they won't give me the the time off

Dave says: (7:05:23 AM)older people love to live vicariously through younger employees

Scott says: (7:05:31 AM)for sure

Scott says: (7:05:36 AM)just feed him some bs about "This is a once in lifetime opportunity."

Dave says: (7:05:50 AM)which it is

Dave says: (7:05:53 AM)you're not getting any younger...

About 2 more weeks of bad ideas and insults later I had a non-refundable ticket to Japan in my name and a meeting with my boss. It went unfortunately, not the way Dave and Scott had planned and come March 11th, I will no longer be employed at the news station. I have really no bad feelings towards them. It was great for me in the beginning, but now it is time to move on. Am I worried? I'd be lying if I said no, but it's time to do this and so that's what I'm doing. Everyday until we leave the anticipation grows for the 11 hour plane ride and the amount of files I'm going to have to throw on the iPod to survive it.

Me riding shotgun in the Newshawk over Phoenix, Arizona.