jakeinbalance

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Complexities

Here in Japan, I have spent thousands of hours working with students over the last two years. As daunting as it sounds, it gave me a chance to interact with the complexities of humanity. A five year old, for example, who was one of the most mature people I’ve ever met. Not only skillfully prepared for each lesson, but also joyous when entering the room. They sung songs in a foreign language and answered questions with poise, all while keeping an eye on their little sister. A high-schooler, as well, who lives in the hot climate of Central Japan. Despite this, they found a passion for, of all things, snowboarding. We discussed coaches, training routines, and weekly competitions. Quite reserved in nature, what I most respected was their sense of humor during every difficult mock-exam. Also, an elegant 75 year old lady. We chatted about her travels around the world, upbringing as a mandolin player, and fondness of Audrey Hepburn. Quite evident was an extreme curiosity for the United States

Nourishment

I have been reflecting on the gift of Nourishment that living in Japan has given me. Rarely have I been very hungry over the last two years. Or thirsty. Or in lack of a home appliance. Vending machines full of varying temperatures of beverages. Convenient stores stocked with healthy snacks. 100 yen shops with home appliances for the price of a dollar. Affordable restaurants to satisfy dinner desires. Whatever I have needed, I have been able to find it. Here in Japan. Thankful that this society has taken care of my basic needs and then some. It planted the question. How can I nourish myself so I can give the best version of myself to other people? More than just eating fruits and vegetables. What if to be truly nourished, not just physically, but mentally nourished as well, one must embrace the mix of challenging and easy tasks in a day. Sort of like a mental work-out. Both exhausting work and refreshing serenity. Not shying away from the difficulty and not rushing through the cal

Joy

It is Golden Week here in Japan, the time of year when people take a break from business as usual. Instead, this week is reserved for leisure, relaxation and vacation. Golden Week is a joyful time. So, I figured that would be the topic for this month. Joy. It is quite evident that I am surrounded by it. Although this society is known for a disciplined work ethic, it does so in a joyful manner. Or so it seems to me. I can recall passing through Tokyo Station, once. It was about 9pm on a Tuesday. I was exhausted after a full day of work. The train was stopped and I was gazing out the window. Sitting next to me were a group of smartly-dressed professionals of some sort. They were chatting and laughing until one man got off the train. Now, in my home society, in the United States, the natural thing to do when leaving a conversation is to exchange goodbyes and walk away. But, not in this instance at Tokyo Station. The man did not walk away after departing his colleagues. Instead, he stood d

Humility

Each month, my goal for writing this blog has been to express a topic on my mind, here in Japan. And this month, the topic chosen has been on my mind for quite a while. The topic is Humility, which for me, started with Humiliation. Perhaps humiliating moments can lead to a sense of humility. First, maybe one feels unworthy to be in the group. Embarrassed to be in the group because something is lacking. And for me, it has been my lack of language, here in Japan. This has often been humiliating. Humiliating when getting a haircut, when I cannot explain my preference and must use a picture as a reference . Humiliated in the classroom, when students assume I am competent in bi-lingual conversation. Humiliated with the inability to understand small talk, or nearly all talk, in Japanese. But, These humiliating moments do not worry me. For they are only temporary. They are not to be taken personally, but instead to be transformative. Transformed, Into a sense of Humility. Into a sense of humi

Learnings

This month, Mother Nature showed her teeth by shocking me awake with an earthquake. Other than that, life has been rather smooth. My work travels have taken me throughout Chiba, Yokohama, and Saitama. Each day has been a world on its own. It has been months since I've spent more than two days in a row in the same town. This has allowed me to encounter the hidden corners of a unique country. And often times, I cannot recognize what is written or spoken around me, which may seem frantic, but has actually made my internal dialogue crystal clear. Like an awakened inner soul that can now be heard. On an opposite note, I stand in front of hundreds of students each week, thus spotlighting my outer self. My chosen words. My body language and expressions. I have learned to take up space with my presence, for this is necessary to hold 30 peoples attention at once. This combination, simultaneously learning about my inner soul and outer self, has been a good learning so far. Perhaps our inner

The Pandemic in Japan

I am living in Japan during one of the strangest times in recent history. While spending this time here, I’ve integrated with a society that has dealt with the pandemic for over a year now. Ever since the start of 2020, the government has asked its residence to take precautions. Key word, “asked”, because the Japanese government has yet to demand anything from its residents, but instead only requests that people follow the guidelines in place. Masks Mask-wearing has been practiced by nearly everyone. I have been wearing one every day at work since last April. Usually, people will not take off their masks when speaking to each other and the most common type is the non-reusable paper mask. It is often thrown away after a few uses. Social Distancing Social distancing has been largely ignored. Being that much of the population relies on trains and stations, there have been incredibly crowded spaces during my commutes each day. Restaurants are operating at a smaller capacity with reduced ho