jakeinbalance

  I arrived at the bottom of Mt. Fuji at 7am. Before starting, a man said that I had 12 hours to complete the trail, in order to catch the final bus home for the night. Otherwise, I would have to sleep on the mountain. I thought 12 hours was a sufficient amount of time, but it caused me to rush at first. After a half-hour, I was exhausted and contemplated quitting. The ground felt like sinking rocks the size of tennis balls. The trail was steep.  What should I do? I asked myself. Go back down? Rest? Go only half-way up? Then it occurred to me, go slowly. A motto for life, perhaps. Life may feel fast, but if one takes their time, slowly and steadily, they can enjoy it more. Moving forward, the next 4 hours consisted of a slow ascent up the mountain. I was literally stepping about 6 inches at a time. This allowed me to keep my breath, something I lost at the beginning. Eventually, I found myself at the 8th station, the final stop before the summit.  It was 1pm. 6 hours befo...

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...

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 an...

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...

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...

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...

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...

On Christmas Eve, I was sent to a Buddhist temple. I took the train to Yokohama, walked up stone staircases, through a cemetery, across a pond full of koi fish, and into a temple. Here is where I met a monk, who also doubles as a school principal.  After exchanging greetings, I continued up the stairs and arrived at the school. It was on the top of a hill, overlooking the city.  Then, I organized the classroom, thought about the classes I was about to teach, and observed the skyline. I waited until the monk sent his granddaughter for her weekly English lesson. Three other students also joined, a group of four. I spent the next few hours teaching. I've been doing this sort of work for the last 15 months. Although seemingly peaceful, I would be lying if I said it wasn't a challenge.  A challenge that has taught me about Grit. Developing grit is a slow process. It accumulates through years of punches and scars. The more one has, the more one can persevere, no matter the circ...

I am in Japan as the year nears an end. For some reason, out of all the places on Earth, I have spent the past year here. We all know that 2020 has changed the world forever, and for some reason, I have been privileged to live in Japan during this  year of uncertainty. For whatever reason, I have been blessed with security throughout the wildness that 2020 brought. During 2020 is when the world turned upside down. I have followed the news flowing out of my home country as several plagues existed at once. Whenever I consume it, it feels like I am looking through a small window into a house that is chaotic. A place where everything is turned upside down.  Where grocery store workers are taking on the most responsibility, and government workers are ignoring responsibility.   Where socialization is dangerous and isolation is necessary.  Where school buildings are empty and hospitals are full. My home country has been standing on it's head and I commend all who have ...

The history of human-beings is outlined in Yuval Noah Harari's "Sapiens". I recently read it, which examines the last 70,000 years and guides readers through how our world evolved into what it is. Revolutions have shaped the current world and should not be forgotten. I think we can all feel that a similar sort of enormous change is happening, right now, therefore I thought I'd highlight the revolutions of the past for this month's blog. Cognitive Revolution The moment in history when apes gained a consciousness, eventually developing into the living, walking, breathing people that everyone embodies today. All of us share the same core DNA. The bus driver in Tokyo, teacher in India, grandparent in Italy, and newborn baby in New York. This is unifying to understand. No matter how much we may look, sound, and behave differently from one another, we are all Homo-Sapiens with the same ancestors. Agricultural Revolution This started the moment we began to grow our own f...

I was in Kyoto a few months ago, near the main station. I was soaking in the city while stopped at a corner. The day was calm. While waiting to cross the street, I noticed an elderly lady carrying a large bag. It looked like a bag of sand. I quickly found out it was a bag of bird food. Because, In the next moment, this lady opened the bag and started feeding pigeons. The birds flocked to her. On the corner in Kyoto. A pigeon feast was underway with about 50 attendees. Then, a man started shouting. He wanted her to stop feeding the pigeons. The lady calmly ignored the man and continued on with her food delivery. The man walked off in frustration and continued on with his day. I am sharing this story because after one year in Japan, it is the only negative altercation I’ve witnessed. I’ve learned that, aside from the occasional bird-feeding dispute, the people of Japan seem to have a shared ideology to help one another. To care for one another. A shared sense of empathy. In the last 12 m...

Life feels like a mountain with no designated path to take. Both beauty and horror are in this feeling. It is horrible because you will get lost and you will be scared. A lonely and quiet experience for all of us. It is also beautiful. It is beautiful because you can change your path, if intuition insists. This change displays the mountain from a different view. A different perspective. A path change often reveals where you are truly trying to go. It clears your vision, so you see the mountain as a whole. Life as a whole. So you can accurately map your climb. This is where I'm at right now. I am approaching a year in Japan and I've dramatically changed the path of my life. I went from Philadelphia to Kakamigahara to Chiba, where I am currently working from. Chiba is buzzing with energy and I can sense myself being fueled by it. It will be the place where I imagine my 25th year. I went from being an Uber driver to being an EFL educator. Being an educator has brought me closer to...

     What is adulthood? I've been thinking about this question lately. It seems as if there is no universal age that represents it. The path to it is different for everyone. The journey is never easy, but once reached, it is a satisfaction.        I am an adult. I feel that I have made enormous strides into adulthood in Kakamigahara, Japan. I'd like to share these strides with you. Two realizations in particular. Two pillars that made me an adult. Two pillars that could help someone navigate there own path. Reliability.      There is something maturing about waking up each day and knowing that people rely on you. There is a sense of purpose when you enter the day knowing that you are responsible for helping others. For me, this was realized through teaching. I had to develop myself into a reliable teacher. Someone who would not only show up, but show up with a positive attitude. Someone who you could count on.       ...

My neighbors collecting carrots.                                                                                                                     Shibuya Crossing hours before 2020.                                                                                                      Descending into Kyoto station.                                ...

After 8 months of eikaiwa teaching, I feel that my teething stage is officially complete. It feels like my first set of "educator teeth" have fully grown in, but now they are loose. It feels as if new punches occur each day and I must spit out the tooth and keep on teaching. Despite these growing pains, I am fully embracing my first year as a full-time educator. These growing pains are building resilience. My eikaiwa has also been very valuable to my overall growth as a human being. I want to share what there is to be gained from this experience, in case anyone is considering a similar venture. If you teach in an eikaiwa, you will become... 1) A more confident public-speaker. In other words, having a full set of "teeth" means that I'm not afraid to show them. My "teeth" represent the tools needed to lead a class. Although sometimes I interject at the wrong moment (hence the metaphor of loose teeth), I have been increasingly more courageous ...

A xenophobic person was once a curious child. A child that would wake up and search for anything that does not resemble normalcy. Children search for the unique so life keeps feeling like an adventure. Those who are allergic to foreigners were once magnetized by them. Children do not avoid eye-contact but rather instinctively double-take any time they see a non-familiar sight. It is these qualities instilled in us that we must cherish. Most notably during this time of distress. We should never assume that what is foreign is dangerous. What is foreign provides a chance to expand our viewpoint of the world. An opportunity to shift perspective about humanity. An opportunity to cure the sick stereotypes we may have. An opportunity to gain appreciation for one another.      Stay safe, Stay home, but Stay curious, J.S

During my first six month s as a Native English Teacher, I've made a conscious effort to create musical class activities.  I've been crafting lesson plans that incorporate music as a language learning tool.  Here is a list of English topics that are teachable through music. Not all of my ideas have worked so far, but these most definitely have. Emotions It was a special day when I implemented this with my Kindergarten class. First, I instructed each student to draw 5 different facial expressions on paper circle cutouts (happy, sad, angry, excited, and calm).  I then played 5 different excerpts on my viola and had the students hold up a paper face after each excerpt. They were matching a facial expression with the music they heard. The results were incredible. Nearly all 14 kids (with the exception of a few pranksters) agreed that the Israeli National Anthem was sad, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was happy, the Allegro from the Telemann Viola Concerto was exciting, Amazi...

1. If you're not Asian, you will stand out. This is a given because the population is 98% Japanese. It is important to realize, before relocating, that you will be a minority. Other people will not be used to seeing someone like you. They will stare. They might cough. Your presence alone may offend them. This is even more prevalent in rural areas, where you may be the first Westerner your neighbor has ever seen. 2. Your students will be smart. The sound of broken English is often associated with low intelligence, but this could not be further from the truth. People who make an attempt at learning a second language are actually enhancing their brainwaves. You will be teaching people who have a life-time of knowledge and acquired skills. Language learners are taking lessons to increase their intellectual abilities, not to be treated like a baby. 3. Your English fluency will not make teaching easy. A native speaker of English does not know how they originally learned gramma...

After four months in Japan, I feel alive. It has been the most incredible experience of my life. Although I came here with no clue of what to expect, I thought I'd share the stuff that has really surprised me about the nation so far. #1. Televisions in cars. Yes, I literally have seen people driving vehicles while staring at TV screens (located in the center of the two front seats). "How can that be legal?" was my first question, followed by "How is that person able to control the vehicle?". My curiosity spurred some research and I discovered that although some cars are automated, most are not and people literally watch reality TV while they are driving. #2. Car Vending Machines. No need to find a parking spot, just pull into the machine, get out, and it will lift your car up like a bag of chips, securely storing it until you return. This style of parking garage has recently been introduced in the U.S, but in Japanese cities, it seems like they ...

My 20's feels like the part of the movie when the audience is on the edge of their seat. It's a blessing to have this opportunity, as we approach the next decade, to write the remainder of my script. Three months in Japan and I've had a ton of time to think. I've thought about my past and made it digestible, I've thought about my incredible present circumstances, and I've thought about what I can contribute to the future. December has taught me about what is needed for my personal peace and what is a pure waste of energy. I've learned how to both utilize and rest my mind, helping me fulfill my daily desire to create. I've been anchored in Kakamigahara this month, solely focused on creating English lessons. Each student is different and requires a tailor-made plan. The themes of these classes are what keep them so interesting. Some lessons are centered around the many ways to answer the ever-so important question of "How are you?", while o...