jakeinbalance

     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 ...