My Greatest Challenge
I'm used to kids running to me and getting hugs from all different directions. I'm used to sweet smiles and clear understanding. This hasn't been the case in Japan. There is a lot of misunderstanding between us. They look at me curiously, I smile and then they run away. I understand why but it still stings a bit. I look different. In a nation that places so much emphasis on sameness, my deviation is jarring. Further, the language barrier creates an even wider divide. This isn't just a job about teaching English. It's about opening little hearts and minds to see the beauty and even, safety, in differences. I ,like all foreigners here, carry not only the weight of my reputation but that of my entire race, country, region and foreigners as a whole. I carry it proudly as a gift to be entrusted with this responsibility. I'm here to create and change perceptions. It may not be done through a focused lesson but through words and actions outside the classroom as