For a nine month period from 2015-2016 I was an ALT in Japan. Assistant Language Teacher. As it turns out, I'm a lousy teacher. So, I was there for only one school year. They didn't renew my contract. I've dreamed of going to Japan ever since I was 10 years old. Teaching was not my passion. It was a means to an end. It was a way to get to Japan and spend a good amount of time there. Albeit short, that nine month period was amazing. I've curated my best stories here.
I lived in Itako, Ibaraki prefecture. About an hour and a half North of Tokyo. I taught in every elementary school in town, all six. Two schools on Thursdays. They referred to Itako as a small town. But, it really reminded me more of Taylor, Michigan. Semi-rural with a lot of stores and restaurants on the main road. Now Water Valley, Kentucky? That is a small town.
I lived in a great location. Genki Sushi was around the corner and McDonald's was across the street practically. Close by Homejoy Honda, the Daiso and Restaurant Joyfull. I had a car for the first and only time of my life. A silver Suzuki Wagon R that I named Buster. Loved that little vehicle. There was nothing like driving through the hills of Japan, windows down, blasting Baby Got Back.
