September 2001

The first question I am asked most often is, "Why did you come to Japan?" I usually reply with my standard answer of, "To teach English of course!" The second question I am asked most frequently is, "Why are your arms so hairy. Were you raised by bears?" Hmmm. Answering the 1st question is a little easier, but I simply reply to the 2nd with, "Well, at least my arms are warm is the winter and the mosquitoes leave me alone in the summer!" After teaching elementary school in California for 5 years, I decided to put my ES/FL teaching skills to the test by coming to Japan for a one year work & study sabbatical. Nine years and 48 countries later, I am still here! Little did I know the experiences I'd accumulate would not only change my philosophy about the U.S. and Japanese educational systems, I would also acquire a 2nd homeland as well. Here's how it all started.

My first year of teaching English in Osaka was quite an adventure. Having to instruct such a diverse variety of students on a daily basis was a real challenge. Classes varied from small children to company executives. It was interesting, but my true objective of being here had yet to be fulfilled. After the first year literally flew by, I wanted to extend my stay because I didn't see any progress in my Japanese language skills and my work was, unfortunately, more business oriented than it was educational. In my 2nd year, I was hired at Kaichi Junior/Senior High School here in northern Wakayama City, where I have been teaching as a full-time NET or Native English Teacher for the past eight years. I teach about 500 junior and senior high school students every week! But I enjoy being back in a nice professional environment with accountability and clear objectives. Like many foreigners in the same boat, here is the junction of "should I stay or should I go?" The timing is all too critical because staying in Japan may lead to a permanent and rewarding future or it may lead to professional suicide upon returning home. In my case, with the help and support of my family, friends and school principal back in California, my request to stay on longer was granted.

Being back in charge of my professional life again, I realized quickly the key to being an effective teacher and making Japan a better experience, was to sharpen up my own Japanese language skills. This was not easy at first because I hadn't had any formal Japanese studies in the USA before coming. But improvement was quick and being the only NES on staff required me to use Japanese on a more frequent and relevant basis. It also gave me greater compassion for my students and the anxiety they were experiencing learning a new language as well! During this time, I've immersed myself in many Japanese circles like: traveling extensively from Hokkaido (7 times) to scuba diving (2 weeks) in Okinawa, playing baseball for 6 years (as the only foreigner out of 52 teams) in the Wakayama Kii-shu league, and studying Aikido for the past 8 years and earning my "Ni-dan" or second degree blackbelt. I am also in the third year of a graduate program and writing the final dissertation for my Master's degree in TESOL. I plan to be finished by Spring of 2002.

By adopting the old proverb, "When in Rome, do as the Romans", these accomplishments have become more meaningful to living here in Japan. However, what finally made Japan my second homeland was marrying my beautiful wife Chikako and having two wonderful children. Alexis Yuhi (夕陽) and Alycia Miumi （美海）. Not only did these events change my life forever, but they changed my status at work. It demonstrated to my co-workers I had the responsibility of being both a professional instructor and father/husband in a foreign country. It really made an impact on my co-workers, students and friends. Since then, I have been assigned as Assistant- homeroom teacher for 5 years and Guidance Counselor for the past 2 years. This is unusual because most foreigners are not allotted the same duties and responsibilities as their Japanese counterparts. But I'd been given the chance to excel and succeed in Japan by becoming less foreign in my community.

Every year becomes more rewarding and challenging. But, what keeps me especially motivated are the adjunct duties and activities I participate in every year like school trips, excursions, sports and cultural festivals. This gives my students a chance to see their English communication skills teacher in an impressionable way. In return, I get the opportunity to develop a very special and lasting relationship with my students everyday. I can understand frustrations that many ALTs have by not being truly able to achieve this level of contact due to their transience and/or rotating schedules. I don't think it's very fair to the school staff of students either. But, disappointments such as these can be avoided by looking at yourself through the eyes of your host country and asking yourself, "Why did you come here? Have you accomplished the things you first set out to do? How has your life really changed since coming to Japan? Most importantly, what have you as a foreigner, contributed while you have been here?" In looking back, it's all too easy to remember the 5 bad things that happened and forget the 95 good things which have occurred in the same period of time. When this does happen, I simply ask myself the questions listed above.

I had originally come to Japan to compare educational systems and learn about Japanese culture and customs, but in addition. I have accumulated thousands of incredible experiences, memories and friendships. In return, I've utilized these personal and professional successes to try to inspire and better motivate my students everyday, both inside and outside of the classroom. I am a believer that the secret lies in your heart and what you are willing to sacrifice of yourself in order to prove to the people around you that you are here for a legitimate reason. When one can reveal this truth and sincerity, then begins the greater appreciation of living in a foreign country; or in my case, a second homeland. Never did I dream of accomplishing the things I have without keeping both my heart and mind open at all times. I hope all foreigners living in Japan can have such success as I have for these last 9 years. But this success and happiness is the direct result of what you give of yourself first, and not what you feel you deserve. Someday when we return to California, I will share these things I've learned here in Japan with my students and hopefully inspire and motivate them the way I have been while living here in Japan……
My Second Homeland!

Alan R. Macedo

Posted on September 2001 in the following categories: Opinions, Stories and Information | TrackBack(650)