Since then, I've surrendered to its wisdom and signed the mea culpa: what d'ya know...my teacher was right. Learning is good for you. Without it, I shrivel up into a sour, insecure prune, an aimless fool bereft of direction and unable to contribute anything of worth to greater society.
It is with this premise that I present you with a window of fresh perspective, of unfamiliar ground that you can sink your Western shoes into (unless of course you're indoors) in hopes you'll laugh a little and learn a lot.
As a 2004-2005 Rotary International Cultural Ambassadorial Scholar to Japan, I will be spending three months in Osaka, studying Japanese and living with a homestay family. Rotary International, a worldwide organization that provides humanitarian service and helps build goodwill in the world, has selected me as one of many liaisons to facilitate international understanding between Western and non-Western nations. They have scholars going all over the place--Jordan, Belgium, Africa, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea--70 different countries in total. I happen to be a human link to Japan.
On this site, I’ll provide bi-weekly reports on my work in Osaka, as well as useful links about Japan. Enjoy its contents, and I’ll do my best to inform you of what’s going on, on the other side of the world.
