Return of the Fantastic Researcher

Why did TV Asahi choose me for their program on Elementary Education? My coordinator at GPA USA, the company that searched for an American educator, said she found me on the U.S. Department of Education website as a Terrell Bell Award winner and I was her first choice. Kind of hard to turn that down.

Sasaki Chinatsu (left) and Sayaka Tanako

 I signed a confidentiality agreement that I would not share anything prior to the broadcast of the show in January, so I am limited to pictures and stories that took place during non-work time.

I was greeted at the airport by one of the show producers, Sasaki Chinatsu, and my personal interpreter, Sayaka Takano. I put my life in the hands of these wonderful women for the week I was there. I have never experienced anything like this- surrounded by people who do not speak English, and reliant on one person for all of my information. As a person who always likes to be in control, it was a humbling experience for me, and I was fortunate to have a well-educated, funny, and knowledgeable person to interpret what was going on and translate that information to me and my information to them.

Pasi Majasaari, highly regarded Elementary Principal from Finland, and I spent a lot of free time together and Sayaka was our guide through Tokyo, Kamakura, and Yokohama. His school is featured in a Michael Moore documentary that will be released this spring and has been nominated for an academy award. Probably not going to see Micahel Moore in Bancroft or Rosalie. I hope someday to visit his school located near Helsinki.

I learned a lot from Pasi and Sayaka and will remember my week as a Fantastic Researcher as a great personal learning experience that I will carry with me forever. Very much how I feel about the month I spent in Tanzania, you have to experience life and the world in order to appreciate it.

I included photos of the different foods during the week for those who are curious and a selfie standing in front of the Pacific Ocean. I was treated very well the entire time I was there, with good food and transportation to where I wanted to go. I added two Hard Rock Cafe glasses to my growing collection and bought two Hapi coats (used for festivals).