more school
I think I want to be a photography grad student. In Japan. Hopefully at Tokyo Geidai.
But I also really, really like my current teaching job. And I would probably like the job at Senshu University that I have somewhat been offered (to talk about).
I have never really sat down and made a 5 year plan for my life, seeing as how simply getting into a university will do that automatically for you- and then I got here to Japan like I had worked to do and now what? I have a job I love that I walk to every day, it pays better than I deserve and enough to support my other interests. I don’t want to lose this, but there is still a lot more I want to do yet. I went to a international student party at a dorm for international students who go to Tokyo University of Art. It was like the kenshukan at Senshu University, but we all talked about art theory and the music students played piano and traditional chinese instruments. One Korean girl played “The girl from Ipanema” on the piano and then followed that up with the sweetest rendition of Super Mario Brothers theme song (the first two levels). Mike I called you to let you listen through my rad red phone but you were not home. It was awesome.
Obviously you don’t need a degree to be a photographer, but it would be great if you could devote yourself to studying it full time. The people you’ll meet in school who are pursuing all kinds of different things is an important component to your education.
For now you can at least be saving money for school. It’s an easier decision to make when your finances are in order.
As a former teacher and current-student (albeit of Japanese), I can say: yes, being a student is great.
Comment by Mark Larios — 5/14/2006 @ 11:47 am
Wow! What do they want you to do at Senshu?
Comment by Nick — 5/14/2006 @ 12:05 pm
well It looks like you have many options. And to think a year ago today you were snapping pictures in a garden in Japan. So who knows what will happen from year to year.
Thank you for all your help that day.
Jason and Stacey (and Tristan)
Comment by Jason — 5/14/2006 @ 2:31 pm
The folks I talked to last night were all here on the Monbukagakusho scholarship which is a great way, and maybe the only way to do what I want. Agreed, I would not need an advanced degree in photography to be a Good Photographer, but the chances and oppertunity that grad school would allow me to have is something that I want to try for. But not until 2008. I still have things I ned to do and money to save at my current job.
Nick, it has only been Words and nothing really set or offered, but something in the International Affairs office, or maybe if I had a masters in education, teaching english.
Jason- Hey! Happy 1st anniversary! I hope you and your family are doing well. Thanks for the emails and your baby photos with the mirrors.
Comment by John — 5/14/2006 @ 9:34 pm