The Zietlow's Take Over Japan

What do you think is the hardest part about teaching abroad? Is it cultural differences? the job itself?... the language barrier? I think many people that have spent time teaching in other countries would agree that the hardest part about working in another country is being away from family and friends. Of course, if you're lucky like me you develop your own work family while here but there's always something missing. Being here for over a year, its worn me down at times realizing that it will be months before I can make it back home. You start to miss those little things, like the smell of mom baking cookies, Little Caesars Pizza,  or that random bum on the corner giving you the finger just because.

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A few months ago, I was talking with my brother Ryan about applying to work here at MeySen. Both he and his wife, Sarah, were looking to make a change. I thought they would be a great fit for the school but  I figured there would be no way on God's green earth that they would actually even apply let alone accept a position. They had a house, jobs, loans to pay, cars, and a 2 year old child. It doesn't exactly sound like a recipe for new adventure. They seemed to be on that path of Date-marriage-job-house-kid-retire. All of a sudden, its 30 years later. Basically, they were set on the path that 99.9% (gross exaggeration) of people  fall into, in the 1950s. Its the kind of life that frightened me, which is probably why I'm sitting on a computer in Japan right now. 

Anyway, I figured there was no chance that things would work out, that they would actually decide to come out here and join this adventure. Wellll God showed me a thing or two about making things work. Literally all the chips fell so perfectly for them to come here. Right after they applied, they got interviews set up. I knew that MeySen liked them but also knew that most hires are for the next year which is in February. Having Zachary, their son, it would be really difficult trying to make ends meet until they came in February. They needed to come in the summer for it to work out right. They also needed at least one full-time position (most summer hires start as subs) and to sell their house within a month.

Around the time they interviewed, MeySen just happened to need a kindergarten teacher to fill ASAP and could use a good sub to go into the fall. Ryan and Sarah were hired just like that! Because of all the paper work, they had just time to sell away their house, cars and most everything they needed. It all just fit right into place like they were supposed to be here. 

Leading up to them coming, people seemed to ask me everyday about them or when they were getting. To be completely honest, I was still kind of in disbelief that they would actually be coming here. I've been out here on my own little adventure for a year and a half. All of sudden, I had family coming to not only visit but work alongside me. It was something I'd maybe picture growing up but I don't think I ever pictured our lives intersecting in Japan. I couldn't wait for them to arrive, I had been thinking of a million things I wanted to show them and teach them from my year of experience. 

Zachary looking down from my loft.

Last week, they finally got here after a little flight trouble (it runs in the family). Saturday morning, I brought Ryan to show him my class and campus. I told my kids he was my grandpa and they didn't even second guess it. Most guessed his age around 50 to 60 :)! 

Zachary falling asleep at T-Rolls

For the rest of the weekend, I became their tour guide of Sendai, Japan. It was kind of a cool perspective for me. It wasn't so long ago that everything here was so foreign to me. We were running all over so much, that I was starting to feel their jet lag. Zachary got it the worst. He fell asleep at dinner time both Saturday and Sunday. He also would wake up around 3 in the morning. Not sure why they decided to put a 2 year old on the second floor of an apartment haha! 

"Wait for me Greg! I'm coming!"

Sarah has been jumping right into her job and seems to really like it. Ryan is playing house husband everyday because he technically doesn't start until September and somebody has got to watch Zachary. It will be interesting to see how they think of everything as they all get into the full swing of it. I know I love the job!


So what's it like having some of your family move to Japan? For me, tonight kind of sums it up. I get to go to work and then come home and stop by my brother's house for dinner and be with family. 







P.S. Be on the look out for a Japanese sitcom called "American Kazoku." Its about a loud family that moves to Japan and their brother lives across the street. They make many cultural faux pas and anger the neighbor living below them, hilarity ensues. 

Drunk parade leader dancing with us at the corner.

Camping in Fukushima

Last weekend, we took the high school students to camp at Bandai in Fukushima Prefecture. The first thing most people think about when they hear the word Fukushima is the nuclear disaster that devastated    Japan and sent panic across the ocean. What most people don't know is that Fukushima is a beautiful prefecture with a rich history and breathtaking landscapes (cue the Japanese pipe music). Last year, we were supposed to go to Bandai for 3rd grade summer camp but the widespread fear of anything Fukushima kept us away. Even today, most people are hesitant to buy fruit that was grown in the prefecture. Where we were was far out of the exclusion zone and had nuclear readings at or below normal levels.

Saturday after waving off the buses and cleaning our rooms, we jump right on a bus with 30 high school students for a 3 hour journey to Bandai. I had one of the biggest groups with 8 of my 11 8th grade boys coming. Our first activity was to go canoeing down the river. All went well until one of the students riding with me thought it would be smart to stand up while splashing the girls on the river. Luckily we didn't tip. There were several others that did.

at the hostel

From there, we went headed to our hostel up in the mountains. The view all weekend was amazing. We were right up among the clouds. The hostel itself was, much like any other in Japan, is about as inviting to look at as a prison cell. Saturday night was full of marshmallow roasting and basketball. I had one of my smallest student eat 11 hot dogs. I called him Kobayashi  for the rest of the weekend. 


Sunday, we woke up at 6 AM, did our morning stretches (cracks me up everytime) and headed to a nature hike and park golf. We hiked with our kids through the woods to this beautiful waterfall and at the end of the hike was our golf course.


Park golf is a pretty big deal in Japan. Its basically chipping with a smaller club shaped like a driver and a big ball that almost looks like it belongs on a pool table.  Its pretty tricky to get the right power to  make it in the whole. I ended up +5 for 9 holes and got beat by kobayashi, who claimed to be left handed only to dominate right handedly.

the ball and club

the course

All in all, it was a great weekend to bond with my students and see a little bit more of Japan. I'll be heading out again at the end of the month with my 3rd graders.