What’s next?

Wishing everyone a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you are able to safely enjoy time with family and friends. 

The last 6 months have been quite a journey for most of us and it seems this will continue in 2022. I feel like I am in a state of limbo, yet still have much for which I can be grateful.

After quarantine in Sydney, my transfer to Adelaide went smoothly … except the day of my arrival coincided with new entry rules in South Australia. So, instead of being free to re-enter the community after my negative PCR test, I had to go into another 14 day quarantine at home. Luckily, there was much to keep me busy in the family home which had been empty for the previous 6 months, and the Olympics were on. Needless to say, by the end, I was very ready to get out and about and especially go for a walk.

It was terrific to be reunited with family and friends and much of my first weeks involved setting myself up for life in Australia again - buying a car, insurances, updating details etc, plus going to appointments with my Mum. I also enjoyed reacquainting myself with Adelaide and the beautiful walking locations that are all so close to home.

It took me a while to even consider applying for jobs and at this stage, I can state that I have applied for 8 jobs to no avail. I have had a few very good interviews but the fit has not been right and I must say, I am still considering if I want to go back into school leadership at this stage. At present, I am waiting to hear about a job with Education Department as an Innovation Officer. It looks interesting, but time will tell. I started doing relief (substitute) teaching in October and have certainly had some varied experiences. Some days have been particularly boring and some Kindergarten - Grade 2 classes have been well and truly beyond my comfort zone, but all add to the rich tapestry of life.

The large front and back gardens have also given me purpose when there has been not a lot else to do. I decided to clear the vegetable patch and am currently harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers … the strawberries only looked promising!! The orange tree gave never-ending fruit and the most delicious apricots have come and gone in a week. So, I have been eating, gifting, stewing as well as making cakes and jam. The plums and peaches are yet to ripen!

                                  

In between all this, I have also been a CIS (Council of International Schools) evaluator on a virtual school visit, joined two groups - Women on Boards and She Mentors, become a Board member for WalkSA and begun volunteering for OzHarvest.

So, while it has not all been rosy and I am not living my dream, I am lucky to be in a position to have this time off and I have the flexibility to support and visit my Mum - although her residential home is in lockdown at the moment.

So, here’s to safe. enjoyable and meaningful 2022! Here are some other photos of the last 6 months, plus a video of my local beach.

The last day of quarantine in Sydney

As expected, the last 6 months have held challenges a plenty: hence, I am pleased to be on my 13th day of quarantine and about to take the final step in my journey back to Adelaide.

At school, we navigated 3 more instances of remote learning as case numbers in Tokyo peaked around holiday times and with just 2 ½ weeks of the year left, COVID came to the middle school. We had 3 positive cases in one class. We shut down the middle school for a couple of days until contact tracing was complete and then had just the affected class out of school for a week, plus those who were close contacts. Not the way we wanted to end the year as the middle school dance had to be cancelled and the Grade 9 graduation ceremony shifted to being for parents and teachers only. Yet I felt we navigated the challenges in a caring and respectful way and the year ended on a positive note. I am putting it down as another story for my collection, but not a week I would want to repeat!

The logistics involved in leaving Japan are complex and it sure was a relief to be done … except when I got to the airport and opened my wallet, I realised that I forgot to post my health card as had been requested!
The best possible scenario was if my replacement moved into my apartment but with a dog and 3 cats this could not occur. So, I had to sell all my furniture and clean and empty the apartment completely. Not even a toilet roll could be left. And, I must say that selling my belongings through a Facebook group again reminded me that there are two kinds of people: those who are nice to deal with others and those who are just plain rude!  It should also be noted that I have 34 boxes being shipped to Adelaide and 3 suitcases with me!
                         
Despite the States of Emergency that just rolled from one to the other and more ‘home’ time than I would have hoped in my final 6 months, I still got out and about in a safe way and managed some fabulous meals and good times with friends. Trips to Zao Onsen and Kyushu at Spring Break were highlights and here are some other random photos of my days.

                     

Naturally, I was sad to be leaving Japan, Tokyo and Nishimachi. I learned so much in my time at the school (both how to lead and how not to lead) and I will miss it and my friends but I know it is the right move and I am happy and excited for the next chapter to begin.

 

By the way, I think I did pretty well in quarantine too. I got some great advice to stick to a routine, exercise every day and to go without alcohol!! This plan of action really helped and I was glad that I had a big room and that the food was 97% good. It is just my view that is a little lacking, especially as I am at The Sydney Harbour Marriott!

There it goes ... another year!

The year certainly continued to be a challenge, but as I sit and watch the last sunset of 2020 from the warmth of my apartment in Tokyo, I am grateful for so much.

 

 

At school, we have navigated the challenges of hybrid learning, shifting to being fully open and then a second version of hybrid learning. And, as the cases are now at unprecedented levels, who knows what shifts we will have to make in the future. Despite this, I have enjoyed getting to know new colleagues and working with my middle school team to ensure that we are thriving as a learning community.

The big news is that I have resigned from Nishimachi and will be returning to Adelaide in July 2021. There were numerous factors that went into this difficult decision but once it was made, I felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. I am not sure what the future will hold but I am looking forward to spending time with family and friends and even being bored. This is the fourth time that I have resigned from a job without another to go to and I am sure that I will end up in an interesting place!

Despite the risks of COVID, I have managed further explorations of Tokyo and Japan and have thoroughly enjoyed these trips. Hokkaido at Fall Break was full of colour and several weekends away have also allowed for new sights and great food.

The final trip of the year to Hakuba was cut short due to bad weather but it was great to be in the mountains for a few days with good company, food and wine.

Wishing you all the best in 2021. I am sure there will be adventures aplenty for us all ... stay safe!

Interesting times...

Challenging, disruptive, disturbing, confronting, anxiety and gratitude are all words that came to mind as I started writing this blog and I am sure they will resonate with you too, as we live through these historic times.

The year started off well with a recruiting trip to Bangkok and then a quick trip to Taipei during mid-winter break. There was risk in the trip to Taipei as it was at the very beginning of February when talk about the virus began to escalate, yet Mihoko and I decided to go ahead as planned and we were fascinated by the lines of people queuing for face masks. Little did we know! It was a great weekend and is certainly a place I would like to revisit at some stage. It reminded me so much of old Hong Kong, and we ate very well.

We were lucky to be able to run our week-long ski trip at the end of February, even though there was very little snow. However, while we were away, Abe-san announced that all schools would be closing. When I announced this to the students there was great excitement - little did they nor we know what was ahead of us. 14 weeks of remote learning - three different schedules until we got it right and way too many hours on Zoom to think about. However, all things considered, it went very well as we were able to pivot and engage most students in the online experience.

The extended time in Japan, did afford a couple of trips that would not have happened if it were not for Covid-19 and for this I am grateful. Plus, some further explorations around Tokyo by bike and on foot.

The stadium looks amazing - I pass it on one of my regular walking routes!

Firstly, during Spring Break, two colleagues and I took the risk to travel to Wakayama prefecture to hike the Kumono Kodo trail. The pilgrimage trail has been in use for over 1000 years and was mind-blowing from an historical perspective and also for its remote beauty. We loved the silence as well as the birdsong and the amazing meals we had as part of our accommodation packages. Photos are here.

 

During the summer break, I (along with another two colleagues) took a two-week, 2800km road trip around Northern Honshu that was nothing short of spectacular. We were incredibly lucky with the weather and had very little rain compared to other areas of Japan. The green of the rice fields, the mountains, rivers and lakes were so beautiful and visiting the Sanriku coast, which was hit by the tsunami in 2011 was sobering. The whole area is still a major construction zone. We truly appreciated our time in nature, and for me especially, to really switch off from school. More photos ...

I also managed to squeeze in a quick trip at the end of my break to the mountain town of Hakuba in Nagano. This was another new location for me and I was amazed by the beauty of the valley. I will be heading back there for sure.

Now, I am about to go back to school for the new academic year and am already daunted by the decisions that we will need to make and how the goalposts will keep moving as they did in the first half of the year.

Things that I learned or re-learned along the way:
1. Having hobbies is vital
2. Mindful colouring is stressful
3. It is difficult to keep up with daily Japanese lessons via Duolingo
4. Jigsaws are the best way to de-stress away from a screen
5. You can never please everyone

6. We have to take responsibility for ourselves and each other

So, on that note, I wish you and your families good health and a positive outlook.

Happy New Year

It has been a while since I have written and quite the 6 months for me, so here’s to a great new year and a new decade.

In June, on the first day of my summer break, my Dad passed away. Although he had been in failing health, this was sudden but the blessing was that it happened quickly and he had been admitted to hospital. This meant that a quick return to Adelaide was needed and I had to cancel my plans to attend a conference in Washington DC and spend a week in New York. Instead, I spent the next 5 weeks in Adelaide to begin the process of dealing with Dad’s affairs and help Mum adjust to the new normal. During this time, Mum was also officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s so this added to the challenge. I did have a few days in Noosa on my way home, and of course, I had some good times with family and friends!

Needless to say, it was a difficult return to Tokyo and at school was tasked with transitioning a new Head of School and Elementary Principal as well as opening a new middle school building.  Let’s just say that there have been a few sleepless nights and it has been a major learning curve for dealing with people who have different values and ways of working.

In October, I made two more trips to Adelaide to move Mum into residential care. This happened quickly as well - another blessing, as her decline was rapid and she was not coping in the house on her own. Being alone for the first time ever in your life at the age of 82 and with Alzheimer’s is not ideal!! So, as much as it was a huge upheaval, it is the best place for her.

Just prior to the break, I again led the school trip to Cambodia, which also had a couple of extra challenges, as two students contracted Influenza A. One was correctly diagnosed whilst we were in Phnom Penh and the other was first diagnosed as Dengue Fever while we were in Sihanoukville. This did not feel right to me from the outset and as the clinic did not have the same level of professionalism/hygiene that we would expect I was keen to get the student back to Phnom Penh as soon as possible. After dealing with several logistic challenges, this eventuated in an overnight ambulance transfer on a very dangerous road and a trip that would normally take 6-8 hours during the day took just 3 hours and 20 minutes. Thank goodness I was not in the ambulance, but instead stayed with the rest of the group. The good news was that the student was immediately diagnosed with Influenza, not Dengue but this still meant that he was not able to fly back with the rest of the group - I stayed on an extra night and flew back with him. This was an example of Cambodian corruption at its best and I am now glad that I had a personal experience with Dengue Fever to assist my decision making.

The next piece in the jigsaw, involves my younger brother Robert and his family moving into Mum and Dad’s house after their house sold and they await the build of their new home. This too happened quickly and involved moving into a full house. My parents had lived in the same house since their wedding night 56 years ago and not much that went into that house came out! So, my Christmas break involved the first major push to clear the garage and the house - all in the consecutive 40 degree days!

 

Life, however, has not been all bad. I continue to enjoy exploring Tokyo and its surrounds - I have had some great times with friends and fabulous meals and I also made it to one game of the Rugby World Cup. I have also decided to sign on for one more year in Tokyo which will take me to July 2021. I have tickets to 5 different events at the Olympics and am looking forward to the year ahead. I hope it is a good one for you and your family too.

    

A new era .. Reiwa

This week was a unique one in so many ways for Japan - a 10 day holiday (but only 5 for me), the abdication of a well-loved emporer and the enthronment of his son, Naruhito. This signals a new era called Reiwa, and with friends I saw in this new era with an obligatory champagne and a couple of days away at one of the lakes near Mt Fuji. Very pleasant it was too. And now, for the final 6 weeks of the school year!

As you can expect, there have been a few eventful moments since I last wrote, mostly involving trips away. At the beginning of February, Mihoko and I visited the town of Kanazawa and at the time, this became my most loved destination in Japan. The walkability of the town, with the tradtional areas, the famous garden and castle, the modern art museum and the food, especially the seafood was amazing. And, we also went on a sake brewery tour which was most interesting. Kanazawa photos

But then, during Spring Break, with Mihoko once again and my lovely guest Samantha, we visited Naoshima and Teshima Islands in the Seto Island Sea. These islands are well established art venues and we were blown away by the installations that combined the old and new and the landscape with architecture. We spent 3 days in the area and the photos really do not do it justice. I would go back in a heartbeat! A day in Hiroshima completed the trip, and as I was last in the city 36 years ago, it was good to go back and get another perspective of the city and its history. This trip also coincided with the much loved sakura season - so good times were had all round! Spring Break photos

Change is a constant at Nishimachi, with many positive things happening. Last week, a group of teachers, parents and students marched as a school in a the Pride Parade. This is big event for Japan where the LGBTQ community still has a very low profile and is frowned upon.

Work is also underway to construct a new middle school space which will be ready for August and we are also preparing for a new Head of School and new Elementary Principal! Interesting times ahead that is for sure, and I am positive about it all.

Naturally, I will miss Michael and Mihoko but I am grateful for the time we have had together both professioanlly and personally and there is still time to create a few more memories!