Big Picture from the Rice Paddies

Satisfying the wanderlust that takes hold during your college career may be the most obvious attraction of working overseas, but it is by no means the only one. As an English teacher in the rice paddies of northern Japan, I was more than just another foreign tourist; I was part of the community. During late-night talks over green tea with my closest friends, a Zen Buddhist priest and his wife, I learned about the Japanese and their country. I was included in the daily rituals because I was a resident, a teacher, and a friend and was able to take part in tea ceremonies dressed in kimono and practice every week with the local drum group that performed at festivals...