Project Japan

I am currently a schoolteacher at an alternative school.   I love to travel, and of course, on a teacher's salary, it is a challenge to do individually.   It is why I am writing for your help.  I will need assistance for my airfaire from Southeastern Virginia to Tokyo, which is approximately $2000.  

I travel to different places around the world to share my own experiences with students in crisis.   My initial goal as an educator is to motivate students to have an appreciation for different cultures and most of all, to stay interested in lifelong learning.   I work with a population who have been disenchanted with one-dimensional instruction.   I teach social studies and I love bringing the experience to life to students who have never left their urban community.   I love showing them the world.   I have been fortunate enough to visit three countries in three years.   I went to Nicaragua in 2011, England in 2012 as an Oxford Scholar and Ecuador in 2013.   So far, I've been on two different continents.  

I am a participant with the Sister Cities Program in Virginia, and their next Outgoing Delegation would allow local participants to spend 10 days in our sister city in Japan.   My latest adventure would integrate a deep love and appreciation for Asian studies.  In October, I would like to represent our city in Virginia for a 10 day visit to Japan with a sister school.   As I stated earlier, I am an alternative education teacher.   There are a number of stereotypes associated with our educational program, and unfortunately, our services are not valued because we're so different from a "traditional setting."   I love my students, my challenging work environment, and feel it is important to remain in alternative services.   I love my students very much and give them my 100% everyday.  

During the visit, I would like to study how industrialized nations such as Japan handle such educational/societal issues like juvenile justice/recidivism and teaching students with cognitive and physical challenges.    Though I plan to see the cultural landscape of the country, I plan to ask very challenging questions and request thorough answers regarding education.  

I thank you for reading my interest letter.   I thank you for your support in my goal for reaching students in crisis and continuing my mantra of "reaching locally and thinking globally."