Week 1: Introductions

Konichiwa! My name is Tara and I'm entering my final year of high school. This summer I received the opportunity of a lifetime; teaching ESL to a group of Japanese students. I felt like the job had been tailored to me; not only have I dreamed of being a teacher for as long as I can remember, but I've also been incredibly interested in Asian culture for most of my life. Thanks to this experience, I can now say that teaching English abroad will be my career path. Of course, university will be the first step on the road to achieving this goal, but before I head to university, there's one dream I'd like to see come true: journeying to Japan!

Emily

Hello, my name is Emily and I am entering my second year of University. I too have had the great pleasure to work as an ESL Teaching Assistant with Muskoka Languages International (MLI) this previous summer, and it has changed my life. I have always considered being a teacher, but it wasn't until I worked with MLI that I realized I wanted to teach English abroad (specifically Japan). A trip to Japan would not only allow me to meet up with the friends I made, it would give me the opportunity explore my impending future.

For us to go to Japan it would be a dream come true. Not only to meet with our previous friends we made here in Canada, but to make new ones and explore a culture so different from our own. We will be able to experience different customs and languages, something that will be incredibly relevant in our future careers as ESL teachers.We are raising the money collaboratively and hope that you will be able to help! By supporting us in this journey, you are supporting our future career as teachers, and our present journey to be global citizens. 

Tara and Emily and our 2012 MLI boys

 We will be running this blog to document our efforts to raise the money for us to go to Japan. We will post on a weekly or biweekly basis to promote and spread the word of our upcoming campaign on indigogo (indigogo.com/thequesttojapan  <- will be up and running within the next week!), help us keep track of what is going on as well as keeping you- our readers- in the loop! If you have any questions, inquires, comments, please don't hesitate to ask, and don't forget to spread the word! Thank you very much/domo arigato!