A Healthy Opportunity!

 











 

Please see the Japanese translation below!

下記の日本語訳をご覧ください。
 

These are some of my favorite shots from a recent hike up Mt. Takao I did with my friend Stuart. Although we did not get the classic shot of Mt. Fuji due to the clouds, it was still gorgeous and so scenic!

My current teaching contract with the Tokyo International Progressive School ends this June. With strong encouragement from Setsuko, I have been keeping a close eye on the American School web site. That is where I worked my first year in Japan. The school is just a 20 minute walk from our house. 

As usual, persistence pays! After striking out many many times, I just caught that school's announcement asking for applications for a part-time Health/PE position. Although I am not licensed in that area, I feel like I am very qualified to teach those subjects. I threw my hat in the ring and will keep you posted!

It would be very exciting to teach Health and PE. Those have been such a big part of my life for so many years. As I pursue my goal of living to be 100 years old, I continue to learn about the ins and outs of the health field. I do my best to apply those lessons. I have a tremendous amount of respect for teachers who model their teachings and who practice what they preach. This would be a golden opportunity for me to apply that lesson.

If given this teaching opportunity, I would strongly consider referring to the wonderful book, Days of Grace, by the great tennis player Arthur Ashe. Ashe tragically died from AIDS, which he fell victim to due to a blood transfusion.  Not only that, Ashe suffered from several heart attacks, a condition that he probably inherited from his parents. Despite these significant health challenges, Ashe lived an exemplary life up until his passing in 1993 at the age of 49. It must have been incredibly challenging for a world class athlete to be so vulnerable to such difficult physical demands. Ashe truly responded with grace!

I hope your spring is going well!

All the best,

Bob Reed 


これは、最近友人のスチュアートと高尾山にハイキングに行った時に撮ったお気に入りの写真です。雲がかかっていて富士山の定番の写真は撮れませんでしたけど、それでもとても美しく、素晴らしい景色でした！ 東京国際プログレッシブスクールとの現在の教師契約は今年の6月で終了します。節子の強い勧めもあり、アメリカンスクールのウェブサイトをこまめにチェックしています。そこは私が日本で最初の1年間働いた場所です。学校は家から歩いてたった20分です。 いつものように、粘り強さは報われます！何度も失敗を繰り返した後、たまたまその学校が保健体育のパートタイムの募集をしていたのを見つけました。私はその分野の資格は持っていませんが、これらの科目を教えるのには十分適任だと感じています。応募してみました。またお知らせします！ 保健体育を教えられたら、とてもワクワクします。長年、それらは私の人生の大きな部分を占めてきました。 100歳まで生きるという目標を追い求めながら、健康分野のあらゆる側面を学び続けています。学んだことを実践できるよう、最善を尽くしています。教えを体現し、説くことを実践する先生方には、深い敬意を抱いています。これは私にとって、その学びを活かす絶好の機会となるでしょう。 もしこの機会に教える機会があれば、偉大なテニス選手アーサー・アッシュの素晴らしい著書『Days of Grace』をぜひ参考にしたいと思っています。アッシュは、輸血が原因でエイズに罹患し、悲劇的な死を遂げました。それだけでなく、両親から受け継いだと思われる心臓発作を何度も繰り返し患っていました。こうした深刻な健康問題を抱えながらも、アッシュは1993年に49歳で亡くなるまで、模範的な人生を送りました。世界クラスのアスリートにとって、これほど過酷な肉体的負担にこれほど脆弱であることは、並外れた挑戦だったに違いありません。アッシュはまさに優雅にそれを乗り越えたのです！ 春が素晴らしいものになりますように！ ご多幸をお祈りしています。 ボブ・リード
 
 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hikone Castle and Personal Improvement

Image
 The Japanese love their castles! These castle shots are all from Hikone Castle, one of the highlights from Lake Biwako. This is the final part of my five part series. The best for last? You decide! Those of you who know me well know that I am very committed to becoming a better and better person. This is definitely a work in progress as I will be the first to admit that I have a long ways to go! Below are the primary categories for my ongoing efforts. RELATIONSHIPS In many ways, this may be the most challenging area for me. I recently started re-reading the engaging book, Atomic Habits. The author, James Clear, has started an app that helps with the development and implementation of habits. One of the habits I am working on is keeping my cool when I get frustrated, especially when interacting with those closest to me. Sound familiar? BODY FAT PERCENTAGE With all the exercise I get, you would think I would not have to worry about what and when I eat. No such luck! I have had a tend...
Read more

A New Job!

Image
Hello again! I hope you enjoy my recording of the classic, "Leaving on A Jet Plane." That song has always had special meaning to me as it was the first song I learned on the guitar. I only wish I could match the wonderful recordings by John Denver and Peter, Paul, and Mary! These photos are from Jindai Botanical Garden, such a gorgeous place!  As I think I may have mentioned, my current job at the American School is over at the end of this year. While I could stay and work as a substitute teacher, my preference is to have a regular position, so I get the joy of working with the same students on a consistent basis.  There is a wonderful web site that lists most of the top international schools in the Tokyo area: https://www.international-schools-database.com/in/tokyo Call it luck or call it persistence, I recently hit the jackpot when I discovered an amazing gem, The Tokyo International Progressive School, or TIPS, https://www.tokyoips.com/ This is from their main page: TIPS i...
Read more

Oshima Island and the New Bike!

Image
 These are some of my favorite photos from the recent trip I took with my friend Stuart to Oshima Island. A big thanks to Stuart as he made all the arrangements. Thank heavens he speaks good Japanese! It truly was an amazing trip! Highlights included going to the top of the crater and getting the most amazing panoramic views of the water and Mt. Fuji and some gorgeous islands.  We rented electric assist bikes two days and used those to go to the Oshima Zoo and hot spots around the island. What a treat! The pictured boat is the same model as the boat we took to make the two hour trip to Oshima Island.  Although it was chilly with temperatures getting down into the 30's, it was very sunny and warmed up during the day. The last morning I got up early and was out the door by 5:45. The views from the top of the crater were out of this world!   This experience gave me an opportunity to jump into the world of electric assist bikes for the first time. The day I returned from...
Read more