Gail Boggs Popp

Living and Working in Japan Gail Boggs Popp

On November 3, 1995 I traveled to Kanazawa, Japan to teach EFL (English as a Foreign Language) for an English Language Company for one year. I kept an informal journal of my experiences, thoughts and feelings as I worked there. At the end of the year, I went back to the United States to be with my family. However, in January of 1998 I was ready to return to Japan and continue teaching for the same language school as before. Toyama was the city I chose to return to. Again, as before, I kept a journal which is recorded here. While there, I glimpsed and experienced a small part of Japanese culture, found the Japanese people to be friendly and helpful and I very much enjoyed working with the students. I also visited China, which is something I had always wanted to do. I hope the reader can get an idea of what my life was like the years I lived and worked in Japan.