About Me
Generally speaking About me pages are pretty much neglected. As, in the end, people come to a site to read it’s content, not about its author. And in the case of my website, its highly likely that anyone reading already has a vague if not rather good idea of who I am and why I am in Japan. But alas, I have a few free moments, and noticed on my Blog Stats page that someone in fact did have a look at this page.
So, starting with the basics. My name is Tom Clayson, and have just finished (well, 6 months ago) my final year of school having studied Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry at Millfield School, Somerset, England. At this very moment and for the next 10months or so I am living and working in Hokkaido. The Northernmost island of Japan. I am here as a volunteer, representing the charity Project Trust. In my role as volunteer I have 9 different jobs. 4 of which are ‘teaching’ in the local nurseries. I then also teach adult classes and high school kids. My final job out here is helping out in the local hospital. You haven’t lived until you’ve changed the diaper of an 85yr old paraplegic.
Now a little about project trust, only fair they get a mention since it is thanks to them I am here! Project Trust is an educational charity, sending school leavers in their year out, to work voluntarily in about 24 countries, PT’s aim is to provide the volunteer with an educational experience through living and working with people in communities very different to those in which they have grown up, without taking work from local people. Volunteers are selected over 4 days, trained and briefed, debreifed etc. PT provide extensive support while volunteers are abroad.
Not a day goes by that I am overwhelmingly thankful to be here. Is it a once in a life time opportunity and challenge, to spend a year totally immersed in another culture, the chance to experience things very few people ever will. And so I’m trying to share the experience with the world, through this blog. I hope you enjoy reading.
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