Jacob B
Homeschool
5, 6, 7, 8……Hearing the rumble of the moving truck approaching your house, seeing your life being carried away in cardboard boxes, saying your final goodbyes: it’s bittersweet. Knowing that you have to leave your friends and community in order to find new ones. I thought that I wanted to leave Japan because it wasn’t what I was used to. There’s no stability as a military kid — I’ve had my share of farewells, each time saying goodbye to friends and family, and most importantly, saying goodbye to my old life. Moving to Japan opened my eyes to dance around the world. All the studios that I wanted to go to were two hours away, and I wasn’t getting home until 11:00 PM. I was exhausted, and I often slept past my train stop, or unknowingly got on the wrong train. After a few months of trying, I had to stop. My experience after that was filled with trial and error. I visited several studios, however, the language barrier made it impossible for me to communicate. I felt lonely, like an outsider, and it took over a year to find a studio that I felt welcomed at. Now, I realize that dancing in Japan has given me a fresh perspective on life. Sometimes, you’re so desperate to leave that you don’t realize how good of a life you have where you are. I used to train to win competitions, now I train so I can dance professionally around the world. I’ve shed my old life and now look to a brighter future.