Karen Salmon joined MST in April and is now a Sunshine Olive teacher. She recalls her childhood growing up in a large family and how she came to Japan to fulfill her grandmother’s wish.
Growing Up in Middle America
Where are you from?
I was born in Kobe, Japan and grew up in Oklahoma, Kansas and Indiana. My hometown is Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the capital of the Cherokee nation. It’s very laid back and people are friendly. It’s such a small town you run into people you know everywhere and chit chat with them. Quite the opposite of Tokyo.
Were you the only Japanese family in town?
Pretty much. My mom is Japanese and my dad is half Japanese. His parents met when grandpa was stationed in Japan. I have four younger siblings and one older sibling. My sisters live in Kanagawa and Australia.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I wanted to be a teacher! I liked teaching phonics even when I was a kid. In first grade, I made ABC worksheets for my brother. I taught three younger siblings how to read. I’d even give lessons to my pets, teaching my dog tricks. His best trick, the one I’m most proud of, was “say your prayers” where Solo would put his paws together over a table. And yes he was named after Han Solo.
What were your favorite toys and games growing up?
We didn’t have many toys. We weren’t well off so we just played with what was in our house. But we loved playing with recycled paper. My dad was a university professor of optometry and he brought back recycled paper and we made so many things out of them and never got bored.
I also spent a lot of time in the woods outside our house, picking fruit, playing around a pond with tadpoles, catching bugs and watching insects.
We also loved the store game; we made different merchandise and sold them to each other.
What brought you to Japan?
I regularly visit my grandma. She’s 102 years old and I love being around her. When I left one summer she told me she prayed that I would live in Japan at some point. And I love being in Japan. So I moved here and worked as an ESL teacher.
What’s your favorite place in Tokyo?
I like any park with flowers and nature. I also love Chichibu, a town in Nagatoro. It has a river running through it. Also, Okinawa for the beautiful ocean.
How do you spend your weekends?
I go to church on Sundays, Life House International Church. And I do all my errands, meet up with friends, explore new places, and hang out with my sister.
What’s your biggest passion these days?
I love traveling. My favorite places? When I volunteered at a horse ranch in Germany I visited Switzerland. It’s the most beautiful place in the world. I also love New Zealand for its outstanding scenery, and Australia for my sister.
Teaching at MST
How did you end up at MST?
I did my teaching practice with Cedar and Hazel and got to know MST through that.
What did you used to do before teaching here?
I was a teacher at a small international school in Nerima and head teacher for the kindergarten program. I also taught ESL and extracurricular activities.
Why did you decide to go into teaching?
I was a hair stylist before getting into teaching. I loved it but I wanted to teach which is more intrinsically rewarding. I enjoy watching children’s growth. It seemed more meaningful.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching?
Seeing children experience things for the first time and watching them take ideas and make them their own. They’re so excited about everything.
Recommendations
What are you watching these days?
I usually watch Youtube, mostly videos on travel and self-improvement, sometimes in Spanish and Italian too.
What’s a movie you recommend and why?
The Greatest Showman, the music and camera flows together so perfectly.
What have you read recently?
My all time favorite: Atomic Habits, by James Clear, about building habits. In order to build a new habit or change in life, it is not realistic or sustainable to make a big change. Atoms are small and building blocks of little tiny changes are done consistently.
It’s encouraged me to be sure I do all my planning the night before and clarify my goal for the next day.
What do you most want to teach kids?
To be kind and thankful. Enjoy the moment and celebrate the little wins.