Ten Years of Taking Leave

Posted on December 6, 2019 by MThomas

Looking back, it’s amazing to me now that I dared to even apply for a year of paternity leave while living in a foreign country.

But I’ve never regretted the decision. As I told an audience of university students and teachers at an invited “culture and identity” lecture today in Gifu, it made me a better father, a better husband, and a better person.

And it started here, on this blog, ten years ago today.

Here’s looking to ten more years!

About MThomas

Long ago, I gave up my high school dreams of becoming the next Carl Sagan and instead wound up working (in order) at McDonald's, a '60s-themed restaurant, a video rental store, a used bookstore, a computer seller, Kinko's, a Jewish newspaper company, and an HR firm. I eventually became a teacher of intercultural communication in Kyoto, where I vainly attempt to apply quantum mechanics to language teaching, practice martial arts and Zen Buddhism, and always keep one eye on the sky. And yes, I know my profile photo's backward. I just think it looks better this way.

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