Why?

I decided to keep this blog so that friends and family can read about what I am doing. So I figure what will happen is that one of you will read this religiously as I write daily for the first month, only to slowly write less and less till this blog is non-existent. However, I am not going to let this happen.

The big question is: Why am I going to Japan?

The short answer is to learn Japanese.


The question that soon follows that is: Well can't you learn it in the U.S. or take class, like you have been doing?

The answer is, yes I can, but classes have proved to not really be much of a help as I am so busy with everything else that I am not really learning the language. The other thing that is important to remember is that Japanese, unlike Western languages, requires four years of classes (generally) to be able to really do anything. Western languages generally only take two years. Having talked to several friends who have learned languages, most agree that being immersed in the language is the best way to really learn it.


Next question that follows: What about your wife (Erin)?

She is staying here in Lawrence. I am not excited about that part and neither is she. But that is something we have talked about and agreed upon. If anyone is crazy it’s me . . .


People then ask: Are you guys going to talk to each other?

Absolutely not! Of course we are. What kind of dumb question is that? Why would people think we aren’t? Erin and I have several things in place to talk and communicate, skype, vent, etc. The largest gap we will be apart is 4 months. Previous to this it was 2 ½ months when I was at a program in Wisconsin during the summer of '06.


The last question, this one is my second least favorite question: Is this worth it?

That is a loaded question. If you are a professional historian, or in the process of becoming one, then the answer would be an unhesitant Yes. If not, well you probably think this is insane. I guess the way I look at is being a professor/historian is actually a pretty good job. I mean you get paid to read books, teach a couple classes and do research on topics you are interested in. One of my advisors loves his job because it allows him the flexibility to spend time with his family. Every morning he gets to take his daughter to the school bus and is there when she comes home from school. Other professors, who are LDS, love it because it also allows them time for callings. In short, I think of it as more of a heavy investment now for great benefits in the.


Okay, so I know you are asking if the above is my second least favorite question what is my least favorite question. Well that would be: When are you going to be done with school?

I guess the reason I hate this question is that people do not realize that the average time it takes to get a PhD in history after an undergraduate degree is 9.8 years.


The general response when I stay this is: HOLY %*#@ !!! Why so long?

The best answer is that historians, well some lucky ones don’t, have to comb through archives in exotic places and have to learn languages. I think I got it easy. I have a friend doing Medieval Europe who has had to learn, Latin, Spanish, French, and Italian. Also some students leave a program to go elsewhere, generally to a more prestigious university, after they complete the MA. This means they normally have to retake a lot of course work, which could be another two years.

In reality I hope to only take 8 years, which includes spending this year in Japan, but don’t hold me to this. Things change and you never know what will happen.

There I hope I answered the question "why" and did not ramble to much. Anways, I think this will provide a great oppurtunity for me to continue to work on my degree and really develope the language skills I need.