Tunnel Vision
Title
Tunnel Vision
Date
04/19/2023
Text
Before I go into the story of my profession as a teacher, I want you to envision the worst working conditions and worst work culture to imagine. If you can’t envision that, that's why this memoir will be here. What people dont realize when they step into Japan is that they're stepping into a land of tourism. With rose colored glasses, they leave with the best impression. They believe that the food, culture, and the automobile industry is leagues ahead of every other country, but don't realize the harm that they have to go through in these industries. I've never had another job, other than having a fast food job at McDonald's, but the work environment there was only stressful, not terrible in any means with the coworkers there. Over time, I got tired of coming back home with a food scent on my clothes, my body, and the fatigue I got from working fast food was draining. You could come back and you would not have energy to do any hobbies that you currently have. That's why I went on a search for a new job, and was fortunately and unfortunately able to get the job I got now at a car assembly factory. Although I was given a very nice check by the end of the day, the abuse from higher ups was not something to always be entangled with. Tolerable at the beginning, but it washes with your mind ever so after. In Japan, everything its revolved around higher ups. The government always is catering towards the elders because of our culture of respecting elders. To round up what we believe in higher ups and elders, is that because they lived long enough, they've experienced everything, and that they are always correct. So even though you may have not done anything wrong, it's better to submit than to battle someone and get yourself in deep trouble.
Throughout our work assembly, it was ruthless. Sometimes, the air conditioner may sometimes go out, and some employees may knock out from heat strokes, it was an emotionless place. The rules at the workplace made it seem like a prison, the way it was handled with the breaks and the hours. One engineer almost passed out from a 90 hour work week, he would often stay overnights, and even work on weekends. The depressing look on his face represents the home he lives in. He would talk to me about how his wife was distraught from the fact that he can't call days off, in order to prioritize in their family's health, to take time to spend with their kids. Whenever he's at work, he appears to be daydreaming, possibly daunted from the demoralizing words he recieves everytime. It feels bad to come back to a nightmare, but it's not like the wife means to demoralize him, she just wants a a perfect life, but he has to slave away because any days missed is the chance of being fired. That's the engineers life known as Kondo Mitsuo. His image inspired me to my next path in life.
After countless sleepless nights, I established another segment in my life that I want to go to. I've heard stories about the "American Dream", and I believed it. It seemed like everything there worked like clockwork. The government didn't seem to revolve around higher ups like my home land did. Neither did the working conditions there seem to be bad, and the culture was something I could dive into and learn myself. Throughout my time in high school, I ranked the highest in my class in an English proficiency exam. This was impressive, as Asia ranks below average throughout the years. After I graduated, I worked at the car plant. But I didn't give up on my english lessons. During the time I had left in my scheduling, I would regularly practice my english. I had established to me what was a great plan in learning. Whenever I was confident, I kept on moving to more excruiating points in English, and kept brute forcing through with rapid connections. My grammar and wording was so fluent, it made me think of a path that I should've always taken. Teaching was a profession that many believe don't pay well. It doesn't, but to me, health is what will lead someone to a long life. Having money won't pay for the mental damage that a work environment can drop on to you.
I planned to learn all the history I needed to learn to pass the United States Civic literacy test. Tiring nights of the work plant, then to come back to continue on participating in the American Dream. And as I expected, passed all the requirements to be on board with the citizenship to be moving on over to America...
"So, tell me about yourself, what brought you to Florida?" was the first question demanded by the advisor of the university I applied to. Her name was Lakicia Nzeogwu. " I wanted to come here to teach people about my culture and my language. " I exclaim, " Ever since Japan has opened up their borders, more people are trying to connect financial ties with foreigners and my skills may be needed to help these students connect with a dominating industry in technology, I think my skills are a necessity if the students want to be businessmen connecting other pieces they will need to succeed in life. They don't need to be businessmen, but those are the many scenarios I can come up with as to why I can suit your needs." As I sang along my responses to her what seemed to be an hour long questionnaire, I heard what I wanted to for the longest time during the interview. "Well, you're hired, it does seem your English is up to high standards then most people I've interviewed previously, I can't believe you can bring yourself to learn the in's and out's of this language as difficult it may seem to others... Thank you, Mr-". Cutting her off, I had to make sure she doesn't mess up my pronounciation of my name. "Yamashiro Masumi, Mr. Yamashiro Masumi". She gleemed at me with her vanilla white teeth. "I was hoping you did that. I can't wait to see your work for these students, you were just as I expected." As our giggles echoed through her room, she gave me a foundation of papers for me to work on my framework of the class, and throughout the rest of the days of living in my new apartment, I worked on my class till the next semester started. Then along came the Summer of 2025.
The Summer of 2025 was the lifeline of my career as a teacher. Every semester afterwards was corrections of my previous mistakes. Although it was embarrasing to sometimes have my mistakes on spotlight for them, they didn't care, as they just loved that I was committed to my work, I even had one of my favorite students tell me, "You've fucked up some assignment links here and there and had some issues with some of the programs working, but at least you've shown love to us and assert yourself immediately when you hear our opinions.". I've kept that comment at heart ever since.
It was around 2032, when tides were shifting. It was a brand new semester, and everyone was exhilirated to go to my class. At this point, my reputation garned more interest in my class as I focused to have more interaction with my students, and the reviews left by previous students were all positive, I would even have former students of my class come back to keep talking with me, forming bonds with them. It was until the semester started in the fall and throughout the class I would notice a student always frowning. His grades were just mediocre at best, but I didn't seem to understand why he was getting lackluster grades, as the rest were getting A's. It took me some time to realize maybe there was something wrong at home. Next class comes around and I ask him to stay after class. "Ronaldo, I've been looking at your grades and everything but you've seem to hold a bad mood everytime you come to class, is everything ok?". He soon unfolds his sorrowful words, "I've just been worried about the future and the sea rise thats gonna hurt us soon." As I reflected to him with my puzzled look, I had to research on my own. " Well, it's ok, don't worry then, whenever you're having issues, just tell me so I can accomodate to your needs ok?" . As he slowly walks out, I was perplexed by this. What sea level rise? Continuing to question this I went online and searched up and found several news articles about how sea level rise will soon flood Miami. It was just only a few years away. There has even been riots and protests against the fact that the governor hasn't issued a emergency plan to resolve, and it hasn't even garnered the attention of the president or government. Ever since then I've been unsettled, but it was nothing that brushed against my mind. A few years pass and then things started to change.
It was 2035, and soon enough, places were starting to get a little flood in some spots. This caught the attention of residents and the governor himself. The governor only had one thing to say, and that was to "shrug it off", considering it was just the hurricane season bringing the extra inches, with the problem being supposedly the drainage system. It's almost as if they had a blindfold. This continued to persue throughout the year and it seemed to be looked over. Some people in my class also had a shift of change, from thrilled, to a shade of depression. The environment in the classroom was like walking in mud, talking was less, and some students even went missing to go resolve their own mental health issues. It was a scary moment, but there wasn't a mass hysteria as I thought would be for how this was the first time we've ever dealt with this issue.
As 2 years rolls in afterwards, just more inches and the government had finally noticed and took up their time to present a plan that was worthless, as the damage was already done. The sea level rose 6 foot. The flooding seemed to have never end or even go down just a little bit. As they continue to try and roll out the plan, people have started to evacuate to a different state, while people like me try to stay calm and hoping on the governor's promise, it felt like an deceptive hallucination. All this chaos ensuing was harming my paycheck too, some people aren't allowed to drive to school, but rather they have to go online, and the room isn't the same. It felt like we were being held gunpoint everytime we got on for an online call, the students knew they can skip out on any work cause any excuse will work. I fell to this point as well, and my motivation to even work was slim to none.
My emotions eventually took over and I had to attempt to calm myself down, but I had no family members with me, they were all back in my home land. To the thought of my home land, I realized I had tunnel vision. The fact that Florida is not landlocked getting flooded, my mind clicked. As I went back on my phone, searching through the news of Japan, they were soon to be affected too, and mass hysteria was soon to ensue. It was starting to catch up to me, a red pill or blue pill situation. The red pill would be to wait for a solution and hope I can catch my dream job back, or to take the blue pill, and go back to living in Japan, with only to repeat the same situation again. I have no other choice but to go back and attempt to fix the damage I saw with my own eyes before I suffer the same consquences I'm receiving now. As I gather all I have left with the soon to be drowned house, I evacuate back to my homeland, to gather along people in hopes of turning the government's attention over the uprising sea level rise that had affected me. It was about time to turn the tides before another place people call home will be consumed by something we can prevent.
Bibliography
Greicius, Tony. “Study Projects a Surge in Coastal Flooding, Starting in 2030s.” NASA, NASA, 7 July 2021, https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/study-projects-a-surge-in-coastal-flooding- starting-in-2030s.
Mulhern, Owen. “Sea Level Rise Projection Map - Tokyo.” Earth.Org, Earth.Org, 13 Dec. 2021, https://earth.org/data_visualization/sea-level-rise-by-the-end-of-the-century-tokyo/.
Throughout our work assembly, it was ruthless. Sometimes, the air conditioner may sometimes go out, and some employees may knock out from heat strokes, it was an emotionless place. The rules at the workplace made it seem like a prison, the way it was handled with the breaks and the hours. One engineer almost passed out from a 90 hour work week, he would often stay overnights, and even work on weekends. The depressing look on his face represents the home he lives in. He would talk to me about how his wife was distraught from the fact that he can't call days off, in order to prioritize in their family's health, to take time to spend with their kids. Whenever he's at work, he appears to be daydreaming, possibly daunted from the demoralizing words he recieves everytime. It feels bad to come back to a nightmare, but it's not like the wife means to demoralize him, she just wants a a perfect life, but he has to slave away because any days missed is the chance of being fired. That's the engineers life known as Kondo Mitsuo. His image inspired me to my next path in life.
After countless sleepless nights, I established another segment in my life that I want to go to. I've heard stories about the "American Dream", and I believed it. It seemed like everything there worked like clockwork. The government didn't seem to revolve around higher ups like my home land did. Neither did the working conditions there seem to be bad, and the culture was something I could dive into and learn myself. Throughout my time in high school, I ranked the highest in my class in an English proficiency exam. This was impressive, as Asia ranks below average throughout the years. After I graduated, I worked at the car plant. But I didn't give up on my english lessons. During the time I had left in my scheduling, I would regularly practice my english. I had established to me what was a great plan in learning. Whenever I was confident, I kept on moving to more excruiating points in English, and kept brute forcing through with rapid connections. My grammar and wording was so fluent, it made me think of a path that I should've always taken. Teaching was a profession that many believe don't pay well. It doesn't, but to me, health is what will lead someone to a long life. Having money won't pay for the mental damage that a work environment can drop on to you.
I planned to learn all the history I needed to learn to pass the United States Civic literacy test. Tiring nights of the work plant, then to come back to continue on participating in the American Dream. And as I expected, passed all the requirements to be on board with the citizenship to be moving on over to America...
"So, tell me about yourself, what brought you to Florida?" was the first question demanded by the advisor of the university I applied to. Her name was Lakicia Nzeogwu. " I wanted to come here to teach people about my culture and my language. " I exclaim, " Ever since Japan has opened up their borders, more people are trying to connect financial ties with foreigners and my skills may be needed to help these students connect with a dominating industry in technology, I think my skills are a necessity if the students want to be businessmen connecting other pieces they will need to succeed in life. They don't need to be businessmen, but those are the many scenarios I can come up with as to why I can suit your needs." As I sang along my responses to her what seemed to be an hour long questionnaire, I heard what I wanted to for the longest time during the interview. "Well, you're hired, it does seem your English is up to high standards then most people I've interviewed previously, I can't believe you can bring yourself to learn the in's and out's of this language as difficult it may seem to others... Thank you, Mr-". Cutting her off, I had to make sure she doesn't mess up my pronounciation of my name. "Yamashiro Masumi, Mr. Yamashiro Masumi". She gleemed at me with her vanilla white teeth. "I was hoping you did that. I can't wait to see your work for these students, you were just as I expected." As our giggles echoed through her room, she gave me a foundation of papers for me to work on my framework of the class, and throughout the rest of the days of living in my new apartment, I worked on my class till the next semester started. Then along came the Summer of 2025.
The Summer of 2025 was the lifeline of my career as a teacher. Every semester afterwards was corrections of my previous mistakes. Although it was embarrasing to sometimes have my mistakes on spotlight for them, they didn't care, as they just loved that I was committed to my work, I even had one of my favorite students tell me, "You've fucked up some assignment links here and there and had some issues with some of the programs working, but at least you've shown love to us and assert yourself immediately when you hear our opinions.". I've kept that comment at heart ever since.
It was around 2032, when tides were shifting. It was a brand new semester, and everyone was exhilirated to go to my class. At this point, my reputation garned more interest in my class as I focused to have more interaction with my students, and the reviews left by previous students were all positive, I would even have former students of my class come back to keep talking with me, forming bonds with them. It was until the semester started in the fall and throughout the class I would notice a student always frowning. His grades were just mediocre at best, but I didn't seem to understand why he was getting lackluster grades, as the rest were getting A's. It took me some time to realize maybe there was something wrong at home. Next class comes around and I ask him to stay after class. "Ronaldo, I've been looking at your grades and everything but you've seem to hold a bad mood everytime you come to class, is everything ok?". He soon unfolds his sorrowful words, "I've just been worried about the future and the sea rise thats gonna hurt us soon." As I reflected to him with my puzzled look, I had to research on my own. " Well, it's ok, don't worry then, whenever you're having issues, just tell me so I can accomodate to your needs ok?" . As he slowly walks out, I was perplexed by this. What sea level rise? Continuing to question this I went online and searched up and found several news articles about how sea level rise will soon flood Miami. It was just only a few years away. There has even been riots and protests against the fact that the governor hasn't issued a emergency plan to resolve, and it hasn't even garnered the attention of the president or government. Ever since then I've been unsettled, but it was nothing that brushed against my mind. A few years pass and then things started to change.
It was 2035, and soon enough, places were starting to get a little flood in some spots. This caught the attention of residents and the governor himself. The governor only had one thing to say, and that was to "shrug it off", considering it was just the hurricane season bringing the extra inches, with the problem being supposedly the drainage system. It's almost as if they had a blindfold. This continued to persue throughout the year and it seemed to be looked over. Some people in my class also had a shift of change, from thrilled, to a shade of depression. The environment in the classroom was like walking in mud, talking was less, and some students even went missing to go resolve their own mental health issues. It was a scary moment, but there wasn't a mass hysteria as I thought would be for how this was the first time we've ever dealt with this issue.
As 2 years rolls in afterwards, just more inches and the government had finally noticed and took up their time to present a plan that was worthless, as the damage was already done. The sea level rose 6 foot. The flooding seemed to have never end or even go down just a little bit. As they continue to try and roll out the plan, people have started to evacuate to a different state, while people like me try to stay calm and hoping on the governor's promise, it felt like an deceptive hallucination. All this chaos ensuing was harming my paycheck too, some people aren't allowed to drive to school, but rather they have to go online, and the room isn't the same. It felt like we were being held gunpoint everytime we got on for an online call, the students knew they can skip out on any work cause any excuse will work. I fell to this point as well, and my motivation to even work was slim to none.
My emotions eventually took over and I had to attempt to calm myself down, but I had no family members with me, they were all back in my home land. To the thought of my home land, I realized I had tunnel vision. The fact that Florida is not landlocked getting flooded, my mind clicked. As I went back on my phone, searching through the news of Japan, they were soon to be affected too, and mass hysteria was soon to ensue. It was starting to catch up to me, a red pill or blue pill situation. The red pill would be to wait for a solution and hope I can catch my dream job back, or to take the blue pill, and go back to living in Japan, with only to repeat the same situation again. I have no other choice but to go back and attempt to fix the damage I saw with my own eyes before I suffer the same consquences I'm receiving now. As I gather all I have left with the soon to be drowned house, I evacuate back to my homeland, to gather along people in hopes of turning the government's attention over the uprising sea level rise that had affected me. It was about time to turn the tides before another place people call home will be consumed by something we can prevent.
Bibliography
Greicius, Tony. “Study Projects a Surge in Coastal Flooding, Starting in 2030s.” NASA, NASA, 7 July 2021, https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/study-projects-a-surge-in-coastal-flooding- starting-in-2030s.
Mulhern, Owen. “Sea Level Rise Projection Map - Tokyo.” Earth.Org, Earth.Org, 13 Dec. 2021, https://earth.org/data_visualization/sea-level-rise-by-the-end-of-the-century-tokyo/.
Collection
Citation
ericmolina, “Tunnel Vision,” Everything Speaks To Me , accessed September 18, 2026, https://everythingspeakstome.com/items/show/282.