Teachers’ traveling tales

SCOTT

“If we do not catch fish when we are there, we do not eat,” history teacher Jeff Scott said.

Scott and his family, including his aunt, uncle, cousins, and friends from Seattle, have made a tradition of kayaking and camping out in the Canadian wilderness of Vancouver Island with no contact with the outside world.  Scott’s family has been on the same trip five times, with the longest being two weeks.  

“We see eagles and almost no other humans,” Scott said, which allows for great family bonding.

Scott’s Canada trips, however, are just a small piece of his traveling experiences.  Scott has been an avid summer traveler since early childhood and has been to over 15 different countries.  His travels have been both recreational and educational.   

This past summer Scott also traveled to British Columbia, Canada, and Thailand in addition to Vancouver Island.  Scott’s travels have also taken him to Austria, Guatemala and South Korea, where he went to teach English to elementary students.  

“The most exciting part was going go the DMZ [Korean Demilitarized Zone] because I have technically been into North Korea,” Scott said.  

While Scott enjoys the relaxation and relief that he gets during his vacations, he also sees great value in experiencing life in many countries and cultures of the world.

“I think exposure to new cultures and ideas is extremely important and that whenever one has the chance to go to a foreign land they should grab the opportunity and experience as much of the world possible,” Scott said.

 

NAKAMATSU

For chemistry teacher Kathy Nakamatsu, traveling is a great way to spend quality time with family, have new experiences, and try different food.  

“I love exploring and seeing new sights. I also enjoy trying new foods,” Nakamatsu said.  “I always try to eat the food known for that region.”

This past summer Nakamatsu went on a road trip with her parents to the Grand Canyon, stopping at Yosemite and Las Vegas along the way.  The trip was in honor of Nakamatsu’s father, whose deteriorating health would make it his last vacation.  

“Last year it became evident that my father’s health was declining and that he would have to go into an Alzheimer’s facility soon,” Nakamatsu said.  “I wanted to take my dad on one last road trip and take him to his favorite places.”

On the trip Nakamatsu and her parents walked to Yosemite Falls, saw the Hoover Dam and visited the major sights of the Grand Canyon.

The vacation reminded Nakamatsu of the trips her parents took her on as a child.  She began traveling around the age of 3, making it across the United States twice.  

“When I was growing up, my parents took us on several road trips,” Nakamatsu said.  “I have many fond memories of these road trips and camping with the family.”

Nakamatsu also travels with her husband Jon, a world class pianist, as he tours different places.  This summer she plans to expand her travels to Honolulu, Steamboat Springs in Colorado, and Cape Cod.  

Nakamatsu enjoys traveling not only to bond with her family, but to get new perspectives.

“In some cases, like when I traveled to Chile and did a service project at an orphanage, it makes you appreciate what we often take for granted.  I think it also opens your eyes to new experiences,” Nakamatsu said.  “We live in a beautiful country with so many different regions and things to see.”