Sisters writer off to teach in Japan

Sisters local Zachary Lusby, a recent graduate of the University of Oregon, is off to teach English in Japan.

Lusby grew up in Sisters and attended Redmond Proficiency Academy and then the University of Oregon. Lusby received his first paycheck from The Nugget in 2008. Lusby was a correspondent for a time, writing stories about events at Sisters Movie House, including the "Twilight" series screenings. He also wrote pieces on youths' reception of certain films that would come through the movie house.

"The Nugget gave me a place to hone my writing and figure out what I wanted to be writing about," Lusby said.

His pursuit of being a writer didn't stop after The Nugget; he went on to create the RPA Gazette which later became known as SPEC magazine at Redmond Proficiency Academy, and was the copy editor for The Siren feminist magazine at the University of Oregon. Lusby attended U of O with a writing career as the goal, and so he realized majoring in English was the better route for him than a journalism degree.

"I knew I wanted my writing to be more creative and to draw on my own life experiences, so I decided on the English program and graduated with a minor in creative writing," said Lusby. The program at the University of Oregon assured him he was in the right place career-wise.

"The program taught me to critically read and gave me a whole breadth of knowledge about writing and reading. Every aspect of my writing has improved because of it," said Lusby.

Lusby always knew he wanted to get life experience and travel under his belt. He had heard of the teaching program in Japan from a friend, so the idea was always floating around throughout his college career. He applied for the position in September and received the job in May of his graduating year. Lusby will be working with the Japan Exchange Teaching Program in Western Japan in a rural region known as Korsi.

"A lot of people are hesitant towards the program because of its rural location, but I am actually excited for that aspect to see a different part of the country and be immersed in that culture, and then of course be able to travel to other parts and countries in Asia," said Lusby.

Lusby will be an English teacher working with four different elementary schools teaching basic English to students. He will also be working as a cultural ambassador teaching Japanese students about Western culture.

"I am excited to meet a whole group of people I wouldn't have otherwise, and excited to be fully immersed in a culture I am interested in," he said.

Lusby has already attended orientations and trainings in the U.S., and there are a few more hands-on trainings when he arrives in Japan in two weeks. The program allows for him to re-contract for as long as he would like, but he is planning on a two-year contract with the program.

"I am excited to see how I like teaching and being immersed in the school setting," he said. "I plan on seeing how it goes teaching and then possibly return to school myself and possibly pursuing a master's degree and moving towards the publishing route."

Lusby credits the community of Sisters and his experiences with The Nugget with inspiring him to pursue this program and continue to work on his writing.

"Without the small-town community around me, I wouldn't have had my writing recognized in the way it was; it really gave me a chance to hone my skills and focus the direction I wanted to go," said Lusby. "Being in Sisters also made me want to see what else is out there, and motivated me to pursue finding things involving different cultures and communities."