---

YOUR FUTURE IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY

Greg Nisbet

Greg Nisbet took a circuitous and adventure-filled route to Asia. During his last year in the Political Science Programme at the University of Toronto, Greg worked full-time in order to finance his summer trip to Europe.

"Two days after my last exam I left for my summer tour of Europe and I must have had too much money in my pocket because I didn't come home for six years," said Greg.

Greg picked up odd jobs here and there while in Europe, moved on to Africa to work, and then returned to Europe to pursue his talents as a writer in London. It was during Greg's adventures in Africa that he met an American who was teaching English in Japan.

While bartending in London to support his writing habit, Greg corresponded with his new friend in Japan who would write to him about how great her life was there, how interesting the people were, and how great the money was.

Eventually, in 1991 Greg decided to make his way to Asia, where he too went to Japan. He spent his first few weeks in Japan as a street musician. Although this type of work can be lucrative, Greg describes his first few weeks in Japan as a struggle.

" I arrived at Narita Airport with US$3 in my pocket, my guitar and a backpack. I had to make due while I was looking for work as an English teacher," Greg explains about his buskering experience.

Greg quickly found work teaching English with Time TI in Tokyo. Greg later transferred to Fukuoka where he eventually took a new job with an English language school.

In 1994 Greg decided it was time to come home to Canada. But not before he made a quick stop in Australia to marry his boss turned girlfriend who he had met earlier in Japan.

Having fallen in love with teaching, Greg is now the President of his own language school, Village English, in Streetsville, Ontario, which caters to students from several Asian countries as well as South America and Europe.

Greg entitles his presentation "Asia: Home of the New Pioneer". He uses a lot of his own experiences to examine the personal, professional and spiritual motivations that lure young people to Asia. He also deals with the myths and stereotypes, expectations and realities of life in Asia as well as the endless opportunities and possibilities, abroad and at home, that await young people once they have embraced the Asian experience.

"Seeing the world is no longer a starry-eyed dream for hippies. It is a career path. One can actually justify going out and travelling to see the world as a career move," Greg said.

Greg points out that economic mobility, the shrinking global community, and personal connections have made travelling, working and living in Asia more accessible to Canadians.

He stresses in Asia, business is conducted by word of mouth and who you know. Greg encourages young Canadians to tap into any connections they may have, and discover all that Asia has to offer.