Paul Snowden came to Japan 40 years ago — thinking that his visit here would only last for two years, after which he would go back to his native England and settle down as a grammar school teacher.
Instead, he has found himself settling here permanently — and pursuing an academic career, leading to his current position as dean of School of International Liberal Studies (SILS) at the prestigious Waseda University.
Snowden, 62, who grew up in Essex County, had four job offers when he graduated from university four decades ago — in Germany as a translator, in Libya as an English teacher, in India as a Russian teacher — and in Japan as an English teacher.