There probably aren't many English teachers in Japan who go to work carrying a samurai sword, dressed in battle armor, with a large Stars and Stripes strapped to their back. But happily for Chris Flesuras, in 3-D virtual world Second Life little is impossible.
In real life, Flesuras works at Kyoto Gakuen High School, but his Second Life alter ego Flo Federal resides on Pacific Rim Exchange Island, an online project between his employer and sister schools in the city of Modesto, Calif.
Since the start of the Japanese academic year in April, around 50 U.S. and Japanese students and 20 teachers have been sharing the specially constructed virtual island. They are working on joint projects in preparation for a planned visit to Japan by the U.S. students next April.