When Mark Rubiner drove tens of thousands of kilometers from Arizona to Mexico and through South America when he was only 21 years old, his high school Spanish skills became a key tool for survival.
Although the trip took place over 40 years ago, the lessons he learned there — on life and communication — continuously traverse his everyday life as a language teacher in Sapporo. From his first evening in Japan over 15 years ago to his interactions with his students today, Rubiner sees communication as "the key to personal or professional success."
His road to becoming a language teacher took some unusual detours after many false starts. He grew up in Arizona, and his brother Joel, two years his senior, moved to Spain when Rubiner was in high school. His world expanded when his brother invited him on the South American trip, and he experienced firsthand the complexities of communication.