This summer, Mr.MathewEnsign (33), the elementary school learning support teacher, reached an amazing milestone: visiting 100 countries. He previously lived in Japan for four years (2015-19) before going back to the US for graduate school. Mr. Ensign has visited all continents (except Antarctica, which he aims to visit someday). Originally from Oregon, Mr.Ensign has always wanted to travel around the world. Drawn again by the atmosphere in Japan, he returned last year to work as a teacher here at St.Mary’s.
From Oregon to the world
Mr.Ensign grew up in Oregon and did not have many travel experiences. He always had a dream of exploring the world since his childhood. He particularly enjoyed the travel shows and would watch them over and over again. “Growing up, I loved watching the Travel Channel. Anthony Bourdain and Samantha Brown were particularly influential — they inspired me to want to see the world.” His first long-haul trip was to Mexico to visit his uncle when he was fourteen. He visited a small coastal city there and was struck by the beauty of the new atmosphere and view, influencing him to start travelling. He started travelling seriously when he was eighteen, landing in Japan. “I knew I wanted to work abroad, and Japan always stood out the most to me.” Mr.Ensign explained that Japan is one of his favorite countries, particularly Hokkaido. “I always find myself going back to Hokkaido. I’ve been there five times, all in the winter… Kushiro for the red-crowned cranes, and Hakodate for its beauty and amazing seafood.”
Travel Experiences and Highlights
So far, Mr.Ensign has visited all continents except for Antarctica. Whenever he visits a new country, his favorite activity is to walk around and explore the place. “My favorite thing to do is just highlight attractions on Google Maps and then walk around, taking pictures and exploring side streets. I feel like that’s how I get the best pictures—just wandering around.” Mr.Ensign explained that he especially likes cold climates; he loves the crunchy sound of the snow, walking in the darkness, and seeing the northern lights. When asked about his favorite countries, he highlighted St.Petersburg (Russia), Svalbard (Norway), Santiago, and Easter Island (Chile). He also highlighted the nature and wildlife of Africa, specifically South Africa and Southern Africa, (Durban, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Ethiopia, Tanzania), and the beatiful landscapes of Europe ( Albania, Kosovo (day trip), Switzerland & Liechtenstein, Malta, Cyprus, Belgium, Luxembourg, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany.) He has also visited lesser-known “exotic” countries, such as Moldova, Kosovo, Belarus, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Brunei. Mr.Ensign ended his 100-country trip in Oman, where he relaxed and enjoyed nature.
Future destinations
Mr.Ensign reached his one-hundred-country milestone, but this isn’t the end of his journey. His new goal is to explore more of his favorite country, Japan. He has visited most of the prefectures in Japan, but would like to go to the remaining locations and learn more about his favorite country. He would also like to visit more parts of Russia (Moscow and Vladivostok) to learn more about his heritage, as his mother immigrated from Russia to the United States, and visit Kazakhstan to learn about his grandfather’s heritage.
Teaching and Travel Philosophy
Mr.Ensign believes that his journey around the world can also be incorporated into the classroom. He used to have “passport time” in his classes, where he would take his students on a virtual world tour in the classroom. “I’d bring stories about different countries, incorporate writing activities, include YouTube videos, and even small treats from those cultures.” He also emphasized the need for everyone to leave their comfort zones and explore the world in person instead of making assumptions about a country. “It’s best to see the world for yourself and form your own opinion. Many people may have assumptions about different places, but until you’re there, you can’t know. Traveling opens your perspectives, gets you out of your comfort zone, and leaves you with great stories.” For Mr.Ensign, travelling isn’t just about checking bucketlists and visiting sites, but it is a way for him to learn about culture, history, and heritage.
