PR: What's in your CD player right now and what have you been listening to lately?
RH: Right now I'm listening to Ben Harper's Diamonds on the Inside. Before that, I was listening to The Foo Fighters, Dashboard Confessional, Taro Hakase, and Punjabi MC.
PR: Where are you originally from?
RH: Laguna Niguel, California. It's in Orange County about halfway between LA and San Diego.
PR: Why did you decide to come to Japan of all places?
RH: I knew that I wanted to take a year off and work overseas this year, and since I had lived in Europe and South America I figured I'd give Asia a try. I was pretty interested in Japan and learning Japanese. I applied for the JET Program, got offered a job, and the rest is history.
PR: Where have you lived in Europe and South America?
RH: Italy, Spain, and Argentina.
PR: Where do you live in Japan?
RH: I live in Miyakonojo city, Miyazaki prefecture. It's located on the southeast part of Japan on the island of Kyushu. There's a lot of open space, a lot of green mountains, and life is pretty mellow. It's a great place and I feel pretty fortunate to be here. I live about an hour from the coast, which isn't bad at all. I have a buddy up in Hiroshima that drove ten hours to the beach once. The coastline here is beautiful because the green mountains meet the ocean.
PR: Can you use chopsticks?
RH: Most definitely. I learned in Madrid.
PR: What does a typical day at work entail, and what exactly is the JET Program?
RH: Basically, as a participant in the JET Program, we're supposed to promote international exchange within the community and the public school system. I'm also an assistant English teacher at three junior high schools. In a nutshell, we're getting paid to be foreigners and hang out with kids. JET stands for Japan Exchange Teaching.
PR: Have you decided to re-contract and stay another year?
RH: Life in Japan can get pretty easy and very comfortable. A lot of the times things seem to be laid out perfectly for us. I haven't been challenged much here in Japan and that has been a little difficult for me. I've had the time of my life here and I have fallen in love with many aspects of Japan, but it's definitely time to move on from this place. I've made a lot of great friends over here and have met some fascinating people along the way. It will be hard for me to say goodbye and leave this place but it has to be done. I've decided to pursue my dreams and my passions such as my music. I got a lot of inspiration from reading Steve Stockman's Walk On, the spiritual journey of U2. And besides, the waves aren't that great...
PR: What has been the most fascinating thing about being in Japan, or about your experience on JET?
RH: I have learned so much about people and the importance of understanding where people come from. Japanese people are amazingly kind, almost to the point where it can be overwhelming. They are constantly going out of their way for you; even strangers will go the distance for you. I have never come across a rude Japanese person over here like you would in many western countries. It's just engrained in the society and it has really taught me a great deal about love and about being selfless. One time we were lost driving around Nagasaki looking for our hotel. We stopped to ask a couple if they knew where it was and they hopped in their car and led us there after getting lost themselves and making a couple calls on their cell. Also, the social network out here is great. I have friends from Australia, South Africa, the UK, Jamaica, Mongolia, and many other places. My friends are fascinating and have taught me a great deal about life and for appreciating where people come from. Already I've learned a lot about South Africa and what it was like to grow up during Apartheid. It was so interesting to learn that South Africa alone has eleven official languages. This is great education that you just can't find anywhere and especially not in a textbook. I'll probably leave Japan thinking that I met some of the most fascinating people in the world. My friends over here are great and I'll definitely miss them the most.
PR: I understand that you studied Japanese in Okinawa for a week. How's your Japanese coming along?
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PR: Is it true that you played in Something Corporate?
RH: What's Something Corporate? Just kidding...I was one of the original members and played with them for two and a half years.
PR: What happened if you don't mind me asking?
RH: No worries. During my sophomore year at Pepperdine I decided to go overseas to Florence and that's pretty much when we parted ways. It actually ended up being the best thing for them and for me, almost like a blessing in disguise, I guess you can say.
PR: What are some of your goals with regards to your music?
RH: To play to the best of my ability and to inspire and reach as many people as I can. I owe it to myself to give it an honest effort.
PR: Your song Midnight Here, 3 O' Clock There is pretty sweet and seems to captivate your audiences. What inspired you to write it?
RH: It's about someone that I care about and when I was in Florence, we had a 9 hour time difference and a massive ocean between us.
PR: Where's your favorite place in Japan?
RH: Definitely Hokkaido. The snow is incredible and Niseko is so surreal. It's probably one of the most amazing places that I've ever seen. I felt so alive and so at peace riding down the mountain and cutting through the deep, untracked powder, which seemed to last for an eternity. Plus the food is some of the best food I've had in Japan.
PR: What is the most significant thing that you have learned since coming to Japan?
RH: Follow your dreams and pursue your passions because there's a reason that God gave them to you. I read Lance Armstrong's book, It's not About the Bike, and he has inspired me to turn every obstacle into an opportunity. All things are possible.