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Alaska Teacher Still Missing In Japan

March 18, 2011|by Rebecca Palsha

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An Anchorage man, who teaches English in Japan hasn't been heard from since the tsunami hit in that country.

26-year-old Monty Dickson lives in Rikuzentakata and teaches English as part of the JET program at Yonesaki elementary and junior highs. That area was destroyed by the tsunami following the devastating earthquake last week.

For several days now Shelley Fredrickson and Ian Dickson have searched for any news about their brother logged onto the web at a home off the Park Strip. The pair have gotten conflicting reports about what happened to Monty. The young teacher was able to call his girlfriend from the towns city hall, that three story building was later covered by the waves. Other reports put Monty at one of the schools in the area.

"The schools hadn't really been touched by the tsunamis," said Fredrickson, "so if he was indeed at the schools he might be ok, if he was at city hall its a tragic part so we don't know which one to believe at this point."

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Despite the horrific images they've seen coming out of Rikuzentakata, Fredrickson and Dickson say they haven't given up hope.

"We haven't had a confirmation and i don't believe conflicting reports equal confirmation by any means. He was very proud he could swim 70 laps in the UAA pool he was a tri-athlete and bike racer and he looks out for other people if he was teaching he's looking out for other kids, or he's probably more concerned with the people around him its just the kind of person he was... is."

Monty is part of the Japan Education and Teaching Program, known as JET, which teaches English in Japan.

Other JET students were found through national media, which is what the family hopes happens with Monty.

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