Returning to Japan as a JET
The Call and The Departure
It has already been over 2 months since returning to Japan. As I found myself with absolutely nothing to do because the students are having finals for the 2nd term, I began to write.
So let's fast-forward and ignore the fact that I failed to upkeep my blog after my arrival in Kyoto for study abroad over a year ago...
* * *
I returned from Kyoto after a 5-month program at Doshisha University that lasted from April-August in 2009. Still riding the high of my Japan “honeymoon phase,” I started my senior year of college with no immediate plans after graduation. The only plans of concrete detail I had rested upon two infamously competitive teaching programs. Just click on the links for further information.
1. The Japan and Exchange Teaching Programme (JET)
2. Teach for America (TFA)
I counted myself lucky to receive interviews for both programs, but in the end I didn't make the cut for either. TFA had rejected me. JET, on the other hand, offered to keep me as an alternate. I placed myself on the waiting list, putting my future on a tentative Pause. It was now April, leaving me a month to figure out what to do while hanging in limbo in case someone else was unable to go or dropped out of JET.
So I graduated in May and found myself a full-time but part-time sort of job through a temp agency. Coincidentally enough, it was only a block away from the SF Japan Consulate.
Then one day in the middle of summer, I received a call conveniently during my lunch hour at work. It was JET, asking if I was still interested in going to Japan. I couldn't believe it. They gave me some (but not too much) time to decide, understanding that I would have to drop everything to go.
Then they said, “But we can usually tell when someone truly wants to go, and that's a good thing.”
On August 24th, I met with the only other two Group C JETs at SFO.
We found ourselves immediately surrounded by a group of Japanese middle school students on what must have been a ridiculously expensive class trip at the SFO security check-point. We felt like it was a sign and a preview of things to come.
I only slept a few hours before landing in Narita Airport. The 5 minutes right before touchdown were the most refreshing.
* * *
The next few days were a rush. JETs arrive in three groups, with Group C being the late-arrivals of mostly alternates. To give a better idea of a Group C timeline, compared to that of a Group B JET:
Group B
Arrival: Sunday, August 1st
Tokyo Orientation: 3 days long, hundreds of participants
First Day of Actual Class: late August, 2 weeks after arriving in Japan (basically paid holiday)
Group C
Arrival: Wednesday, August 25th
Tokyo Orientation: only 1 day, less than 90 participants
First Day of Actual Class: on Monday, 5 days after arriving in Japan
Actually, we were all nervous because we had no idea whether our first day of school was on Monday or not. Turns out most of us did, including myself.
Of course, I didn't know this as I watched Iron Man 2 on the plane, unable to sleep as my two lightly slumbering companions dozed on.
It has already been over 2 months since returning to Japan. As I found myself with absolutely nothing to do because the students are having finals for the 2nd term, I began to write.
So let's fast-forward and ignore the fact that I failed to upkeep my blog after my arrival in Kyoto for study abroad over a year ago...
* * *
I returned from Kyoto after a 5-month program at Doshisha University that lasted from April-August in 2009. Still riding the high of my Japan “honeymoon phase,” I started my senior year of college with no immediate plans after graduation. The only plans of concrete detail I had rested upon two infamously competitive teaching programs. Just click on the links for further information.
1. The Japan and Exchange Teaching Programme (JET)
2. Teach for America (TFA)
I counted myself lucky to receive interviews for both programs, but in the end I didn't make the cut for either. TFA had rejected me. JET, on the other hand, offered to keep me as an alternate. I placed myself on the waiting list, putting my future on a tentative Pause. It was now April, leaving me a month to figure out what to do while hanging in limbo in case someone else was unable to go or dropped out of JET.
So I graduated in May and found myself a full-time but part-time sort of job through a temp agency. Coincidentally enough, it was only a block away from the SF Japan Consulate.
Then one day in the middle of summer, I received a call conveniently during my lunch hour at work. It was JET, asking if I was still interested in going to Japan. I couldn't believe it. They gave me some (but not too much) time to decide, understanding that I would have to drop everything to go.
Then they said, “But we can usually tell when someone truly wants to go, and that's a good thing.”
On August 24th, I met with the only other two Group C JETs at SFO.
We found ourselves immediately surrounded by a group of Japanese middle school students on what must have been a ridiculously expensive class trip at the SFO security check-point. We felt like it was a sign and a preview of things to come.
I only slept a few hours before landing in Narita Airport. The 5 minutes right before touchdown were the most refreshing.
* * *
The next few days were a rush. JETs arrive in three groups, with Group C being the late-arrivals of mostly alternates. To give a better idea of a Group C timeline, compared to that of a Group B JET:
Group B
Arrival: Sunday, August 1st
Tokyo Orientation: 3 days long, hundreds of participants
First Day of Actual Class: late August, 2 weeks after arriving in Japan (basically paid holiday)
Group C
Arrival: Wednesday, August 25th
Tokyo Orientation: only 1 day, less than 90 participants
First Day of Actual Class: on Monday, 5 days after arriving in Japan
Actually, we were all nervous because we had no idea whether our first day of school was on Monday or not. Turns out most of us did, including myself.
Of course, I didn't know this as I watched Iron Man 2 on the plane, unable to sleep as my two lightly slumbering companions dozed on.