I don't have a response about JET per se since I'm in the same interview status as you, but when I studied abroad in Japan I met a girl at school who I became good friends with, and then I became friends with one of her friends too. They eventually studied abroad in the US, and stayed at my house for a week. I assume if I get into JET we'll do stuff again at least once, depending on my placement.
I'm also pretty shy (but extroverted). Really, there are always going to be people who see you as a curiosity no matter what culture you're from or where you're going...but there are cool people in Japan just like everywhere else. You might meet them accidentally, like I did, but you might also try going to some sort of hobby/activity (like concerts, a gym, etc). The good thing about looking foreign in Japan is that people always want to talk to you, which makes it easier for shy people I think.
As a JET from a small town, I do feel at times like my job is to be this area's token foreigner for a living. On a good day it's a barrel of monkies to get paid for that, but on a bad day I do feel sort of used. But it's all in how you look at it. The only people who openly approach me are trying to practice their English usually, but that's mostly because everyone else is waaaaaay too shy/flabbergasted to even think about it. A lot of friends can be made if you're willing to break out and practice your Japanese. People are usually really receptive when you do, it's a load off their minds when they realize they don't have to try to speak English to you. People will be interested in you for reasons other than English, just to hear about where you're from and how the heck you ended up here. Heh, but I'm shy too, so I understand... Anyway, every situation is different they say. Things may be different for those in big cities who blend in a bit better
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This is an interesting question and you may hear different answers from different people. Since so many JETs are really outgoing and self-confident, I'm going to try and answer based on my own experience so you have some different perspectives. I'm a bit of an introvert and I can get really self-conscious. I also had doubts after my interview and even decided, for several months, that I would say no if accepted into the program. When I changed my mind, I came here without much Japanese language experience. These things have really influenced my experience
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No, this is great feedback. I'm so glad you brought this up. Last time I was abroad, I did it for a school year, and around Spring I was really, really ready to head home. When you get home, it's funny because sometimes it feels like the things you were so stressed about while in another country just don't seem like such a big deal anymore. But while you're abroad and miserable, the time drags so slow. All the same, thanks for your input. And what's ESID mean?
oh, sorry! you're going to start hearing ESID a lot now. it means "every situation is different" and ALTs use it constantly to answer questions because most of us tend to have very individual experiences. there are commonalities, but each position is different in it's own way. it makes it tough to give applicants good answers. :)
This is a reasonable worry, and chances are you will find people approaching you to speak to you. It can be irritating to have a random security guy in Jusco waddle up to you to ask for the fifteenth time "ekusukuzu me, you-a kantori purizu?" But it does give them such a thrill to know that they're communicating in a foreign language. And, really, considering that a big part of JET (at least as an ALT) is teaching English, well, you're basically training students to hopefully be so comfortable with English that one day even in the distant future they might approach a complete stranger to try out some of their English. Frankly, I had more difficulty with getting my students to speak English because they were so self conscious and wanted to wait until they were fluent to say more than "good morning." I'd be thrilled to know that they were attempting to communicate, but I know it's not fun to be on the other side of it
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Japanese who WANT to use EnglishaveragesmartguyFebruary 4 2009, 08:39:28 UTC
hkmercredi reminded me, compared to how your students may be, sometimes it's pretty rad having someone just try to speak in English to/with you. Or hell, even if they just try to communicate with you even if it's Japanese and you don't understand at first. Seriously, try back with them. You can meet some unexpected and amazing people that way. I still remember many of the strangers on the bus or train I ended up chatting with. Seriously always made my day, and helped me feel I was succeeding in that "grassroots internationalization" part of the JET job description.
Granted I went over being able to communicate in Japanese. The more comfortable I felt the friendlier I was, which is in part why I started chatting with people at my Circle K as I went there for dinner the majority of the time. One of my favorite pictures is actually of two of the clerks there who posed for me on the last night I went.
Related, it turned out that the manager dude there who I saw sometimes, was actually really friggin' good at English. Keep in mind I had been in my
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"ekusukuzu me, you-a kantori purizu?" I got all the words except "kantori"...?
Ah, yes, the staring. I never thought of it as having "mystique", but I guess it can be alluring like that.
Just curious: in your own experience, outside of your school/classroom, how often did people come up to you and randomly try to speak English with you? 5 people out of 100? Or did people just leave you alone most days?
It really varies day by day for me. As far as work it depends on the teacher and school. Some days I am a human tape recorder. Some days I am in charge of the show and feel like a real teacher
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"let's get together this week for dinner. I need to practice my English." is the pickup line of the century, let me tell you. ;) The notebook thing is pretty wierd, too. Did it make you feel like you had to speak gramatically correct English all the time, and explain why we don't pronounce the "tt" in "button"?
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I'm also pretty shy (but extroverted). Really, there are always going to be people who see you as a curiosity no matter what culture you're from or where you're going...but there are cool people in Japan just like everywhere else. You might meet them accidentally, like I did, but you might also try going to some sort of hobby/activity (like concerts, a gym, etc). The good thing about looking foreign in Japan is that people always want to talk to you, which makes it easier for shy people I think.
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All the same, thanks for your input. And what's ESID mean?
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Granted I went over being able to communicate in Japanese. The more comfortable I felt the friendlier I was, which is in part why I started chatting with people at my Circle K as I went there for dinner the majority of the time. One of my favorite pictures is actually of two of the clerks there who posed for me on the last night I went.
Related, it turned out that the manager dude there who I saw sometimes, was actually really friggin' good at English. Keep in mind I had been in my ( ... )
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I got all the words except "kantori"...?
Ah, yes, the staring. I never thought of it as having "mystique", but I guess it can be alluring like that.
Just curious: in your own experience, outside of your school/classroom, how often did people come up to you and randomly try to speak English with you? 5 people out of 100? Or did people just leave you alone most days?
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