Hello from the other side of the world. How have you been? ひさしぶり! I took for granted how good I had it during "Office Days" when I was on JET. All the teachers were off administering tests to the students on giant pieces of paper, and my only role for the week was to mark a few… Continue reading A Message to Japan Becca
Author: beccamayhem
Photo Blog: Falling in Love with New England Again
In typical New England fashion, the weather has been unpredictable lately. Two weekends ago we had a big snow storm, and then it was 55 degrees and rainy outside, so all the snow washed away.I'm missing all the fall colors now that it's winter, so I wanted to share some pictures from my favorite autumn… Continue reading Photo Blog: Falling in Love with New England Again
The JET Interview Reprise
It's a pivotal time in the JET world...Right around this time, ALTs and CIRs around Japan are signing off on a piece of paper whether they will stay one more year in their placement or go back home, and future JETs in their home countries are preparing for their interviews. This time two years ago… Continue reading The JET Interview Reprise
Who I Am: “Lifestyle Change” Third Anniversary
This is now my third end-of-year-post where I acknowledge my mission to get healthy. Last year, I still couldn't believe I had maintained the same healthy weight for 2 years in a row. (I ended 2013 close to 180 pounds. I'm 130 pounds now.) As the curtain closes on 2016, I've realized something new about myself:… Continue reading Who I Am: “Lifestyle Change” Third Anniversary
What I Realized After Leaving Japan
I really wanted to write about this on my blog sooner, but I needed a lot of time to process my million and one emotions. I've actually been starting and stopping this "Life After JET" post since September. I don't think I'll ever have it written exactly as I want it, but now that I've… Continue reading What I Realized After Leaving Japan
A Culminating Climb up Mount Fuji (AKA Are we on the moon?)
My last epic adventure before starting my descent back to America was to climb Fuji. I left Amami the day my teaching contract ended and met Lesley (who I also hiked Yakushima with last September) and her brother, Graham, in Shinjuku so we could set off early the following morning for Shizuoka, the prefecture where… Continue reading A Culminating Climb up Mount Fuji (AKA Are we on the moon?)
My Japanese High School’s Bunkasai
I missed out on blogging about my high school`s insanely spectacular Sports Day last September, so I don`t want to miss the chance to tell you about my high school`s bunaksai, or Culture Festival, that happened in June. After reading about bunkasais from other ALT blogs, I am getting the sense that events in the Japanese school… Continue reading My Japanese High School’s Bunkasai
Truly Rural (Inaka Road Trip to Miyazaki)
Over the weekend, I was just looking forward to spending time visiting Chiho and Kevin at their new home in Issa with Ching and Megan, but our time in the inaka (the countryside) left me feeling so satisfied and fulfilled! It was my first time going on a road trip in Japan and spending some… Continue reading Truly Rural (Inaka Road Trip to Miyazaki)
I Live in a Tropical Paradise
That settles it. Amami Oshima is the most beautiful place I have ever been to. I already knew that but maybe I've never said it aloud. Monday's national holiday was appropriately Marine Day, or "Ocean Day." So we rented a beach house for Saturday and Sunday night for mine and Carson's leaving party (and Jonathan came… Continue reading I Live in a Tropical Paradise
Welcome to Bangkok!
I spent so much time fangirling over my Elephant Experience in Chiang Mai that I never posted anything about my other days in Thailand. Oops! So here are some long overdue pictures and tiny stories about my day and a half zipping around Bangkok over Golden Week! But first: My first Black Thunder ICE CREAM… Continue reading Welcome to Bangkok!
The Becca Jar 