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
Category: Life on JET
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
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
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
An Ephipany in the Classroom
I started off my week by giving a speech to all my third grade students about how I was failing math in high school until I found a teacher who tutored me almost every morning before school so I could pass his class. I told them to never be afraid to ask for extra help… Continue reading An Ephipany in the Classroom
Not Recontracting and My Future JET Successor
This is the cup of coffee my supervisor gave to me on the day in early January I had to tell her I wasn't recontracting. I have so much love for my placement and my school, and while I felt no pressure from anyone about my decision other than myself, it was still more difficult and… Continue reading Not Recontracting and My Future JET Successor
JET Placement Results: 7 Things I Did and One Thing I Wish I Did Before Moving to Japan
So word on the web is that JET Placement Results have been unleashed to the world. It`s all so exciting! Last year, my impending move to Japan finally sank in when I received the email saying that I was headed to Kagoshima-ken. I was excited to be headed south to a place with friendly people, a subtropical climate,… Continue reading JET Placement Results: 7 Things I Did and One Thing I Wish I Did Before Moving to Japan
The End of the Japanese School Year and JET Interview Resuts
The past couple weeks at school have been all about goodbyes. Not just for the third years, but for some teachers too. All teachers in Kagoshima prefecture are required to fulfill their "island duty" at some point in their teaching career. They are expected to dedicate five years to their island school! Some teachers even… Continue reading The End of the Japanese School Year and JET Interview Resuts
Celebrating Green and White Holidays in Japan
White Day March 14th is White Day in Japan. If you don't know what it is, I promise it`s not nearly as bad as it sounds. White Day is simply a day designated for boys to return sweets to the girls who gave them something on Valentine's Day. After a couple friends asked me why… Continue reading Celebrating Green and White Holidays in Japan
Japanese High School Graduation
My high school's graduation ceremony was on March 1st. The Japanese school year begins in April, but graduation happens in the beginning of March, midweek, while first and second year students still have classes. It was a fun cultural experience to attend a Japanese graduation because it was so different than a high school graduation… Continue reading Japanese High School Graduation
The Becca Jar 