Where Are They Now: Bumper Edition!

With the recontracting deadline looming ahead, I had a very good long chat with three of my closest friends from JET who left the programme last summer and are settling into their new lives back home. I think their respective experiences are important to share because they cover the main three situations those returning will face: further study, quickly finding a job, and looking for work for a few months.

On a personal note, I miss these three terribly, but am very proud of how they all stayed positive through the process of leaving Hyogo and finding their feet back in the States, I find their success and attitude very reassuring for the decisions which lie ahead for all of us.

Charlotte Griffiths

 

Paula Armstrong

Country of origin: USA/Germany

Dates in Hyogo: August 2011 to August 2013

Location in Hyogo: Nishinomiya

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth Ludan

Country of origin: United States

Dates in Hyogo: August 2012- August 2013

Location in Hyogo: Himeji

 

Jenny Nakamura

Country of origin: USA

Dates in Hyogo: August 2012 – August 2013

Location in Hyogo: Ono

 

Why did you apply for the JET programme?

Paula:I grew up moving around, so after four years of college in the United States I was feeling restless. The JET program combined a lot of things I enjoyed – living in a new country, working with young people, learning a new language (or attempting to do so at least) – all in a reputable package.

 

Liz: I applied for the JET Program because I was excited for the chance to live in Japan and as I’d had wonderful experiences mentoring students through Model U.N. I was curious to see what it would be like to teach. I also wanted to improve my Japanese.

 

Jenny: Professionally, having been a teacher for a few years, I not only wanted to contribute what I had learned teaching in the US to the Japanese community, but to gain an enhanced global understanding of the Japanese education system and compare its high standards and rigor to American education.

 

Personally, I wanted to gain a better perception and appreciation of where I had come from.  As a Japanese-American, I wanted to absorb and become immersed in the Japanese language and culture so that I could build better connections and relationships with not only my family, but also with the Japanese community as a whole.

 

How did you choose where to apply for in Japan?

Paula: I actually didn’t list any preferences in terms of location. I feel really lucky to have been placed in Hyogo!

 

Liz: I was hoping for a placement that would allow me to travel to many different parts of Japan. I think I really lucked out with my schools and my placement! I had actually lived in Nishinomiya before, for three years from 1999 to 2001 when my father served as the U.S. Consul General in Osaka, so I was thrilled to be back in Hyogo! I was happy to be placed in Himeji near old friends and family, but also removed enough that I could make JET a separate experience.

 

Jenny: I have family who live in the Tokyo area, so I wanted to be close to them.  [Also, who wouldn’t want to live in Tokyo?!]  However, after being placed in Hyogo, l had an unforgettable experience living in a small, rural town.  The Ono community is very special.

 

Jenny, you came on JET with previous teaching experience, how did it compare?

Jenny: Both experiences were challenging at times, but extremely rewarding in different ways.  I definitely feel as if I had a slight advantage coming into JET having teaching experience, however it was still quite an adjustment.  The structure of the Japanese education system and how things are run in school and in the classroom is like no other in the teaching realm.  The two things I wished I saw more of in the classroom were more technology access and usage, and a little more freedom and independence for the students to think and express their ideas.

 

What is your favourite memory of Hyogo/Japan?

Paula: There are too many favorite memories! All in all, my everyday interactions with students and the fun times I had traveling with friends are what I look back on most fondly. Also, climbing Mount Fuji and eating Kobe beef.

 

Liz: We really packed a LOT into a year; it’s hard to choose just one favorite memory! From Hyogo, off the top of my head, some of my favorites are my school’s bunkasai, nights out with friends, skiing, the Himeji pottery festival. From all of Japan…trips to Sapporo, Hagi, Tokyo, Nagasaki, and Kurashiki!

 

Jenny: One of my favorite memories in Hyogo was going to Ono’s summer matsuri a week or two after arriving in Japan.  It was the first time to experience seeing the whole community together.  One of my favorite memories in Japan was going to Sapporo for the Yuki Matsuri.  The experience of sledding, eating corn and butter ramen, and soaking in the onsen in the falling snow with some of my closest friends was absolutely perfect!

 

What did you hope to gain doing JET? Did you?

Paula: Silly as it sounds, I hoped to gain some “resilience” in Japan – basically, I wanted to live on my own in a foreign country and deal with whatever challenges came my way. I also hoped to develop some teaching skills and gain an understanding of Japanese society and culture. Despite some inevitable hiccups along the way, I think I was successful in meeting all of these goals.

 

Liz: I joined JET hoping to improve my Japanese and gain work experience in an international work environment. Yes, I feel I’ve come away from JET with all of that and more!

 

Paula, you are currently at graduate school, how did you find balancing the application process with your work in Japan?

Paula: I found it difficult to work on applications (especially essays) after a full day at school, so I ended up doing most of them on weekends. Unfortunately that meant missing out on some social events. Still, all in all I’m happy with how things turned out, and it was a relief to know what I’d be doing after JET while I was still in Japan.

 

Liz and Jenny, you were both applying for jobs whilst still in Japan, how did you find it? (Any advice) What success/difficulty did you have?

 

Liz: I’m glad I started my job search early because it gave me lots of practice writing cover letters, editing writing samples, contacting references, etc. From that mindset it was easy to kick it up a notch when I returned home. My advice would be to identify what you want out of the next year/two years/five years and pursue those goals wholeheartedly.

I think it can be difficult to keep your energy up after a few months of looking for a job. At those times it’s more important than ever to remain resilient.

 

Jenny: Putting the time in to apply for jobs can be tiring and somewhat frustrating, but the hours of researching really helps you become clear about what type of job you are looking for.  While applying to jobs, I would recommend creating or updating your LinkedIn profile.  Many of my friends were contacted, and then later hired, through this professional network.

 

Liz and Jenny, what did you do when you arrived back in the US when still looking for work? How did you feel?

Liz: In the first couple months of applying, I felt very impatient with the application and interview processes. It really helped once I relaxed my attitude and put less pressure on myself. Writing this at the end of a long job search, I can say I’m starting a permanent position in January— success!! It feels so rewarding when your hours of applying and interviewing pay off. For me, I think it really helped to accept that finding a job I am excited about would take a while.

 

Jenny: I spent most of my days searching for jobs and editing cover letters, which led to a lot of eyestrain and feeling a little defeated.  However with patience and resilience, after one month I was offered a job!

 

What are you doing now?

Paula: I’m in my first year of a master’s program in law and diplomacy at the Fletcher School at Tufts University in Boston.

 

Liz: I’m working short-term at the Washington D.C. JET Office processing applications to the 2014 Program. Working at the Embassy is a really valuable experience for me and I’m sure whatever follows will be too!

 

 

Jenny: I am a Schools Manager for an education technology company called EverFi, which provides innovative, web-based resources that focus on teaching students critical life skills. I work directly with school districts and teachers in the implementation of the programs.

 

Paula, how did you find it to go from teacher to student? Studying diplomacy, has your time spent living in Japan affected your attitude to the course?

Paula: I’ve found that I have a lot more empathy for teachers and try to complete my assignments in a way that will make it easier for them to evaluate my learning. My experience in Japan has given me another perspective from which to look at global events and processes and has strengthened my resolve to work in the public or non-profit sector.

 

Did you experience the dreaded reverse culture shock?

Paula: Yes! Initially, everything in America looked huge, and people seemed very, very direct and vocal about their opinions. I also bowed incessantly for about a month and still wave my hand in front of my face whenever anyone gives me a compliment.

 

Liz: No, not much. My family moved a lot growing up so I knew what differences to expect coming back to the U.S. I think it probably helped to have a gradual transition back.

 

Jenny: I didn’t necessarily experience reverse culture shock, but I did spend about 20 minutes at a gas station, trying to remember how to pump gas for the first time in a year!

 

How has the experience of living in Japan helped you?

Paula: My tolerance for being in awkward situations or situations where I don’t know what’s going on or what’s going to happen next has increased *tremendously*. I’m also more sympathetic to immigrants new to America, especially those struggling with English. In terms of practical skills, my public speaking ability has improved, which comes in handy for grad school presentations.

 

Liz: It has helped me immensely…It was very interesting to come to Japan right after university because I imagine that first year out of school you grow in leaps and bounds whatever job you work at. To have experienced that first year on my own in Japan is something I will always treasure.

 

 

Jenny: My experience living in Japan truly helped me discover a part of my own identity.  I gained a better perception and appreciation of where I had come from and was able to develop a better relationship with my grandmother.  Through this experience, I believe that I was able to encourage international understanding of different cultures not only within my high school, but also the Ono community, as well as promoting the importance of being proud of one’s own values.

 

What do you miss about Japan?

Paula: I miss teaching, I miss traveling, and most of all I miss all of the kind people I met in Japan.

 

Liz: I miss the people! I think the relationships you form working on JET are very special.

 

Jenny: It is an endless list.  I probably miss my friends and my students the most.  I miss how kind and thoughtful Japanese people are to others, the unbelievably reliable transportation and, of course, THE FOOD.

 

Do you have any advice for ALTs moving home?

Paula: Eat lots of your favorite Japanese food in Japan! It’s just not the same overseas.

 

Liz: I got some wonderful advice from a very dear friend when I moved back. She told me to make sure I invest time each week in something that I’ve always wanted to do, but never had the time to fit into my routine. Whether that’s dance, language lessons, joining a sports team, painting, I think supplementing your job search with an activity you love keeps you grounded and motivated.

 

Jenny: Absorb and experience as much as you can while you are in Japan.  While transitioning back home, take all the time you need to relax and settle in.