Chapter 1 Fire  Sometime last week, the birds in the attic started whispering.  They want a new leader but can’t decide if the Mohawk or Fireflight is preferable. I told them I endorsed the Mohawk so I think they will choose the other. On my way down from their congress, I stopped to…
Working as an ALT, especially during the summer holidays, can wage war on your senses. Often, we have nothing, or less, to do. It can be so easy to slip into the abyss that is the internet, wasting countless hours checking Facebook, reddit, tumblr, imgur, and many more. For those who want to feel…
Whether for a last minute summer getaway or the upcoming “Silver Week†in September, Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei, is a spectacular destination for those looking to travel outside of Japan. With a rich history including European, Chinese, and Japanese settlement, visitors can experience a unique blend of culture and some fantastic cultural sites….
 Laugh, cry, use acronyms like SMH, WTF, LOL, and FML all while reading these JET experiences. Welcome to the Monkey House  So it’s official, if you change the rules of kings cup/box head and add candy and tokens to the mix …it becomes a pretty badass English game! And here I was…
In German, it’s called “Fernwehâ€Â (lit: far away pain). It’s the sense of wanting to be anywhere but where you actually are. Think of it as inverted homesickness. Though the ragged poverty of the English language prevents us from expressing this emotion, we have all certainly experienced it. That slight sinking feeling; knots in the stomach…
It’s that time again (as you have surely figured out by now from all the other articles in this month’s issue) to say goodbye to those who have called Japan home for the past few years. Find out what’s in store for some JETs leaving and make sure to make a list of the memories…
You’re probably familiar with the wonderful beverage that is umeshu, but have you heard of ume juice before? It’s basically a less sweet, non-alcoholic version of umeshu and makes for a super refreshing drink, especially in the sweltering summer heat. Like umeshu, it is very simple to make and the homemade version is a lot…
Saturday the 23rd of May marked this year’s annual Biwa boat cruise and what a delight it was. We set sail at dusk in the balmy evening aboard the Michigan paddle steamer on Lake Biwa. Truly picturesque. First a group-picture at the port that your author only just managed to arrive in time for…
 “Oh I almost forgot to tell you, today…†Who hasn’t started a sentence using these exact words during their time on the JET program? Facing situations that most of our friends and family back home would simply find odd or unbelievable has in many ways become routine for us here in Japan. However,…