JET Programme Series: Motoyama-cho, Kochi Prefecture - Adanna Simon

I remember sitting at home mid- June into July, worrying where I would be placed and whether it would be a good fit. Now I walk through the town of Motoyama and sigh in relief as I now call it my home. Motoyama, is a small town in Nagaoka District, Kochi Prefecture, of the Shikoku Island, and located in the southern region of Japan. Some would say I live in the inaka, the Japanese word for the countryside, amongst the trees, mountains and the beautiful Yoshino river. The residences of Motoyama are relaxed and family oriented. As such the town hosts family events from time to time, such as Motoyama Town Festivals (Motoyama Cho Min Sai) on August 10th, where there is food, music and fireworks that ring throughout the mountains. This friendly little town houses several café`s such as Mississippi (one of my favorites as the owner took the time to create an artistic view of African Culture/History), Joki`s Coffee (a very classy café that has delicious desserts such as my favorite Irish Coffee).
 

However, Kochi, the capital is where you would find all the excitement. My first weekend in Kochi city granted me the blessing of meeting my predecessor who took me to Kochi`s famous Hajime market, where fast food, market, small trinkets and alcohol resided alongside each other in perfect harmony. There are bars and restaurants surrounding an open floor layout, where you can meet anyone willing to share a table and a couple of drinks with you for the night. The excitement on a Friday night from this amazing place was enough to encourage me to explore more of my area. Walking a few blocks from Hajime Market, we spotted a fantastic area to watch the fireworks, the opening ceremony of Kochi`s famous festival; the Yosakoi, which reminded me of Trinidad and Tobago`s Carnival season. There were trucks with music, people dressed in costumes dancing in the streets of Kochi, divided into large groups, all with their own style of attire and dance routine.
 

There is a saying, once you have lived in Kochi, you are family. This saying was greatly expressed by my co-workers willing to help me get acclimated to my new environment. And after two months of living in Motoyama, it feels as if I had been here all along. The community has welcomed me with open arms, and have included me in several events that I may have taken for granted as a child. My schools are amazing. The length they go to ensure the education of the students continues to baffle me. They take into consideration how subjects are taught and encourage sportsmanship which cultivates team work and continuous development, all of which is needed to create a well-rounded individual. The teachers encourage the students and also each other to do their best. That type of work environment continues to foster new ideas and because of this, I feel comfortable to explore my capabilities to develop my skillset as a teacher. Whist living here, I have been constantly engaged in activities that foster conversation among villagers of Motoyama. I have conducted several English Clubs, attended a town science club and presented to my class and teachers, Trinidad and Tobago, showcasing our music, money, people, traditions, and environment. The looks on their faces when they see Carnival, our vast diversity of people or hearing our music was priceless. They were fascinated by our Ole Mass, National Birds and the décor of our money, which I brought with me to showcase. Ironically, you would say Motoyama is a bit similar to home, as family come first, and enjoying life by living in the moment comes second.
 

During days off, I have been to neighboring prefectures and towns, all of which entertained my love for shopping, eating and singing karaoke. I had the pleasure of not only driving along the high mountains of Motoyama, but meeting farmers, that resided there. I picnicked by rivers, watched fireworks on rooftops, visited a cat café, tasted octopus, ate pork ramen with Naruto on top and rode a train for the first time. My life has had a lot of first times since I came to Japan and I would forever be grateful for this opportunity.


JET Series: Motoyama-cho, Kochi Prefecture (Japanese Embassy Facebook)


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