JET Programme Series: The Magic of Growing Mushrooms - Apphia Pereira

Like mushrooms, new experiences come in clusters. It is important to know that as I began my journey in Japan, I had one expectation – to try new things. Being placed in the smallest town in the Ehime Prefecture was one of these things because living in the “inaka” of Matsuno versus the hustle and bustle of Port of Spain, besides being in the middle of a land where I barely spoke the language, was definitely something foreign. Though accessibility to “worldly things” isn’t as easy there is no lack of experience in this town.
 
Which brings us to my mini adventure of the magic of mushrooms. You see, my placement in Matsuno Junior High School has allowed me to follow the amazing journey of the growth of mushrooms, shiitake to be exact. I have for the past year engaged in all the stages of its process albeit in reverse order.
 
First you have to make yourself a little uncomfortable; just like drilling holes in logs and compressing the mushroom spores into a small cone to fit into the new created home. Second you have to move, which we did with the new mushroom homes where we arranged the logs into a crisscross fence. Next you wet it; drown yourself in culture and social experiences. Then you give yourself and the mushrooms time to grow. Finally you bloom!
 
Exposing myself to the culture and activities of this country has allowed me to also grow.
To me, the city girl, this experience was as fascinating and as magical as the mushrooms themselves. I would have never gotten to experience this if it weren’t for my placement and my desire to explore the world. Japan provides just that, a cluster of experiences that consistently follow each other. 
 


JET Programme Series: The Magic of Growing Mushrooms (Japanese Embassy Facebook)


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