Jet Programme Series: Why JET? - Tasheira Khan
2022/1/4
Jet Programme Series: Why JET? - Tasheira Khan
Konnichiwa! My name is Tasheira Khan. I am 26 years old and I am from Gran Couva, Trinidad. I possess a BA in English Language and Literature with Education (major) at The University of the West Indies (UWI).
As a 2021 JET Participant, I wanted to write this piece explaining why I applied to the programme. Hopefully, it can encourage others to apply as well. At its core, the JET Programme is a cultural exchange. It gives persons the opportunity to fully engage themselves in a once in a lifetime cultural ambassadorship and in doing so, provides great fundamental growth to its participants. The JET Programme to me represents so much more than just visiting a new country. It is an opportunity to push myself out of comfort zones and boundaries that I have set for myself by saying yes to new opportunities and figuring out how to rely on myself more. There is no one reason why I would choose to visit Japan. It is a multifaceted society where there is a simultaneous balance that exists in many aspects of their culture, food and experiences and this opportunity gives me the chance to experience these things first-hand.
A big part of applying for this programme was about me confronting my comfort zones that I’ve known my entire life. Growing up in a typical West Indian home, there are often moments when you don’t necessarily feel like you’re ‘grown up’ enough. Having the chance to move to another country and rely only on myself was a challenge I deeply wanted to explore. Being my own safety net and building resilience along the way was a huge motivating factor to move to Japan. The experiences and intrinsic growth you can get from this programme are surmountable and invaluable to your character. There are many aspects that come along with participation of course, but for me, character development was one of the major motivations. Although I am leaving behind relationships, family that endlessly support me and other promising opportunities, I feel like I have an obligation to myself to explore this chapter because I have so much to gain from it.
Another factor that made me want to go to Japan are the culinary aspects. Food plays an extremely important role in my life. It always represented more than a meal but rather the togetherness of family. Every aspect of food signifies something personal to me from the bonding and learning during preparation to the conversations while eating. In Japan, food is seen as a national pastime and represents more than just dining. It showcases socializing and sharing culture and traditions as strong details of everyday life. Food is treated as an art and is presented as more than just something to eat but instead, as a representation of colour and traditional technique. Even in modern Japan, food remains traditional and is a way of preserving culture and understanding people and cultural identity. My JET experience will definitely include trying new foods and learning more about the significance behind a meal. The aspects of dining and togetherness are actually wholesome to me and act as a way to remember home and the similarities I also share in my own kitchen.
The JET programme itself aims to improve the foreign interaction both linguistically and culturally at communal levels. It gives international persons the opportunity to experience an ‘authentic’ Japan. This means placements in many cities outside of the tourist perceived urbanized ones, allowing you to fully absorb yourself in the many multifaceted sides that Japan has to offer. Japan is a country that does not resist scale in terms of its growing improvements and initiatives as exhibited by its expanding innovation and creation. Nor does it intend to alter its traditions that keep it so effortlessly functional and dynamic. The JET Programme is a great opportunity afforded to smaller participating countries like my own and is a fantastic avenue for engagement. That to me means seeing other cultures and experiencing brand new things in a way not otherwise accessible.
Saying there are a couple aspects to want to pursue this opportunity is an understatement. There are so many prospects that can come from the JET Programme and to me, the hardest part could be deciding which opportunity you end up loving the most. While moving so far away from home can be intimidating, I look forward to the challenge of taking a leap of faith and taking a chance on myself.
JET Series: Why JET? (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
As a 2021 JET Participant, I wanted to write this piece explaining why I applied to the programme. Hopefully, it can encourage others to apply as well. At its core, the JET Programme is a cultural exchange. It gives persons the opportunity to fully engage themselves in a once in a lifetime cultural ambassadorship and in doing so, provides great fundamental growth to its participants. The JET Programme to me represents so much more than just visiting a new country. It is an opportunity to push myself out of comfort zones and boundaries that I have set for myself by saying yes to new opportunities and figuring out how to rely on myself more. There is no one reason why I would choose to visit Japan. It is a multifaceted society where there is a simultaneous balance that exists in many aspects of their culture, food and experiences and this opportunity gives me the chance to experience these things first-hand.
A big part of applying for this programme was about me confronting my comfort zones that I’ve known my entire life. Growing up in a typical West Indian home, there are often moments when you don’t necessarily feel like you’re ‘grown up’ enough. Having the chance to move to another country and rely only on myself was a challenge I deeply wanted to explore. Being my own safety net and building resilience along the way was a huge motivating factor to move to Japan. The experiences and intrinsic growth you can get from this programme are surmountable and invaluable to your character. There are many aspects that come along with participation of course, but for me, character development was one of the major motivations. Although I am leaving behind relationships, family that endlessly support me and other promising opportunities, I feel like I have an obligation to myself to explore this chapter because I have so much to gain from it.
Another factor that made me want to go to Japan are the culinary aspects. Food plays an extremely important role in my life. It always represented more than a meal but rather the togetherness of family. Every aspect of food signifies something personal to me from the bonding and learning during preparation to the conversations while eating. In Japan, food is seen as a national pastime and represents more than just dining. It showcases socializing and sharing culture and traditions as strong details of everyday life. Food is treated as an art and is presented as more than just something to eat but instead, as a representation of colour and traditional technique. Even in modern Japan, food remains traditional and is a way of preserving culture and understanding people and cultural identity. My JET experience will definitely include trying new foods and learning more about the significance behind a meal. The aspects of dining and togetherness are actually wholesome to me and act as a way to remember home and the similarities I also share in my own kitchen.
The JET programme itself aims to improve the foreign interaction both linguistically and culturally at communal levels. It gives international persons the opportunity to experience an ‘authentic’ Japan. This means placements in many cities outside of the tourist perceived urbanized ones, allowing you to fully absorb yourself in the many multifaceted sides that Japan has to offer. Japan is a country that does not resist scale in terms of its growing improvements and initiatives as exhibited by its expanding innovation and creation. Nor does it intend to alter its traditions that keep it so effortlessly functional and dynamic. The JET Programme is a great opportunity afforded to smaller participating countries like my own and is a fantastic avenue for engagement. That to me means seeing other cultures and experiencing brand new things in a way not otherwise accessible.
Saying there are a couple aspects to want to pursue this opportunity is an understatement. There are so many prospects that can come from the JET Programme and to me, the hardest part could be deciding which opportunity you end up loving the most. While moving so far away from home can be intimidating, I look forward to the challenge of taking a leap of faith and taking a chance on myself.
JET Series: Why JET? (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives