JET Programme Series: Konnichiwa from Tokyo! - Krizia Fabien
2022/10/21
It has already been 9 months living in Tokyo and I would admit that I am in a bit of denial that in a few months, it`s officially one year living in Japan. For some, 9 months might seem like a long time while others still say that this is just the beginning of life in Japan. As I reflect on the time that I have spent here as a Tokyo JET, I am reminded that seasons change and time goes by so we should always try to enjoy the little things, appreciate people, and embrace all of the learning opportunities that we have.
What have I done over the past 9 months?
Keeping in touch with family and friends, being productive and maintaining a positive and enthusiastic attitude to learn and travel to new places have basically kept me occupied enough to eliminate the feelings that come with homesickness and culture shock. My current focus is to participate in social activities that allow me to meet new people and build friendships. Thanks to the Inagi City Hall, people from the community can volunteer to be hosts for our town activities so I`ve had the opportunity to participate in some events, meet people who live in the area and even share some things about my country with them.
Apart from that, I was able to travel to places such as Kyoto, Osaka and Okinawa and visit some other prefectures like Yamanashi, Kanagawa, Shizuoka and Chiba. I`ve particularly enjoyed Japan`s popular flower festivals, visits to temples and some events such as the Bon- Odori summer festival, Tanabata, samurai show, sumo tournament and the annual Yokohama steelpan fest. I was very excited to take some of my international friends to listen to live steelpan music and to try some of Trinidad and Tobago`s local cuisine at the event. I was also invited to be the host of an international cooking party where I had the opportunity to introduce Trinidad and Tobago`s culture by sharing recipes of local cuisine and even prepare some foods for the members to try.
Realistically, I cannot say that there has been any major advancement in my English teaching experience from my first month until now, but my school has definitely been successful in introducing some new English classes and activities which are facilitated by the JETS. Sometimes, teachers incorporate cultural topics and ideas into our daily lessons which give students the chance to learn more about International life. I am surely excited to participate in upcoming events and to experience autumn in Tokyo. A special thanks to my new Tokyo friends for capturing some of my best moments in Japan with their great photography.
JET Series: Konnichiwa from Tokyo (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
What have I done over the past 9 months?
Keeping in touch with family and friends, being productive and maintaining a positive and enthusiastic attitude to learn and travel to new places have basically kept me occupied enough to eliminate the feelings that come with homesickness and culture shock. My current focus is to participate in social activities that allow me to meet new people and build friendships. Thanks to the Inagi City Hall, people from the community can volunteer to be hosts for our town activities so I`ve had the opportunity to participate in some events, meet people who live in the area and even share some things about my country with them.
Apart from that, I was able to travel to places such as Kyoto, Osaka and Okinawa and visit some other prefectures like Yamanashi, Kanagawa, Shizuoka and Chiba. I`ve particularly enjoyed Japan`s popular flower festivals, visits to temples and some events such as the Bon- Odori summer festival, Tanabata, samurai show, sumo tournament and the annual Yokohama steelpan fest. I was very excited to take some of my international friends to listen to live steelpan music and to try some of Trinidad and Tobago`s local cuisine at the event. I was also invited to be the host of an international cooking party where I had the opportunity to introduce Trinidad and Tobago`s culture by sharing recipes of local cuisine and even prepare some foods for the members to try.
Realistically, I cannot say that there has been any major advancement in my English teaching experience from my first month until now, but my school has definitely been successful in introducing some new English classes and activities which are facilitated by the JETS. Sometimes, teachers incorporate cultural topics and ideas into our daily lessons which give students the chance to learn more about International life. I am surely excited to participate in upcoming events and to experience autumn in Tokyo. A special thanks to my new Tokyo friends for capturing some of my best moments in Japan with their great photography.
JET Series: Konnichiwa from Tokyo (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives