JET Programme Series: My Beginnings in the Inaka - Rebecca A.
2023/1/16
JET Programme Series: My Beginnings in the Inaka - Rebecca A.
My name is Rebecca A. I majored in Biology at university, and I am passionate about the environment and animals. My interests include creating art either through painting, drawing or designing jewelry. As a Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) applicant, I was not a ‘freshly out of school’ but I have been persistent, persevered and now I am an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) for the JET Programme in Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan.
When I got the call saying I got an interview, I was ecstatic but in quarantine, with brain fog and my thoughts were quite muddled. After the interview, thoughts about how I was getting older, my lifelong goals and I was unsure if taking a leap and moving to Japan was truly the right decision. In the end I remembered my ‘New Year Resolution’ for the year 2020 “You only live once”. The I realization dawned on me that even though it felt like I had lost time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was causing me to limit myself from progressing further. I decided to do what would make me feel fulfilled and I concluded that I would pursue this dream I had since I was in secondary school.
I have always wanted to experience the culture and scenery of Japan. As a teenager, my interest in Japan bloomed and I learned about the JET Programme. In the time leading to my departure, I dabbled in tutoring a variety of subjects with various types of students and I even substituted for a term. Ultimately I hope to learn more about teaching and education while in Japan and also about environmental protection and conservation strategies. Being placed in a Senior High School, I thought it was the perfect placement since it was at this age when I decided I wanted to visit Japan. Hopefully I can adequately share Trinidad and Tobago’s culture so that my students may want to see it for themselves one day.
The area I am in is considered the countryside, “inaka” in Japanese, so I was excited to immerse myself in the natural wonders of this prefecture known for places like Mount Aso, Kumamoto castle, Suizenji garden, and produce like sweet potatoes, strawberries and watermelons (yum!). So far I have explored my neighborhood, a little of Kumamoto City and the surrounding towns. I’ve met some interesting people, cute dogs and friendly cats. Kumamoto is also the home of the lifesized, bronze “One Piece” statues and I have visited many of them
Teaching in a co-ed highschool has been interesting so far. My school is known for their “soccer” team and which means there are many soccer players in my classes, as such I usually tailor or include things to their interests. On the other hand my school also has students that specialize in art which is very fun for them and I since they love drawing for me. Both art and sport specialty students are usually in one class. Many students regardless of specialty find joy in drawing though so I have included it in some of my worksheets.
Since I am in the countryside it has not very easy to experience many festivals and traditions just yet. I have luckily been able to see and experience some things but I am unable to share the photos for privacy reasons. Due to COVID-19 many people keep to their families or stay at home. That was not the case for New Year's Day though, many people went to shrines to pray and receive their fortunes for the new year. On New Year’s Eve night I spent the time with my friends from America and Thailand and ate a special New Year’s Japanese bento. I hope to experience and learn even more in the coming year! Thank you for reading!
JET Series: My Beginnings in the Inaka (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
When I got the call saying I got an interview, I was ecstatic but in quarantine, with brain fog and my thoughts were quite muddled. After the interview, thoughts about how I was getting older, my lifelong goals and I was unsure if taking a leap and moving to Japan was truly the right decision. In the end I remembered my ‘New Year Resolution’ for the year 2020 “You only live once”. The I realization dawned on me that even though it felt like I had lost time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was causing me to limit myself from progressing further. I decided to do what would make me feel fulfilled and I concluded that I would pursue this dream I had since I was in secondary school.
I have always wanted to experience the culture and scenery of Japan. As a teenager, my interest in Japan bloomed and I learned about the JET Programme. In the time leading to my departure, I dabbled in tutoring a variety of subjects with various types of students and I even substituted for a term. Ultimately I hope to learn more about teaching and education while in Japan and also about environmental protection and conservation strategies. Being placed in a Senior High School, I thought it was the perfect placement since it was at this age when I decided I wanted to visit Japan. Hopefully I can adequately share Trinidad and Tobago’s culture so that my students may want to see it for themselves one day.
The area I am in is considered the countryside, “inaka” in Japanese, so I was excited to immerse myself in the natural wonders of this prefecture known for places like Mount Aso, Kumamoto castle, Suizenji garden, and produce like sweet potatoes, strawberries and watermelons (yum!). So far I have explored my neighborhood, a little of Kumamoto City and the surrounding towns. I’ve met some interesting people, cute dogs and friendly cats. Kumamoto is also the home of the lifesized, bronze “One Piece” statues and I have visited many of them
Teaching in a co-ed highschool has been interesting so far. My school is known for their “soccer” team and which means there are many soccer players in my classes, as such I usually tailor or include things to their interests. On the other hand my school also has students that specialize in art which is very fun for them and I since they love drawing for me. Both art and sport specialty students are usually in one class. Many students regardless of specialty find joy in drawing though so I have included it in some of my worksheets.
Since I am in the countryside it has not very easy to experience many festivals and traditions just yet. I have luckily been able to see and experience some things but I am unable to share the photos for privacy reasons. Due to COVID-19 many people keep to their families or stay at home. That was not the case for New Year's Day though, many people went to shrines to pray and receive their fortunes for the new year. On New Year’s Eve night I spent the time with my friends from America and Thailand and ate a special New Year’s Japanese bento. I hope to experience and learn even more in the coming year! Thank you for reading!
JET Series: My Beginnings in the Inaka (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives