Jet Programme Series: Much to See with More to Come – Yasha Hanoomansingh
2023/3/17
Jet Programme Series: Much to See with More to Come – Yasha Hanoomansingh
In August 2022, I left everything I knew behind and moved to Japan.
It was a big decision, even bigger than I realized at the time, and couldn’t even fathom then how life would be once I got here. Now, seven months later, I have an idea. Kind of.
What I mean is, for the most part, I’ve grown accustomed to life here. The ins and outs of public etiquette, rules of the road (they drive on the left here! An easy transition compared to the stories I’ve heard from American colleagues), and interacting with conbini attendants.
The first real surprising thing about my move was how much I actually love teaching. Prior to the JET Programme, I didn’t have any formal teaching experience, and was admittedly a little nervous to start, regardless of my qualifications in communications and the English language. The immediate warmth that I received from my very first day at work was a big comfort, and getting to know my students was one of my most useful tools in helping my initial homesickness. Eventually, although still missing home, I became excited to come to work each day, to teach alongside my amazing JTEs, learning so much from them and the students alike. Finding new ways to make learning fun for my wonderful kids became an enriching challenge, my goal being not only to help them learn, but to have fun with them, too. You would think high schoolers would have little interest in games with stickers for prizes. Not mine! Getting to work with younger students is always lots of fun, too. Whether it’s at my visiting school or in English camps, I always have a good time playing English games and chatting with them. Building a relationship with everyone around me, both colleagues and student body, was always one of my main goals from the moment I even considered applying to be a teacher. So, when my coworkers remember my birthday and give me snacks, or when students hail me out with a big, happy, “YASHA-SENSEI!” in the halls, I feel good. It makes my day.
I actually surprised myself, too, when Divali time rolled around in October last year. It was my first time being away from home, of course, so I wanted to celebrate in my own little way to keep up my family traditions. So, I made barfi with locally sourced ingredients (it was a battle but I survived!) and wore a sari to work on Divali day. I did my own mehendi and shared my homemade barfi with my coworkers. It was fun seeing their reactions, not only to my traditional wear, but also to see how much they loved the mithai! I did a little explanatory note in Japanese so that everyone could know what it was made of, which everyone was quite appreciative of. Looking back, I don’t know what possessed me to pack a sari in my suitcase when I was leaving home, but clearly, it came in handy! At the very least, I wasn’t too homesick on Divali when my apartment smelled of ginger. Even scrubbing every inch until my back hurt gave me some comfort.
Outside of work, in my time here so far, I’ve done a fair bit of travelling. Naturally, I began by exploring my city, which is full of nature and beautiful traditional architecture. It makes for quite the view taking a walk through town, whatever the destination may be. Right nearby my apartment, there’s a Shinto shrine that I visited during my first week of the move. There, I met two friendly cats, one of whom is awfully vocal, who love to greet me and escort me on my way into the mountain, and back down the steps when I’m on my way out. I’ve seen them both every time since then. I like to call them my first friends I made in the town. They even kept me company on my 25th birthday, which I spent quietly by the shrine and walking around town. In Hinduism, we believe that God resides in all living things. On my first visit to the shrine, feeling lonely and a little bit lost, I’d like to think that the mysterious appearance of these two friendly creatures out of nowhere was a divine, turning continuous reminder that I would be okay. Or maybe they lived in a nearby house and could feel the vibes of a sad foreigner who needed them. But the former is much more poetic.
Everyday feels like an adventure when you go to a new country. I enjoy all the new sights on each journey, whether it be a long drive to Nagasu to see my first beach since I left home, or a bustling train ride to Fukuoka to experience the city teeming with life - karaoke houses and arcades full of laughter and the sound of city pop. I took the ferry to Nagasaki, too, only with intent to see the lantern festival, but quickly learned that on every corner there is a sight to behold; a tragic reminder of the fragility of life and that no one is immune to the venomous nature of a thirst for power. A melancholy scent of hope in the flowers blooming in the cracks surrounding Ground Zero. Spending a winter weekend in the mountains of Aso and waking up to a light blanket of snow outside on Christmas morning was again, a small comfort in being away from home for the holidays. With each new experience, I become more grateful for the opportunity to explore this beautiful place.
The sakura is starting to bloom now. I recently watched my oldest students graduate and things seem to be coming full circle as I approach a full year since I’ve been here. With so much still to see, I wonder what else is in store. What more will I see? What else will I learn? Only one thing is absolute: it will remain with me, always. After all, in the words of Spirited Away’s Zeniba, “nothing that happens is ever forgotten, even if you can’t remember it.”
JET Series: Much to See with More to Come (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
It was a big decision, even bigger than I realized at the time, and couldn’t even fathom then how life would be once I got here. Now, seven months later, I have an idea. Kind of.
What I mean is, for the most part, I’ve grown accustomed to life here. The ins and outs of public etiquette, rules of the road (they drive on the left here! An easy transition compared to the stories I’ve heard from American colleagues), and interacting with conbini attendants.
The first real surprising thing about my move was how much I actually love teaching. Prior to the JET Programme, I didn’t have any formal teaching experience, and was admittedly a little nervous to start, regardless of my qualifications in communications and the English language. The immediate warmth that I received from my very first day at work was a big comfort, and getting to know my students was one of my most useful tools in helping my initial homesickness. Eventually, although still missing home, I became excited to come to work each day, to teach alongside my amazing JTEs, learning so much from them and the students alike. Finding new ways to make learning fun for my wonderful kids became an enriching challenge, my goal being not only to help them learn, but to have fun with them, too. You would think high schoolers would have little interest in games with stickers for prizes. Not mine! Getting to work with younger students is always lots of fun, too. Whether it’s at my visiting school or in English camps, I always have a good time playing English games and chatting with them. Building a relationship with everyone around me, both colleagues and student body, was always one of my main goals from the moment I even considered applying to be a teacher. So, when my coworkers remember my birthday and give me snacks, or when students hail me out with a big, happy, “YASHA-SENSEI!” in the halls, I feel good. It makes my day.
I actually surprised myself, too, when Divali time rolled around in October last year. It was my first time being away from home, of course, so I wanted to celebrate in my own little way to keep up my family traditions. So, I made barfi with locally sourced ingredients (it was a battle but I survived!) and wore a sari to work on Divali day. I did my own mehendi and shared my homemade barfi with my coworkers. It was fun seeing their reactions, not only to my traditional wear, but also to see how much they loved the mithai! I did a little explanatory note in Japanese so that everyone could know what it was made of, which everyone was quite appreciative of. Looking back, I don’t know what possessed me to pack a sari in my suitcase when I was leaving home, but clearly, it came in handy! At the very least, I wasn’t too homesick on Divali when my apartment smelled of ginger. Even scrubbing every inch until my back hurt gave me some comfort.
Outside of work, in my time here so far, I’ve done a fair bit of travelling. Naturally, I began by exploring my city, which is full of nature and beautiful traditional architecture. It makes for quite the view taking a walk through town, whatever the destination may be. Right nearby my apartment, there’s a Shinto shrine that I visited during my first week of the move. There, I met two friendly cats, one of whom is awfully vocal, who love to greet me and escort me on my way into the mountain, and back down the steps when I’m on my way out. I’ve seen them both every time since then. I like to call them my first friends I made in the town. They even kept me company on my 25th birthday, which I spent quietly by the shrine and walking around town. In Hinduism, we believe that God resides in all living things. On my first visit to the shrine, feeling lonely and a little bit lost, I’d like to think that the mysterious appearance of these two friendly creatures out of nowhere was a divine, turning continuous reminder that I would be okay. Or maybe they lived in a nearby house and could feel the vibes of a sad foreigner who needed them. But the former is much more poetic.
Everyday feels like an adventure when you go to a new country. I enjoy all the new sights on each journey, whether it be a long drive to Nagasu to see my first beach since I left home, or a bustling train ride to Fukuoka to experience the city teeming with life - karaoke houses and arcades full of laughter and the sound of city pop. I took the ferry to Nagasaki, too, only with intent to see the lantern festival, but quickly learned that on every corner there is a sight to behold; a tragic reminder of the fragility of life and that no one is immune to the venomous nature of a thirst for power. A melancholy scent of hope in the flowers blooming in the cracks surrounding Ground Zero. Spending a winter weekend in the mountains of Aso and waking up to a light blanket of snow outside on Christmas morning was again, a small comfort in being away from home for the holidays. With each new experience, I become more grateful for the opportunity to explore this beautiful place.
The sakura is starting to bloom now. I recently watched my oldest students graduate and things seem to be coming full circle as I approach a full year since I’ve been here. With so much still to see, I wonder what else is in store. What more will I see? What else will I learn? Only one thing is absolute: it will remain with me, always. After all, in the words of Spirited Away’s Zeniba, “nothing that happens is ever forgotten, even if you can’t remember it.”
JET Series: Much to See with More to Come (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives