Jet Programme Series: Nihon: A home away from home - Neelam Ramkaran
2023/4/20
At the time of writing this, it has been almost a year since I’ve left Trinidad and Tobago on the JET program (time does rell fly). Before I left, my mother would often “joke” that I would not be coming back to my home country, to which I would laugh, because at the time those sentiments seemed silly. However, almost a year later, I’ve recontracted, and I now understand why she might have felt that way.
Coming to Japan has blessed me with a growing sense of individuality and independence that I could not achieve back home. I’ve been able to experiment with my self-expression, from the clothes that I wear, to the way that I decorate my apartment. I’m able to visit new places and experience new events. And if I feeling to pick up my hotfoot self, jump on a train and buss it for the weekend, I could do it. In the short time that I’ve been in Japan, I’ve already made trips to Nara, Osaka, Kyoto, Toyosato, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Fukui, and Fukuoka, as well as spots within Kobe.
I’m also proud to say that I’ve continued being the type of teacher that I’ve aspired to be. My kiddos have teasingly dubbed me “kawaii-sensei”, and they are never afraid to approach me for assistance with English, be it in or out of class. I’ve also maintained a friendly rapport with my colleagues, and have even participated in extra-curriculars with them. I attribute my success in this area to being open, always asking questions, lending a helping hand, and sharing my own culture (the Carnival poster that I made for my English board certainly piqued peoples’ curiosity)
I think that moving to Japan has definitely helped me achieve a sense of self. I’m more focused on what I want to achieve moving forward. As of now, I’ve participate in language exchanges with Japanese speakers, I have plans to take the JLPT exam, and I have been blessed with the opportunity of being a Kobe PR Ambassador. That being said, I do miss home through it all: Carnival tabanca hit hard this year, I get chest pain every time I see a picture of doubles, and I miss my friends and family at every step. Paired with that is the joy of learning a new language (even though Kanji might be the bane of my existence >_<), discovering a new culture, and slowly discovering things about myself and my new home.
JET Series: Kobe City - Nihon: A home away from home (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
Coming to Japan has blessed me with a growing sense of individuality and independence that I could not achieve back home. I’ve been able to experiment with my self-expression, from the clothes that I wear, to the way that I decorate my apartment. I’m able to visit new places and experience new events. And if I feeling to pick up my hotfoot self, jump on a train and buss it for the weekend, I could do it. In the short time that I’ve been in Japan, I’ve already made trips to Nara, Osaka, Kyoto, Toyosato, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Fukui, and Fukuoka, as well as spots within Kobe.
I’m also proud to say that I’ve continued being the type of teacher that I’ve aspired to be. My kiddos have teasingly dubbed me “kawaii-sensei”, and they are never afraid to approach me for assistance with English, be it in or out of class. I’ve also maintained a friendly rapport with my colleagues, and have even participated in extra-curriculars with them. I attribute my success in this area to being open, always asking questions, lending a helping hand, and sharing my own culture (the Carnival poster that I made for my English board certainly piqued peoples’ curiosity)
I think that moving to Japan has definitely helped me achieve a sense of self. I’m more focused on what I want to achieve moving forward. As of now, I’ve participate in language exchanges with Japanese speakers, I have plans to take the JLPT exam, and I have been blessed with the opportunity of being a Kobe PR Ambassador. That being said, I do miss home through it all: Carnival tabanca hit hard this year, I get chest pain every time I see a picture of doubles, and I miss my friends and family at every step. Paired with that is the joy of learning a new language (even though Kanji might be the bane of my existence >_<), discovering a new culture, and slowly discovering things about myself and my new home.
JET Series: Kobe City - Nihon: A home away from home (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives