JET Programme Series: My Next Chapter Starts Now! - Tanuja Ramkissoon
2023/8/24
From reading about adventures to starting my own!
The idea of moving half-way across the world might seem overwhelming at first. You’re moving away from everything and everyone you know to a country who’s language you’re not even fluent in. It’s normal to feel anxious, but when I think of Japan and the experiences that await me there, waves of excitement wash away that anxiety. This is something I’ve wanted. As someone who loves challenging themselves, I welcome the experience of starting life somewhere new with open arms. There’s only one thing left to say. Let the journey being.
Hello! My name is Tanuja Ramkissoon, a 25-year-old avid reader who grew up in the small village of Clarke Road, Penal. I occupied a lot of my developmental years with books. My love for reading expanded my world. It brought me knowledge, comfort, and curiosity. It introduced me to various countries, cultures, languages and the stories that originate from them. Reading was one of the main catalysts that prompted my interest in learning other languages. I didn’t want to just read the materials, I wanted to read it in its native language because no matter how hard to try to translate words accurately, the nuance is sometimes different.
I started learning Japanese due to this. I found it to be beautiful, both the sound of it and the ways you can express yourself in it. Not to mention the writing systems, which looked extremely difficult to master at first glance so naturally I had to attempt it. I continued my Japanese studies at the Centre of Language Learning at UWI, while pursing my BSc. in International Relations. Reading didn’t only spark my interests in language but in foreign affairs, specially in international diplomacy and integration.
I always knew I wanted to experience working abroad. I found it to be thrilling and would give me the opportunity to immerse myself in the society and culture of another country first-hand and expand my knowledge and perspective, which I think is necessary for the field of foreign affairs.
Before starting university, I had never heard of the JET program, but after seeing the pamphlets and doing further research into the program, I realized it was something I wanted to pursue, it was just a matter of when. The prospect of helping students learn English was appealing to me as I want those who learn English as a second language to enjoy it. Most people think learning languages is too difficult, but it can be enjoyable and the pay-off is definitely worth it. I was finally able to send in my application in 2022 and after that nerve-wrecking waiting period, here we are.
Before my placement information arrived, all I knew about Ehime Prefecture was that it sounded like a pretty name (which it is). Now I know that it’s a place known for their high-quality mikan that are sweet and delicious, the Dogo Onsen which is one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, their castles that I cannot wait to visit and their beautiful landscapes. There’re so many places I want explore when I get there. The prefecture seems like the perfect mix of modern and traditional architecture, and I look forward to immersing myself in all of it.
I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. And while I am nervous, I intend to apply myself to the best of my abilities, not only in the classroom when assisting with teaching English, but with the community. Partaking in intercultural exchanges, learning and experiencing as much as I can in the ‘Mikan Prefecture’, while sharing as much as I can about the vibrant kaleidoscope of culture that is Trinidad and Tobago. One page at a time, I will journey through my adventures as a JET in Japan.
JET Series: My Next Chapter Starts Now (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
The idea of moving half-way across the world might seem overwhelming at first. You’re moving away from everything and everyone you know to a country who’s language you’re not even fluent in. It’s normal to feel anxious, but when I think of Japan and the experiences that await me there, waves of excitement wash away that anxiety. This is something I’ve wanted. As someone who loves challenging themselves, I welcome the experience of starting life somewhere new with open arms. There’s only one thing left to say. Let the journey being.
Hello! My name is Tanuja Ramkissoon, a 25-year-old avid reader who grew up in the small village of Clarke Road, Penal. I occupied a lot of my developmental years with books. My love for reading expanded my world. It brought me knowledge, comfort, and curiosity. It introduced me to various countries, cultures, languages and the stories that originate from them. Reading was one of the main catalysts that prompted my interest in learning other languages. I didn’t want to just read the materials, I wanted to read it in its native language because no matter how hard to try to translate words accurately, the nuance is sometimes different.
I started learning Japanese due to this. I found it to be beautiful, both the sound of it and the ways you can express yourself in it. Not to mention the writing systems, which looked extremely difficult to master at first glance so naturally I had to attempt it. I continued my Japanese studies at the Centre of Language Learning at UWI, while pursing my BSc. in International Relations. Reading didn’t only spark my interests in language but in foreign affairs, specially in international diplomacy and integration.
I always knew I wanted to experience working abroad. I found it to be thrilling and would give me the opportunity to immerse myself in the society and culture of another country first-hand and expand my knowledge and perspective, which I think is necessary for the field of foreign affairs.
Before starting university, I had never heard of the JET program, but after seeing the pamphlets and doing further research into the program, I realized it was something I wanted to pursue, it was just a matter of when. The prospect of helping students learn English was appealing to me as I want those who learn English as a second language to enjoy it. Most people think learning languages is too difficult, but it can be enjoyable and the pay-off is definitely worth it. I was finally able to send in my application in 2022 and after that nerve-wrecking waiting period, here we are.
Before my placement information arrived, all I knew about Ehime Prefecture was that it sounded like a pretty name (which it is). Now I know that it’s a place known for their high-quality mikan that are sweet and delicious, the Dogo Onsen which is one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, their castles that I cannot wait to visit and their beautiful landscapes. There’re so many places I want explore when I get there. The prefecture seems like the perfect mix of modern and traditional architecture, and I look forward to immersing myself in all of it.
I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. And while I am nervous, I intend to apply myself to the best of my abilities, not only in the classroom when assisting with teaching English, but with the community. Partaking in intercultural exchanges, learning and experiencing as much as I can in the ‘Mikan Prefecture’, while sharing as much as I can about the vibrant kaleidoscope of culture that is Trinidad and Tobago. One page at a time, I will journey through my adventures as a JET in Japan.
JET Series: My Next Chapter Starts Now (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives