Jet Programme Series: Take off to Tokushima! - Alan Chan
2023/9/7
Jet Programme Series: Take off to Tokushima! - Alan Chan
I didn’t know what to do when Covid came and mashed up everything. I graduated from the UWI STA with a BA Double Major in Film Production and Environmental Science in 2020. Some of my peers were gravitating towards a Master’s Degree but I told myself not yet. I needed a break from schooling. I needed work experience, a challenge and a chance to see the world. Unemployment came about, then a job as a barista and subsequently, a leap of faith to apply to the JET Programme. The rest was history.
My earliest memory of being introduced to Japanese culture was watching Cyborg 009 on TV6 on Sunday mornings. I would sit in my pajamas on the couch with my breakfast watching all the cartoons with my little brother. As I write this, I think I’m going to rewatch the anime series, just for nostalgia’s sake. Yuh dig? As I grew older, I became a geographic fanatic obsessed with maps, travel and other countries. I like being outside, the dream of not having a monotonous 9-5 profession appealed to me. I am fascinated with earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons and Japan was always a case study. Therefore, watching documentaries on how the Japanese have adapted as well as continue to mitigate natural hazards and manage natural disasters intrigued me as Trinidad and Tobago could learn from the Japanese.
As a person who likes to be OUTSIDE and knock about, Tokushima City has nearly everything I need. It is next to the Pacific Ocean, has a warm and wet climate, mountains I can conquer, hiking trails I can follow and adventure watersports to partake in. A big plus is that Tokushima City is a massive bridge away from the Kansai Region cities of Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. I know the language is going to be the biggest barrier but I’m currently learning Japanese on Duolingo to prepare myself. I want that language experience and my general experience in Japan to challenge me, eat me up, chew me vigorously, spit me out and make me become more resilient, flexible, adaptable and open minded.
I don’t know what the future holds for me Post JET but I would very much like to get into a Master’s Programme. Perhaps in Film Producing? Possibly a MA in Global Environmental Studies from Sophia University on the MEXT Scholarship? Or continue teaching English? I just don’t know and I’ll leave it to the universe but one thing's for sure, I want to have an impact and transform Trinidad and Tobago to reach the potential it always has when I return.
I would like to show appreciation to my parents, Guimei and Wayne and my brother Scott for their unwavering support and patience. Additionally, I want to say thank you to Ambassador Matsubara, the JET Programme Coordinator Mr. Aleron Rajalal as well as the staff at the local Japanese Embassy, NTA travel agency, CLAIR and my colleagues at the Board of Education in Tokushima City and my Supervisors.
JET Series: Take off to Tokushima! (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
My earliest memory of being introduced to Japanese culture was watching Cyborg 009 on TV6 on Sunday mornings. I would sit in my pajamas on the couch with my breakfast watching all the cartoons with my little brother. As I write this, I think I’m going to rewatch the anime series, just for nostalgia’s sake. Yuh dig? As I grew older, I became a geographic fanatic obsessed with maps, travel and other countries. I like being outside, the dream of not having a monotonous 9-5 profession appealed to me. I am fascinated with earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons and Japan was always a case study. Therefore, watching documentaries on how the Japanese have adapted as well as continue to mitigate natural hazards and manage natural disasters intrigued me as Trinidad and Tobago could learn from the Japanese.
As a person who likes to be OUTSIDE and knock about, Tokushima City has nearly everything I need. It is next to the Pacific Ocean, has a warm and wet climate, mountains I can conquer, hiking trails I can follow and adventure watersports to partake in. A big plus is that Tokushima City is a massive bridge away from the Kansai Region cities of Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. I know the language is going to be the biggest barrier but I’m currently learning Japanese on Duolingo to prepare myself. I want that language experience and my general experience in Japan to challenge me, eat me up, chew me vigorously, spit me out and make me become more resilient, flexible, adaptable and open minded.
I don’t know what the future holds for me Post JET but I would very much like to get into a Master’s Programme. Perhaps in Film Producing? Possibly a MA in Global Environmental Studies from Sophia University on the MEXT Scholarship? Or continue teaching English? I just don’t know and I’ll leave it to the universe but one thing's for sure, I want to have an impact and transform Trinidad and Tobago to reach the potential it always has when I return.
I would like to show appreciation to my parents, Guimei and Wayne and my brother Scott for their unwavering support and patience. Additionally, I want to say thank you to Ambassador Matsubara, the JET Programme Coordinator Mr. Aleron Rajalal as well as the staff at the local Japanese Embassy, NTA travel agency, CLAIR and my colleagues at the Board of Education in Tokushima City and my Supervisors.
JET Series: Take off to Tokushima! (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives