Jet Programme Series: Sarani Mukō E! (Go Beyond!) - Eden Aqui
2023/9/20
Jet Programme Series: Sarani Mukō E! (Go Beyond!) - Eden Aqui
Howdies, my name is Eden Aqui and I may be the most blessed 26 year old. One of my many dreams has always been to go to Japan, I had no idea when or how, but I knew come hell or high water, I was going. This origin story lies in a little 3 year old girl dancing to the opening song of Samurai X, which her big brother watched. I was none the wiser as to the content of the show, all I knew was that I loved the pretty cherry blossoms, thought that samurai were beyond cool and the architecture and overall feel of Japan was ethereal.
This adoration only amplified with time. I joined Judo and Dragon Boat Racing in Secondary school, ate a genuinely unhealthy amount of ramen, learnt to use chopsticks, watched many “Kung fu” movies with my daddy and brother and listened to Japanese music to get closer to Asian culture. Tie that in with my family’s love of the orient and asian ancestry, and you make for a complete Japanese ‘otaku’.
I first learnt of the JET programme in secondary school and it has been ensconced in my subconscious ever since. I went on to pursue my Bachelor’s in Biochemistry in UWI Cave Hill, Barbados, then began working back home. For a while I had seemed to veer off the track of said dream, but when Covid struck, I regained the time to mull over my thoughts and that’s when I mustered the courage and effort to apply.
Alas, no great story is without its tragedy. I was unsuccessful in my application and absolutely mortified, it was as if all my hard work was for naught. I graduated at the top of my Faculty of Science and Technology at UWI, obtained my TEFL certificate, taught at biannual children camps for over 6 years and have always pushed myself to the very limit. Yet I was clearly inadequate, I sincerely considered calling it quits on my dream, maybe Japan was not for me after all.
It took very kind, caring words from many friends and constant nagging, I mean advice from my mother to convince me to try again. After a trip into the abyss of my mind, I recovered anew. I took inspiration from one of my favourite anime quotes, “sarani mukō e (go beyond), plus ultra!”, to self-improve! I got my Diploma in Japanese Language and secured a job in Barbados at a lovely school called Beyond the Box Education, where I taught a plethora of subjects to children, all of whom have grown near and dear to my heart.
With these new credentials I applied again, giving our story its happy ending. Through copious trials I have learnt that where there is a will, there is a way, that with consistent hard work and an aim, anything is possible, that God promises us beauty from ashes, that everything is for a reason and you should never give up, GANBARE! I would recommend to anyone with a glimmer of hope for a journey to Japan to apply and would like to thank God, my family, friends, all of the kind souls at the Embassy of Japan, my Board of Education and everyone else along the way for their love and support. Stay tuned for the highly anticipated 2nd installment - Adventures in Hiroshima - my soon to be new home!
JET Series: Sarani Muko E! (Go Beyond) (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
This adoration only amplified with time. I joined Judo and Dragon Boat Racing in Secondary school, ate a genuinely unhealthy amount of ramen, learnt to use chopsticks, watched many “Kung fu” movies with my daddy and brother and listened to Japanese music to get closer to Asian culture. Tie that in with my family’s love of the orient and asian ancestry, and you make for a complete Japanese ‘otaku’.
I first learnt of the JET programme in secondary school and it has been ensconced in my subconscious ever since. I went on to pursue my Bachelor’s in Biochemistry in UWI Cave Hill, Barbados, then began working back home. For a while I had seemed to veer off the track of said dream, but when Covid struck, I regained the time to mull over my thoughts and that’s when I mustered the courage and effort to apply.
Alas, no great story is without its tragedy. I was unsuccessful in my application and absolutely mortified, it was as if all my hard work was for naught. I graduated at the top of my Faculty of Science and Technology at UWI, obtained my TEFL certificate, taught at biannual children camps for over 6 years and have always pushed myself to the very limit. Yet I was clearly inadequate, I sincerely considered calling it quits on my dream, maybe Japan was not for me after all.
It took very kind, caring words from many friends and constant nagging, I mean advice from my mother to convince me to try again. After a trip into the abyss of my mind, I recovered anew. I took inspiration from one of my favourite anime quotes, “sarani mukō e (go beyond), plus ultra!”, to self-improve! I got my Diploma in Japanese Language and secured a job in Barbados at a lovely school called Beyond the Box Education, where I taught a plethora of subjects to children, all of whom have grown near and dear to my heart.
With these new credentials I applied again, giving our story its happy ending. Through copious trials I have learnt that where there is a will, there is a way, that with consistent hard work and an aim, anything is possible, that God promises us beauty from ashes, that everything is for a reason and you should never give up, GANBARE! I would recommend to anyone with a glimmer of hope for a journey to Japan to apply and would like to thank God, my family, friends, all of the kind souls at the Embassy of Japan, my Board of Education and everyone else along the way for their love and support. Stay tuned for the highly anticipated 2nd installment - Adventures in Hiroshima - my soon to be new home!
JET Series: Sarani Muko E! (Go Beyond) (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives