JET Programme Series: Ah Fit in Good - Jaleeca Philip
2024/2/9
JET Programme Series: Ah Fit in Good - Jaleeca Philip
“You may not end up where you thought you were going but you will always end up where you are meant to be”
I kept an open mind with very little expectation and I'm grateful that I did.
It has been 6 months since I arrived in Japan and thankfully, I was placed in a peaceful community with helpful and patient people. I got lost many times while taking the trains, missed a few trains so I had to stay out all night, had trouble finding items in the grocery and each time someone willingly helped me get back on track by the use of google translate of course. In addition to being placed in a beautiful community, my work environment is filled with teachers and students who adore me. My first birthday away from my friends at home and my students made it the most memorable. They surprised me with a birthday party! Can you believe it? They bought a cake, sang happy birthday and even drew decorations on the board. I was filled with gratitude.
It's shocking that so many people know very little about Trinidad and Tobago or nothing at all. For the first few months I introduced myself to different groups of people and when I said I am from Trinidad and Tobago, you would see many confused faces. I would explain that Trinidad and Tobago is in the Caribbean. One time a lady asked “Like Pirates of the Caribbean?” I used this opportunity to share Trinidad and Tobago’s unique culture with my Japanese people. They loved it! At school, I did lessons on Soca and Calypso and Trini Christmas. My students sang Soca, jumped and waved. They even sang Parang, made Chac Chacs and learned some trini dialect.
There are many differences between Japan and Trinidad and Tobago but there are also some similarities. In Japan, there are many holidays and they love to celebrate just like Trinbagonians. During the Summer, I attended many festivals. Soca in Japan was one of my favourites. Witnessing Japanese people singing Soca music word for word while dancing and having a good time was heartwarming. Ah get a taste of home! Speaking of taste, I had a tough time getting acquainted with Japanese food. My vice principal took me to a festival and for lunch one weekend. We ate traditional Japanese food called “Kaiseki”. Well, she ate because my taste buds were still in test mode with the new taste and smell of food. I was struggling but I tried everything. My taste buds have been gradually adjusting over the past six months. I am getting better!
In the autumn, I visited Kyoto city where I enjoyed the scenery of the beautiful changes in colours of flowers and trees. Within the blink of an eye, the winter season began. Christmas was drawing near. It was not a Trini Christmas but it felt very close to one. Culture shock alert! December 25th is not a holiday. As a Trini, I am not sure how I will adapt to this part of the culture. On Christmas day, I obviously took the day off and I paranged at my Trinidadian friend’s house. She invited her Jamaican and African friends for lunch and we made a full Trini Christmas menu, ate pastelles, drank sorrel and Ponche de creme. I also participated in Japanese New Year tradition by visiting a shrine on the first day of the year and watching the first sunrise. I can safely say I had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! My biggest task was trying to stay warm in 0 degrees celsius. Despite the odds, I was determined to experience this season to the fullest so I went skiing. I fell more times than I was actually skiing but it was worth the experience.
As my experience continues, I look forward to the spring season, exploring, learning and participating in Japanese culture, visiting other places on this side of the world and sharing Trinbago`s sweet culture.
JET Series: Ah Fit in Good (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
I kept an open mind with very little expectation and I'm grateful that I did.
It has been 6 months since I arrived in Japan and thankfully, I was placed in a peaceful community with helpful and patient people. I got lost many times while taking the trains, missed a few trains so I had to stay out all night, had trouble finding items in the grocery and each time someone willingly helped me get back on track by the use of google translate of course. In addition to being placed in a beautiful community, my work environment is filled with teachers and students who adore me. My first birthday away from my friends at home and my students made it the most memorable. They surprised me with a birthday party! Can you believe it? They bought a cake, sang happy birthday and even drew decorations on the board. I was filled with gratitude.
It's shocking that so many people know very little about Trinidad and Tobago or nothing at all. For the first few months I introduced myself to different groups of people and when I said I am from Trinidad and Tobago, you would see many confused faces. I would explain that Trinidad and Tobago is in the Caribbean. One time a lady asked “Like Pirates of the Caribbean?” I used this opportunity to share Trinidad and Tobago’s unique culture with my Japanese people. They loved it! At school, I did lessons on Soca and Calypso and Trini Christmas. My students sang Soca, jumped and waved. They even sang Parang, made Chac Chacs and learned some trini dialect.
There are many differences between Japan and Trinidad and Tobago but there are also some similarities. In Japan, there are many holidays and they love to celebrate just like Trinbagonians. During the Summer, I attended many festivals. Soca in Japan was one of my favourites. Witnessing Japanese people singing Soca music word for word while dancing and having a good time was heartwarming. Ah get a taste of home! Speaking of taste, I had a tough time getting acquainted with Japanese food. My vice principal took me to a festival and for lunch one weekend. We ate traditional Japanese food called “Kaiseki”. Well, she ate because my taste buds were still in test mode with the new taste and smell of food. I was struggling but I tried everything. My taste buds have been gradually adjusting over the past six months. I am getting better!
In the autumn, I visited Kyoto city where I enjoyed the scenery of the beautiful changes in colours of flowers and trees. Within the blink of an eye, the winter season began. Christmas was drawing near. It was not a Trini Christmas but it felt very close to one. Culture shock alert! December 25th is not a holiday. As a Trini, I am not sure how I will adapt to this part of the culture. On Christmas day, I obviously took the day off and I paranged at my Trinidadian friend’s house. She invited her Jamaican and African friends for lunch and we made a full Trini Christmas menu, ate pastelles, drank sorrel and Ponche de creme. I also participated in Japanese New Year tradition by visiting a shrine on the first day of the year and watching the first sunrise. I can safely say I had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! My biggest task was trying to stay warm in 0 degrees celsius. Despite the odds, I was determined to experience this season to the fullest so I went skiing. I fell more times than I was actually skiing but it was worth the experience.
As my experience continues, I look forward to the spring season, exploring, learning and participating in Japanese culture, visiting other places on this side of the world and sharing Trinbago`s sweet culture.
JET Series: Ah Fit in Good (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives