Jet Programme Series: Fate had different plans - Nikauleene Andrews
2024/5/29
Hey there! It has been a while. These past few months in Japan have been truly transformative for me. I have immersed myself in the community and made some fantastic local friends. Initially, I was a bit unsure about my placement, but I could not have landed in a better spot. Although I had my heart set on Honshu, fate had different plans and I am beginning to see the bigger picture behind it all.
The warm welcome I received from the community made settling in much easier. The kindness of the elderly, who regularly share gifts and goodwill, has been touching. I have had some great experiences connecting with locals. One such memory was when I was asked to join my school's basketball team for a teacher's competition. I made it my civic duty to score goals and thanks to teamwork, we took home the win!
Building meaningful relationships with Japanese colleagues has been rewarding, from dinner invitations to meeting their families. Working with students, especially during events like the English speech contest, has been fulfilling as well. It warms my heart to know that many students are interested in learning English, especially the third graders who are basically toddlers. With that said, I remain working to bridge the cultural gap between us.
On the hobby front, I had the chance to digitally showcase one of my paintings in a Fukuoka art exhibition, thanks to a fellow Trinidadian JET. It goes without saying that it was "Trini-themed," which felt like a piece of home in Japan. Exploring art exhibitions and indulging in karaoke sessions have been great ways to unwind and tap into my creative side. In addition to that, visiting dog (Shiba Inu and Corgi) and cat cafes has been a lovely escape, especially since I left my pets back home. By the way, did I mention the penguins? They are so adorable!
Truth be told, I have become much more independent during this journey. While it has not been an easy ride, the experience has been incredibly rewarding and spiritually enlightening. Despite the challenges, I have witnessed my prayers being answered in unexpected ways. I am truly grateful for the bonds formed, newfound independence, spiritual growth and the lessons learned along the way. Given I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, I find comfort in knowing that the best is yet to come.
JET Series: Fate had different plans (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
The warm welcome I received from the community made settling in much easier. The kindness of the elderly, who regularly share gifts and goodwill, has been touching. I have had some great experiences connecting with locals. One such memory was when I was asked to join my school's basketball team for a teacher's competition. I made it my civic duty to score goals and thanks to teamwork, we took home the win!
Building meaningful relationships with Japanese colleagues has been rewarding, from dinner invitations to meeting their families. Working with students, especially during events like the English speech contest, has been fulfilling as well. It warms my heart to know that many students are interested in learning English, especially the third graders who are basically toddlers. With that said, I remain working to bridge the cultural gap between us.
On the hobby front, I had the chance to digitally showcase one of my paintings in a Fukuoka art exhibition, thanks to a fellow Trinidadian JET. It goes without saying that it was "Trini-themed," which felt like a piece of home in Japan. Exploring art exhibitions and indulging in karaoke sessions have been great ways to unwind and tap into my creative side. In addition to that, visiting dog (Shiba Inu and Corgi) and cat cafes has been a lovely escape, especially since I left my pets back home. By the way, did I mention the penguins? They are so adorable!
Truth be told, I have become much more independent during this journey. While it has not been an easy ride, the experience has been incredibly rewarding and spiritually enlightening. Despite the challenges, I have witnessed my prayers being answered in unexpected ways. I am truly grateful for the bonds formed, newfound independence, spiritual growth and the lessons learned along the way. Given I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, I find comfort in knowing that the best is yet to come.
JET Series: Fate had different plans (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives