JET Programme Series: Neutral Buoyancy - Chelsea-Marie Mendes
2025/9/8
I applied to the JET Programme because I wanted to experience a way of life I’ve admired since childhood, where people live in harmony with nature. I still remember watching the documentary Satoyama: Japan’s Secret Water Garden with my grandfather. The concept of satoyama is one where humans and nature thrive in coexistence. That documentary, along with my lifelong love of Studio Ghibli films, shaped my deep respect for how Japanese culture approaches the natural world with care and reverence.
That’s why my placement in Japan feels so meaningful. I’ve been assigned to Okinoshima-chō in Shimane Prefecture, part of the Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark, a site protected for its natural beauty. This region is recognized for its rare geological formations, vibrant marine life, and the deep, enduring relationship between people and nature. As an ocean-obsessed artist, it’s exactly the kind of environment I was hoping for, one where the natural world shapes not only the landscape, but also the ebb and flow of daily life. Being placed on an island with beaches, forest trails, and secluded coves feels like a blessing, a personal sign that I am making the right move.
Naturally, I expect such a major transition to come with its challenges. Starting over in an unfamiliar land with an unfamiliar language would undoubtedly intimidate anyone. The feeling is reminiscent of my first time scuba diving. The idea of purposely deflating my jacket so I could sink below the surface of the ocean seemed terrifying. I shouldn’t be able to breathe underwater, so why on earth would I want to deflate the one thing keeping me afloat, where breathing comes naturally? What if I deflate my jacket and don’t stop sinking? My instructor had to remind me that all I had to do was keep breathing through my regulator. Trust the equipment. Let go. Eventually, I found my balance, or what divers call neutral buoyancy. It’s that “sweet spot” where you’re neither sinking nor floating, just calmly suspended, effortless in the water.
That’s exactly how I plan to approach my journey with the JET Programme in Okinoshima. Sure, it’s completely unknown territory, but my experiences as an educator and a person have prepared me for this moment. Now, it’s all about letting go, remembering to breathe, and trusting that with time, I’ll find my balance.
JET Programme Series: Neutral Buoyancy - Chelsea-Marie Mendes (Japan Embassy's Facebook)
That’s why my placement in Japan feels so meaningful. I’ve been assigned to Okinoshima-chō in Shimane Prefecture, part of the Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark, a site protected for its natural beauty. This region is recognized for its rare geological formations, vibrant marine life, and the deep, enduring relationship between people and nature. As an ocean-obsessed artist, it’s exactly the kind of environment I was hoping for, one where the natural world shapes not only the landscape, but also the ebb and flow of daily life. Being placed on an island with beaches, forest trails, and secluded coves feels like a blessing, a personal sign that I am making the right move.
Naturally, I expect such a major transition to come with its challenges. Starting over in an unfamiliar land with an unfamiliar language would undoubtedly intimidate anyone. The feeling is reminiscent of my first time scuba diving. The idea of purposely deflating my jacket so I could sink below the surface of the ocean seemed terrifying. I shouldn’t be able to breathe underwater, so why on earth would I want to deflate the one thing keeping me afloat, where breathing comes naturally? What if I deflate my jacket and don’t stop sinking? My instructor had to remind me that all I had to do was keep breathing through my regulator. Trust the equipment. Let go. Eventually, I found my balance, or what divers call neutral buoyancy. It’s that “sweet spot” where you’re neither sinking nor floating, just calmly suspended, effortless in the water.
That’s exactly how I plan to approach my journey with the JET Programme in Okinoshima. Sure, it’s completely unknown territory, but my experiences as an educator and a person have prepared me for this moment. Now, it’s all about letting go, remembering to breathe, and trusting that with time, I’ll find my balance.
JET Programme Series: Neutral Buoyancy - Chelsea-Marie Mendes (Japan Embassy's Facebook)