JET Programme Series: Off to Okinawa- Mario Jones
2026/5/22
Haitai, I am Mario Jones, and I am currently 29 years old. I resided in the vibrant and wonderful city of San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. A ‘south boy’ my entire life I have always been placed in situations that required me to step out of my comfort zone. I graduated in 2019 from the University of the West Indies (UWI) with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a minor in International Relations. The challenges came after obtaining my Undergraduate Degree as I felt I was now placed in the bracket of uncertainty called, ‘the job market’. However, one important lesson I have learnt in my life is that clarity is often around the corner of uncertainty.
I was fortunate to be appointed as a Teacher’s Assistant at the Primary School level for the past 3 years, and I never looked back. I knew I had not only found my professional passion but also my purpose for life. My personal journey to the JET Programme interestingly started around two years ago. I was first introduced to the idea of the programme through my colleagues in Education. I thoroughly researched the programme and immediately knew it would align with my personal aspirations. As a budding educator, I swiftly applied as I saw an excellent opportunity to broaden my cultural horizon, while sharpening my personal competencies as a teacher.
I vividly remember the day I received that long-awaited phone call stating that I was a successful candidate for the JET Programme. I was thrilled beyond imagination as I knew for sure this is the opportunity I had desired for more than 2 years. My JET placement is in the tropical paradise of Iheya Village, Okinawa Prefecture. Okinawa is an island with a unique history that has truly captivated my attention. I first heard about Okinawa in my youth from the film, ‘The Karate Kid 2’. Further research during my studies in university enabled a much deeper understanding of Okinawa from a national perspective, specifically its involvement in World War 2. However, I intend to paint my blank canvas of what I currently know of the island.
As an educator, I look forward to understanding methods of pedagogy in the Japanese education system, as well as developing meaningful relationships amongst my peers and students. I know for certain that the field of Education is where I belong and plan to be in the future. Furthermore, as a cultural explorer, I am eagerly awaiting to immerse myself in Japanese society. I look forward to the cuisine, different cultural festivals, folklore, architectural designs, natural landscapes and the world-renowned cherry blossom season. As a cultural ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago, I look forward to the feedback of the natives in Okinawa as the opportunity to construct authentic cultural exchange has presented itself. Adversely, I’m also aiming at embracing new challenges that may present itself in this journey, as I know it will most definitely enhance my personal growth and character as a human being. Above all, I look forward to stamping a positive impact on the lives I have been appointed to guide in this journey.
JET Programme Series: Off to Okinawa- Mario Jones
I was fortunate to be appointed as a Teacher’s Assistant at the Primary School level for the past 3 years, and I never looked back. I knew I had not only found my professional passion but also my purpose for life. My personal journey to the JET Programme interestingly started around two years ago. I was first introduced to the idea of the programme through my colleagues in Education. I thoroughly researched the programme and immediately knew it would align with my personal aspirations. As a budding educator, I swiftly applied as I saw an excellent opportunity to broaden my cultural horizon, while sharpening my personal competencies as a teacher.
I vividly remember the day I received that long-awaited phone call stating that I was a successful candidate for the JET Programme. I was thrilled beyond imagination as I knew for sure this is the opportunity I had desired for more than 2 years. My JET placement is in the tropical paradise of Iheya Village, Okinawa Prefecture. Okinawa is an island with a unique history that has truly captivated my attention. I first heard about Okinawa in my youth from the film, ‘The Karate Kid 2’. Further research during my studies in university enabled a much deeper understanding of Okinawa from a national perspective, specifically its involvement in World War 2. However, I intend to paint my blank canvas of what I currently know of the island.
As an educator, I look forward to understanding methods of pedagogy in the Japanese education system, as well as developing meaningful relationships amongst my peers and students. I know for certain that the field of Education is where I belong and plan to be in the future. Furthermore, as a cultural explorer, I am eagerly awaiting to immerse myself in Japanese society. I look forward to the cuisine, different cultural festivals, folklore, architectural designs, natural landscapes and the world-renowned cherry blossom season. As a cultural ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago, I look forward to the feedback of the natives in Okinawa as the opportunity to construct authentic cultural exchange has presented itself. Adversely, I’m also aiming at embracing new challenges that may present itself in this journey, as I know it will most definitely enhance my personal growth and character as a human being. Above all, I look forward to stamping a positive impact on the lives I have been appointed to guide in this journey.
JET Programme Series: Off to Okinawa- Mario Jones