It’s October again, which means the application period for the JET Program has begun! Around this time, many bright-eyed hopefuls from around the world are preparing their documents (and their hearts) for a chance to …
Personal
Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming to Japan
It’s finally time for that obligatory post about the things I wish I knew before coming to [insert foreign country]. In hindsight, I should have made this post a long time ago, maybe during my …
To Former Teachers on JET: Get A(nother) Life
JET Program participants who have had formal teacher training, who have been full-time/regular teachers in their home country will either be frustrated with their new job, will welcome the fewer spate of responsibilities–or a combination …
JET Program: Pros and Cons
It’s January, and as usual the beginning of the year makes me think about the things I have done and have not done the years prior. In short, it’s the time for reflection, nostalgia, regrets, …
A Glimpse of What the JET Program Is Like for ALTs
So, there’s only a few weeks till the deadline for the 2021 intake. For all those gathering their documents to send and for all the others who are still not sure if they want to …
J-Playlist: Upbeat J-Pop to Start the Day
Primary purpose in writing this post? So I won’t forget these songs in the future when I’m looking for upbeat tunes. I’ve been listening to Japanese music since I was in elementary, mostly because of …
Living through a Pandemic in Another Country
“Covid-19 in Japan? Where? The pandemic’s over!” It’s a morbid joke some of my friends and I have taken to saying these days, in part to lighten the situation and to express our frustration. We …
A Death in the Family
Originally published on 2019/11/06 It’s never easy to be so far away when you hear news that a relative has passed away. Last Thursday (October 31), my sister messaged me on Facebook that our grandmother, …
Learning to Ride a Bike As an Adult. Alone. In a Foreign Country.
Originally published on 2019/10/30 Excuse the dramatic pauses, marked by the periods and capitals, but the past few days have been exhilarating and rewarding. Last Monday, I finally learned how to ride a bicycle. Wait, …
Ueno Park P2: What I Thought
Originally published on 2019/10/30 There was something about seeing such a gigantic creature, who could crush you under his feet, walking slowly around a small enclosure that takes out the fun of going to the …