JET Program in Gunma and Life After

Posted on March 16, 2007 by Angie Davis

My previous job was as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) on the JET program, where I worked in GunmaOne of Japan's 47 prefectures. It forms the Northwest corner of the Kanto area. prefecture at a Junior High School and two Elementary Schools. I spent a year experiencing everything from signing autographs, playing Aussie Rules Football and making speeches in Japanese at school assemblies, to witnessing punch-ups between teachers and students in the staff room, police visits to arrest students, and being told to personally DIE by a lovely female 2nd grade Junior High School student.

I had many expectations about my time on JET, some were met and some were never attainable. However, I learnt a lot about respecting Japanese people and culture, and accepting that there are many things that we as foreigners cannot expect to change. At the same time, I developed a passion for becoming involved with pushing various aspects of Japanese thinking that I believe we can change, and that need changing, such as environmental thinking, our contribution to poverty and humanitarianism, encouraging the growth of the Japanese youth, etc.

After a year in the mountains, I craved my life-long passion of surfing and the ocean, and made a rash decision to give up my cushy job on JET to take a significant pay cut and move to the Pacific Ocean town of Ichinomiya, in ChibaOne of Japan's 47 prefectures. Located just East of Tokyo and home to such well known sites as Narita International Airport and Tokyo Disney Land. prefecture, where I now work about triple the amount of effort I used to for a lot less money. As a person, I have changed a lot during this move. I went from a foreigner base where I was speaking English every day, to a town where I am 1 of about 5 gaijinJapanese word meaning "outsider" commonly used to describe foreigners. Considered somewhat impolite. , and finally am able to use the Japanese I studied for so long at High School and University. I am also privileged to be surrounded by a Japanese surfing community, and I assure you that Japanese surfers represent a totally different stream of Japanese culture. I find that people around here want to learn English, as most enjoy surf trips to English speaking countries, and that the stereotypical work ethic of 9-5pm, day in day out hardships, are not necessarily the number one priority. There is a greater respect for the environment, although not as great as it should be, and people seem to be generally a lot happier and friendlier. Most of my students are surfers, the wives or kids of pro surfers, or lovely middle-old aged country folk who have spent many years travelling the globe.

Looking back on my working time so far in Japan, I would have to say that I have experienced two very different situations, and I have learnt a lot from both. I don’t regret a day of my life so far in Japan, and I hope you feel the same. It really is an amazing country that offers so many lifestyles, and I encourage you to experience as much as you can in your time here.