Why Did They Stay? A Survey of JETs Across Hyogo

 

 

Below you will find the answers to such pressing questions as “What is your favorite Japanese food?” and “What advice do you have for me, sempai?” These nine JETs have courageously risen to the challenge of satisfying our curiosity. Caution: Some reading between the lines is necessary. New JETs, we’d love to have your answers to a similar questionnaire for the September issue! Please email us at hyogotimespublications@gmail.com if you’re interested in contributing.

 

Rackle Beaman, Brisbane, Australia, 2nd year at Akashi Nishi SHS

-Favorite Japanese food: Salmon sushi and custard taiyaki

-Favorite place in Japan: This is a really difficult question because every place I’ve gone, I’ve found something I loved. I think Kinosak; it’s beautiful and it’s a town built entirely on the concept of eating, drinking, having a bath and then repeating, which is something I can really get behind.

-Best memory on JET: The Block 6 Yuki Matsuri festival trip to Hokkaido. It was just a hoot. I spent time with great people, it was my first time seeing real, proper snow and I spent the whole time jumping in snow drifts and trying to eat everything in sight. It was awesome.

-Goal: Try and pass the JLPT (HAHAHAHAHA *sobbing*)

-Advice: Don’t wallow; homesickness is a very real thing here, but it’s worse if you let it fester. Also, learn the difference between the kanji for custard and curry. Seriously, many a lunch choice has been ruined for me by this.

 

Kyle Cardine, DeKalb, Illinois, US, 3rd year on Awaji island

-Favorite Japanese food: My favorite Japanese food is anything that ends in 焼き: Okonomiyaki, takoyaki, tonpeiyaki, you name it. Having said that, the streets of Osaka is by far my favorite place to dine.

-Favorite place in Japan: I have too many fond memories of hanging around Dontonbori and the surrounding Osaka downtown area to not call it my favorite place in Japan. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Shikoku. I traveled around the island on the infamous Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage Trail last year and there’s no other real experience that compares to walking a 1200 year old road to temples about just as old.

-Best memory on JET: My best experience on JET thus far is participating in the yearly summer festivals. Just knowing that the big summer festival season is right around the corner gets me giddy. Getting together with the people around you and just having a good time is something I really treasure. And they’ll make sure that you have the time of your life. If you ever get the opportunity, never hesitate to say “yes!” to throwing on some tabi, fundoshi, and dancing the night away!

-Goal(s): My main goal for this year focuses on trying to bring Hyogo together as much as possible. This prefecture is an absolutely massive place, and it can be hard to see the other parts where fellow JETs live. However, the events that have brought us together have been some of my favorites, most notably the car rally this last year. I finally got to experience a bit of Northern Hyogo and I’m really glad I did. I hope to facilitate other events in which Hyogo JETs can come together and explore this great prefecture.

-Advice: My advice here is going to get a little meta, and deal with advice itself. Know that for as spread out as the JET program is, everyone’s encounters and experiences are going to differ in some way. You’ll perhaps soon come to hate the phrase, but “every situation is different” is absolutely true. Having said that, always make sure to get a second opinion, whether it be about work or life here. There’s going to be as many ways to deal with a situation as there are people on the program, so don’t limit yourself to just one person’s advice or anecdote. You’ll become a more rounded individual in the process as well. Never fear to ask for help!

 

Cody Christensen, US, 2nd year at Kamigori High School in Aioi City

-Favorite Japanese food: Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is what made me thank God for giving me five senses to use. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that dish.

-Favorite place in Japan: So far, I have really enjoyed my time in Kyoto. I will travel there for a week this summer to thoroughly explore the city, but the culturally-rich atmosphere is very exciting. Otherwise, for a good party I always have to choose the Namba district in Osaka.

-Best memory on JET: Traveling to Okinawa with two of my closest friends. We visited many different kinds of places, such as the Churaumi Aquarium, Shuri Castle, and some movie festival welcome for the actors. If I knew who they were, I am sure I would have been floored by my amazement, but even as an ignorant viewer, it was really fun.

-Goals: My personal and AJET goals align for this year: visit new and exciting places. I have been focused on activities in southern Hyogo, so I have not ventured up north much. I haven’t even been to Kinosaki yet! It’s madness! So, I wish to become involved in the entire prefecture for both AJET and personal reasons. I will visit those sleepy towns, darn it.

 

Also, have fun. There is no point in doing JET if you don’t have fun. I wish to play a part in creating a good atmosphere for everyone! AJET managed to create solid opportunities for enjoyment this past year, so I wish to give back to the newcomers and veterans.

-Advice: Learn to cook. Every day, I cook the same mix of veggies and meat while adding a carb and it saves me a ton of money. In the beginning, I bought convenience store food quite often and realized that all that money could be spent on traveling and other various activities. With student loans weighing me down as well, learning how to cook is great for your wallet and, if you try, your health.

 

The strongest opinion I hold for life in Japan is to avoid the thoughts of “me vs. them.” It is easy to become flustered at culture quirks and being out of the loop at times, but I can assure you that people living in Japan are just as human as you are. These mistakes can occur anywhere. It’s rather comforting believing this, as you realize everyone is trying the best they can given their background. We learn from each other, and that is what makes our experiences valuable. I think you will find that as long as you try your best, you can find many qualities that you absolutely love. Focus on that.

 

Stephen Crafton, Michigan, US, 2nd year Hyogo JET in Kobe City, Tarumi Ward

-Favorite Japanese food: Okonomiyaki

-Favorite place in Japan: Sannomiya area, downtown Kobe.

-Best memory on JET: Traveling with other ALTs throughout Kansai.

-Goals: I want to join a conversational community group, prepare for the JLPT in December, and the Foreign Service Officer Test next year for the U.S. State Department (future career goal).

-Advice: There’s never a need for panic. Relax and adjust to any scenario. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from other ALTs and your school. Make good relationships. Don’t force anything; let it develop naturally through trial and error.

 

Aiko Lignon, New Zealand (born in France), 3rd year in Itami

-Favorite Japanese food: My favourite Japanese food is natto. If you haven’t tried it, give it a go!

-Favorite place in Japan: One of my favourite places in Japan is Kyoto as I love traditional Japanese culture with its old shrines, temples, traditional craft shops, kimonos, tea ceremonies, and much more! But truthfully, it’s so hard to pick one as Japan has so many great places! I have loved almost every place that I’ve visited as each place has its own unique characteristic.

-Best memory on JET: One of my best memories on JET thus far is rafting in Shikoku. I had a great time on the Hyogo AJET Rafting trip meeting new people and sharing the adventure. I loved it so much that I went back again earlier this year with my friends. It was just as epic the second time around as the first.

-Goals: My goals for the upcoming year are to improve my Japanese and meet more fellow Hyogo JETs.

-Advice: My advice for incoming ALTs is if you want any information about what’s going on at your school, you’ll have to be proactive and ask as otherwise your school may not inform you of things.

 

Jillian MacKenzie, US, 3rd year in Nishinomiya

-Favorite Japanese food: Macha parfaits

-Favorite place in Japan: Naoshima; I’ve been three times!

-Best memory on JET: Taking the red-eye ferry from Kobe to Takamatsu…it has a beautiful theme song that plays loudly on repeat at 4:30 AM to wake you up…

-Goals: Go to bunny island. Go to cat island. Go to fox village.

-Advice: Start a stamp collection ASAP. They are great, FREE souvenirs from nearly every train station and tourist spot! I am kicking myself for not starting this until my second year.

 

Roz Scoular, US, 2nd year in Ono

-Favorite Japanese food: My favorite food probably depends on the day. I really love tonkatsu and vegetable tempura. For sweets, I love matcha ice cream and strawberry daifuku.

-Favorite place in Japan: My favorite city is a tie between Nara and Kyoto. Both places have beautiful temples and natural sites as well as fun shopping. And of course in Nara you can go hang out with the deer in the park.

-Best memory on JET: My best memory has been traveling with friends. Over Christmas break, I went to Shizuoka, Tokyo, Nara, and Kyoto. Nara was my favorite because we stayed at a small hostel with a very sweet owner and the people in Nara were very friendly.

-Goals: I want to travel to one new country and improve my kanji ability.

-Advice: Try new things, meet new people, and  travel whenever you can. It is amazing how fast time flies and you only have a few years with JET.

 

Brittany Teodorski, Oregon, US, 3rd year in Ono

-Favorite Japanese food: Donburi, okonomiyaki, salmon nigiri (which is apparently a Norwegian spin on the Japanese dish; who knew?)

-Favorite place in Japan: It’s so stereotypical, but I truly love Kyoto. I have an incredible time every time I go, and I’ve made so many friends there!

-Best memory on JET: It’s so hard to pick just one! Traveling to Kinosaki with my fellow Ono ALTs last year, being surrounded by cats on Ainoshima, and road tripping to Amanohashidate followed by an obscenely brightly lit game of Mao are possible contenders. Honestly, almost all of my time on JET has been incredible. I’m excited to see what the next year will bring!

-Goals: Actually follow my own advice and study during my downtime. Also, I still want to travel to many more places, including Taiwan, Vietnam, and Lao.

-Advice: Travel as much as possible. Say yes to everything you’re invited to (and can actually do). I’ve spent only a handful of weekends in my town over the past two years and I still wish I could have done more!

 

Mandy Wong, Colorado, US, 3rd year in Toyono-cho, Osaka

-Favorite Japanese food: Ichigo daifuku (mochi stuffed with bean paste and a strawberry! Yum!)

-Favorite place in Japan: I love Kansai!!! Otaru, the town of music boxes and glass artwork in Hokkaido is also very nice <3

-Best memory on JET: Seeing fireflies for the first time. Plus, rounding a mountainside biking Lake Biwa and seeing windsurfers tearing it up on the lake.

-Goal(s): Pass a kyudo (Japanese archery) test, try a new recipe at least once a week, learn how to bake bread, and incorporate more practical English skills into the school environment.

-Advice: Keep an open mind and be ready to adapt to the various teaching styles of your JTEs. Also, take the opportunity to explore more of Japan and the nearby countries on your many 3-day weekends. Check your calendar and plan ahead! :)

 

 

Compiled by Brittany Teodorski