Pre-JET Reading List

Before I found out about my acceptance into the JET Programme, I started reading more travel books on Japan. I think I`ve read all of the current titles so these should be readily available in your library or local bookstore.

Wrong About Japan by Peter Carey
Traveling through Japan with his anime-loving son, Carey attempts to better understand this complex country. Carey comes off as insufferable and never seems to get a grasp on the culture.

Learning to Bow : Inside the Heart of Japan by Bruce Feiler
A chronological account of life as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) by one the pioneering JETs. Provides good insight into how the school year will unfold.

Untangling My Chopsticks : A Culinary Sojourn in Kyoto by Victoria Abbott Riccardi
A former English teacher in Kyoto who is entranced by the culinary world of kaiseiki, which accompanies the traditional tea ceremony. Inspirational read for anyone who aspires to try something out of the ordinary.


Hitching Rides with Buddha : A Journey Across Japan by Will Ferguson
A former JET ALT tries to discover the "true heart of Japan" while hitchhiking across the country to follow the cherry blossoms. A humourous look at Japanese culture.

My favourite book of them all is Hitching Rides with Buddha. Will Ferguson has the most insightful take on Japanese culture and I`m a sucker for anything with cherry blossoms.

Going to Gobo-shi

The Placement Information finally arrived on Friday! I think this has got to be the most eagerly anticipated piece of mail for anyone accepted on the JET Programme. I will be living in Gobo City and working for the neighbouring town of Hidakagawa-cho. So far, not much information to be found online about Hidakagawa-cho. However, I have found two blogs from current ALTs. One is from my predecessor, Lauren and the other from a fellow ALT, Mac. So far, those blogs and a wikipedia article on Wakayama are the only information I can find in spite of the excessive googling that has gone one. Oh well, at least the wait is over and I got my first choice of Wakayama Prefecture.

General Information Handbook

I was quite surprised to see a large envelope from the Japanese Consulate arrive in the mail on Thursday. Inside was a very valuable book, the General Information Handbook (GIH), that will help with all of those nagging pre-departure questions. None of JET Alums whom I had spoken to mentioned this book. I'm surprised because it answers most of the questions I was bugging them about. Anyways, I flipped through the book and took out the CD-Rom from the back cover.

Only one word can sum up the CD-Rom: cheesy! The CD-Rom covered what to expect from your arrival at Narita Airport to the first month or so of your employment. It also showed various aspects of daily life like grocery shopping, etc. in addition to aspects of the job like the staff meeting and the enkai.

Rite of Passage

Like the ubiquitous backpacking trips around Europe, teaching English overseas appears to be another one of those rites of passage for young university graduates. It’s a chance to: experience life as an expat; travel; learn a new skill; immerse yourself in another culture; pick-up a second (third or fourth) language, and hopefully save some money or pay off those pesky student loans. So, as a recent B.A. grad, I am about to partake in this rite and start a year-long stint on the JET Programme as an Assistant Language Teacher or ALT.

I have wanted to participate on the JET Programme from hearing about it as a kid in Steveston , BC. After participating in an exchange program to Jonai Junior High in Shizuoka , Japan during junior high school, I became very interested in the language, culture and history of Japan. I continued studying Japanese in high school and at the University of British Columbia (UBC) picking up a degree in International Relations with an Asian Studies minor along the way.

For me, going on the JET Programme will be a rite of passage. I’ll gain a greater sense of self and independence living away from my family since I chose to stay at home while attending UBC. It will also afford me the opportunity to travel around Asia and improve my Japanese.

Throughout my time on the program and the preparations for the program in Vancouver, I will be using this blog to reflect on and share my experiences working and teaching in Japan.