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.