Due to the coronavirus, the 2020 JET Programme faced multiple delays. My dream of becoming a JET was within reach, but I couldn’t grasp it. I put my life on hold for a year. Then there were even more delays. I was disheartened.
But one day I received an email from Kuroshio, my Japanese town. It said, “We’re sorry to hear about another delay, but we will wait for you, forever.” After reading that, I was filled with immense courage. I was inspired by their kindness. I had to keep pushing forward, because if Kuroshio would wait for me forever, I would wait for them too. Forever.
As it turns out, forever wasn’t necessary. I made my way to Japan in 2021. The people in Kochi prefecture, especially Kuroshio, proved to be impossibly welcoming, kind, and dedicated, and I’ve tried to instill those qualities in myself.
This is not to say life in Japan is easy. Moving and living in a new country is like learning to be an adult all over again. To start, even mundane things like cooking or washing clothes can be a challenge. But there is a powerful sense of accomplishment that comes with conquering these challenges, and I built confidence and trust in myself. On my first day in Japan, I struggled to cook breakfast. Half a year later I climbed Mt. Fuji.
There are still many things I fear in Japan, and many challenges I must overcome. But Japan has molded me into a man who can climb mountains, and I’m happy, because I’m not running out of mountains anytime soon.