Making the decision to join the JET Program wasn’t an easy one. It involved taking a huge pay cut from my previous teaching job in Singapore and giving up many precious things back home, such as my family and friends. The JET program started out as a challenge I posed to myself to grow as much as I possibly could in 2 years. However, in the end it became a 5-year long journey that is hard to find suitable words to describe.
Personally, I think the best way to experience Japanese culture is to learn it from the locals. From my interactions with my students and teachers, to the local folks that I have gotten the chance to know personally, I have learned so much about Japan from its people in these 5 years. They taught me the meaning of “一期一会” (ichigo ichie), the belief that an encounter only happens once in a lifetime. I really love this Japanese proverb a lot. It reminds me that the meetings we have in life will never be repeated in the exact same manner, and that one should treasure each of these moments.
If I could express my whole experience here in Japan in one word, it would be “一期一会” (ichigo ichie). This has helped me to make the best out of each moment with the people here. The best part of my JET experience is that I was able to develop strong relationships with the local folks here, and they have become like my family. The many heart-warming moments and memories I have shared with the locals made Japan so special to me.
Leaving my comfort zone to embark on a journey of self-growth and discovery wasn’t easy, but I have absolutely no regrets in giving up on everything just to be on the JET Programme. It is through the JET Programme that I got the privilege to learn so much more about myself, and to have so many beautiful once-in-a-lifetime experiences. You may be surprised at how special your experience on the JET Programme can be if you find your own community, and make a deliberate effort to be out there amongst the locals. This will be a once in a lifetime experience.