I hope you're enjoying warmer weather as I am. Seriously, I've been prancing to school in this wonderful sunshine and warmth!
Just kidding, I've been DRIVING!
Look at that beaut~
I finally decided to become mobile during my remaining months in Japan. My only regret is that I didn't get this puppy sooner! The roads are tiny, winding, and yes I have to drive on the "wrong" side of the road, but it's all pretty easy to adjust to. The fact that a little rain won't keep me shut in anymore is well worth it!
I also had another first over the weekend. As I've mentioned in earlier posts (on my old travel blog, https;//marsjaws.tumblr.com ) I joined a taiko group in November. March 15th was my debut, and I didn't mess up! I love these guys. They really took me in as one of their own, and it was an honor to drum alongside them.
Me and my best bud, Sota-san. Look how awesome our uniforms are!
Needless to say, I've been busy. Don't you worry, dear readers, I'm setting time aside to write as well! Devon's story is on track, so do not fret! I do have this whole living-and-working-in-Japan thing to deal with, but that's giving me more stories to tell!
And it's also giving me great opportunities to give aspiring and soon-to-be future JETs words of wisdom! My friend and fellow 1st year JET, Francesca started a #JET20questions chain (you can check out her amazing blog at http://memoirsofagaijin.com ) where current JETs answer 20 questions to hopefully give others a better idea of how the JET Program and living in Japan pans out. As per usual, every situation is different, but it's really interesting to see how ex-pats all over this great nation are enjoying and living in Japan!
So, without further ado, here's my contributions to the 20 questions thing!
1.
Name:
Lauren Frederick
2.
Prefecture
Placement: Hiroshima
3.
Prefecture
Requests: Shimane, Hyogo, Hokkaido
4.
Teaching
experience: 2 years of private tutoring and substitute teaching middle
school and TESOL certified
5.
Number
of schools: 3 high schools
6.
School
level: ranges from low to really low to
have-you-ever-studied-english-before low. My base school is agriculture (lowest) and my 2 visit schools are low to mid-low academic schools.
7.
Average
classes per day: 2-3
8.
Closest
JET to you distance wise: Right next door, and there`s another one of us
about a 5 minute drive away.
9.
Best
part of the job: Being able to form many new relationships and working your
way into little communities of students and faculty. The enkais are pretty
amazing, as well.
10.
Worst
part of the job: The fact that most of it is a desk-warming or babysitting
job and the Japanese bureaucracy.
11.
Best
part of living in Japan: Being able to feel like you belong in a Japanese
town and having the ability to explore all of Japan and Asia. Oh, and conbinis are amazing.
12.
Worst
part of living in Japan: Lack of insulation, old fashioned technology (お久しぶり、fax machines,) and no debit card system.
13.
Favorite
memory so far: It has to be my first party with my taiko group. The party was
during the beginning of the holiday homesickness time, and even though I was
not performing just yet, my taiko group invited me to their show and let me tag
along to the after-party. It ended up being an extended family barbecue, which
was the defining moment when I realized I was meant to be in my little inaka
town at that place and time. Truly touching.
14.
Hardest
time so far: The winter, all of it. Being a southern girl, I was not ready
for a Japanese winter. I think the worst of the worst was waking up in the
middle of the night, with the electric blanket and aircon on at full blast on
the highest settings, and still shivering from the cold. I also didn`t have a
car during the snow, so walking through that to get to work on time was really
tough and resulted in tons of slips and bruises. Winter also brought about loneliness, as
no one seemed to want to brave the weather to hang out or do things, so it was
just a dark time that I kind of want to blank out of my JET memories.
15.
What
do you miss most about home? My friends, hands-down. I don`t really click
with the other JETs in town, so I miss just being able to hang out with people
who like me for my obnoxious self. I also really miss my dog—we are joined at
the hip and not a morning passes where I`m sad he`s not there to wake me up. I
also miss my gym. I was big into group fitness, and want to eventually become a
fitness instructor, so going from 2 hours of that to a tiny room with a few
treadmills and weights was pretty depressing. I also miss the climate, but not
everyone gets that I love hot, humid weather, so I`ll leave it at that. Food
and family are a given, as I`m from New Orleans, so I won`t elaborate.
16.
What would
you miss most about Japan if you left tomorrow? My taiko group, which goes
without saying. Those guys seriously gave this year abroad meaning, and I
almost stayed another year just for them. They took me in as one of their own, don't treat me as a token gaijin, and opened me up to many more possibilities and
opportunities in my little inaka town. Oh, and I`d miss the hell out of
Hiroshima-yaki, aka the best okonomiyaki in the world.
17.
The
one thing you wish you`d brought with you to Japan? I wish I`d brought more
books and hand held video games to pass the time. Some days on JET, especially
those during exams and student holidays, are 8 hours of nothing, and there`s
only so much time one can spend scrolling through social media.
18.
What`s
something you brought that you wish you didn`t? I brought way too many
clothes. Unless you have a really unique body type, you will be able to find
things to wear in Japan. Cute things that you will want to buy. Had I known I`d
give myself a wardrobe makeover over here, I would`ve made my second checked luggage an
empty suitcase to fill with all my new gear.
19.
Tip
for living in Japan: Don`t be afraid to make a fool out of yourself. Your
Japanese might not be stellar, but there will be times you`ll have to fumble
through a 100% Japanese conversation in order to get things done. Also, don`t be
afraid to explore your town. Even the most isolated of towns will have a few
people really eager to meet the new gaijin and want to show you around. Don`t spend
those weekends holed up in your apartment, living vicariously through your
friends` snap chats. Get out and explore! Also, if you`re even vaguely
considering driving, go for it. It will make your life so much better,
especially if you`re in the inaka. Also, who wouldn`t want to road trip through
beautiful coastlines, mountains ,and rice fields?
20.
Tip
for being a JET: Be as open minded as you can and don`t take things
personally. Not every student or JTE will like your lesson. You may not click
well with your fellow JETs in town. You might really hate the fact that you`re
land-locked in the middle of nowhere instead of the metropolis you hoped for,
but there will be times—wonderfully brilliant times—that will make all of the
other crap worth it. This is your adventure, your story. Make it what you want
to be.
Aaaaaand I'll leave it at that! Thanks for giving it a read.
I hope it gives some of you out there a better idea of what you'll experience in August.
It's a wonderful journey, so enjoy every minute of it!
Until next time, keep readin and dreamin!
-Fred
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