Going to Japan was a life changing experience, yet this occurred before my acceptance on the JET Program. From 20-22, younger than the typical JET, I was a junior enlisted service member as part of ship's company on the American aircraft carrier, Independence forward deployed to Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan.
From 22-24, I finished up my Navy enlistment in California and from 24-29, all efforts were made towards my undergraduate degree. Why? It was the prerequisite for the JET Program. In California, people that knew me found it interesting that I would spend most of my time in the Japanese American communities of the South Bay of Los Angeles such as Torrance and Gardena. Members of these communities would often tell me, "You know Daniel, there's this JET Program that you ought to look into. Since I felt comfortable with this community, I took to heart their advice.
My favorite experience with JET occurred on my second year. It was a cool, clear day in October in Saitama at one of the biggest elementary schools in our school district. All of the stars had aligned as I worked really hard my first year to improve my Japanese since at the elementary schools, there weren't many, if any teacher that knew English which was different at the junior high schools with the Japanese Teacher of English. I also worked really hard developing a "bag of tricks" and improving my conditioning since lessons at the elementary schools required a lot of energy and non-textbook material and games.
On this particular day in October, I was really connecting with a group of 2nd graders. Unfortunately, it was my last day, but I was going to return the following January. I bid farewell and told the students, "See you next January!" Tsugi no ichi gatsu. With that, the students all smiled and cheered and began to chant over and over, Tsugi no ichi gatsu!!
I remember walking back to the nearby train station and saying to myself, "How many people are getting this chance? I remembered my days of working long and hard hours a few prefectures away on the Indy and I remembered my days stuck in the "rat race" in LA. I could be stuck in those bad situations but I was blessed to have the good fortune of being able to be back in Japan putting a smile of children's faces.
The JET Program means many things to many people, but it means to me that things taste a little sweeter the second time around and are cherished even more. I went on JET at 31 because I wasn't ready for JET at 22 or 23. It took nearly a decade for me to get to that point. Why? Because I was meant to have a connection with Japan and the JET Program was the best vehicle to see this reality to come to pass.
Everything happens for a reason. Trust yourself, keep yourself focused, and always try to meet your full potential. I the end you will. If a guy like me can, then I can't see why the same won't happen to you!!
The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-16
