My Saga Blog-a:)

🪩Job - I left my job at the dept. of health and found a job in the field I majored in during college (PR). Selling my experience on JET was HARD as someone who didn't want to pursue a career related to Japan/education. I applied for many jobs, faced a lot of rejection, and leaned hard on my network for leads. My advice to outgoing JETs is to keep building those skills and really think about how to market what you did in your time in Japan. A lot of companies are totally unfamiliar with the program and it's up to you to educate them on it and sell the positives.

🪩Health - got into therapy, addressed my eating disorder, and after some very severe reverse culture shock and depression, I really feel like I'm in a much better emotional place.

🪩Studies - I am still studying Japanese and I'm considering grad programs now (not Japanese but something that lines up with my interests in diplomacy)

🪩Friendship - I'm excited to say I've built up a community here in Seattle. That was the hardest part of leaving Japan and my small town. I felt like at any moment or day in Imari, I could reach out to my friends and have something planned. There's nothing more valuable nor important than a sense of belonging.

🪩Love - I'm in love 😍 with a great person.

🪩General - I moved out of my parents' home, have an adult job, have friends, have taken care of myself mentally and physically, participate in sports and events, and feel like an adult, mostly happy person in the world.

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For those reading this at any stage on their JET journey, I write this to say, JET was a huge part of my life. For five years I dedicated myself entirely to the language and culture of Japan, learning from and teaching my students, and enjoying every bit of it. Leaving that was incredibly painful. I left my job, friends, community, home, and everything that had colored my life as an adult in the world. To leave that meant the pains of growth. I think for those of you on your JET journey now, appreciate what you can, understand the temporary nature of the program, and prepare prepare prepare.

Totally missed this! Hope it's not too late 🥺

I went to Japan at 24 - it's definitely not too late to go at 25! I really enjoyed it and went in with the mindset of, "if I don't enjoy it, it's only a year" I enjoyed it quite a bit honestly which is why one year turned into five.

Depending on career path, it definitely can be seen as a gap. I spent the better part of a year after getting back to what I wanted to do and I'd like to think I worked very hard to make the most of my time professionally. I did things like becoming a PA, a local rep for other JETs in my area, and volunteered whenever possible.