2023 Leavers Final messages
Liz Nagy
Takaoka, 5 years
Something I don't want to leave behind is…
My precious kiddos - they're such clowns and always make me smile Also all the obaa-chans who've adopted me, what kindly badass ladies.
What have you taken for granted in Japan?
All the mushroom and tofu varieties will be sorely missed back home ��
Georgia Henne
Toyama City, 1 Ye
Most embarrassing moment?
The day when, after buying an American dog every day after school for 2 months, the conbini worker started automatically getting one ready for me as I approached the till ��
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oshua Haughton
oyama C
Hit us wit Life throws curve
You never really get But you chose to c So make the most effort,
Wendy Cho
Takaoka, 2 years
One dish that would summarize my life in Toyama is... Hot pot on a cold winter day with friends!
What’s your favorite teaching/work moment?
My students telling me that my classes are the best <3 (I'm the games sensei)
Serena Fern
Takaoka, 2 years
Something I don't want to leave behind is… A very lovely group of friends
What’s next?
Going back to working as a learner support assistant for young adults with special education needs!
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Raul Mejia
Imizu, 1 year
What have you taken for granted in Japan?
The cheaper price of living alone. Going back to America and seeing the prices of things is scary to say the least.
Something I can't wait to leave behind is…
The humidity and unpredictable weather.
Will Blake
Toyama City, 1 year
What's should everyone know before coming to Japan, but NO ONE talks about?
Traveling in Japan is expensive when you are by yourself, but cheap when you are with friends. Try to establish relationships with people who like to travel and go by car early, so that you can open yourself up to seeing as much of Japan as possible. It is a beautiful country worth seeing in its entirety, but it is much easier to do so if you find adventurous people to have a great time with.
Miguel Rischmaui
Takaoka, 5 years
Hit us with that wisdom!
Community starts with everyone Whether you've met many times, one time, or even if you've never met. As JETs we are here to build a community with each other, learn about each other, meet people from different places, and especially support each other throughout our life in Japan. Community doesn't end with your friend group, it involves everyone So don't forget to go out and help each other! Don't be shy!
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Abby Ferguson
Uozo, 1 years
What’s your favorite teaching/work moment? When a graduating student brought me a picture of her dog as a keepsake Cutest dog ever
Shout out to… Noodle Hearts. The staff can always put a smile on your face and they never miss.
Kenley Brust
Himi, 2 years
When I get home, I will gorge myself on… California Burritos
A Toyama hidden gem... The people :)
Max Hubbauer
Kurobe, 1 years
Most embarrassing moment?
Mixing up "ippai" with "oppai"
Best conbini chain? Why?
FamiMart, best socks in the game
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Proudest moment?
I joined both Kyudo and Koto. I passed my first Kyudo test on the first try!!!! and I got to perform with my oba chans for our Spring performance. We made it on the newspaper. Honestly the proudest moments is the discipline to have achieved these things. It was hard, but it is definetly the best experiences in Japan.
That one matsuri that changed my life was...
Himi Matsuri (1st week of August) was by far my favorite. It was big, yet still intimate. and it made folks travel to us, and not the other way around lol
Proudest moment?
When one of my students started pronuncing the "L" correctly Truly in real time.
Millie Shah
Takaoka, 2 Years
Favorite teaching/work moment?
I have many favorite moments but one of them is having many fun and random conversations with them on the train, between classes and after school. The students and I bonded and laughed a lot during those conversations.
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Jonah Harman
Himi, 1 year
Japan/Toyama/(your city) in Haiku
Takaoka: quiet city life
beauty hides in concrete streets
god I need a car
Domyson Abuan
Nanto, 5 Years
A Toyama hidden gem...
Ainokura Village in peak fall, golden hour. The mountains covered in autumn colors, set ablaze by the setting sun. It was glowing like amber. And like fire being extinguished by the darkness, it only lasted for five minutes! Short and sweet, with a hint of pain. What a phenomenon! That day, I found a candidate for The Best Place for a Proposal.
All of our leavers have left their mark on not only the JET community, but all over Toyama and Japan. You will all be missed dearly! Good luck on your journeys around the world, who knows when we'll meet again!
さようなら〜!!!
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LEAVERS BBQ
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO SEND SOME OF OUR LEAVERS OFF! GOOD LUCK TO OUR LEAVERS. WE WILL MISS YOU, WE LOVED HAVING YOU HERE, AND WE HOPE YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE IN LIFE IS A SUCCESSFUL ONE. TOYAMA IS ALWAYS HERE TO WELCOME YOU BACK WHENEVER.
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Matt att Pointon Pointon worked worked as as an an ALT ALT on on tthe he J ET J ET Program in Osawano (now part of Toyama City) Program in Osawano (now part of Toyama City) from 2000 to 2002, where he also co-edited the TRAM. from 2000 to 2002, where he also co-edited the TRAM After leaving Toyama, he traveled across Asia and After leaving Toyama, he traveled across Asia and Europe by train, taught English in Bulgaria and Europe by train, taught English in Bulgaria and Vietnam, and now works as a full-time officer for the Vietnam, and now works as a full-time officer for the Trades Union Congress in the UK Trades Union Congress in the UK.
Matt reached out to the current TRAM team through Matt reached out to the current TRAM team through our Facebook page and we scheduled a Zoom call our Facebook and we scheduled a Zoom call with recent JET alum Ian Rogers to talk about with recent JET alum Ian Rogers to talk about technology, life goals, and troubles at school While technology, life goals, troubles at school. While some things have changed a lot since the 2000s, other some things have changed a lot since the 2000s, other things will feel all too familiar to current JETs things will feel all familiar to JETs.
TRAM TRAM:: II heard heard you you rrecently ecently had had a a Toyama Toyama JET JET 20-year reunion How did that come about? 20-year reunion. How did that come about?
Matt Pointon Matt Pointon : We meant to have a 20-year reunion, : We meant to have a 20-year reunion, but it didn't happen because of COVID, so it turned but it didn't happen because of COVID, so it turned into a 21-year reunion It was amazing we decided into a 21-year reunion. It was amazing we decided London was the best place to do it, and people flew in London was the best place to do it, and people flew in from Ireland, Canada, the States, and all over Britain. from Ireland, Canada, the States, and all over Britain There were 12 or 13 of us. There were 12 or 13 of us
We had a really good time, and ended up in a We had a really good time, and ended up in a Japanese-style karaoke place in Soho Prior to that we Japanese-style place in Soho. Prior to that we also did a wider reunion where we got everybody we also did a wider reunion where we got everybody we could to record a video about their time in Japan and could to record a video about their time in Japan and what it meant to them 20 years on. That was a nice what it meant to them 20 years on That was a nice project to be involved with. project to be involved with
video and photos, it seems like the JET social scene back then was quite active. Did you JET social scene back then was quite active Did you hang out a lot? hang out a lot?
video and photos, it seems like the
MP MP : I don’t want to sound like the old guy who : I don’t want to sound like the old guy who reminisces about the good old days, but I think the reminisces about the good old days, but I think the ’90s and ’00s were a lot more hedonistic. I think ’90s and ’00s were a lot more hedonistic I think people have less money, the financial crises have hit, people have less money, the financial crises have hit, there’s a lot more debt, and people socialize in there’s a lot more debt, and socialize in different ways now. Not everybody socialized, of different ways now Not everybody socialized, of course there were the ones you never saw, like this course there were the ones you never saw, like this one girl in Oyama who did her own thing. But we had one girl in Oyama who did her own thing But we had regular get-togethers in Takaoka and Toyama, a regular get-togethers in Takaoka and Toyama, a football team, trips to Fuji, and a big drinking and football team, trips to Fuji, and a big drinking and karaoke scene. karaoke scene
TRAM TRAM : From the
: From the
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TRAM TRAM : What kinds of challenges did you face as a : What kinds of challenges did you face as a young person living abroad in the early 2000s? young person living abroad in the early 2000s?
MP MP : Communication-wise, we were in this transition : Communication-wise, we were in this transition period I took a year off before uni and lived on a period. I took a year off before uni and lived on a kibbutz in Israel, and when I was there, you waited for kibbutz in Israel, and when I was there, you waited for letters to come, and it was a week or two before letters to come, and it was a week or two before people got them and wrote back people got them and wrote back
In Japan there were still letters going back and In Japan there were still letters going back and forth, but email had largely replaced them What you forth, but email had largely replaced them. What you couldn’t do was phone calls phone calls were still couldn’t do was phone calls phone calls were still really expensive, so it was a once in a blue moon thing. really expensive, so it was a once in a blue moon thing Mobile phones in Japan also weren’t compatible with Mobile phones in Japan also compatible with phones in the rest of the world, but they were far more phones in the rest of the world, but they were far more advanced advanced.
TRAM TRAM : Did most JETs have mobile phones? : Did most JETs have mobile phones?
MP MP : When I went to Israel, people had mobile phones, : When I went to Israel, people had mobile phones, which I thought was weird why would you waste which I thought was weird why would you waste your money on this complete luxury item? Then in your money on this complete luxury item? Then in Japan I was in this culture where everyone had a keitai Japan I was in this culture where everyone a keitai [cell phone] do they still call them that? [cell phone] do they still call them that?
It was the first time you were in a culture where It was the first time you were in a culture where everyone had a mobile phone. Technologically, that everyone had a mobile phone Technologically, that was big During my second year the first photo phones was big. During my second year the first photo phones came out, but they were really bad Phones were also came out, but they were really bad. Phones were also connected to the internet, but it didn’t really work I connected to the internet, but it didn’t really work I never used them to connect. never used them to connect
TRAM TRAM : How did JETs and other teachers share : How did JETs other teachers share information back then? information back then?
MP MP : Fax was still a thing, and you’d get letters on your : Fax was still a thing, and you’d get letters on your desk, that kind of stuff The TRAM was a printed thing desk, that kind of stuff. The TRAM was a printed thing it wasn’t online We’d write articles, put them it wasn’t online. We’d write articles, put them together like a newspaper, and print off 100 copies on together like a newspaper, and print off 100 copies on the school printer. the school printer
TRAM TRAM : Did you have internet in your apartment? : you have internet in your apartment?
MP: No, not in the apartment. I had it at school, and I : No, not in the apartment I had it at school, and I used all my free periods to go online I do creative used all my periods to go online. I do creative writing as a hobby I started before I went to Japan, writing as a hobby I I went to Japan, and still do it, and I’d use the internet to do my writing and still do it, and I’d use the internet to do my writing on the computer and send it to people. I’d also read on the computer and send it to people I’d also read stuff online, but there was no video watching stuff online, but there was no video watching because of the bandwidth because of the bandwidth.
If you wanted to look at a photo, it would take a If you wanted to look at a photo, it would take a minute to load so you’d click the photo, then go minute to load so you’d click the photo, then go make a cup of tea and wait. It was that period when make a cup of tea and wait It was that period when we were really on the cusp of the internet revolution, we were really on the cusp of the internet revolution, so we weren’t really connected, but it was getting so we weren’t really connected, but it was getting there, and Japan was far ahead of the West there, and Japan was far ahead of the West.
Having a digital copy wasn’t a thing because you
Having a digital copy wasn’t a thing because you could only really do articles When I took over the could only really do articles. I took over the TRAM, it was in this era where people would forward TRAM, it was in this era where people would forward jokes or funny precursors to memes by email: 20 jokes or funny to memes by email: 20 things about this, etc. things about this, etc
Before I took over with Emma Harrison, the Before I took over with Emma Harrison, the magazine was literally a collection of that, and it was magazine was literally a collection of that, and it was shit We wanted more original content, so we started shit. We wanted more original content, so we started doing interviews and articles about places. I think we doing interviews and articles about places I think we succeeded and left it in a better place than when we succeeded and left it in a better place than when we picked it up. picked it up
TRAM TRAM : How did you distribute the TRAM? : How did you distribute the TRAM?
MP: There was some sort of internal postal network : There was some sort of internal postal network where I’d send them off, and you’d get your TRAM on where I’d send them off, and you’d get your TRAM on your desk in school Giving us time off from work to do your desk in school. Giving us time off from work the TRAM was a bit of a weird thing, but now as a the TRAM was a bit of a weird thing, but now as a trade unionist I recognize the model. I think they must trade unionist I recognize the model I think they must have looked at us like a bit of a trade unionist, who get have looked at us like a bit of a trade unionist, who get an hour or so off to do their trade union stuff and post an hour or so off to do their trade union stuff and post their notices notices.
TRAM TRAM : So you actually wrote the articles and put the : So you actually wrote the articles and put the TRAM together at school? together at school?
MP MP : Yeah, we had loads of free periods, especially at : Yeah, we loads of free periods, especially chūgakko [middle school], and people got bored. I chūgakko [middle school], and people got bored I worked two days a week at shōgakko [elementary worked two days a week at shōgakko [elementary school] between 4 schools, but at the chūgakkos, school] between 4 schools, but at the ch gakkos, which were three days a week, I didn’t do a lot So you were days a week, I didn’t do a lot. So you did this to fill the time did this to fill the time.
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TRAM TRAM : A lot of JETs today feel really underutilized : A lot of JETs today feel really underutilized why do you think that’s happening? why do you think that’s happening?
MP MP : When you get to middle school, it’s all about : When you get to middle school, it’s all about exams, and JETs are a fluffy extra The most important exams, and JETs are a fluffy extra. The most important thing was that they had their English lessons with thing was that had their lessons with their Japanese teacher because that’s what passed their Japanese teacher because that’s what passed the exams, so at chūgakko I had nothing to do. the exams, so at chūgakko I had nothing to do
One of my strengths as a person is that I’ve always One of my strengths as a person is that I’ve always had a lot of hobbies, so I could fill my time I started had a lot of so I could my time. I started creative writing when I was at university, and having creative writing when I was at university, and having all that time in Japan was good because I just wrote. all that time in Japan was good because I just wrote But some people struggled because they didn't know But some people struggled because they didn't know how to occupy free time they were used to being how to occupy free time they were used to being told what to do told what to do.
TRAM TRAM : When you left JET, did you have a plan for : When you left JET, did you have a plan for what you wanted to do next? what you wanted to do next?
MP: No. If I look back now with the benefit of : No If I look back now with the benefit of hindsight, I think the big failing of the JET scheme hindsight, I think the big failing of the JET scheme then I won’t say it’s the case now was this lack of then I won’t say it’s the case now was this lack of career signposting. My university was shit at it as well, career signposting My university was shit at it as well, and I went to one of the better universities in the UK, and I went to one of the better universities in the UK, but there was literally no career signposting. but there was literally no career signposting.
MP MP : Primary school was different I had four, and one : Primary school was different I had four, and one had over 800 kids, while another had 17 yet I was as had over 800 kids, while another had 17 yet I was as busy at the one with 17, because they combined the busy at the one with 17, because they combined the classes. It was a bloody busy day when you’re classes It was a bloody busy day when you’re teaching four or five kids, you really have to get teaching four or five kids, you really have to get involved with each kid, but when you’re teaching 40, involved with each kid, but when you’re teaching 40, you’re coming in almost like the children’s entertainer, you’re coming in almost like the children’s entertainer, and the Japanese teacher is teaching a lot. and the Japanese teacher is teaching a lot
That school with the 800-odd kids, because they That school with the 800-odd kids, because they didn’t have so much time with me, they had me didn’t have so much time with me, they had me teaching 200-odd kids in the gym and with that, teaching 200-odd kids in the gym and with that, you’re literally just putting on a show. But was it you’re literally just putting on a show But was it teaching? I don’t know. teaching? I don’t know
TRAM TRAM : What was your salary on JET? : What was your salary on JET?
MP MP : When JET first started, the salaries were sky-high : When JET first started, the salaries were sky-high the ALT salaries were higher than the head. It was the ALT salaries were higher than the head It was like a jackpot you were living like a king! I think I was like a jackpot you were living like a king! I think I was making about 30 man [¥300,000], which worked out making about 30 man [¥300,000], which worked out to about 20 grand UK At the time, UK teachers were to about 20 grand UK. At time, UK teachers were probably about 15-18 starting, so it was a good salary, probably about 15-18 starting, so it was a good salary, and tax free and tax free.
Then over the years they never had a pay rise, so it’s
Then over the years they never had a pay rise, so it’s stayed the same, and it’s now quite low. When I was stayed the same, and it’s now quite low When I was there it was good, but it wasn’t incredible I paid off all there it was good, but it wasn’t incredible. I paid off my student debt in two years, but to be fair, at that my student debt in two years, but to be fair, at that time the UK wasn’t charging tuition we do now, but time the UK wasn’t charging tuition we do now, but my student debts were quite small. But it was a good my student debts were quite small But it was a good wage a lot more than I would have gotten in the UK wage a lot more than I would have gotten in the UK.
You used to get the equivalent of 2,000 quid for your plane ticket home back then, but I asked for it in your plane ticket home back then, but I for it in cash and went overland on the train through cash and went overland on the train through Kazakhstan and stuff, and that was as far as my plan Kazakhstan and stuff, and that was as far as plan went I actually had a job teaching EFL [English as a went. I actually had a job teaching EFL [English as a Foreign Language] in Bulgaria lined up afterwards, Foreign Language] in Bulgaria lined up afterwards, then I went and taught in Vietnam I think JET’s good then I went and taught in Vietnam. I think JET’s good for your career and I think it’s looked on positively, but for your career and I think it’s looked on positively, but the other EFL jobs weren’t really respected very much the other EFL jobs weren’t really respected very much by employers, whereas JET is by employers, whereas JET is.
You used to get the equivalent of 2,000 quid for
TRAM TRAM : How : How was was iit t ttransitioning ransitioning ffrom rom JET JET into your into your other EFL jobs? other EFL jobs?
MP: If you want to go into EFL, it’s great, and there’s : If you want to go into EFL, it’s great, and there’s loads of work out there but for an example of how loads of work out there but for an example of how poor the signposting was, I knew I wanted to do more poor the signposting was, I I wanted to do more EFL teaching, so I thought I’d get a qualification. I EFL so I thought I’d get a qualification I looked and got one online, but it was a crap looked and got one online, but it was a crap qualification, it was completely worthless. If there’d qualification, it was completely worthless If there’d been a place to go to get advice, I would have done been a place to go to get advice, I would have done the CELTA, or the American version, the TEFL, and the CELTA, or the American version, the TEFL, and that’s really worthwhile. Later in life I did that I’ve got that’s really worthwhile Later in life I did that I’ve got a CELTA now, but back then, we didn't have the a CELTA now, but back then, we didn't have the advice and didn't know where to go, and that was a advice and didn't know where to go, and that was a problem problem.
TRAM TRAM : How about elementary school? : How about elementary school?
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...success in JET is about your personal attitude."
TRAM TRAM : Did you pursue EFL jobs because you wanted : Did you pursue EFL jobs because you the adventure and EFL was just a way to pay the bills, the adventure and EFL just a way to pay the bills, or were you actually interested in EFL teaching? or were you actually interested in EFL teaching?
MP MP : It moved at the beginning, it was purely the way : It moved at the beginning, it was purely the way to get abroad and have an adventure, but later I got a to get abroad and have an adventure, but later I got a passion for EFL. I’m actually teaching a class tonight! passion for EFL I’m actually teaching a class tonight! I’m the Midlands Region Chair of the largest adult I’m the Midlands Region Chair of the largest adult education charity in the UK, and I’ve got this class education charity the UK, and I’ve got this class where I’m teaching Ukrainian and Afghani refugees where I’m teaching Ukrainian and Afghani refugees how to pass your driving class online So I still keep how to pass your driving class online. So I still keep my hand in it. I love EFL, and that’s still with me but my hand in it I love EFL, and that’s still with me but initially, I just wanted to go abroad for adventures, and initially, I just wanted to go abroad for adventures, and I still do. I don’t really live for money I want I still do I don’t really live for money I want adventures, so that was always my priority adventures, so that was always my priority.
TRAM TRAM : What about it was especially challenging? : What about it was especially challenging?
MP MP : I came back to the city I’m from, and you expect : I came back to the city I’m from, and you expect to come home, but you’ve changed, so you’re like an to come home, but you’ve changed, so you’re like an outsider in your own city. Obviously that would be less outsider in your own city Obviously that would be less acute if I’d gone somewhere like Leeds or London, acute if I’d gone somewhere like Leeds or London, where you’d be a bit of an outsider anyway, but when where you’d be a bit of an outsider anyway, but when you come home, you expect to come home It’s you come home, you to come home. It’s interesting that none of my friends now are from pre- interesting that none of my friends now are from preJapan, except two. If you do go home, be prepared Japan, except two If you do go home, be prepared you’ve moved on. you’ve moved on
TRAM TRAM : What brought you back to Britain? : What brought you back to Britain?
MP MP : Eventually I got married, and I didn’t want to bring : Eventually I got married, and I didn’t want to bring kids up in Vietnam because it’s a very pressurized kids up in Vietnam it’s a very pressurized environment, so I came back to Britain. That was the environment, so I came back to Britain That was the toughest bit, coming back home A lot of people toughest bit, coming back home. A lot of people struggle, because it’s not very nice you've been struggle, because it’s not very nice you've been having all this fun, and all of these adventures, and having all this fun, and all of these adventures, and then reality comes into place. It’s hard. then comes into place It’s hard
That’s not a bad thing: a lot of our friends are friends
That’s not a bad thing: a of our friends are friends because they’ve been thrown into our path, not because they’ve been thrown into our path, not because we have shitloads in common you’d like to because we have shitloads in common you’d like to think you have this special thing in common, but it’s think you have this special thing in common, but it’s really just shared experiences. really just shared experiences
If you look at people who’ve been in the army, or If you look at people been in the army, or people who’ve been in prison, they stay friends with people who’ve been in prison, they stay friends with people they’ve met there because you share this people they’ve met there because you share this experience the rest of the world doesn't get. I think experience the rest of the world doesn't get I think JET’s a bit like that it’s hopefully not as traumatic as JET’s a bit like that it’s hopefully not as traumatic as the army or prison, but it’s something the rest of the the army or prison, but it’s something the rest of the world doesn't get world doesn't get.
TRAM TRAM : How was it transitioning into your union job? : How was it transitioning into your union job?
MP MP : It was fine I’d been a union rep, and I’m not : It was fine I’d been a union rep, and I’m not really on the political side of the union I’m the really on the political side of the union. I’m the education guy, so I do bits of teaching and education education guy, so I do bits of teaching and education policy, and I talk to people from across the spectrum. policy, and I talk to people from across the spectrum With JET, you don’t just get exposure to the With JET, you don’t just get exposure to the Japanese, but exposure to people from all over the Japanese, but exposure to people from all over the English-speaking world from all different English-speaking world from all different backgrounds It means you’re far more confident backgrounds It means you’re far more confident going into a room and talking to people who aren’t going into a room and talking to people who aren’t your tribe. your tribe
For example, for my job, I might have to talk to a For example, for my job, I might have to talk to a room full of unemployed people who’ve got no room full of unemployed who’ve got no qualifications and I can do that My accent gets qualifications and I can do that My accent gets stronger, and I draw on my experience from when I stronger, and I draw on my experience from when I worked in factories and growing up as a working-class worked in factories and growing up as a working-class kid But at the same time, I have to go to the House of kid. But at the same time, I have to go to the of Parliament and lobby government and stuff like that, Parliament and lobby government and stuff like that, but you’re used to doing that because you’re used to but you’re used to doing that you’re used talking to people you’re used to that cultural talking to people you’re used to that cultural difference. difference
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TRAM TRAM : A lot of ALTs look at JET like they’ve stepped : A lot of ALTs look at JET like they’ve stepped aside from their careers, and JET forms this bald patch aside from their careers, and JET forms this bald patch in their resume where there’s no upward mobility, in their resume where there’s no upward mobility, which I think is a terrible way to look at it Was that a which I think is a terrible way to look at it. Was that a sentiment any of your peers had? sentiment any of your peers had?
MP MP : I think it depends on what career you want to go : I think it depends on what career you want to go into. If you want to become a microbiologist, does JET into If you want to become a microbiologist, does JET really help? But if you want to become a teacher, or if really help? But if you want to become a teacher, or if you want to go into something related to international you want to go into something related to international work, I think it can be invaluable It’s far more work, I think it can be invaluable. more respected than almost any other EFL work, or going to respected than almost any other EFL work, or going to work at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand work at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.
You’re employed by the Japanese government, and You’re employed by the Japanese government, and it’s a scheme that’s recognized For example, one of it’s a scheme that’s recognized. For example, one of my cohorts applied to work at the foreign my cohorts applied to work at the foreign commonwealth office and eventually joined the civil commonwealth office and eventually joined the civil service to become an ambassador, and JET was good service to become an ambassador, and JET was good for that. But it’s also about how you sell the project if for that But it’s also about how you sell the project if you're like [speaks in a low voice] “Yeah, I went to you're like [speaks in a low voice] “Yeah, I to Japan and did some teaching,” it doesn’t work, but if Japan and did some teaching,” it doesn’t work, but if you can talk about linguistic skills, cross-cultural skills you can talk about skills, cross-cultural skills which have been invaluable to me in my career it’s which have been invaluable to me in my career it’s really worth it really worth it.
TRAM TRAM : Any final thoughts you’d like to leave us with? : Any final thoughts you’d like to leave us with?
MP MP : I think success in JET is about your personal : I think success in JET is about your personal attitude One of my good mates was always like, “What attitude. One of my good mates was always like, “What am I doing here, I'm wasting my time ” Well, yeah, am I doing here, I'm wasting my time.” Well, yeah, because you’re not using the opportunities you've because you’re not using the opportunities you've been given! You’re in a town on the other side of the been given! You’re in a town on the other side of the world, and there’s stuff going on, just bloody do it world, and there’s stuff going on, just bloody do it rather than sitting in your apartment moaning You get rather than sitting in your apartment moaning. You get out of it what you want to put in out of it what you want to put in.
You can find more of Matt Pointon on You can find more of Matt Pointon on his his YouTube YouTube page, where he posts page, where he posts ttravel ravel videos videos of of his his adventures, adventures, at at his his website website , or on , or on Medium Medium , as well as check out his , as well as check out his published published ffiction iction and and ttravelogues ravelogues in book in book fform orm.
The TRAM team would like to give Matt another huge
The TRAM team would like to give Matt another huge and sincere THANK YOU for all of the time, effort, and and sincere THANK YOU for all of the time, effort, and images he kindly shared with us over the course of the images he kindly shared with us over the course of the interview process. interview process
His experience and insight regarding life abroad, how
His experience and insight regarding life abroad, how he found success and purpose, as well as what he he found success and purpose, as well as what he enjoyed most about the Toyama JET experience is enjoyed most about the Toyama JET experience is invaluable to us invaluable to us.
We were delighted to be able to take part in such a fun
We were delighted be to take part in such a fun and interesting exchange! Thank you again!! and interesting exchange! Thank you again!!
YouTube Website Medium Books
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