I was exactly where you are now four years ago. Some of you spent the summer traveling around Europe or completing that summer job. Many of you made it out to other pre-departure activities held throughout the summer. This is how we met.
Each step during this summer’s activities, I found myself revisiting my own summer pre-departure activities four years ago – PDOT Orientation to the Farewell Reception.
I lived near my university town and held a summer job up until a week before departure. I didn’t know what expectations I should have, but I can honestly say, I could only conjure up faint ideas at first.
I put my faith in the departing JET peers around me, my predecessor in Nara and the JETAA Toronto team in guiding me. Consequently, all pre-departure activities I deemed important for a successful start working as an ALT in Japan. I could not attend all the activities, but each one I could, was uplifting and confusing. At the PDOT orientation I thought, “why are there so many acronyms!” During PDOT Cooking, I learned about great food and met new friends friends, and thought, “why was it so hot! … yes, they are preparing me.”
The Farewell Reception of 2011 was the final pre-departure activity I attended. I spoke zero Japanese, but I did speak German. I had no English teaching experience, only university tutorial teaching. I didn’t even know which cities to choose during my application. Actually, I’m not sure what the selection committee saw in me as a candidate. I was genki but felt completely unprepared. Everyone else around me seemed advanced during Japanese language lessons. Some had even previously taught overseas or lived a year in Japan!
Needless to say, I was nervous but even more thrilled to explore: the country, the language, the art and festivals and interact with everyone by experiencing Life as a JET. I had no idea what was about to happen…
Taking a glance at you all in the room and listening to the conversations now, I can sense similar feelings – my stomach doing somersaults and that mixed nervousness and excitement at the same time, wrapped up in a nice bow. I can’t help but catch that same nervous excitement all over again. I’m sure I speak for all the alumni present in the room.
Today you join a family. Once a JET, always a JET. You now have a vast support network of JETs and JET alumni in Toronto and all over the world. There will be many new experiences ahead, good ones and some challenging ones. During those challenging moments, remember that we are here for you. And when you come back, to Toronto or another city in the world, reach out and let the exploration continue.
Get in touch. Facebook us. Write to us. We are here for you.
Special thanks to David Rider, Toronto Star Writer and JET Alumni!
Sabrina Silk, Events Support JETAA Toronto
