And we're off...

To the faithful followers of my Leiden blog:

I’m headed off to an even smaller town in the pursuit of an even bigger adventure: Aki, in the prefecture (read: state) of Kochi, on the island of Shikoku, Japan.

But, make no mistake — this is no Leiden. Leiden was easy. Leiden was comfortable. I was only away for two months, everyone there speaks English, I had a friend going in, and I was there as a student.

This time, I will be gone for a year, actually have to speak the country’s language, don’t really know anyone in my prefecture (though I have met some cool people online who either currently live in or are headed to Kochi — hopefully we will get to hang out), and I will be there as a teacher.

I am participating in the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher). Basically, it's a program through the Japanese government that places college grads from English-speaking countries in different areas of Japan to teach English to students there (elementary, middle and high school level). I will be teaching at five different elementary schools!

I’ve made a couple of pretty big — to me, at least — sacrifices for this trip: being away from Garrett, my boyfriend of more than a year and a half (whom I will take this moment to lovingly remind to get a passport already) and renouncing my vegetarianism. I decided long ago that if I got accepted to JET, I would start eating fish/seafood again so that I could go to Japan and, you know, survive. After being a vegetarian for four years, the transition was surprisingly smooth — but don’t get your hopes up and expect me to start eating any other kinds of meat, because that’s not going to happen. :)

And so, I depart for Japan armed with two and a half years’ worth of studying Japanese, a journalism degree (largely irrelevant except that it explains my unfaltering desire to document everything), a newfound love of sushi, and a fondness for cute little Japanese kids.

Time to put that Japanese minor to the test!

Coming up:
7/24: Pre-Departure Orientation in Chicago
7/25: Leave for Tokyo
7/26: Arrive in Tokyo
7/27-28: Tokyo Orientation
7/29: Begin adventures in Aki

It might take a week or two to get Internet in my apartment. I'll update when I can!

Peace,
B