My original plan was to stay on the JET program for two years, even before I knew where I would be placed. It is a hard decision since it must be made only after being halfway through my contract. Agreeing to stay on for another year means I am committing to 18 more months in my town and at my school. There are many things that I wish were different about my situation. I wish I didn't live so far away from practically everything. I wish my town was a bit more internationalized so that I would feel at home and be able to easily attend community events. Most of all I wish I felt more welcome at my school.
In general I think my students are great, but I wish I had a better relationship with my co-workers. Most of my co-workers don't try to even talk to me, although my relationship with the English teachers is always improving. When I first arrived I just sat in the teachers' office with no one telling me anything. My Japanese wasn't really good enough to formulate my thoughts and questions into coherent sentences since my vocabulary for at the workplace was basically non existent. Slowly this is changing as I pick up words here and there, but the awkward silence remains. I want to say something, but since it has been 6 months without many of the teachers even introducing themselves to me, it just feels awkward. I made my self-introduction in front of everyone at least 3 times, so I feel introductions at my end are done. Not to mention, I would like to be taken into the environment since I am the new one, instead of trying to find a way in. Honestly since no one talks to me, I am not even sure if just "chit-chatting" is part of Japanese workplace culture. Although I am pretty sure I hear it sometimes. My job itself is almost always like that of a human tape recorder on constant improv, which it would be nice if I could know how to be more involved with my students. Again, something I would probably need direction from my co-workers who seem a little unwilling.
This piled on top of feeling unconnected in my town's community makes the week pretty lonely.
But there are reasons, that apparently outweigh these let-downs. Although I am living in the middle of boring nowhere, I am about a 15 minute bike ride plus 90 minutes by train away from Kyoto. My school is brand new! This is great when I see the condition of most other public schools. The pay is good. I get about $37,000/year untaxed. I am fully insured. Opportunities to travel throughout Asia. Over $38,000 in student loan debt. A relatively comfortable life.
Snowboarding in northern Shiga (Yogo Kogen)
Besides this, I don't really have a "home" drawing me back to the U.S. Most people that leave say they miss their friends, family, dog, food, etc. etc. within their own country. My family is dispersed, as are my friends, no dog, prefer Asian foods. The only thing I do miss is the ability to understand the world around me much easier. I also still want to improve my Japanese, and it is a slow process. Especially with my low interaction with Japanese people this time around.
Also, before I lived in Japan for 11 months. I remember after 10 months, the actual feeling of living in Japan started to kick in. Acquaintances became friends, language started to make more sense, established routine of things I liked to do, etc. etc. I am curious to what life after 11 months in a foreign country feels like. I feel like maybe that is when finally you stop being a visitor of a country and become a resident. It takes a while to become established. Plus, an opportunity like this doesn't always come and I feel it is better to face the unknown so I don't have to ask myself, "What if I stayed in Japan another year?" The answer to, "What if I went back to the U.S.?" will be answered when I get my exit visa.
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