The JET Program

Oh to be a JET participant. While the first association that you may make may be an aeronautical one, I am, in fact, not training to be a pilot but instead next week I am going to be thrust into the education world as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) on the JET (Japan Exchange an Teaching) Program. Since every blog I have ever read about the JET program starts of with a "how did I get into JET" entry, here's mine.

At the beginning of my senior year of college last year, I started to think, 'what do I want to do next year?' Being a Japanese major with a premed concentration, I was inclined to go straight to medical school. However, as I had not yet taken the MCAT, that option was not avaliable and thus started my road towards the JET program. Why not do something with my major before its gone forever, lost in the vastness of medicine. So i filled out the online application form last november, and in february, I found out that I had been invited to the interview round. Now for those of you that dont know, the program which is 5000 ppl strong, cuts half of its applicants right then and there so i felt pretty good going into the interview. But also, for those of you that dont know, most ppl walk out of that interview with a `wtf' feeling. Thats what i felt because i was asked such questions as `Why are you proud to be an American` and other such gems.
A month after the interview, at the beginning of April, I checked my inbox at 5pm only to discover the words 'Congratulations, you have been accepted as a JET program alternate'. What the hell. Not only that but some ppl I met that were definately not qualified to be a teacher of young children in Japan got in! But nevertheless, i decided to wait it out (I had also called the embassy and they basically told me i was 1 or 2 on the waiting list) and 1 long anguishing month later (May 4th to be exact) I got a call from Joelle Williams from the embassy congratulating me on my upgrade. Now here I am in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, in an Internet cafe that also serves dinner, allows you to do your laundry, and take a shower, writing this post. Good luck to anyone applying and if you have any questions, feel free to email me at Jelly476@gmail.com