#after jet

[tundrafoot]

So! I don't think I fully explained where I moved to! After coming back from Japan, I loved back in with my mom who retired in a small town on the Laurentians (about an hour from Montreal) and helped me sort of get back on my feet. It was a tough year I had troubles redapting teaching in high school here and it was... tough as you might have gathered from other vague posts. On top of that I came dow with some pretty bad reverse culture shock which I think I'm only kind of good with now. There are parts of me that still pull me back to Kyushu though...

And then of course with COVID-19, everything sort of went out for a loop. Thankfully all of my family had been staying safe! So that's good. And the family, we also got a dog and she is super adorable and the light of our lives. She's a German Shepherd turned 10 months a few days ago. Super dorky but super loveable.

I have left my current job as I decided that really would rather work in Elementary rather than High schools. On top of that I wanted to pursue my masters in Education. And this that has lead me to my newest city *drumroll*

The area of Ottawa-Gatineau area!

I've only really been to both places for visits (museums and Canada Day stuff) but I think it's gonna be a nice move for me. When things are safer, I'm super excited to start properly exploring all the museums again. And right now, man there are a lot of parks? It's awesome.

Anyway, I guess this isn't really a JET Blog anymore and more of a "My life the past and now".

I'm always available for any living in Japan questions though! And if you're like me and had a rough return to home, let me know!

[readysetgaikokujin]

I have been having really vivid dreams lately, and by dissecting them it’s pretty obvious I’m nervous to be going back to live in Japan without defining myself as a JET/teacher. Makes me really glad I’m forced to do this. But I’m still scared to go back and be in a job that doesn’t have the same parameters I’ve gotten used to with less of a community than I had. Pros are that the social pressure will be easier to ignore because I’m not invested in office culture the same way. Cons will be a new loneliness?

Change is hard even when it’s good, and I’m redefining a lot of things and ways I talk about myself. I never realized I’d have to do stuff like that.

Little things like “my students” <-- not my students anymore or “at my job” <-- no longer my place of work

It’s small but it feels just really heavy.

Then there are things like when people say “you’re a teacher” to me. Feels like, yeah, I am one even if I’m not paid to be one, but I also am not that anymore.

Labels usually comfort me, but I’m beginning to see that’s because I’m not quite sure how to define myself without them. I’m ready/scared/happy for the opportunity to figure that out though!

Ugh. Need more coffee for thoughts like this.

[maia-abroad]

Some of my former students graduated the other day. A few of them started following me on Instagram when I left, but I didn’t expect to be “put on blast” for commenting on some graduation pictures... haha; (but he immediately PM’d me and asked if I remember that one time we ran into each other playing Pokémon GO on Miyajima and was stoked that I not only remembered but still had the picture) This most recent third year lot was probably the group I bonded with and miss the most. I feel kind of emotional and so proud of them thousands of miles away and I’m truly expecting great things from them. I seriously feel like the reason I’m now in Australia, doing what I’m doing is because of this group of kids. I think that was maybe the best thing about JET. Just the reaffirmation that, this is somehow what I want to spend the rest of my life doing.

[tundrafoot]

Of course I have been keeping up with my Japanese study. I mumble 疲れた or 眠い at the beginning and end of every day and then say めんどくさい when I realize I still have correcting to do. So really, it's like I never left Japan at all.

[readysetgaikokujin]

What are your plans after jet?

Hello Nonny! Plans right now are to take advantage of that one-way ticket home and go back to NC for about a month or so. Explain to my mom that I will be staying in Japan longer haha. Afterwards, I’ll make my roundabout way back to Aomori prefecture to hopefully do something related to tourism and hospitality! It’s all up in the air at the moment so I won’t go into too many specifics, but this month and next month I’m gonna be trying to make those positive steps forward. Cross your fingers for me <3

[maia-abroad]

Sometimes I “still” wonder if JET was the best time of my life...

I love Australia and I’m still super happy here, but damn sometimes I really really really miss my life in Japan. 

[maia-abroad]

Back in Melbourne after a three day JETAA Oceania conference in Auckland. I learned so much about the inner workings of JETAA and it was fun to reunite with some of my buddies from my time on National AJET.

If you’re a recent returnee or returned JET definitely reach out and get in touch. We’re here to help and support you in any way you can when you return.

[maia-abroad]

I spent my first winter in Australia missing Nabe (Japanese hot pot) only to start spring with a nabe dinner party with my coworkers. My belly and heart are so full.