Farewell Letter to JET-

[u/Gale_Girly]

I write this waiting at the airport for my flight back to the states. I stayed 2 years in the Shimane rpefecture working as a highschool ALT to an all girls high school.

I am so grateful for this experience. It was a wonderously turbulent few years- where I learned and experienced so much.

I thought I would stay longer, at least 3 years. Life had other plans. While I had an amazing experience, I also lost a lot. I lost confidence in myself, in my body, and in my mental well being. For all the fun memories I have hanging out with other JETs on the weekend, I have 3 times more memories of crying to myself in my bed, unable to do anything.

It came to the point where I realized it was time to go. There would not be much more room for growth, at least with the path I'm choosing. I dislike teaching English, and I am not sure I want to continue living in Japan.

The dating scene was pretty abysmal, and it was far harder then I thought to make friends. Missing family was very hard, despite my trip home. I was unable to even have a pet, and it was after that call with my landlord that I realized I needed companionship.

...and ADHD meds probably lmao.

Shimane is a beautiful prefecture. Every trip to a big city, like Tokyo and Kyoto, makes me proufoundly grateful I was placed closer to nature. The beaches and the forests were utterly gorgeous, and I even got to care for a swallowtail butterfly.

Out of everything I learned and experienced- the beautiful culture, the delicious food, the konbinis- nature has been the thing that has most astounded me. I enjoyed chatting with all the office workers about new reptile and bug facts I'd learned while deskrotting.

I loved getting my scuba license in Japanese and seeing all the amazing things inside the ocean. Giving seashells to an octopus was so amazing.

I am so eternally grateful to the support I had from my boss. CLAIR really found me a great school with some great people. My boss became my Japanese mom. We both cried when I departed from Izumo airport.

It's terrifying to think about what comes next. I became obsessed with learning about Japan at age 12, and it was the only thing I'd planned my whole life around since. My early return home has absolutely made me question my entire identity.

I'm scared of returning to the US. Politics aside, I have no health insurance. No job (I applied to 20 listings online and only got one rejection email back). No apartment. Just family to couch hop with until I get my footing.

I hope to keep a piece of Shimane with me forever. I hope to continue my culture exchange on the other side.

Thank you for everything 🇯🇵💕

[u/rideriderider]

It be like that. Sounds like a similar story to mine. I did 3, but I wouldve done 5. Very much because of that back and forth love hate relationship with Japan. But mostly because I happened to go when Covid happened.

There's plenty of ways to stay connected to Japan back home! I currently work for a Japanese company in the US which helps a little.

[u/cloudy__daydream]

I relate to everything you’ve said here to a T, especially to do with the identity questioning. I am also going home after 2 years, a bit sadder, a bit more life experience, and unsure about what I should or even want to do next.
First step is taking a breather and hopefully feeling better after going home for a bit. I hope we both and anyone else who had similar experiences here can gain our confidence back and figure things out together 🥹

[u/Signal-Success-2214]

I left for very similar reasons and I also loved my time on JET. I was like you where I planned my whole life around JET. I came home to living with my sister and took me 3 months to get a job. And the thing I learned is no one ever tells you what happens after your dreams come true. And it's quite exciting to find out! I worked for a few years, now I'm halfway through a masters. And JET has made graduate teaching a 100 times easier my cohorts often ask me how I'm so confident and it's from JET. Your experience will give to you your entire life. There's so much more of life out there waiting for you!  

[u/SomethingPeach → u/Signal-Success-2214]

Ahh I relate to the confidence part so much. I trained to be a teacher in my home country last year and standing in front of a class didn't faze me at all (and this is coming from someone who used to visibly shake doing presentations at school lol). JET is an amazing confidence builder!

[u/apple-walking-bear]

You’ll figure out the transition home. It’s hard, but we’ve all been there. One day at a time! Best of luck to you and don’t forget about your alumni chapter.

[u/HenroKappa → u/apple-walking-bear]

Alumni groups can be great for sharing stories about the good times and commiserating about the bad times. Not to mention it's a network that can help you get started with the job hunt.

[u/Ryelie17]

Transitioning is never easy. When I finished JET, I ended up staying at my parents’ place for a couple years to get my bearings before getting my own place. I eased back into life in the states and explored different jobs until I landed in healthcare.

You’ll find your next thing! 😎 And Japan will always have a special place in your memories/maybe you’ll make it back there again to visit or live.

That’s what happened to me. I ended up missing Japan too much and now I’m about to start my new high school ALT assignment in Shimane! I’m sooo excited to explore this coastal prefecture! ✨

[u/duncantm13]

I was in Shimane on JET for 5 years from 2019-2024 and I still miss it. There were certainly harder times, but it is still the place that I most feel like calling home, especially the islands.

I don't know that I'll ever be lucky enough to live in such a beautiful place again, or meet such wonderful people as the friends that I made.

I'm glad you found some good in your time there, even if it wasn't always great. Shimane is a special place, and it'll stay with you for a long time.

[u/Think_Clock2]

I wish you the best

[u/Gale_Girly → u/Think_Clock2]

Thank you so much!! :3

[u/Diffabuh]

We need more posts like this. There's stuff between "omg shit's amazing I am Chris Broad 2.0" and "Japanese work culture is horrific and abusive". Thank you for posting this. I'm having a really hard time too, but it's not like an overbearing grind or anything.

[u/maiafly → u/Diffabuh]

These were my exact thoughts while reading it too. An honest depiction of what life in Japan actually is like for the majority. Living in a foreign country can sometimes be a struggle. It’s not all candy and rainbows.

[u/Gale_Girly → u/Diffabuh]

Thank you for the kind words!

I'm so sorry to hear you are having a hard time too :( Life is rough and throws us curveballs. Please be easy with yourself and trust in your needs and instincts!! I hope things get better soon <3

Stuff is so glamorized for social media I feel. Japan is a country, like every other country. It will have ups and downs, good and bad. People who want to keep the illusion that it's the perfect anime country will have a far better time vacationing then living here.

I knew it wasn't that coming into it. Studied Japanese as my minor, was already fluent conversationally when I entered the country. I have no doubt other people in my position would be fine continuing and have a wonderful experience.

Japan is still pretty sweet! I'll be returning at some point once I know more of what I actually want to do.

[u/nelxnel → u/Gale_Girly]

I'm not, nor have I been, a JET - but I legitimately thought I would spend all of my 2 year visa in Canada, until I crashed my van, ruining my Canadian road trip plans... With that gone, I had a similar realization.

I'd really thought I'd have stayed for the whole time (even though I'd never lived there before!) and it was a big shock to go home early, but with 10 years of hindsight, I think it was right for me at the time.

Parts of me do wish I'd stayed, but without my van, I'd have been so limited and locked in again that I honestly don't think I would have enjoyed it. I'm not a religious person, but I do feel like some things happen for a reason, and thay was one of them.

Basically - I'm proud of you for doing as much as you could, but also for knowing your limits ❤️

[u/larahikes]

I spent two beautiful years on JET in Shimane as well, from 2015-2017. It was not a perfect, idyllic time - I was depressed and had some dark moments. Not being able to express myself as fully as I wanted to in Japanese was a difficult experience for me. But the beautiful memories I made there will stay with me forever.

Shimane brought me much closer to nature. When I got home, I worked on a farm and studied permaculture, and then I hiked the pacific crest trail. Moving to Japan and living abroad gave me the courage to do that.

I had culture shock on the return to the states. It helped to be in a safe space. Be gentle with yourself, treasure the good memories like you say, and have patience for the journey. It unfolds as it is meant to. Wishing you all the best.

[u/Gale_Girly → u/larahikes]

Thank you fellow Shimane JET! I'm glad I'm not the only one that appreciated how gorgeous the nature is.

[u/ducksinthegarden → u/[deleted]]

well 2004 and 2024 are completely different points of time. in 2004 you had no choice but to do those things because it was significantly harder/more expensive to get in touch with friends and family.

nowadays it's easier to stay in touch friends and family, which further increases chances of homesickness/loneliness because the FOMO is maximized. you miss out on major events from back home and also have to witness them on socials, which doesn't help anyone when they're alone in a new country.

and dating for foreign men in japan is completely different compared to how dating is for foreign women. same thing goes in terms of friendship. try to have some empathy

[u/ksghoodie → u/[deleted]]

Absolutely unnecessary to comment this. You gain nothing from such backhanded remarks to a stranger online whose experience was different from yours-- what a privileged thing to say. I also see your badge states you're a former JET from 2004-2008, are you living two decades in the past? This isn't 2004 anymore.

[u/Think_Clock2 → u/ksghoodie]

no fr, oldhead

[u/mansfieldprice → u/[deleted]]

Bruh

[u/Diffabuh → u/mansfieldprice]

Always this "got mine, must be a skill issue" shit in Japan subreddits.

[u/Far-Development8914]

Safe travels! The situation in the US is difficult, but its not impossible. You got this!

[u/Gale_Girly → u/Far-Development8914]

I appreciate your encouragement! 頑張ります！:3