Yokoso, Nippon e! – A Welcoming Beginning to Japan!

I write this post on an eight-hour bus ride heading to Fukui-shi, where I’ll get to attend a two-day seminar and my formal contract-signing ceremony with my contracting organization – The Fukui Board of Education. Looking out the window I am able to observe some of the most beautiful pine-forest and rice-field scenery I could have possibly imagined as I make my way to the Northern Coast of Japan from Shinjuku - Tokyo’s bright-lighted-district.

I wanted to take a minute to reflect on some of the many overwhelmingmoments that I've got to experience since my arrival to Japan and my three-day-stay at Keio Plaza Hotel for the JET Programme Tokyo Orientation 2009. I would also like to take this opportunity to explain my readers what exactly I’ll be doing in Japan and why this adventure of mine will be the beginning of a wonderful journey in the story of my life and a landmark in my future career endeavors.

Throughout my travels, I have come to learn that living in the moment entails having no expectations and simply accepting things (both the good and the bad) as they come. Indeed, preoccupying oneself with potential challenges/issues/fears is futile; one can never truly know what life has in store for us. In other words, often the best course of action is to expect the unexpected and be mindful of the BIG PICTURE. Thus, since my arrival to Tokyo, I can honestly say that all my training and preparations for this adventure have truly paid off (BIG time).

***The Set-up: The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, which began in 1987, is implemented by the Council of Local Authorities for International relations (CLAIR) and co-sponsored by three Japanese ministries: the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). This year marks the beginning of JET Programme’s 23^rd season, and I’m one of over 4,400 fortunate individuals from 36 countries from around the globe that will be placed throughout Japan’s 42 Prefectures this year.

**My assignment: To become a bridge between Japan, Canada, Mexico, and the world as a whole by promoting international understanding and foreign language education both at the local level and across Japan. Furthermore, I am expected to fully immerse myself in Japanese culture in order to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding (to be the Anthropologist…) In essence, I am expected to fully embody the role of a "sensei" (Teacher/Master).

During the orientation’s Keynote Speaker address, Mr. Hiroshi Hiraki told us that “every day is the first day to the rest of your life”. Furthermore, he emphasized that although one can "finish" school, learning is a life-long process. From what I gathered from Mr. Hiraki’s speech, the only mistake in life is inaction (i.e. doing nothing). It is for this reason that merely acquiring knowledge is not sufficient; application is essential. Indeed, Mr. Hiraki couldn’t have made it more clear when he quoted Abraham Lincoln:

The man who is incapable of making mistakes is incapable to do anything; nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

Following the Keynote Speech, I pledged upon myself to maximize eachopportunity to interact with as many of the 1,500 ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) and CIRs (Coordinators for International Relations) that were therein order to expand my personal and professional network(s). Having met people who will be placed all over Japan, I am quite confident that I’veincreased my chances to get to experience all of Japan in the exact way that I’ve intended to. Moreover, now that I’ve met like-minded individuals, it is clear that I now have many potential partners for my adventures throughout Asia, SE Asia, India, Nepal, Tibet, parts of the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand over the next months and years. Indeed, I rest assured that my current geographical location is the best possible platform from which much exploration and travel experiences are yet to come.

Suffice to say that during the past five days I have come to understand that this is truly an Ichigo Ichie — the opportunity of a lifetime. I couldn’t be happier to have answered the call to this journey and boldly go to where I’ve been called. Strangely enough (but not surprisingly), since my plane landed in Narita on Sunday afternoon, I have felt like being home. I have always felt a strong attraction to Japan and its culture since I was four years old and my parents enrolled me in the art of Karate-Do, but to be finally here… well, it’s something else. I couldn’t feel more honored and privileged at this stage of my life.

Prior to my departure many of you asked me how long I was planning on staying in Japan. For the most part, I responded that I would try to stay for a minimum of 2 years in order to truly immerse myself in Japanese culture and its language; however, after my attendance to the Tokyo’s orientation… I believe that my earnest answer would be to say that I intend to stay here for an indefinite period of time. As far as I’m concerned, I am exactly where I’m supposed to be, and I aim to make the best of every second I am given in this incredible country.

Note: In a few hours, I’ll be finally arriving to my new home – Tsuruga. Once I take this weekend to explore my region, acclimatize, and get settled into my apartment, I’ll be sure to publish another post about Tsuruga itself. Stay tuned.