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2012 JET-MIP ESSAYDECEMBER, 2012: BREEZE ISSUE #62
A FREE MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF JAPAN & TEACHERS OF JAPANESEHILLARY NGUYEN
Lockport Township High School
Lockport, IL
Japan ... a majestic, mysterious, magnificent land that I nevertruly knew about. Even after three years of learning the language- and the culture, and the traditions, and even the superstitions my expectations of Japan were naive and uncertain; myimaginations were blurry. So when I learned that I was going tothe land of the rising sun with 31 other people that I had nevermet before in my life I was a bit intimidated. I was leaving thecountry - which I hadn’t done in almost a decade - withstrangers. Not only had I no idea what to expect from theprogram at all. On paper, everything that was listed on ouritinerary was vague, making it difficult to comprehend what I wastruly going to experience in the next two weeks.
Experiencing Japan through the JET Memorial Invitation Program
was a gratifying adventure for me. It required hard work, toughdecisions, and even stepping outside of my comfort zone to be
successful. Through the program I was able to meet many
people who are kind, compassionate, strong, and who are now my friends. Even though we are thousandsof miles apart we hold onto a bond that most people don’t get to experience. The classes that prepared
us for the many trips we took were enlightening and amusing. I never had a class that was spoken in only
Japanese so for the first couple of times it was a culture shock. But what shocked me even more was how
much Japanese was used during the trip. Whether it was at the local Family Mart or in attempts to find theconveyor-belt sushi restaurant, I used - and learned - more Japanese than I could have imagined. I knowthat if I were to go to Japan as a tourist rather than through this program, I would not have gotten thechance to visit the beauty of the Tohoku region, or learn the eccentric Kansai dialect, or make some of myclosest friends.
Through the many moments I experienced in Japan, I gained a newfound love for the language and theculture. The beauty that surrounded me for two weeks was unforgettable. Even in the most devastatedplaces there was an aura of beauty and mystery that cannot be found anywhere else but Japan. With thisrenewed interest, I have been more motivated than ever to continue learning the Japanese language.
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want to become proficient in the language that has captivated me since I was young. I want to be
immersed in the culture that I’ve spent years learning. I want to interact with the people who showed
insurmountable kindness even when it was the first meeting. This program has solidified my desire to not
only study abroad but also work in Japan.
I plan to give presentations to the Japanese classes at my High School to give them a sense of how Japan
truly is. I know every student that decided to take Japanese has some sort of interest in the culture inorder for them to take such a rigorous class so I hope that through the presentation, they will also findinspiration to not only aide in the relief effort in Japan but to also help build the bridge between Japanand the United States. So far I’ve told close friends and families about the impact of this program and thecondition of Japan. All of them were shocked by my experiences in Japan. From the beauty of thelandscapes and the people to the destruction and reconstruction after the disaster of last year, all of it
fascinated my friends and families. They gained a new interest in a culture that is hard to be exposed tohere in the suburbs of Chicago. For a lot of my friends who are involved in volunteer services, they founda new project to support. They expressed a lot of interest in helping with the relief effort for the Tohoku
region even though we are thousands of miles away. It was encouraging to see that people close to me
gain such a positive perspective towards Japan and all that it has gone through.
For me, Ms. Anderson and Mr. Dickson will be always be two people who inspired a meaningful love for aculture and a language that people may not understand or take the time to learn. They are true rolemodels to look up to find that perseverance, hard work, and dedication can lead to success in ways thatare immeasurable. I want to say that their work and message will not go in vain - for there are future
generations of people that share their love for Japan and hope to connect America to Japan in every way
possible. They have inspired me to be one.
The Jet Memorial Invitation Program was created to commemorate the dreams and aspirations of two
amazing people. Through this program, it has help mold 32 other people to continue their progress
towards a united community. Although this program will only continue for a few more years, I believe that
the JET Memorial Invitation Program will have the same effect on the future participant as it did for the2012 JET-MIPPERs.

NIPPON THROUGH MY EYES PHOTO SUBMISSION"A TEMPLE IN THE LIMELIGHT"
A temple that is illuminated by a light from nowhere (it was a cloudy/rainy day) brings back the temple andits sightseers back to ancient times.

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2012 JET-MIP Report 5/8

2012 J-LEAP Report: Chigusa Izumi

2012 J-LEAP Report: Katsura Shimano

2012 JET-MIP Essay: Hillary Nguyen

2012 JET-MIP Essay: Indica Sur

2012 JET-MIP Essay: Jennie Ju

2012 JET-MIP Essay: Jenny Trieu

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