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2014 JET-MIP REPORT: BRITTA SMITH

MARCH, 2015: BREEZE ISSUE #89
A FREE MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF JAPAN & TEACHERS OF
JAPANESE

BRITTA SMITH
Bishop Blanchet High SchoolSeattle, WATHE REFLECTION IN THE RIVER BY THE
BRIDGEMy summer of 2014 could not have beenbetter. I graduated high school, I’m going tocollege, but most importantly I had theexperience of a lifetime. I cried, I laughed, I
made all kinds of friends, and I learned somuch. For 20 days I traveled with 32 new friends and together we went through all kinds ofamazing experiences with them. I could not be more grateful for those 20 days.
I knew the program would be very influential, but I underestimated how inspiring it would be. A
friend and previous participant in the JET-MIP program, Alex Leal (2013), warned me Japanmight not be everything I had seen in the anime I watch or manga I read. I worried about whatmight be different, but eventually I told myself that I was going there to experience authentic
culture and learn about history and perhaps I might be disappointed, but I wouldn’t know until Iwent. Thanks to this mindset, I had a blast. Certain people on the trip emphasized how excitedthey were to go to Tokyo, but I focused on things like the day trip to Kyoto.
In the first days of the trip, we were faced with some adversity. Aside from the humidity andgargantuan bug bites, we were to experience a typhoon. The typhoon, although it didn’t affectus at the Kansai Language Institute, ruined our travel plans to go to Rikuzentakata, the town
where Montgomery Dickson lived. I was crestfallen because I wanted to see the ‘miracle’ pineand learn more about Montgomery. Aside from the typhoon, however, the trip went according toplan. During the Tohoku portion of the trip I went through so many emotions. I was moved byPrivacy - Terms
Endo-san’s courage and spirit, I was touched by the sweet children of Watanoha Elementary

School, I was melancholy as I stood in Hiyoriyama Park overlooking the city, and I was excited
and joyful when I spent the day with my Japanese peers. The Tohoku tour was a memorable
rollercoaster of emotions that brilliantly pieces together a well-rounded picture of the Tohoku
culture and people of the area.
My favorite part of the trip was all the high school exchanges. The Japanese students were sowelcoming. I think I learned the most from doing those exchanges. In fact, I am still learning
because I continue to communicate with them through a texting app. I talk to my host sister inJapanese and help some of the students from Tohoku practice English. Those exchanges
helped convince me that I want to continue to study Japanese. Even though I am going intoEngineering, a very demanding major, I am determined to minor in Japanese now. I feel like it is
the least I could do to thank the Japan Foundation, Taylor Anderson, and Montgomery Dickson
for this amazing program.
My second-favorite part of the trip is what has come and will come after. Already I have gotten
to share the stories I heard and memories I made with family and friends. And I love sharing
Japan with these people, from everyone cooing over the Pikachu kiddie ride to their awe at
Endo-san and his Rainbow Bridge. I yearn for the next opportunity to share this world withsomeone. Many people around me say that they are very proud of me for going on this trip andare so glad I shared with them. I am grateful for those comments, but I feel that the admiration
should go towards the Japan Foundation, Taylor, and Montgomery.
I am very sad that I didn’t get to learn more about Montgomery, but I can tell from the way his
family spoke about him what an exemplary person he was. I know I’ve said it so many times
already, but going to Tohoku was such an eye-opening and awesome experience. Visiting
Ishinomaki, I can see the beautiful town that deepened Taylor’s love of Japan. I am inspired bytheir example and cannot wait to become a JET Assistant Language Teacher myself. I want toextend my thanks to Montgomery and Taylor for everything they have taught me. They may nothave said it directly to me, but I learned everything on this trip through them.

NIPPON THROUGH MY EYES PHOTOSUBMISSION“Secret Garden Japan Version”
Guardians tucked away near Senso Temple and Asakusa Shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo. In the lower
left there is a sparrow, hopping from rock to rock. I was tickled by the paper umbrella withplastic that was placed there over the guardians. I enjoy searching for places that aren’t
noticed as much or are a bit more quiet.

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Japanese Langauge Education Update 16

2014 JET-MIP Report: Valerie Santos

2014 JET-MIP Report: Kyle Smith

2014 JET-MIP Report: Jacqueline Tran

2014 JET-MIP Report: Britta Smith
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