Contact UsSEARCH

Site Map

2012 JET-MIP ESSAY: CAROLYN JEONOCTOBER, 2012: BREEZE ISSUE #60
A FREE MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF JAPAN & TEACHERS OF JAPANESECAROLYN JEON
Northside College Preparatory High School
Chicago, IL
The moment I found out that I was accepted into this program
felt very unreal. It has always been my dream to go to Japan one
day, but I always thought this would happen after my college
years; never would I have thought that such an opportunity
would come this soon. This would be my first time traveling
anywhere outside of the United States, so I was very excited forthe experiences to come in the summer time.
When everyone in the program arrived in Los Angeles, we visitedthe Japan Foundation and the official residence of the Consul
General of Japan in Los Angeles. There, we met the siblings andparents of Ms. Taylor Anderson and Mr. Montgomery Dickson,
two JET ALT members who lost their lives in the Great East
Japan Earthquake of March 2011. The parents shared about thepassion that Mr. Montgomery Dickson and Ms. Taylor Anderson
had for the country of Japan, the culture, and the people. Ms.
Shelley Fredrickson, Montgomery Dickson’s sister, shared that
Montgomery translated a poem for a friend the day of the tsunami. The translation read, “There is nothing
more beautiful as dedicating one’s life to a cause.” The legacy that both Ms. Anderson and Mr. Dickson left
would become more real and recognizable as the JET-MIP participants traveled to the Tohoku region inJapan.
During our stay in Tohoku, we went to the regions of Rikuzentakata, Kesennuma, Sendai, and Ishinomaki.
Two of the cities we went to was where Ms. Anderson and Mr. Dickson worked as JET ALTs. I think that theday of the Rikuzentakata city tour had the most impact on me during the Tohoku trip. There was muchmedia coverage of the earthquake and tsunami around the time that it occurred over one year ago, but
the attention in America eventually died down after a while. Many of us did not realize the extent of thedamage that took place and still remains; seeing the damage on the television at home and seeing it withyour own eyes were completely different experiences. Our guide, Mr. Konno, showed us pictures of what
the city looked like before the disaster as we walked through the area. Mr. Konno also told us his story of
how he survived and what he saw on that day. It was shocking to see the difference between thePrivacy - Terms

photographs and what we saw in front of us. We visited the site close to where Mr. Dickson was foundafter the disaster. One of our chaperones suggested that we pray for Mr. Dickson as well as all the victims
whose lives were lost in March of 2011. This moment hit many of us and deeply saddened us. However, Mr.
Konno told us something that I still remember now: “Do not worry, because then I will worry, too.” He also
said that even though there has been damage not only to the city but also to the people, the people arelooking forward and hopeful for their future. His positive outlook on the future lifted our spirits, and also
made us hopeful for Japan’s future.
Mr. Konno was not the only person that had a positive attitude. We were greeted with friendly smiles frompeople of all ages everywhere we went, including the people who shared stories about their experiencesof last year’s disaster. For example, the owner of the hotel we stayed at for several nights in Kesennuma
said, “I believe God is healing Japan right now.” One of my group’s tour guides in Sendai talked about how
she lost her home because of the tsunami, but also shared about how she looked forward to her career asa teacher. A high school student in Rikuzentakata I talked to mentioned with excitement about her dream
to become a fashion designer. Even the posters that we saw everywhere we went that said, “ Ganbatte ,” or“work hard!” in English gave the JET-MIP participants an insight into the character of the Japanese people.
Their strong spirit is something that I came to admire during our time in the Tohoku region.
One of the main themes that came up in conversation with others during this trip was the idea of“ kakehashi ,” or a bridge building. “What can we do to serve as a bridge between the United States andJapan?” At first, this idea seemed very hard to grasp; I had only just graduated out of high school. Whatcould I do? However, the conversations I had with the Japanese people helped me answer this question.
The high school summit in Rikuzentakata between the JET-MIP participants and the Japanese high school
students was the first opportunity we were able to talk to people our age and discuss our opinions of what
we can do together to make the idea of kakehashi into a reality. The members of the Kiwi Club, a place
where Japanese people can go to have conversations with others in English and learn more about English,
told us about Ms. Taylor Anderson and how her smiles and her time there will never be forgotten. During
these times, when I told people of the reason behind why the JET-MIP participants were in Japan, I wouldalways receive sincere words of thanks for being there. I realized that even though I cannot do much now,
I can start by going back home and telling others of what I saw, heard, and experienced there as well as
continue the friendships I have made in Japan through means of communication such as email andFacebook.
When we returned to Osaka, the group had the chance to participate in home stays with Semboku HighSchool students. My home stay experience was only for two days, but it was enough time for me to see
the kindness and the fun side of my family. Their laughter and love for jokes made me think of my own
family. My host family’s home almost felt like a second home because of everyone’s bright character. TheJET-MIP group also had the chance to gain more cultural experience through a wadaiko class and wearing
yukatas. I participated in the wadaiko class, and the fun time during that session made me want to learn
more about taiko back here in America!
The official closing ceremony for this trip arrived faster than all of us expected. Some of the Semboku
High School students also came, and as we sang and danced after the ceremony, I felt happy that wecould spend our last day in Japan with them. The bonds I made with the people in Japan is something I
will remember forever, and the fun times that the JET-MIP participants have experienced together in thespan of two and a half weeks has created lasting friendships.
This trip was not only humbling to me, but it was also a life-changing experience. I did not believe lastyear’s JET-MIP participant when he told us in Los Angeles that he does not stop thinking about his Privacy - Terms

awesome time in Japan, but I have also realized that the memories I made during this trip is something I
think about every day. I am so thankful that I was given such a wonderful opportunity. To Mr. Montgomery
Dickson and Ms. Taylor Anderson, I am also thankful, because I was able to learn of how they pursued
their passion wholeheartedly and see the impact that they left in where they were in Japan. This Japantrip has made me even more excited about my future, because I intend to continue studying Japanesethroughout college. Although I am a person who tends to have many worries over things, this experiencehas helped me gain more confidence in not only my Japanese studies, but in other aspects of my life. So,with all sincerity, thank you! Arigatou gozaimashita!

NIPPON THROUGH MY EYES PHOTO SUBMISSION"GANBAPPE!"
Just one of the many signs that I saw that had the words"Ganbatte!" or as some say in the Tohoku region, "Ganbappe!"
which means "You can do it!" in English. These words testified tothe strong spirit of the Japanese people, something all the JETMIP participants came to admire throughout the trip.

Breeze #62

Breeze #61

Breeze #60

2012 JET-MIP Report Part 32012 JET-MIP Essay: Benjamin Johnson

2012 JET-MIP Essay: Carolyn Jeon2012 JET-MIP Essay: Connor Veale
Privacy - Terms

2012 JET-MIP Essay: Corrine Quirk

Breeze #59

Breeze #58

Breeze #57

Breeze #56

Breeze #55

Breeze #54

Breeze #53

Breeze #52

Breeze #51

Headquarters

New York OfficeCenter for Global PartnershipJapan Related Links

Volunteer

ボランティア募集

Job Openings (Updated)

5700 Wilshire blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036
P. 323.761.7510

Annual Report© 2019 The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
Web Design.

Privacy - Terms