Contact Us

SEARCH

Site Map

2013 JET-MIP ESSAYSEPTEMBER, 2013: BREEZE ISSUE #71
A FREE MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF JAPAN & TEACHERS OF JAPANESEALLYZA MAY CONCEPCION
Valley Catholic High School
Beaverton, ORWhen I first found out I made it into this program, I was sosurprised I felt my heart had stopped. It finally hit me a week
later that I was going to Japan, which had been my dream since I
was in sixth grade. The first few weeks after I had received theacceptance email were exciting, but as the days got closer to thetrip, I started to become a little nervous. I wondered if I would get along with anyone and if I would beable to meet the program’s expectations. The moment I stepped off the plane along with a couple friends I
made at the orientation in LA, I had already forgotten my worries, in fact if anything, I felt like I wasrefreshed by the Japanese air.
On the first day we arrived at the institute in Kansai, although I was a bit tired from the long hours wespent on the plane, with the addition of the Osaka heat, the hospitality everyone at the institute gave me
and the excitement my friends and I had from all our plans made me forget about my exhaustion. Thelonger I stayed in Japan, the more I felt welcomed. Before arriving in Tohoku, I thought that the region
would be quiet after all that happened in regards to 3.11. Instead, I arrived in Tohoku with some of the most
hospitable people I had ever met. Their kindness towards us and their enduring genuine care for eachother touched my heart and I will never forget the bonds and friendships I had made.
I truly believe that being a part of this program is one of the best ways to experience Japan firsthand.
What makes this program special is that the participants not only get to visit different regions of Japan, butthey also get enriched with the study aspects of the trip while being immersed in the country’s culture
through school visits and home stays. Another reason why this program is special is because it is proof of
how Ms. Anderson’s and Mr. Dickson’s dreams and legacy can brought out to reality.
The new knowledge and new experiences I attained on this trip not only increased my motivation forlearning even more Japanese, but it also increased my motivation in going beyond that by helping
stabilize the Japanese programs in my area. In Japan, we learned that one of the best ways to keep agood relationship between countries— in this case, America and Japan—is to teach each other’slanguages in each other’s countries. That way we can build stronger bridges and bonds with each other.
With that being said, during my two weeks in Japan, after listening in some of the stories and experiencesthat former and current JETs presented, I have also become interested in becoming a JET.
Privacy - Terms

When I shared my stories of Tohoku with my family and friends, they were surprised. Some of my friends
even stopped me partway through my story and asked twice for confirmation of facts. Two other
Oregonian representatives and I have also shared our stories and adventures with the Consulate Generalof Japan in Oregon over lunch; we also got some of the same reactions from the other guests whoattended. My teacher and I have also become more motivated in attempting to keep our Japanese
program while advertising Japanese so we can keep the Japanese programs in other schools.
From bonding and brainstorming with Japanese high school students over lunch, enjoying quality timewith my two wonderful host families in Sendai and Osaka, and riding my bike towards Osaka’s sunset
painted Rinku Town with a couple of two other JET-MIP participants I am thankful I was able to become
great friends with, I will never forget my amazing experience in Japan and I will continue trying to live out
Ms. Anderson and Mr. Dickson’s inspirational dreams and legacies.
To Ms. Anderson and Mr. Dickson, I would like to say that I am proud of your dedication and I am sohonored to be part of your legacy. I hope that I can fulfill both of your dreams with my utmost effort and I
cannot thank both of you enough for this opportunity to experience Japan in person. I feel so blessed that
I was able to meet the kind people that you worked with; the inspiration that they have gotten from theboth of you inspires me to work harder and become a better Japanese language student. Although I did
not get to know the two of you personally, I feel like our passion for creating a stronger international bond
can connect us. We will never forget what you have done for everyone you impacted and for Japan. Thankyou so much, Rest in Peace.

NIPPON THROUGH MY EYES PHOTO SUBMISSION"MEMORY"
Foundations from houses that were washed away by the tsunami
surrounds this large fishing ship that washed up in Rikuzentakata
on 3.11..

Breeze #74

Breeze #73

Breeze #72

Breeze #71

Japanese Language Program Report: Whitney Nakayama

Privacy - Terms

2013 JET-MIP Essay: Ida Caproon2013 JET-MIP Essay: Jing-Ting Chen

2013 JET-MIP Essay: Juliana Choup2013 JET-MIP Essay: Allyza May Concepcion

Breeze #70

Breeze #69

Breeze #68

Breeze #67

Breeze #66

Breeze #65

Breeze #64

Breeze #63

Headquarters

New York Office

Center 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