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2013 JET-MIP ESSAYOCTOBER, 2013: BREEZE ISSUE #72
A FREE MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF JAPAN & TEACHERS OF JAPANESEREBECCA COOKSummit High School
Bend, ORThe JET-MIP experience cannot be described in any other word
than incredible. I had always dreamed of going to Japan. This
program not only helped me achieve that dream, but it gave me
the opportunity to experience so much more than I could haveever hoped to with any other program. Although this phrase isvery over used, the JET-MIP program really was life changing for me, and I will forever treasure the bonds
I made and the experiences I had.
When I first learned of the program, I immediately knew I wanted to participate in it. The first year we knew
about it, which was when selections for the 2012 trip were taking place, my teacher nominated anotherstudent. Although I was disappointed, it only pushed me harder. When my teacher told me I had been
selected as a participant for the 2013 program, I was beyond ecstatic. I even began to cry. I could not wait
for this new “adventure” to begin.
My first realization of how impactful this program was, was when I was talking personally with Shelly,
Monty Dickson’s older sister, and Andy, Taylor Anderson’s father. I had seen the videos about Taylor andMonty in my Japanese class many times, and seen interviews from them, but actually talking with them andhearing what this program meant to them, and more importantly how much it would have meant to Taylorand Monty made me begin to truly understand why I was given this amazing opportunity. After all of ourorientation and ice breaking in Los Angeles, we set out for Japan. For many of us, myself included, thiswas our first trip to Japan, so needless to say we were all extremely excited. My first impression of Japan,
besides how unbelievably humid it is, being from the high desert humidity is not something I’m used to,
was how beautiful it is. Even in the airports, it is just amazing.
Throughout the whole trip, I felt as though everyone there was genuinely happy to have me there, and I
really appreciated how much time and preparation was put in to our arrival and making sure we not only
learned, but enjoyed ourselves; everything to the high school summit and the various school visits, to ourtwo homestays, to our various “just for fun” activities.

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I really felt like I was able to see and experience more than just one or two sides of Japan like in mostprograms. Between our time in Osaka, various towns in the Tohoku region, and our short excursion inTokyo, I really felt like I was able to connect with more of Japan. The Tohoku region is where I felt I madethe most connections to out of all of the places we went. Not just because of the disaster, but the culture
there is so calm, and peaceful. It is so unlike anywhere I had ever been, and I love it. Also, the mostimpactful moment for me personally was after the high school summit in Rikuzentakata.
My high school designed and now sell bracelets to send to a sort of scholarship fund for children who areeither orphans or their parents are disabled and cannot work called Ashinaga Kikin, which had a huge
growth in children needing assistance after the disaster. After the summit, we had dinner at a little cafe
called Clover. I was wearing the bracelet and toward the end of the night, a girl named Kana asked mewhat my bracelet was for. When I explained it to her, she told me that she receives assistance from
Ashinaga and thanked me for helping them. The feeling I had after she told me that is unlike any I canever describe, and I would never have been able to have that experience if not for this program.
This program is unlike any other in the sense that we are not just there as high school tourists, we are
there with a purpose. That purpose being to make connections with Japan and its people on more thanjust a superficial level and really learn about the disaster area. I feel that having a purpose there made me
appreciate my time there more than just being a tourist. Being part of this program also gave me more
opportunities to connect than I would have with any other program.
This program has further enhanced my desire to continue studying Japanese and the Japanese culture,and eventually be able to make a career out of it. This program has significantly strengthened my passionfor Japan, its culture and its people. I now also feel a connection to Japan I never had before, eventhough I have hosted students from Japan three times, that does not even compare to the connection I
feel now, and I am so thankful for that.
School in Oregon does not start until September, and I have not had a chance to talk with my former
Japanese teacher, but I fully intend to give my presentation to all of her Japanese classes at Summit thisyear if she allows me, not just my former classmates. If their reaction to everything I have to share will beeven close to everyone else I have already told, I want to share my experience with as many students as I
possibly can. As I said earlier, this program really was life changing for me, and something I will cherish
forever.
To Ms. Taylor Anderson and Mr. Montgomery Dickson; although I never met either of you, I feel I was able
to get to know the two of you through this trip and talking with your friends and family, both in Japan andthe U.S.A. I can feel how much you love Japan and wanted to be that bridge between the two nations
through all of the stories I was told about you. I think you would be very happy seeing all of theconnections all of us made during this experience and that we are all working to keep your dreams alive. I
want to say thank you for everything you did and stood for in your lives and let you know your dreams will
never be forgotten.
Completing this program, I feel as though I really did change as a person and I am beyond grateful foreverything. I made so many connections with my fellow “mippers” and the people of Japan that I know I
will be able to hold on to for the rest of my life. The memories I made on this program are completelyirreplaceable. These memories and experiences will forever help inspire me to become that bridge
between the U.S.A and Japan.

NIPPON THROUGH MY EYES PHOTO SUBMISSION

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"SMALL PRAYERS"
We saw these at every memorial/tragedy zone in the Tohoku
area. They are for prayer for those who lost their lives in thatarea.

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2013 Group Tour Report: Steven Johnson

2013 J-LEAP Report: Amiko Nishijima

2013 J-LEAP Report: Hiroko Maekawa

2013 JET-MIP Essay: Ariana Foster

2013 JET-MIP Essay: Lian Eytinge2013 JET-MIP Essay: Rebecca Cook2013 JET-MIP Essay: Shannon Foremaster

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