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2013 JET-MIP ESSAYSEPTEMBER, 2013: BREEZE ISSUE #71
A FREE MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF JAPAN & TEACHERS OF JAPANESEJULIANA CHOUP
Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Long Beach, CA

ONCE IN A LIFETIME
After a long and difficult process, I was chosen to participate inthe JET Memorial Invitation Program to go to Japan from July 8to July 23 of 2013. As expected, this trip was a life changing andinspirational experience, as well as to my friends, whom I havetold my stories. In addition to the many emotions this journey has impacted on me, it had also influenced
the path I want to take in terms of the Japanese language.
As many of the participants of the JET-MIP would say, this experience was astoundingly amazing oramazingly astounding. In the beginning, I was nervous that I would have to be with thirty-one otherstudents who I do not know very well. However in the end, I met two girls who can now be considered myclose friends as well as the other students being well known classmates. This trip had given me about
every kind of emotion possible, such as excitement, happiness, sadness, and embarrassment. Each andevery day, everyone in this program was ecstatic and filled with excitement for what was to come. During
the activities with the Japanese students, our individual home stay families, and within us, everyone had agreat, fun, cheerful time. Even though there were some embarrassing misunderstandings, everyone justlaughed it off and worked around it. It was truly inspiring to witness and experience that. After the exciting
activities and creating the deeper bonds, it was disappointing and heartbreaking to separate from the newfriends and our home stay families, who we spent a few hours to a day or two with. To put it simply, eventhough this program had created some sort of sadness, it had also established new and deeper bonds
between individuals as well as producing a new viewpoint within people, such that what they have seen
have inspired them to do something. For example, what we have seen would be what used to be houses,
as well as various amounts of temporary homes, and damaged buildings. The sight of this was depressing
and heartrending. However, the people of the community continue to smile and work hard into rebuilding
and moving forward, rather than to grieve onto the past. We were lucky to perceive and consider theiractions to heart, inspiring us in a different way.
Though this experience has affected me, it has also inspired many of my friends to whom I have told mystory. In response to the description of the Tohoku region, such that many homes and buildings aredemolished, yet people are still continuing to do their best, my friends have said they have found thePrivacy - Termspeople of Tohoku highly inspirational and that even if a challenging event comes in their way, they will

either overlook or analyze it to move forward into the future. In addition, it has inspired my friends to wantto visit Japan, especially the Tohoku region, and learn more of their stories, whether it is related to March
11 or not. Other than the stories about the Tohoku region, my friends were inspired by how clean the airand environment was in Japan and how everyone, foreigners included, did a part to keep Japan clean byseparating trash and recyclables.
Due to the many fun, yet sad events during my experience in Japan, it had allowed me to widen myoptions for my future involving the Japanese language. For example, after hearing many stories from otherJET members, I am considering participating in the JET program by being an assistant language teacher(ALT). I have been inspired by the JET members, their stories, as well as the encounters during my Japan
trip. Furthermore, I have not changed my desire to continue learning the Japanese language and culture incollege. Also, I plan to find any sort of way to assist any Japanese related programs or events that willoccur in the future. It is understandable now that after going to Japan, one would want to pursue apassion to get them closer in engaging in the Japanese culture.
To end my reflections about the Japan trip, I would like to say a few words to Mr. Monty Dickson and Ms.
Taylor Anderson, the two JETs who have lost their lives during the earthquake and tsunami or March 11,
2011. I would like to say that you “senseis” are two of the most amazing people I have heard about in mylife. I have heard the stories about you two, and may I say that you inspire me. In those stories, you two
were really “genki,” purposeful, hardworking, and fun to be around. Even if a challenging event comes
your way, you do not let it bother you, and you continue to move forward, and I admire that. In addition, toTaylor, I love how you push people to go out and have fun, not wasting one second of a day. And to Monty,
I really admire how silly your pictures and videos are; you really seem like an interesting person. So, toend this, Mr. Dickson and Ms. Anderson, I would like to say thank you, for being a part of and making adifference for some Japanese people’s lives, engraving your feelings for Japan in the hearts of the JETMIP 2013 members, and leaving a beautiful legacy for the JET program.

NIPPON THROUGH MY EYES PHOTO SUBMISSION"LIVING WITH NO REGRETS"
Though a disaster has happened, little children continue to keep
their chins up. At the old Watanoha elementary school, thestudents there have painted inspirational messages anddrawings after the tsunami and earthquake.

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Breeze #71

Japanese Language Program Report: Whitney Nakayama

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

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

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