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2012 JET-MIP ESSAYSEPTEMBER, 2012: BREEZE ISSUE #59
A FREE MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF JAPAN & TEACHERS OF JAPANESE

ANDREW JUAREZ
Brackenridge High School
San Antonio, TX
The program in Japan was the best experience of my life. I
learned so much from this trip and I believe that I have become abetter person. For someone who has never been to Japan
before, I had the chance to visit many cities and even two
different regions of Japan. Not only did I have the chance to visit
the cities as a tourist, but I was also given the chance of livingwith a Japanese family, which also was an amazing experience.
Before this trip, I hadn't met many Japanese people so I really
didn't know much of how they would react to foreigners. This trip
gave me the opportunity to experience first hand, the kindnessof the Japanese people. Another thing I admire about theJapanese is their willingness to pick themselves back up andmove forward even after a disaster such as the tsunami. They've
instilled me the importance of admiring the non-materialistic
things in life because they themselves have the power to smileeven with just rubble around them. Before I had been to Japan, I
was already persistent on learning the Japanese language. But now I am fired up now more than ever tocontinue this path of becoming a translator that I have begun to walk on.
Two other things that I was also unsure about before this trip was participating in the JET Program andalso whether or not I actually wanted to permanently live in Japan. As of now, I have no doubt in my mind
that I want to try my best to become accepted into the JET program. I believe it will be anotherspectacular experience in my life and I want to be able to contribute to the country that I love. It would
make me happy to know that I could make a difference in the lives of the youth of Japan. As for living inJapan, I think the JET Memorial Invitation Program has proved to me that I can survive in Japan on theJapanese I know now. However, I definitely plan to improve my Japanese before I return so that I may beable to create better relationships with the people around me. I plan to take classes in college and evensearch for a Japanese club. I also realize that I may be faced with more difficult situations like paying bills
or in the workplace where I may encounter Keigo. This is all the more reason why I need to keep working
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on my Japanese. Before the JET program though, I plan to study abroad as it is required of my major. My
first choice of course, is Japan. And now I have an advantage since I have already visited the country andhave gotten a feel for it.
As I was presenting my slide show to my study group, some of them had questions about the currenttsunami situation. For example, one of the questions was about radiation. I was asked if within
Rikuzentakata the radiation levels were safe to be around. I also remember before going to Japan, mygovernment teacher asking me the same question, if it was safe to be going to those tsunami affectedareas. I am assuming, most Americans do not know that the radiation levels are at a safe level. Americans
are not being kept up to date of Japan’s current situation and I believe this needs to change. The only
coverage I have seen recently about the tsunami was only about how the remains of some boats fromJapan were washed upon American shores. I will do my part to share the information that I have learned
about Japan’s current situation, but I also wish that there would be news coverage on it as well. If morecoverage takes place, then more Americans would want to step in and lend a helping hand. Even if threeother members beside myself have already been to Japan, I showed them stuff that tourists don’t normallysee everyday. As for the ones that haven’t been to Japan yet, I am sure that my efforts have also sparked
a fire within them and I know they will keep passionately studying the Japanese language as I have beendoing.
As for the legacy of Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson, I feel proud to be carrying on and picking up
where they left off. It is my goal in life, to become like those two American teachers, and truly offer up
everything I have to the country that I love. They have inspired me to follow in their footsteps and keep
their legacy alive. Even if I face hardship in my Japanese classes like Monty Dickson did, I will act as hedid and I will not give up. If I am chosen to be apart of the JET program, I will imitate them and put myheart and soul into my teaching.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Japan Foundation for a trip that made me enoughmemories to last a lifetime. I will never forget this experience and I will use what I learned from this trip
and apply it to everyday life. This trip was a great stepping stone in strengthening my relationship withJapan and I will continue to help this bond flourish.

NIPPON THROUGH MY EYES PHOTO SUBMISSION"CAR! DANGER"
EVEN WARNING SIGNS IN JAPAN ARE CUTE!

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2012 Japanese American Leadership Delegation2012 JET-MIP Essay: Andrew Juarez

2012 JET-MIP Essay: Andrew Kim

2012 JET-MIP Essay: Anna Lee

2012 JET-MIP Essay: Anna Mai

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