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I'm in the Japanese Boonies!
Life as an English Teacher in the Inaka
Created on 2008-07-09 03:11:07 (#16047977), last updated 2009-11-18
404 comments received, 87 comments posted
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Basic Info| Name: | japaneseboonies |
|---|---|
| Birthdate: | 11-20 |
| Location: | Middle of Nowhere, Japan |
BioYou can call me Ax. I`m a US native living as a schoolteacher on a very inaka - rural - island in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. This blog is the life of someone living in the Japanese boonies.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at japaneseboonies at gmail dot com.
FAQ:
Ax, how did you get to Japan, and what are you doing there now?
I came through the JET Programme, a crazy cultural exchange program run by the Japanese government. They put me here in my inaka so that I could work as an ALT, or Assistant Language Teacher. I teach English to every single kid here on my island, from preschool through high school. I also teach an adult English conversation, or eikaiwa, class.
Speaking of your island, will you please tell me a bit about it?
Sure! It's a tiny little rock - only about three square miles in size. It's located in the middle of the Seto Inland Sea between the Japanese mainlands of Honshuu and Shikoku. I'm slightly closer to Honshuu, but it takes me an hour by ferry to get to either one. I don't have a bridge. There are about 3000 people on the island, and I'm the only non-Asian foreigner. Of the 3000, over half are over the age of 65. Welcome to the Japanese boonies.
What's the name of your island?
That's my secret.
But I really want to look on a map and see where you live!
Go look at a map. Find Asia. See that large island group right off the coast of Russian and Korea? Congratulations. That's where I live.
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease tell me where you live?
No.
What's with all the nicknames and secrecy, anyway?
Though I don't say anything too terrible in this blog, I don't especially want my bosses to find it. I don't think most of them could understand it anyway, but better safe than sorry. Besides, the nicknames amuse me.
I'm applying to the JET Programme. Can you help me get in?
I don't have any power over the application process whatsoever. I don't even know anyone who makes the decisions. If you have very specific questions, though, I might be able to answer them. I can also direct you to some very useful JET forums, too.
Any other questions? Email me.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at japaneseboonies at gmail dot com.
FAQ:
Ax, how did you get to Japan, and what are you doing there now?
I came through the JET Programme, a crazy cultural exchange program run by the Japanese government. They put me here in my inaka so that I could work as an ALT, or Assistant Language Teacher. I teach English to every single kid here on my island, from preschool through high school. I also teach an adult English conversation, or eikaiwa, class.
Speaking of your island, will you please tell me a bit about it?
Sure! It's a tiny little rock - only about three square miles in size. It's located in the middle of the Seto Inland Sea between the Japanese mainlands of Honshuu and Shikoku. I'm slightly closer to Honshuu, but it takes me an hour by ferry to get to either one. I don't have a bridge. There are about 3000 people on the island, and I'm the only non-Asian foreigner. Of the 3000, over half are over the age of 65. Welcome to the Japanese boonies.
What's the name of your island?
That's my secret.
But I really want to look on a map and see where you live!
Go look at a map. Find Asia. See that large island group right off the coast of Russian and Korea? Congratulations. That's where I live.
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease tell me where you live?
No.
What's with all the nicknames and secrecy, anyway?
Though I don't say anything too terrible in this blog, I don't especially want my bosses to find it. I don't think most of them could understand it anyway, but better safe than sorry. Besides, the nicknames amuse me.
I'm applying to the JET Programme. Can you help me get in?
I don't have any power over the application process whatsoever. I don't even know anyone who makes the decisions. If you have very specific questions, though, I might be able to answer them. I can also direct you to some very useful JET forums, too.
Any other questions? Email me.
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