Ok. Today is the long flight back to Japan and thank god I decided to get to the airport 4 hours early cuz it was one turn around after the other ugg.
Assuming that my flight back to Japan was also on AA I went to the wrong terminal. On top of that the checking agents had a hell of a time figuring out my Japanese visa .... that was a panic moment. When that was finally sorted that was a huge relief but then when I tried to find out where I needed to go I got sent to the wrong terminal again. Some workers were less than helpful so after a while I just had to say "yuh know what ... screw this I'll figure it out myself!"
So 2 wrong terminals later I found where I had to go and finally could let go of the stress and anxiety of the morning. Finally siting here relaxing sipping some coffee and a so so at best croissant - kinda scared to keep eating it but hey.
As I sit here I wonder how it's going to be for me to readjust to life in Japan. I am excited to see my friends over there and my teachers and my kids. I dunno how easy it's gonna be to get back into the swing of things and go back to work everyday after spending everyday partying, shopping and going to the beach lol. I think the toughest thing is gonna be going to work the day after I get back, I think the jetlag is gonna be ... interesting. I think my first week will be spent in nurse tanaka's sick bay napping lol I really miss her she so adorable.
I just wish there was a faster way back to Japan, right now I'm worried about being sick on the plane again. For the last few flights I've gotten sick and I DON'T wanna go through that on this flight. Trying to keep my cool.
Hang in there Japan I'm almost there.
10 Jan 2012
Bye bye bim until next time
As I start my long trek back to my second home I'm going through a lot of mixed emotions. The trip was well worth it. I had an incredible time with my friends and family and it was great to revisit my old stomping grounds.
I take back with my sun kissed skin luggage full of souvenirs and a heart full of memories. I guess anyone would have the wudda cudda shudda in the back of their minds about more things they think they should have done on vacay but nah I loved it the way it was. It was great to hang out with my family in person although they wanna drive me up a wall from time to time but they wouldn't be my family if they didn't.
Now it's off to New York for a few days to climatize to prep for the cold of northern Japan. To be honest I don't have any real plans for my time there just hang with family I haven't seen in a bit.
Bye Bim see you this Christmas. Lots of love. Xxx
I take back with my sun kissed skin luggage full of souvenirs and a heart full of memories. I guess anyone would have the wudda cudda shudda in the back of their minds about more things they think they should have done on vacay but nah I loved it the way it was. It was great to hang out with my family in person although they wanna drive me up a wall from time to time but they wouldn't be my family if they didn't.
Now it's off to New York for a few days to climatize to prep for the cold of northern Japan. To be honest I don't have any real plans for my time there just hang with family I haven't seen in a bit.
Bye Bim see you this Christmas. Lots of love. Xxx
Being a cultural ambassador
For all ALTS a big part of your job is being a cultural ambassador for your country, however, you are also an ambassador for Japan when you return home.
Since returning home on vacation I found myself fielding so many questions about my experiences there so far and life in Japan on a whole. That ability to answer any question also comes from being recognized from a program I did while in Japan about my life there. I'm still so surprised that I've been recognized by many people here at home. I love to see the level of interest in Japan and the amount of people that have become interested in going to Japan since hearing about my time there. For many people they were not aware of the JET Programme and since hearing about it they've become very interested in participating on the programme. I really makes me happy that I am happy to be able to help anyone in any way to to get more Barbadians to take part in this amazing experience.
Since being home I've appeared on the national morning program and been asked to talk people about Japan. I am so proud to be more than just another participant on this Programme and I fell like I am truly making a difference in people's lives and I'm not just being there only getting what I want out of the experience and leaving with the memories. My hope is that I can increase the amount of annual applicants and participants accepted in the coming years. At the moment they only take about 3 participants a year and I would love to see an increase in bajan influence over here similar to what Jamaica currently has. This too is influenced by the work done by bajans currently here. As there are so few if us over there our behaviour and our work directly influences the perception on our country and the future desire schools will have to have more of us in the future. This is something we all take very seriously and will continue to do.
Like I said before I love what I do and will continue to do this for as long as I can. :)
Since returning home on vacation I found myself fielding so many questions about my experiences there so far and life in Japan on a whole. That ability to answer any question also comes from being recognized from a program I did while in Japan about my life there. I'm still so surprised that I've been recognized by many people here at home. I love to see the level of interest in Japan and the amount of people that have become interested in going to Japan since hearing about my time there. For many people they were not aware of the JET Programme and since hearing about it they've become very interested in participating on the programme. I really makes me happy that I am happy to be able to help anyone in any way to to get more Barbadians to take part in this amazing experience.
Since being home I've appeared on the national morning program and been asked to talk people about Japan. I am so proud to be more than just another participant on this Programme and I fell like I am truly making a difference in people's lives and I'm not just being there only getting what I want out of the experience and leaving with the memories. My hope is that I can increase the amount of annual applicants and participants accepted in the coming years. At the moment they only take about 3 participants a year and I would love to see an increase in bajan influence over here similar to what Jamaica currently has. This too is influenced by the work done by bajans currently here. As there are so few if us over there our behaviour and our work directly influences the perception on our country and the future desire schools will have to have more of us in the future. This is something we all take very seriously and will continue to do.
Like I said before I love what I do and will continue to do this for as long as I can. :)
Reverse culture shock ( I thought I had posted this)
This is something that has honestly hit me like a ton of bricks. Living in japan has conditioned me for some serious isolation, very few black people and even fewer Caribbean people! In my area I was the only Caribbean person until recently when I was joined by a few Jamaicans. You become extremely accustomed to be rare and being starred at and seeing your own people once in a blue moon. Coming home or the holidays has seriously sent my system into shock.
After leaving Fukushima I headed to Narita airport and even there I saw more black people in the waiting area than I had seen in months in my area. That took some adjusting too. I found myself just constantly looking at them and acting just like the locals in my area when they saw me when I first arrived lol. When I arrived in New York this feeling and behavior was put into overdrive!!! Black people everywhere.!! It was awesome and at the same time unnerving it went from a trickle to flood in 13 hours.
Being in Barbados was yet another somewhat big readjustment. It's great I be home even for a little while, I missed my family, friends, food and the temperature but I found it somewhat odd. When I first arrived I was overjoyed to back in Bim but it didn't feel real to me. Walking around area and going to my favourite places felt surreal I didn't really feel like I was actually there. I kept asking myself was ever really in Japan??? I kept looking at photos in my phone to remind myself it was all real.
THINGS I MISSED
I definitely missed my family and friends like crazy. It's amazing to see them and hang out and just act crazy like the old days.
I miss the temperature. I love the new experience of winter but sometimes I miss not having to layer everyday. Being an island girl I kinda miss just plain old shorts and a t-shirt thing.
I miss that some things are are exactly the same as when I left. I love the way the island vibe and one love mentality. Nothing will change that about my people. I love that my country has avoided becoming a dangerous place to live. I can walk around at any time of day and feel safe.
THINGS I DON'T MISS
I have to say that Japan has definitely spoiled me. Japan is gotten me over the "island time living". Now I live on Japanese behaviour so on time is late and 10 mins early is on time and I like that ... Keeps you sharp. If you like that kinda of living sometimes Barbados will drive you CRAZY!!!!! Of course here is a high level of professionalism but in comparison to Japan it has a ways to go.
Many places in bim must be commended for their customer service but some place truly need to revise their policies or have more checks and balances for staff. I don't miss the time it sometimes takes to get things done.
Ah well i guess it all adds to it's charm. One thing I'll say bim preps you for living anywhere and will always love it for that lol.
After leaving Fukushima I headed to Narita airport and even there I saw more black people in the waiting area than I had seen in months in my area. That took some adjusting too. I found myself just constantly looking at them and acting just like the locals in my area when they saw me when I first arrived lol. When I arrived in New York this feeling and behavior was put into overdrive!!! Black people everywhere.!! It was awesome and at the same time unnerving it went from a trickle to flood in 13 hours.
Being in Barbados was yet another somewhat big readjustment. It's great I be home even for a little while, I missed my family, friends, food and the temperature but I found it somewhat odd. When I first arrived I was overjoyed to back in Bim but it didn't feel real to me. Walking around area and going to my favourite places felt surreal I didn't really feel like I was actually there. I kept asking myself was ever really in Japan??? I kept looking at photos in my phone to remind myself it was all real.
THINGS I MISSED
I definitely missed my family and friends like crazy. It's amazing to see them and hang out and just act crazy like the old days.
I miss the temperature. I love the new experience of winter but sometimes I miss not having to layer everyday. Being an island girl I kinda miss just plain old shorts and a t-shirt thing.
I miss that some things are are exactly the same as when I left. I love the way the island vibe and one love mentality. Nothing will change that about my people. I love that my country has avoided becoming a dangerous place to live. I can walk around at any time of day and feel safe.
THINGS I DON'T MISS
I have to say that Japan has definitely spoiled me. Japan is gotten me over the "island time living". Now I live on Japanese behaviour so on time is late and 10 mins early is on time and I like that ... Keeps you sharp. If you like that kinda of living sometimes Barbados will drive you CRAZY!!!!! Of course here is a high level of professionalism but in comparison to Japan it has a ways to go.
Many places in bim must be commended for their customer service but some place truly need to revise their policies or have more checks and balances for staff. I don't miss the time it sometimes takes to get things done.
Ah well i guess it all adds to it's charm. One thing I'll say bim preps you for living anywhere and will always love it for that lol.
Home for the holidays
Like so many people around the world I decided to head home for the holidays. Nothin is better than being surrounded by friends and family during this special time of year. However, unlike many other people, that decision was easy for me to make bus a difficult task to execute.
My decision meant a 170 mile train ride to Narita airport, a 13 hour 6745 mile flight to New York and another 6 hour another roughly 3000 miles to Barbados via Miami with a whopping 5K price tag. All I can say is there is no place like home so it was well worth it.
Coming home was exciting yet sad one. I was ex
My decision meant a 170 mile train ride to Narita airport, a 13 hour 6745 mile flight to New York and another 6 hour another roughly 3000 miles to Barbados via Miami with a whopping 5K price tag. All I can say is there is no place like home so it was well worth it.
Coming home was exciting yet sad one. I was ex
I'm back!!!!!
Finally back in Japan and finally back on my data plan so I can upload new blogs. Yeah yeah I know I could have just sat around and typed my blogs at a computer but come on.... I was on vacation. So without further adue time to upload all the handful blogs I had some free time to do.
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