After three months of playing for MicroGamerZ I can say I had an amazing experience with the management and players on that team. Moving on from this part of my life I am finally getting to experience something I have been looking forward to for a very long time. A study abroad trip to Japan! I am currently a senior attending the University of Louisville. I am studying Philosophy and minoring in Asian Studies. Although these two things will not get me a very good job in America I am following my passion for knowledge and Asian culture in the hopes that I can fully enjoy everything I do with my life.
My current long term goal is to teach English in Japan through the JET program which I will apply for in the fall. To help bolster my language, communication, and writing skills I have enrolled in the Asia Pacific University Summer Gateway Program. This program specializes in intensive Japanese language study and provides a genuine assimilation into a multi-cultural environment. This is due to 44% of the student body being foreigners from around the region.
This past Monday I made the first jump towards this long term goal as I traveled to Beppu, Japan. Honestly, even while I was travelling the fact that I was on my way to a place I had dreamed of visiting ever since I watched my first runs of Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, and Ghost in the Shell on Adult Swim so many years ago wasn't registering. I am now a few days into this program and it is a surreal experience. This is most certainly something I won't forget.
The environment in Beppu is completely different from Kentucky. It has been raining almost everyday that our group has been here. The days are humid but the nights are cool. Even with this drastic temperature change everyday it has been incredibly beautiful here. Beppu is known for its hot springs but even if those were not here the mountains alone create such an awe-inspiring, ineffable experience which can only be understood by visiting that I would not mind if I get to visit them or not at this point.
The more I get out, photograph, record, and experience this environment the more happy I am that I have stuck to my current major rather than chasing previous Mathematics/Computer Science majors to make money. Teaching the next generation how to think critically would be enough, but to experience such a wonderful place is something I cannot keep to myself.
If people are interested in my 2 month experience I can continue to update this thread! + Show Spoiler +
I am by no means an expert on this region nor have I lived in Japan before. However, if you have any questions about my experiences thus far feel free to ask!
i am interested. Japan is my favorite country. What Id be interested in is: are you comfortable in working there and how is the working life there different from US? Also Id like to know how they view the World Cup which starts next week and if they care about it. thanks and enjoy your time there!
Yet another young boy sets off to the land of anime in an attempt to become the Main Character. Will he succeed at tripping the right flags and triggering the Good End? Or will he wind up on a Nice Boat? Only time will tell.
I just got back from a study abroad in Nagoya two weeks ago - best experience of my life. You're in for a great time. Make sure you make an effort to meet and talk to as many Japanese people as possible, because that's what makes the trip special. Just palling around with other foreigners the whole time makes it a vacation.
There are tons of pictures on my blog baiesradu. I didn't really want to make this into a big picture thread nor did I really want to directly link to my blog for advertisement. If you look around my links you can find them quite easily !
Nagoya is on my list to visit at some point. It's looks like an incredibly nice place, not quite as crowded as Tokyo but still has a high population.
In response to Chocolate: Beppu has been between ~60-80% humidity every day and the rain hasn't really stopped for very long since we've been here. The weather is pretty insane but it's still an incredible experience thus far.
We went to an area they called Beppu One which is at a lookout above the mountains conveniently located right next to the school. Travel up a really long flight of stairs and you get onto one of those lookouts you see in anime all the time. It has an incredible shop to eat some great food Ex: udon, curry rice, pizza and so on for $3-7. People always talk about how expensive Japanese food is... but I've seen that unless it is locally produced rice or fresh fruits/vegetables it's probably cheaper than america by quite a bit! The serving sizes on things like udon/ramen may even be bigger as well! Nice deals :D
In response to Shiro: We've got some Buddies at the university and we're drawing up our attack plan now. Within the next week the flags will be set and the battle will be on! :D
A picture to give you guys an idea of the area:
oh, you get two I guess since I meant to upload this one:
The trip to Donkihote and this other 7 floor shopping place have been the most exciting, besides all the Udon of course.
The experiences and view around here are absolutely amazing. Just walking through campus is something a lot of locals probably take for granted at this point, but I love it so much. That said, the weather here is pretty awful haha. It randomly rains in the middle of the day and stays 85-95% humidity. Coming right in the middle of the rainy season and lasting through the hot part isn't the most optimal but it is definitely fun either way!
I have some videos rendering tonight of our exploration in Donkihote and the like. They should be fun to watch :D
Uh... so I guess I'll just revive this thread instead of making a new one?
I did a pretty horrendous job on this the first time around BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY WASN'T THERE YET.
But uh; it's here now! :
So basically yeah, I'll update this thread with my vlogs/exploring from japan and add extra thoughts etc for people interested/questions.
As of right now I am not sure what format to take on. I think I'm probably gonna split some videos up with no talking, and others with talking... idk dawgs either way. take a look if you're interested in Japan.
Oh, funny to reference the start of the blog post. I got into JET and I got placed in Tokyo. only the second year tokyo has been accepting JETs so things are good boys ;D
May be small extra stuff on my website, but not much of a point in going there haha. just ask here :D
I also revived my 8 month hiatus on youtube from sc2 video content... if you're interested in game review of State, my own KR gaming exp etc check out the other.. much bigger.. channel + Show Spoiler +
They had this amazing waterfall which created an amazing atmosphere around the area where there was also live caligraphy and wedding photoshoots going on. There was also a traditional flute/drum band and a thatched roof house all in the same area. Going outside from that area creates a really awesome feeling. I bet when it snows it is even better, or in the summer too.
If you guys have any questions about this place let me know I have one more video from the building, a video of a tea ceremony room where you receive the first tea for the year~
This is my last video from my Arco Tower series. It shows off the tea ceremony room for the new years. In this place instead of doing classical style where they serve one or two people individually a number of people prepare tea behind a wall and then serve to a number of individuals. I got special permission to record a video in this room because they usually don't allow it :D
My next video will be about Kasai Rinkai Park, went there with my school this Friday. Awesome place~!
Also, if someone could change the thread title to Tokyo JET Program, or something of similar effect and allow me to edit or add info that everything that has recently been posted is from the JET Program it might help others who are looking into coming to Japan to work! Thanks~
Please be very diligent with your finances in Japan.
I have heard from reliable sources that you will not be able to save money from teaching English in Japan. You will get by each month, but saving will be extremely difficult.
On January 25 2016 18:39 BreAKerTV wrote: Please be very diligent with your finances in Japan.
I have heard from reliable sources that you will not be able to save money from teaching English in Japan. You will get by each month, but saving will be extremely difficult.
I am not sure who your reliable sources are .. but as someone in the program I can tell you that the pay, for right out of college is quite nice. JET does a great job supporting the people coming here right outta school. Interac has a much worse reputation so perhaps some of your friends or sources were a part of that program, or a cram school, or something of the similar sort? These programs have a huge name of screwing foreigners over on changed contracts when they arrive in Japan in so on. However, this is basic due diligence that an employee should do before applying for a company I think... at least do some back grounding to see what you're getting into! xD
JET only has you work 16 days a month, has paid holiday, health care, no US taxes for 2 years and many other benefits. There are many people who apply to JET and quit after 1 year because they don't like their experience (that is to say, their first time living abroad, don't know if they want to teach etc, and then blame the program - however, there is a reason it has been in operation for over 50(?) years!)
I am currently on a plan to repay my $40,000 school debt in ~3-5 years (instead of 10) while also saving money and being able to buy practically everything I want. The only thing that has thus far really rekt me, and it isn't JET's fault, is the living costs in Tokyo(this woulda been like 1/10th my school debt that I've already spent on housing...) Tokyo has some insane start up costs for apartments compared to America. Most other JETs do get insane deals on housing, usually only ~200-300$/m for houses or nice apartments. However, since the Tokyo program is rather new they still have not quite gotten there yet.
On January 25 2016 18:39 BreAKerTV wrote: Please be very diligent with your finances in Japan.
I have heard from reliable sources that you will not be able to save money from teaching English in Japan. You will get by each month, but saving will be extremely difficult.
I am not sure who your reliable sources are .. but as someone in the program I can tell you that the pay, for right out of college is quite nice. JET does a great job supporting the people coming here right outta school. Interac has a much worse reputation so perhaps some of your friends or sources were a part of that program, or a cram school, or something of the similar sort? These programs have a huge name of screwing foreigners over on changed contracts when they arrive in Japan in so on. However, this is basic due diligence that an employee should do before applying for a company I think... at least do some back grounding to see what you're getting into! xD
Oh, sorry, first and foremost I apologize, as my source also informed me that one should only go to Japan to teach English assuming they could get accepted in to the JET program.
Went to Kasai Rinkai Park as a part of a school trip. Was pretty awesome. Next video will be even better! They had the largest(?) or 2nd largest ferris wheel there so of course I had to ride it ! :D
EPT
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