The CIR Experience part 1...?
I am delighted you had taken the time to open this page and begin reading this article/blog/post/commentary... errr or however you wish to call it.
This post is slightly different than usual being that instead of providing you with the normal touristy information, I want to share my first half year experience here in Ofunato as a coordinator for international relations ("CIR"), so get some coffee and find a relaxing place to sit because you are in for a ride!
So as a quick introduction, I am the second ‘Experience Ofunato’ and I came into Ofunato-City around late-September of 2021 as a CIR through the JET Program. (For those of you unsure of what this is, feel free to look here: https://jetprogramme.org/en/)
Despite my looks, I was born and raised in America and since both parents being Japanese, I had a relatively good understanding of the Japanese culture. No, this doesn't automatically mean I can speak both Japanese and English, but less about me and more about what I do and how I got here.
So application process for the JET programme is rather simple. Just collect necessary documents, write a resume, get references, etc. For me, taking the first step to apply was harder since I was already out of college and working at the time, and it was nerve wracking having to find and reach out to professors who I haven't talked to for years.
Anywho, after talking to friends, parents, colleagues, bosses, etc. I finally took the the first step. And once my mind was set, the entire application process went rather quickly. I mean once the form is submitted, all I need to do is just wait for the response. So speeding up a few months, thankfully i was notified with the email that I passed the application stage, along with additional documents I need to collect as well as the interview stage that came after.
The Interview, I won't go into much details, but was rather simple. Its like any job interview you would get. My advice is to just make sure you know why you're there, what you want to make out of the program, and be able to show and explain the fact that the culture in Japan is different to the country you are from.
Speeding up another few weeks, the interview process was completed and I was sent an email with the location I will be staying. Now, I will be honest. When I was told that I will be going to Ofunato-City, Iwate Prefecture, I didn’t have the slightest clue to where Ofunato was, rather, it took me quite the time to remember where Iwate Prefecture was in the first place...
So I did do a bit of research before I left the States. Looked into information like, what are some of the key places to see, what is good to eat there, atmosphere of the towns, temperatures, etc. but I didn’t dig too deep into it since I wanted the “fresh experience.”
But oh boy do I regret it...
See, when you move to a new place, no matter how much of a “fresh” experience you want, there’s a limit to what you can get especially if you’re going to a different country. What am I trying to say? I don’t know either, but what I want you to understand is that I definitely underestimated the “inaka” of Japan.
I was provided a bicycle to use for groceries and moving around town, but a small Asian man nearing his 30’s does not have the best of physical abilities to go so far especially where the up-and-downs of the mountainous roads can be quite strict. On top of that, ordering things online without a credit card also had its problems. (Thankfully, in Japan a lot of the payments can be processed via a Konbini so luckily, getting furniture wasn’t a total failure.) But there are things you need to realize and things you need to definitely prepare to even get the minimal experience, or else you’ll be stressing out on a lot of things and not have the mental and physical capacity to tolerate the minor things that can be frustrating when living in Japan, even for the locals. (My advice, be sure to talk to your supervisor even before you arrive about the living conditions, credit cards, gas/electric/water, internet etc.)
But aside from that, the environment was great and the scenery you can see off the coastline was astonishing. For the first few days I tried to push myself to eat outdoors as much as possible, well mostly because of the fact that the closest grocery store was a 15 min bike ride away, but also to see how the neighborhood was like.
In conclusion, it wasn't so inaka then I expected. there was quite a lot if I looked in the right places although I soon realized I won't get far without a car. But nothing is perfect, and there was a small catch.
A lot of the information I looked up on Google Maps were a little outdated. Yes it was during COVID, so it was somewhat understandable but then again it is inaka. I can logically think now how nothing is perfect and the fact that there are a lot more elderlies here, but for someone who biked around for hours to find their night’s meal... let’s just say my stomach was not happy.
But that aside, knowing Japanese and being able to communicate with the people in and outside of work was a big plus when I was settling down. Although it did take sometime to make friends, and until then I felt like an imposter trying to fit in, after awhile I was able to go to restaurants and bars alone and befriend people there. I also looked out for local events on the newspaper and widen my social network. Even to a small local fish store sale event, as well as a Halloween Event for the local kids in the neighboring city. This Halloween Event, and let me say that I literally forced myself to go to because I usually don't like attending Halloween Events, but fortunately it was here where I was able to befriend someone that works at the car dealer who later helped me get a car! Nonetheless, my overall initial impression of the people here was that they are very welcoming and were rather interested in talking to someone outside of Japan.
One of the key reasons to this, something that one of my fellow drink mates explained to me, was that the people here had suffered a lot during the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami disaster. Yes, the earthquake and tsunami that hit on March 11th of 2011 had created many deaths and casualties, but what's more was the aftermath and peicing back the city to how it was before.
I digress. What my drink mates said was that the warmths, kindness and support they received from people all over the world be it physical volunteering or with supplies, had pushed them to be more welcoming towards people outside their city.
This story I had was probably 3 months or so after my arrival here, but I remember this quite clearly because this was what helped me understand that the topic of the Earthquake and Tsunami was not a complete taboo for the people here. Initially, I had always made sure to keep away from the Tsunami topic. But opposite to my thoughts they would quite frequently bring up the topic as if it they were talking about their breakfast yesterday. One time I was complimenting a leather jacket that one of the drink mates were wearing, but he suddenly comes back to say that he recieved it from the U.S. Tsunami Relief supply. I literally held my breath unsure of what to say, but the guy next to me just shouts “Damnn, you’re lucky!!” and continues to compliment the jacket and how all he got was socks and underwear. Who know, the guy next to me may had just been a leather-jacket-lover, but this conversation was what made me realize that this topic had been woven into their everyday lives.
Now I can end things here and make it sound like the first half year was great with only a bit of bumpy road. But I do want to let you in on a small part of the truth.
In all honesty, I will outright say that this is not aimed for everyone who is interested in Japan. 1 year is a big investment and you pretty much don't have much of a say in where you will be placed. If you are in an inaka, finding someone who can speak English is rare, and not having friends or anyone to talk to about stress for some time can happen. The work you thought you would be getting may be totally different to what you actually get, and/or you might just not get any work.
From my experience, unless you can put in the efforts to change, to be active, to (at times) act like the "typical foreigner", to be able to at times step outside of your comfort zone, etc. it will be a challenge.
I was told before I came into this that, "unless you actively take action to find the oppourtunities and grab it, you will not get anything out of this program." I do believe this is true, but if I were to add a little bit to this, I will add, "Even if you do take action, there are possibilities that you still may not get anything out of it."
It may sound harsh, but at the sametime nothing is set in stone. Even if your placement is good, your supervisor can be problematic or vice versa. Of course, do understand that these are all just possibilities of what can happen, and I'm sure a whole lot of people may have other opinions.
What's more, an experience of a CIR is, I'm sure, very very different to those of an Assistant Language Teacher "ALT."
P.S.
All this is pre-edited for the time being. And may perhaps be deleted, etc. in the future! XD
If it doesn't get deleted hopefully in the 2nd part I can talk alittle bit more on what I actually do at work.
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