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I was lucky. I thought I had everything arranged. I was going to teach in Japan on JET for one year, pick up some Japanese, familiarise myself with the customs, integrate (as much as I possibly could) into my spectacular Japanese environs, do some travelling around the world and generally make the most of what Japan could offer. After this year I was going back to law school to study for a year, then I would have a couple of months before I started a "proper job". All seemed plain sailing.
Well, did I fulfill all these aspirations just by spending one year in Nihon? I think that I can sincerely state that yes, it was the best year of my life not least in that no exams were demanded of me for the first year in thirteen. The country didn’t cease to amaze and confound me.
So how was the return? After many fond farewells I found myself heading out of the inaka where I lived, driving along familiar territory, past mountains and lakes, landscapes which as seasons changed, altered to show a new aspect to their beauty. I knew that I was really going to miss Japan, such a foreign country which I had called "home" for a year.
I had not returned to visit my parents since I left England, over 12 months ago. My Gran had been counting the days until my return with joy whilst I had been counting them with sorrow. She was with my parents at the airport to greet me. They cried for joy yet I felt that I had left something extremely dear to me back "home".
Whilst on the journey back to my parents house, I couldn’t help but feel strange amongst all these gaijin and was eagerly seeking out some Nihonjin.
As soon as I arrived back home I made an effort to get back in touch with my friends. However, even conversations aren’t as I was used. It seemed quite natural to refer to Westerners as gai-jin, or something in a shop window as kawaii; somehow other people just didn’t seem to get it! I had to make a determined effort to change my speech as well as my gestures of bowing, even when driving a car! Nevertheless, it was great to catch up and visit friends who had "moved on" since I last saw them. It was important, I think, to try and keep in contact with friends throughout the time you are away - I tried to use the Board of Ed’s internet facility as much as I could to this end.
It was time to settle down. Fortunately, again, I had always planned to live with an ex-flatmate from university again and had a flat earmarked to move into. With a month to kill before term I picked up the paint brush and started redecorating, cleaning and eventually moved in, my Japanese memorabilia scattered throughout the flat.
My course manages to monopolise most of my waking hours, however I have found an Aikido dojo and have attended a few times. I do still try and learn some Japanese from time to time. For Christmas I sent out some cards and generally I try to keep in contact with my Japanese friends as well as JETs who are still out in Japan.
If there is one piece of advice that I can offer to JETs who are returning in the summer of this year it would be to research potential jobs that might interest you, to inquire into any post-grad courses that you might want to undertake or read up on your next travel destination. Most JETs do have some access to the internet - use it!
P.S. You can always return to Japan to visit - like I did.
