Maytinee Kramer/Staff Writer
Founded in 1987, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program has sent more than 60,000 global participants — including an estimated 32,000 Americans — to work in schools, boards of education, and government offices throughout Japan.
JET is the only teaching exchange program that is managed by the government of Japan and works with more than 40 countries around the world, allowing young professionals to live and work in cities, towns and villages throughout Japan.
The JET Program typically receives 4,000-5,000 applications each year from U.S. applicants alone, according to the JET Program’s official website, and in 2016, Andres Marrero, an Asian studies major with a Japan area focus, submitted his own application and applied to the Assistant Language Teachers position.
Prior to applying to the JET Program and graduating in May 2017, Marrero studied abroad in Japan. Marrero had taken Japanese 1 and 2 without knowing that they were prerequisites to studying abroad.
But with the recommendation of his professors and meeting several exchange students, Marrero decided to step outside his comfort zone and study abroad.
“I studied abroad primarily because I liked adventuring and because I have never been outside the United States before,” Marrero said. “It was more of a ‘why not’ kind of experience.”
In August 2015, Marrero flew out to Kyoto, Japan to study abroad for a year. There he took classes in Japanese language, politics and society. After returning to the states and finishing up his degree, Marrero decided to teach through JET.
“I have always wanted to give back to Japan because it’s a country that helped me overcome the difficulties of growing up,” Marrero said. “I felt the best way to do this was to be an English teacher and bring my ‘genki’ energy to Japan.”
However, Marrero’s goal for going to Japan was not to teach; rather, he sees teaching as a stepping stone towards reaching his goals. The journey wasn’t easy either, as it can be difficult for foreigners to adjust to life in a foreign country.
“The hardest adjustment period for any foreigner in an Asian country is when they realize that the reality is not what they expected,” Marrero said.
Marrero has learned to adjust though, and as a result, is living his dream and immersing himself in the culture he is passionate about.
However, Marrero has his goals in check and is not afraid to do what it takes to reach those goals while satisfying his thirst for Japanese knowledge and culture.
“I actually want to move on as fast as possible with all my goals for Japan so I can come back to America and start my journey there,” Marrero said.
For anyone considering teaching English abroad or applying to the JET program, Marrero said that it’s important to not lose one’s good will after making the decision to live and work in a foreign country.
“There is a real opportunity to have an impact on the future of this country as an English teacher, but if you don’t have good will, you won’t be able to see that. You’ll just see it as a job.”
Feature Image retrieved from Flickr.
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