By Jia Mei
Maya Patel’ 18 graduated from CC with a Comparative Literature major and Feminist and Gender Studies minor. Following graduation, she taught English in Japan through the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program (JET). She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Asian American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Maya Patel and Erika Hiromitsu (CC ’18) picking tea on a farm in Shizuoka
- Why did you apply to the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program?
I applied to the JET Program because I was interested in learning more about my family’s history. My maternal grandmother was part of the “war bride” generation of Japanese women who married US soldiers after WWII, so I have family in Japan that I had never met. I remember seeing the JET Program advertised when I was a freshman taking Japanese class but didn’t think much of it at the time. When I was applying to jobs my senior year, I applied to JET because it was a way for me to travel and have new experiences while being employed.
- What influenced your decision to teach English in Japan?
Because of my family history, I was interested in learning more about the relationship between language, power, and colonization in the context of US-Japan relations. I was not exclusively seeking out English teaching jobs, but my personal connection with Japan drove my decision to do the JET Program. While on JET, it was really interesting to learn more about Japanese school systems as well as the role of English.
- What were you excited and nervous about?
I was excited to travel to and live in a country where I’d never been before, but had some connection to. When I got my placement the summer before I left, I remember being excited and nervous that I would be living in a small mountain town partially because my Japanese was terrible. Nervous perhaps isn’t the right word, but I was curious and wary of what my experience as a POC in a small town would be like.
- What does a typical day look like as a teacher in Japan?
Unlike the other ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) in my town who worked at two or three elementary and middle schools, I only worked at one high school. On an average day, I’d walk to school, which took five minutes, work from 8:30am-4pm, then attend English Debate Club practice after school. During lunch time there was a group of teachers I usually ate with in the lounge area. The teachers were really kind and interested in talking to me which made it easy to make friends. After finishing the school day, I usually went to dinner with an ALT or teacher friend if they weren’t too busy.
My class schedule varied, but I mostly worked with first and third year students, teaching a total of 17 classes per week. Many of the students were shy at first, but after a couple months of getting used to each other that all changed. Talking to students and learning more about them through class and their club activities was one of my favorite parts of JET.
- What was your favorite activity to do in Japan?
It’s so hard to pick one! Going to the onsen (hot spring) was one of my favorites. Onsen is similar to a sento (public bath) except the water usually comes from natural hot springs so it has all those nice minerals. I went with friends at least twice a week and even more frequently in the winter since my town had so many different locations. Each onsen has a different atmosphere, view and layout, so it was really fun to try all the different places and then go out to dinner afterwards.
- How did JET change your perspective on Asia?
Going into JET I had some knowledge about Japan because of my background, but living there taught me more about the histories between East Asian countries. Understanding certain dynamics and the ways in which the afterlives of Japanese and US imperialism manifest in everyday interactions has shaped my own sense of identity as well as my understanding of histories in Asia.
- How did your experience as a JET fellow shape your future goals?
While I enjoyed my time on JET, it was definitely challenging and there were moments where it was difficult to reconcile my personal politics with my daily life. My decision to pursue a Master’s in Asian American Studies and my research in that program was shaped by my experiences on JET. I also anticipate teaching in some capacity to be in my future.
