 |
|||||||
|
Suzy Hamon '99
Greetings from the Land of the Rising Sun! My name is Suzanne Hamon and I am a graduate of Augustana College. Currently I am living in Japan and teaching English as a participant of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, more commonly referred to as the JET Program. I have been living in Japan for three months now in a city northeast of Tokyo. I teach junior high school at one of the eight junior highs in the city. Before I go any further I must stress that every situation is different! But I will try to give you some insight into my life in Japan. When I was at Augie I studied mathematics and Asian Studies but I never thought I would end up living in a foreign country. I love living here. I don't know of another program where I would be able to live in a nonwestern culture in my own apartment making quite a bit of money and still having plenty of free time. Over this year I am planning to visit Thailand, Cambodia, South Korea, and various parts of Japan and still save a third of my salary every month. I am very well taken care by my host city both financially and emotionally. This is not to say there aren't difficulties. You are still a foreigner even though you may live in Japan and even speak the language. You are stared at, you feel isolated at times, and you cannot always effectively communicate. But these problems also have their advantages! The JET program is a wonderful opportunity for anyone with an interest in spending a year in a foreign country and I would highly recommend it. If you have any questions feel free to contact me via email. Gumbatte kudasai!! Suzy Hamon (November 4, 1999) s_hamon@hotmail.com |
||||||
