Continuing with L'Epic du Brooke, about 3 years ago I felt this sudden pressing that I should go to Japan and Guam for three years after I graduate. Yeah, right. I mean, sign me up for the military base that is the Isle of Guam, but Japan? I love the people I've met from Japan, but like I even speak the language! I put the thought away, with the hope that God would let me off the hook, and I'd go to Paris or Scotland or Tahiti...you know, where I'm really needed. Besides, I'd have to work for years to be able to raise the funds the first trip out of the country for 1 month cost, let alone the 3 years this is calling for.
So, little did I know, waiting on the bulletin board in Irby was my destiny--an advertisement for the JET Programme. Airfare, in some places complete subsidies for housing/food, 3.6 million yen remuneration, and the only requirement is a BA/BS. Okay...let me get this straight--they'll 1. pay about $3,000-$4,000 for airfare, 2. help either pay for everything, or set you up so you can, 3. pay a salary of around $30,000 a year, 4. require no prior knowledge of Japanese, and 5. accept my degree in African/African-American studies. And all of this so that I can go learn a culture that's produced many people I love and admire, be able to teach (read: be a know-it-all), open opportunities to travel all over Asia, and by all accounts make me a rare, exotic creature that will have attentions cast on me at all times? Did God make this thing especially for me? I'd like to think so. (Eyeroll. Of course I would.)
I started the hurry up and wait process to apply, and after a ridiculous amount of stress and straining, and help from some incredible people (Thank you so much Triplets plus One!, Pateal, Adee, Sarah, Farm Boy, Sara, and Mommy!) it all got in the day it was due. But only just. That was December 2006.
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