Read more about the article Unbeaten Paths: Chuyo 2021 (Actually Here Edition)
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Unbeaten Paths: Chuyo 2021 (Actually Here Edition)

Edited by Jordan Rocke

Welcome back, everyone! Here’s part 2, looking at the closest thing you’ll find to a city in Ehime: Chuyo. As with last time, you can find a decent number of 2021 Chuyo JET intros in our previous Chuyo installment, located here. If you’re in the mood for more intros after this, check out our previous installment from Toyo, located here. Now here’s the intros!

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Continue ReadingUnbeaten Paths: Chuyo 2021 (Actually Here Edition)
Read more about the article Unbeaten Paths: Toyo 2021 (Actually Getting Here Edition)
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Unbeaten Paths: Toyo 2021 (Actually Getting Here Edition)

Edited by Jordan Rocke

G’day everyone! Welcome to our third consecutive (dubiously annual) installment of Unbeaten Paths, where we introduce incoming or recently arrived JETs to the wider Ehime community. For the other half of the incoming JET bios, please check out our May edition here.

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Read more about the article Backtrack #20: Native Speakers are <i>Fast</i> (Emily Gurvis, Matsuyama ALT 2010-2012)
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Backtrack #20: Native Speakers are Fast (Emily Gurvis, Matsuyama ALT 2010-2012)

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What’s your name, when and where was your placement, and where are you from originally?

My name is Emily Gurvis and I was an ALT in Matsuyama-shi from 2010 to 2012. I’m originally from Indianapolis but now I’ve made my home in the Lone Star State.

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Continue ReadingBacktrack #20: Native Speakers are Fast (Emily Gurvis, Matsuyama ALT 2010-2012)
Read more about the article Backtrack #18: So Many Happy Days (David Leeming, Matsuyama ALT, 1995-1997)
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Backtrack #18: So Many Happy Days (David Leeming, Matsuyama ALT, 1995-1997)

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My time in Japan seems so long ago yet it feels like yesterday. My journey onto the programme was probably like many of you, as it was far from being straight forward. After my degree I undertook a TEFL certificate which led me on to teaching children in a summer school in Kent (Pilgrims). I loved it. I knew that teaching was something that I enjoyed and hoped to do it again one day. That day came quite quickly. A friend of mine called me to tell that he knew of a role teaching English at a school in Volos, Greece. I gave up my job that day and I literally packed my bags the next week, took a flight, and headed to the town I would call home for the next 9 months. I guess it was lucky I passed the onsite interview. The folly of youth ?. It was a shock to the system as teaching for exams is very different from teaching English for ‘fun’ in the summer. Yet it gave me a great grounding in teaching and the use of English.

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Continue ReadingBacktrack #18: So Many Happy Days (David Leeming, Matsuyama ALT, 1995-1997)
Read more about the article Backtrack #17: Bridges Were Built (Jessica Shepherd, Matsuyama Central SHS ALT, 2011-2015)
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Backtrack #17: Bridges Were Built (Jessica Shepherd, Matsuyama Central SHS ALT, 2011-2015)

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What’s your name, when and where was your placement, and where are you from originally?

My name is Jessica Shepherd, and I was placed in Ehime on the island of Shikoku from 2011 to 2015. I am originally from Quebec, Canada and am currently residing there now. Matsuyama was my first choice for placement, and I was lucky enough to get it. Actually, it was my fiancé at the time who chose Matsuyama. I was happy to go anywhere in Japan since each place had its interesting features. He wanted to walk the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage during our time in Japan and living in a big city on Shikoku would also allow him to find a job in his domain: French cooking and pastries. It was such a great placement! It has everything you want in a big city (500 000 people) with all the charm of country life. He did end up walking the pilgrimage and I could join him on weekends. One of the best experiences of our lives.

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Continue ReadingBacktrack #17: Bridges Were Built (Jessica Shepherd, Matsuyama Central SHS ALT, 2011-2015)
Read more about the article Backtrack #16: A Small Window into the Greater World (Tom Schmidt-Makino, Yawatahama & Matsuyama ALT 2002-05)
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Backtrack #16: A Small Window into the Greater World (Tom Schmidt-Makino, Yawatahama & Matsuyama ALT 2002-05)

What’s your name, when and where was your placement, and where are you from originally?

Tom Schmidt-Makino. I was initially placed in Yawatahama in my first year on JET, and then in Matsuyama in my 2nd and 3rd year due to some changes in prefectural roles at the time. I’m originally from LA.

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Continue ReadingBacktrack #16: A Small Window into the Greater World (Tom Schmidt-Makino, Yawatahama & Matsuyama ALT 2002-05)
Read more about the article Backtrack #15: Expect the Unexpected, and Prepare to be Unprepared (John Moraes, Toyo ALT 2004-2007)
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Backtrack #15: Expect the Unexpected, and Prepare to be Unprepared (John Moraes, Toyo ALT 2004-2007)

Holly and John at Dogo

In 2004 I moved from Wellington, New Zealand to Ehime, Japan with a suitcase, a backpack and five words of Japanese in my vocabulary. It would not be overstating things to say the experience changed my life.

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Continue ReadingBacktrack #15: Expect the Unexpected, and Prepare to be Unprepared (John Moraes, Toyo ALT 2004-2007)
Read more about the article Backtrack #14: Ships, Towels & Mikans! (Michael Dziesinski, Imabari ALT 1997-2000)
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Backtrack #14: Ships, Towels & Mikans! (Michael Dziesinski, Imabari ALT 1997-2000)

MD Imabari JHS class

What’s your name, when and where was your placement, and where are you from originally?

My name is Michael Dziesinski. I was an Ehime JET who was placed as an ALT in the city of Imabari from 1997 to 2000. Originally from the United States, I was accepted into the JET program during my final year as an Undergrad at Florida State University.

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Continue ReadingBacktrack #14: Ships, Towels & Mikans! (Michael Dziesinski, Imabari ALT 1997-2000)