šmaga(ZINE): Marchš
March 2025 Hey, Mikans! As you know, or, if you're a new JET, as you'll come to know, March in Japan is a season of change. From the melting snowcaps…
Blog category for the Backtrack series, telling stories from former JETs looking back on their JET experience. [Parent Category: The Mikan Blog]
Off-Track #29: Letās Speak English (Jordan Rocke, Hojo High School ALT, 2018-2023)
Jordan Rocke looks back at his time as the Mikan Blog Editor and as an ALT in Ehime Prefecture.
Backtrack #28: Take Me Home, Country Roads (Jennie Terman, Kamijima ALT, 2006-2008)
We have another Backtrack! This time from Jennie Terman, an ethnomusicologist who was a JET out on Kamijima from 2006 to 2008.
Backtrack #27: A Lightbulb Moment (Maura McCarthy, Uwajima SHS ALT, 2013-15)
What’s your name, when and where was your placement, and where are you from originally?
My name is Maura McCarthy, and I had a placement in Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture.
I’m a military dependent, so I’m not from one place in particular– but I spent my last year of high school and undergraduate career in North Carolina before JET. I lived in Kanagawa prefecture for 3 years in high school (on a military base), so Japan was also a part of my upbringing in some ways.
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Backtrack #26: I Had Never Seen the Ocean (Jae DiBello Takeuchi, Nishiumi ALT, 1996-99)
What’s your name, when and where was your placement, and where are you from originally?
Jae DiBello Takeuchi. I was an ALT in Nishiumi (currently Ainan), in Ehime prefecture from 1996-1999 (I was the first JET in my town). I am from the US.
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Backtrack #25: I Didnāt Want to be in England (Steve Turner, Hojo High School ALT, 2003-06)
What’s your name, when and where was your placement, and where are you from originally?
I am Steve Turner. I was an Ehime Ken ALT in Hojo Senior High School, in Matsuyama for 2 years and then added Imabari Nishi Senior High School and Imabari Technical High School for a year.
I was originally from Walsall near Birmingham in England. The ongoing joke was if there was a small group of brummie sounding kids now in Japan.
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Backtrack #24: Bridge Building (Drago Flores, Ikata CIR 2011-2014)
What’s your name, when and where was your placement, and where are you from originally?
My name is Drago Flores. I was placed in Ikata. I am originally from Minnesota in the United States.
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Backtrack #23: That Was Enough (Christopher Reed, Kihoku CIR 2006-2011)
What’s your name, when and where was your placement, and where are you from originally?
My name is Christopher Reed, I’m originally from the USA, and I lived in Kihoku-cho, a small town of about 10,000 people in Ehime Prefecture from 2006-2011.
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Backtrack #22: Welcomed and Included (Heeni (Janie) Tito, Masaki ALT 1997-2000)
What’s your name, when and where was your placement, and where are you from originally?
Kia ora koutou, ko Heeni (Janie) Tito ahau. I was a teacher at kindergarten, primary and junior high schools in Masaki-cho, Ehime-ken from 1997-2000.
I descend from NgÄ Puhi and NgÄti WhÄtua iwi, of Northland, Aotearoa (New Zealand). Currently living in Wellington.
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