I would be lying if I said the preparation for moving across the world to a country I had never been to wasn’t at times daunting. However, the process through which I did this was hugely helped by Xplore Asia and their partner company whom I did my TEFL qualification with. The TEFL qualification was really accessible and interesting. It was a 120-hour online course which I was able to complete at my own pace. When I finished the qualification, Xplore Asia stepped in and guided me the rest of the way. From conducting my interview in an approachable way to helping me negotiate sending my degree certificate to Japan, they were always there to answer my (many) emails and questions really quickly and thoroughly. Each future teacher is assigned a particular mentor who liaises with you for the duration of the process, which eliminates the need to constantly update several different people. I’m so grateful to have had the expertise of Xplore Asia guide me through this process – it made everything so much less overwhelming.

Before I moved to Japan, I bought a copy of Lonely Planet’s guidebook. This has been really useful, both in my preparations before I came and also to learn more about different regions and get recommendations for places I want to visit while I’m here. I also used websites such as Tofugo and Japanese Pod 101 to learn some Japanese. Xplore Asia also signed us up to an online cultural and language course which I really enjoyed. Japanese culture and history is very unique and I’m glad I was able to garner some perspective before I moved. Also included in the Xplore Asia package is a cultural weekend trip. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the session earlier this year as my sister was visiting, but I heard the trip to Osaka was a success. I’m looking forward to attending the next round of culture weekends!

However, if you are placed in an urban area, there is no requirement to drive; it is just for teachers who get allocated to rural areas in Japan. I was luckily placed in Kanagawa prefecture, and I live about 20 minutes from a great part of Tokyo called Shimokitazawa, and 30 minutes from Shinjuku (whose station I still get lost inside). Public transport is brilliant in Japanese urban areas and I can access the school I work in easily. The reliability of public transport is still a novelty to me, if a train is 3 minutes late it’s considered a “significant delay”; in Ireland, I feel grateful when the bus I’m waiting for arrives at all!

Moving across the world is never going to be an easy decision or undertaking, but I can’t recommend it enough. If you have the curiosity and passion, everything else will fall into place; especially if you have a support network of family, friends and companies like Xplore Asia at your back. My experience of Japan so far has been brimming with rich cultural experiences, meeting like minded friends, travelling, and, maybe most importantly, I’ve learnt a lot about myself. Although I felt I wanted to escape the imminent “real world” after university, unbeknownst to myself, I signed up to something which has helped me grow and prepared me more for adulthood more than any other experience could have.

When I decided to take this step and move across the world, I actually had no guidance or any idea as to where I should start. I didn’t know anyone in my social circle who had done this before, specifically in Japan, which is known for being considerably more strict with the visa process than some other popular English-teaching destinations. So I turned to Google to do some research and was guided to XploreAsia, who has honestly made the process a lot smoother than it might’ve been had I not done so.

I arrived in Japan on March 24, 2023 in Tokyo, where I then caught a train to Sendai, Miyagi to complete my orientation and initial training with the company I was placed at. I was then placed in a small town by the name of Fukagawa, which has a population of about 20,000 people. As someone who has grown up in a city her whole life, living in a small town has been a welcome experience. My contract is set to last for a full school year, so I will finish sometime during the Spring break of 2024. 

I knew absolutely nothing about Fukagawa, but I had heard about Hokkaido, of course. I was familiar with the capital city of Sapporo, which is known for its snowy winters, beer, and noodles. Actually, Hokkaido reminds me a lot of Canada, which is where I’m from.

I was provided with a rental car by the company, since I have a rural position. The schools I work at are in the town over, so driving feels really nice and I enjoy the freedom…

The cost of living in Japan is, without a doubt, drastically cheaper than in my home country. My rent for a 230-ish sqft apartment including Wi-Fi, rental furniture, and a parking space amounts to about $385CAD per month, which is virtually unheard of back home. I’m also switching apartments soon, and I managed to find an apartment for double the size and half the rent on my own. I’ve seen 2L bottles of mineral water from grocery stores as low as 68yen, which is about $0.63CAD (also unheard of). Groceries are cheaper, eating out is cheaper, especially since Japan does not possess the North-American tipping culture I grew up used to. A few weeks ago I went to a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, ate about 16 pieces of fresh sushi, plus a Coke and a dessert, and paid less than $20CAD. So yes, I would definitely say that living in Japan has been nicer to my wallet than back home.

A challenge that I did not expect to face was some issues with my housing, unfortunately, and is the reason for my moving into a new apartment soon. On my first night in my new home, I noticed tiny black specks or flakes in the water from all of my taps. It’s a good thing I checked my cup before drinking it, and since then I’ve been living off bottled water. Because I’m deterred from cooking, my diet has mostly consisted of items to go.

The original building I was moved into is from the late 60’s-early 70’s, and so upon inspection, I was told that there was rust in the pipes. This was the main stressor for me, and it definitely was a source of anxiety for me and certainly affected my quality of life. I want to emphasize that indeed,  Japan as a whole is known for its clean and crystal-clear drinking water, and in every hotel I’ve stayed at, I did not see an issue. It just so happened that I had moved into a much older building with much older pipes.

I think that the experience one gains from being exposed to different lifestyles and cultures is invaluable, and that it can only influence your growth as a person in the most positive of ways. I’ve met some wonderful people here, and every day there is at least one interaction I have that can be described as wholesome or refreshing. It’s probably partially because of this that I’ve adjusted quite well and experience very rare/mild bouts of homesickness (I miss my cat, who is being taken care of by my amazing father). My goal is to make the most out of my limited time here—it goes by faster than you’d think! I learn something new on a daily basis, whether it’s about myself, the people around me, Japanese customs and culture, or life in general.

Over the years, I had always focused very intensely on my studies and work. Then, when I finally had a little time and money to see other parts of the world, the pandemic hit. So what did I do? I used my downtime during lockdown to get my TEFL certification. Looking back, I’m so glad I did! Education and Linguistics have always been a passion of mine, and I am so thankful that I finally took the leap to expand outside of the traditional American classroom.

At first, I was terrified to make the change – I had a good-paying job, a tight-knit family, and a loving group of friends… Would I be able to leave that all behind? My life was starting to feel like the episode of SpongeBob SquarePants where Squidward moves to a community of other squids (“Tentacle Acres” for my millennial readers!). My life was moving very predictably, and I was bored. The pandemic helped me muster up the courage to leave my very comfortable, but very bland squid-village and set sail for a bigger sea.

Why did you choose a company like Xplore over going alone?
Choosing Xplore was a no-brainer for me. The thought of going at it alone was beyond intimidating to me. Negotiating an apartment, a car, and a job in English is difficult enough, I couldn’t imagine doing it in a language I am not fluent in! After researching what felt like an endless list of companies, Xplore had the best reviews from both new and long-time English teachers. Knowing I have in-country support at all times is a comfort that can’t be replaced.

What did you know about Ibaraki before moving there?  I knew that it was in Japan … That’s about it! Obviously, I was hoping that I would be placed in a large city. However, I am finding that Hitachinaka (the city I live in) offers the best of both worlds. I am in a non-driving position, so I ride my bike to school. I feel like Kiki’s Delivery Service every day – I pass a bustling train station, quiet wheat fields, and the peaceful family homes lining the streets. My “teacher friends” have cars, and we often take day trips on the weekends. An hour drive in any direction can get me to the ocean, the mountains, or a lively downtown. The flexibility to go to so many places make Ibaraki a wonderful place to start my Japan journey. Oh, and we have the most magical Hitachinaka Seaside Park.

What parts of the experience has or hasn’t met your expectations?

–> My apartment is perfect for just me. It came with a futon, a small table,  a mini-fridge, and a microwave. The best equivalent I can give is that it is like a deluxe college dorm room. I have a small, but functional, bathroom (the toilet is separate from the shower in Asian houses!). My `kitchen` is minimalistic- that’s the nice way of saying that I have one cabinet, one burner, a mini-fridge, and a microwave that reminds me of my childhood Easy-Bake Oven. My bedroom/ living room is an open room that I have tried my best to make my own. I have a small balcony space for hanging my laundry. Mentally and emotionally prepare yourself for no dryers!! Everyone hang dries their washing here, and I can tell you from experience that it is not a quick process. Make sure you have enough work clothes for one washing cycle!

–> Finding friends was one of my biggest worries when moving abroad. I was petrified of being alone in a foreign country. I started networking long before I came to Japan – I would Instagram message anyone from Xplore Asia, social media expats, and other teachers from online training sessions. I would highly recommend doing this!! Most people were experiencing the same fear and excitement as I was. Knowing a few familiar names and faces during the orientation week was a major relief. I would suggest talking to people who have been in the country for some time- their insight impacted many of my decisions going forward!! I got lucky and received a message from a girl who said she would be living in the same town as me about a week before I arrived. Long story short, we live in the same apartment complex and became fast friends! I have made friends with many other teachers in my complex, and I am so thankful to have a group that understands the highs and lows of living and working in Japan.

–> The Work Ethic: Japanese work HARD, and they take great pride in the jobs that they do.  Don’t be surprised if your school is serious – teachers are expected to be good role models inside and outside of the classroom. You are representing yourself, your company, and your country at all times to both the staff and your students.

–> Japan is very affordable! I am always so surprised at the prices of things here – what would be a $150 grocery trip in the USA is roughly $70 here! The cost of living is so much lower. My rent is approximately $330 USD. My utility bills are much lower as well. Also, bills are paid at local convenience stores here!

–> The Japanese dress very conservatively. I was genuinely surprised when I saw the daily fashion here! Women often wear free-flowing clothes that cover their knees. My tip: plan to buy clothes once you get to Japan! If you have tattoos, make sure they are easily covered! I am thankful that mine can be concealed easily.

–> Anime is everywhere here! My heart is so full when my students tell me about which anime is their favorite. It’s always an easy conversation starter here!

What has been the hardest part since making the move abroad?
Even in the most beautiful places, you will still have hard days… I had a few bumps in the road initially with my school placement. The school had recently made changes to their ALT/ JTE system, so the entire staff was adapting to changes that shifted a great deal of responsibility around. I wanted to be a team player and help ease the burden on the teachers, however, I had clear goals I wanted to achieve and get out of this experience. I was able to communicate my difficulties to the staff (with the help of google translate and a great deal of gestures). Thankfully, we worked together to create a better system that has been working well since implementation. I would be lying if I said it was easy to live in a country that speaks a language you are not fluent in. I study at work during free periods and continue to take online Japanese lessons. I am learning, and I constantly have to remind myself that if people could learn languages in one sitting, I would be out of a job. I will also say that coordinating times to call family and friends can be difficult. NYC is 13 hours behind Japan, so I struggled to speak to my family regularly in the beginning. Download WhatsApp and Line before you move to Japan- it will make communicating with your family and friends so much easier.

What have you learnt about yourself?

–> Even teachers learn lessons: I have been working in education for five years, and I can honestly say that I learn something new every day. Learning how to collaborate with others is a skill that I am constantly trying to improve. Some days, I am the captain of the lesson, other days I am simply a supporting pilot. No matter the role, I always try to be the best that I can. Remember that the students need their native language to understand English. This means that some days, the JTE will be the more prominent teacher. Even if you aren’t doing much talking during the lesson, providing support and encouragement in English is still as useful to the students!

–> It’s not that serious: Difficult co-workers, language barriers, challenging students? We have all been there! Nothing feels better after a hard day than coming home and sharing it with others who know exactly what you’re going through! Laugh at yourself! Even on my bad days, I remember that I am living my dream teaching in Japan. 

–> If you’re bored, your students ate 10 times as bored: There’s no way around it – some lessons are more fun than others. Remember that some of the “boring” or “monotonous” lessons can be the building blocks for your students. Reciting the alphabet multiple times can seem like a chore, however you are giving your students the basis for a language that could impact their lives! There are countless websites and videos of how to incorporate fun into your “routine” lessons!

Would you recommend others to travel and live abroad? Why? In short, yes. In long: It takes a certain type of person to not only decide to move abroad but also to navigate the ever-changing landscape of a new culture on your own. If you are feeling burnt out in your current profession- teaching English can be a wonderful way to step out of your comfort zone and try something new! There are challenges with living and working abroad, but all in all, the bad days are only temporary. Make friends, challenge yourself, and try it!