recontracting

[pensive]

So I know it has been discussed time and time again, but I really wanted to get some input on my personal situation. I have to agree with previous comments that the time for recontracting could not be worse for first year JETs. In January it is likely that your supervisor, your JTEs, and other school staff may change. Thus, changing your entire work experience. But from a personal standpoint, I have been struggling recently with living in Japan. I really want to learn more Japanese and become a better teacher, but on my negative side I'm not sure life is happy here. I'm particularly worried about my husband. I live in a small town and he can't speak any Japanese. There are around 3 foreigners in our town (all other JETs) but our personalities don't seem to mesh well. Thus we only really have each other for company. I think we both miss our family and friends back home. But I don't want to make the decision not to recontract at this point only to find out we are both just suffering from culture shock. I feel like I have less opportunities than most JETs as well, because I have to support myself and my husband on my JET salary and pay debts back home. There isn't a lot of money left over every month. We get by just fine and we have the things we need and most of what we want. I worry that if I decide to recontract I will become more miserable with my situation and feel trapped for even longer. I also feel that it will make the experience seem less influential on my resume if I only stayed a year. I could really use some advice. I've heard people say talk to your PA but I'm not sure that I would want to discuss it with him because I don't want anyone to think I'm having a horrible time and I hate it here.

[AVN]

Well I think you just need to not think about it for now. You still have several months to think this over. The first couple of months are rough when settling in. The best thing to do is try an involve yourself in activities in your town. For example find a cultural class to take.
Also don't limit yourself to hanging out with those JETs in your town. Reach out to the larger community in your prefecture. Also are the JETs really that nearby? You said your town was small.
It's only October you still have time to settle in and then make your decision.

Also a side note the staff changes only happen in April not January.

[dependant-san]

It sounds like you are in a difficult situation.
What are the things you were looking forward to about moving to Japan? Why did your husband want to go in the first place?

[Gekishinken]

Regarding the "One year looking bad on a resume" part, I don't think that's necessarily true. Remember, your contract is only for one year. It's your choice whether you decide to stay beyond that one year or not. You spent a year living in a foreign country, nothing can take away from that fact. You can spin that all kinds of ways in an interview. Now if you had broken the contract and left early that would be a red flag on a resume, but the fact that you are seeing out your contract is great.

[mountainboy]

I think it`s part of the culture shock. Like other people have said, youve still got several months before the final decision needs to be made, just go with the flow and see how you`re feeling closer to January.

Also, I think you need to take a step back from your situation. You have your husband here with you. You have SOMEONE here with you that is your family. Lots of other JETs are completely alone, in very rural placements where they are the ONLY foreigner.
Also, if you dont like the JETs in your town, get out and meet other people. Whether they be other JETs, or other foreigners at local language classes, or people who want to practice English.
Get involved in local classes and events. You dont necessarily need a high level of Japanese to do stuff like Taiko, pottery class or sports etc., but hanging out with other Japanese people will certainly improve your Japanese. Join a gym, go for walks or drives, do some charity work, write letters home to family and friends, set up a local eikawa class. Just do SOMETHING which gets you out of your apartment.
Just keep working on your Japanese and relax and have fun. If Japan doesnt work out for you, at least you gave it a shot. And you want to look back and know that you made the most of your time here!

[KIKKI.K]

Also, don't let your husband feel limited by his lack of Japanese. He can join clubs, I mean, most of the instructions for what you're doing there can be demonstrated through gestures etc ^^ A couple of JETs in my area have no Japanese, but have already joined clubs such as judo, where they don't need a lot of Japanese. Even hanging out with Japanese people who are willing to be patient with someone who doesn't have a huge grasp of the language would help him enormously. He could also get a part time job tutoring (I know, you're rural, but surely there are JHS students or SHS students, who would love to be able to improve their English?) I think that would help improve his mood.

I think that it does sound like it might be just culture shock, but of course, it might also be that you are just having a hard time adjusting to your placement. I know that, being a city girl, if I was placed way out in the countryside, I would find it difficult to cope. But, just relax, remember, you can actually change your mind up til mid February, so that gives you 4 months to breathe, relax, and enjoy a different perspective on things^^

Gambatte^^

[Jen_KyotoPA]

About the PA thing--unless you have any particular reason think your PA would react that way, I really, really wouldn't hesitate to contact them. As PAs, helping with this type of decision, and listening without judging or telling you what to do, are what we're here for and what we're trained to do. I can't speak for other PAs and I'm sure we all take things differently, but I think most PAs would never push someone to stay if that didn't seem like the right decision for them. You could also call the JETLINE or the AJET PSG line -- they're also very much there to help you with figuring out this type of thing.

As for what you've said, so far it sounds like your pros for staying are mostly money/job, wanting to learn Japanese/more about teaching, and maybe having a better time next year when you're more settled. Cons for staying are...you aren't all that happy here, financial considerations are limiting how much you get to do in Japan, and some isolation. It kind of sounds to me, and correct me if I'm wrong, that you don't want to recontract, but maybe you think you should.

You do have a lot of time to keep thinking about this. It might be good to just sit on this for a little bit, see how things change, and think about it again in another month. It is very much a time when culture shock hits a lot of people and stress builds up.

[AichiPA_Kevin]

There's been a lot of excellent advice on this thread. Pensive, it can definitely be frustrating or upsetting when you've just arrived in a foreign country ("just" being a relative term that can mean several months or more). I'd like to add my voice to the people saying to put it out of your mind for a while and see how you feel in a couple or three months. It's amazing how quickly our feelings can change, and by then you'll also have a little more experience to go on. There's no hurry at this point, so take your time and think carefully about your options.

You could also call the JETLINE or the AJET PSG line

Definitely. The PSG line, in particular, is specifically anonymous. For ease of reference, here are the numbers:

JETLine (talk to a Programme Coordinator)

03-5213-1729
9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Mon - Fri

AJET Peer Support Group (talk to another JET trained in listening)

050-5534-5566
8 p.m. to 7 a.m., every day

[Namisuke]

I heard 3 months is about the average for when culture shock starts to set in, especially if the language is a barrier. I agree that joining clubs or activities is a great idea, especially if it is a Japanese class for you and your husband. Luckily the winter break is approaching, and sometimes planning a trip is a great way to remember why you came to Japan. I recommend sticking to traveling in Japan as going home for the holidays will only make you miss home more (everyone will be excited to see you and will make you feel special, but when you return for good, that thrill will also fade). If you are tight for money, there are some nice, cheap ryokans and hotels, or you can try to couch surf.

Remember you have until February to recontract, so no rush!

[NiigataPAKatrina]

I agree that you shouldn't hesitate to contact your PA. We understand that just because you aren't completely happy with your situation/ are thinking about not recontracting, it doesn't mean you hate Japan. And even if you do hate Japan, we won't take it personally!

I do a workshop for those who are torn about recontracting at the Niigata Skills Development Conference (AKA Mid-year Seminar), and I've attached the worksheet I hand out during it. Whether or not you decide to talk to someone about it, it may help you sort through your thoughts to see them down on paper.

[azuki]

Katrina,

Thank you for this worksheet. I am going to use it myself!

[glibberish]

Also, it's possible that there are some Japanese people in your area who speak really good English and would like to become friends. Even in my pretty rural city, I know a few people who speak conversational English, and were really excited to practice it with me. One of the pluses of living in a smaller city is that we often have bigger housing, and are much more easily able to host nabe/takoyaki/okonomiyaki/etc. dinner parties :]