It all happened so fast.

One day I was looking for jobs in my province and on the next I was offered a job to teach English and French in Japan. I spontaneously jumped on the occasion without really thinking about everything this would entail.

I became excited about leaving a country in which I lived all my life. Finally, this offered a fresh new avenue where I could start from scratch: make some new friends, broaden my cultural horizons, make this an experience of a lifetime and maybe find a new love (I am a romantic that way.)

However, this is not a move down the street but to the opposite side of the planet. More and more everyday I start to feel a little bit more anxious about this whole journey. Of course, I am still really excited and enthusiastic about the whole experience, but I don’t think it would be normal if I didn’t feel any kind of fear, right? You see, in Japan, I will stand out (although I’m only 5"2'), they will want to know everything about me and what I am doing in their country. In a way, this might make it easier for me to make friends and learn the language, but this is definitely not something I am used to over here. The difference in cultures is very frightening to me. Will they understand my sense of humour, for example? Will I be able to be myself in a country that has such different customs? Or will they let me be myself just because I am a foreigner? How will I adapt to J-pop? How will I learn to take Japanese pop music seriously? No, but with all seriousness, this is not a vacation, but a year long contract. It is also quite possible that I decide to stay longer. I seem to adapt myself well to new surroundings and I am an all around positive person. I will make this experience my own and surely make the best of it!

It is common to hear about people going to teach English in Japan. Japan along with many other Asian countries is in great need of English teachers. Most schools and programs that offer these classes are willing to do anything to entice foreigners to work for them. For example, like in my case, some will pay for your plane ticket and even have a furnished apartment waiting for you steps away from work. You see in my case, the school where I am going to teach is in need of someone to replace a French teacher. So not only am I going to be teaching English, but I will also be teaching French. As my employer was explaining to me, it is an European-style school where they teach English, French, Spanish and even Italian. Apparently, these language schools exist because Japanese people are fascinated with European culture, especially French culture. Did you know that many Japanese women actually go under the knife to have eyes ''a la Europeene?'' Go figure… but my employer was very excited when I told him that I was going to be spending two weeks in Paris. I'll have to make sure to bring back precious memories for my future students.

Speaking of Paris, I will be leaving this Wednesday. I look at this trip as a way to observe and understand a different culture and see how I can adapt myself to it. Sure, it is Paris and it is not much different than North America, but it is altogether a different country. France has different customs, politics and it has been said to me that Paris has its own slang called Argo (I am not sure if this is how you spell it.) What I am trying to say here is that 2 weeks in a different country will be some kind of test before I face the biggest cultural challenge of all: Japan.

Till next time!
e.