After 8 months since we first applied to the JET (Japan Exchange Teaching) Program, we found out that not only have we both been accepted, but we’ve also been placed together! In just 2 weeks we will be moving to Gifu City, famous for cormorant fishing, Ayu sweetfish and being the crossroads between East and West Japan.
Gifu city sounds pretty similar to Canberra. It’s home to 400,000 people, but it’s a quarter of the area size of Canberra. Gifu has 4 distinct seasons like here, but instead of frosty winters we will be having snowy winters! Lastly, and most importantly, there are plenty of bars and restaurants in Gifu city, including an Aussie bar where I can get my fix of AFL games!
Gifu is located in the centre of the main island, Honshu. It’s an easy 2-3 hour train ride to Tokyo and Osaka and 1.5 hour drive to the Japanese Alps ski fields. I guess we better learn how to ski...
We will both be working in Senior High Schools (years 10-12). Tom's school is a Technical High School, which sounds relaxed and fun to work at. It's in Ogaki (the city next door) so he'll have to drive to and from work in whatever tiny Japanese car we manage to buy! Luckily in Japan you drive on the left side of the road so Tom can focus on trying to learn how to read the Japanese street signs instead!
I've been placed at a high achieving academic school in Gifu city which looks really new and has beautiful gardens and grounds. I have been told that my English department teachers are obsessed with food and regularly have their lunches delivered from local restaurants. I don’t foresee having any difficulties fitting in! The exact apartment where we’ll be living is still being finalised. The apartment we’re hoping to get has 2 bedrooms, 1 lounge room, a bath room (literally just a bath and a shower hose), a toilet and a laundry. The rooms will have tatami mat flooring and paper thin walls; great for summer, but we may be colder than the contents of our fridge in winter! Once we arrive we’ll make a video of the apartment for you to check out. Tom’s now finished work and I only have 1 week left! Our departure date is looming ever closer and we couldn't be more excited! 12 days to go! Sarah (and Tom)
Gifu city sounds pretty similar to Canberra. It’s home to 400,000 people, but it’s a quarter of the area size of Canberra. Gifu has 4 distinct seasons like here, but instead of frosty winters we will be having snowy winters! Lastly, and most importantly, there are plenty of bars and restaurants in Gifu city, including an Aussie bar where I can get my fix of AFL games!
Gifu is located in the centre of the main island, Honshu. It’s an easy 2-3 hour train ride to Tokyo and Osaka and 1.5 hour drive to the Japanese Alps ski fields. I guess we better learn how to ski...
We will both be working in Senior High Schools (years 10-12). Tom's school is a Technical High School, which sounds relaxed and fun to work at. It's in Ogaki (the city next door) so he'll have to drive to and from work in whatever tiny Japanese car we manage to buy! Luckily in Japan you drive on the left side of the road so Tom can focus on trying to learn how to read the Japanese street signs instead!
I've been placed at a high achieving academic school in Gifu city which looks really new and has beautiful gardens and grounds. I have been told that my English department teachers are obsessed with food and regularly have their lunches delivered from local restaurants. I don’t foresee having any difficulties fitting in! The exact apartment where we’ll be living is still being finalised. The apartment we’re hoping to get has 2 bedrooms, 1 lounge room, a bath room (literally just a bath and a shower hose), a toilet and a laundry. The rooms will have tatami mat flooring and paper thin walls; great for summer, but we may be colder than the contents of our fridge in winter! Once we arrive we’ll make a video of the apartment for you to check out. Tom’s now finished work and I only have 1 week left! Our departure date is looming ever closer and we couldn't be more excited! 12 days to go! Sarah (and Tom)
