I was a JET in 1995 - 97 and ...have friends all over the world. We are still in touch after so long.... For all they apply: Go for it and... grow!

I think in general as we get older and start adulting it becomes tougher. People become busy with work, married, kids, etc. Being single and alone kinda gets to you after awhile. But things in life will constantly change and unexpected good things will happen.

thanks for sharing Cara! continue sharing!

I hope to apply next year, your videos are super informative while giving your own personal take on the experience! New sub here!

You're inspiring and you will totally make it through this winter! I have really enjoyed your candid take on living in Japan and your experiences with the Jet Program. I hope we can meet when I come over there. Assuming my placement allows that kind of thing, but yea. You're awesome!

Your videos have been really helpful.

What a journey it's been for you, and thanks for sharing Cara! It's great to witness how much you've learnt about yourself from being in the JET program. I'm thinking that I'm lucky to be somewhat an introvert now 笑.. Hope I'll be fine if I make it in next year

These are things that I think about as well. Thank you.

Im an ALT too and you absolutely nailed it on the head with what i have felt.

Very helpful! Thank You! Since the application deadline is approaching for next year, would you consider doing a live Q&A session?

Omg Cara I feel that thing you said about looking up and wondering where all the teachers went on a spiritual level. Like they just disappear and you're like... ok... I guess I'll just sit her alone haha

So true about about feeling like an outsider at schools. I work at quite a few different schools so there are a lot of times where I have no idea whats going on haha. Great video though!

I'm more afraid of allergies during class than winter because I'm an introvert so sometimes I prefer being lonely. Runny nose and eyes plus a sore voice is a nightmare in the spotlight...

Hi Cara! Sorry I haven't been around a lot. Midterm season kicked my butt this year. It can be hard to make friends in a foreign land, and that's one of the things that I'm mentally preparing myself for. I'm glad you're working on this and learning to cope. I find more and more lately that I'm really looking forward to my eventual time with the Jet Program. I also wanted to drop a note and let you know that my trip to Japan next year has been booked. I'll be in Japan from August 15-31 2018, and I'm prepping for it (Itinerary, wifi things, places to stay, etc) now so I don't have to worry about it later. I've got a friend here who's been on the ground in Japan, so I've got a resource for planning and what not. I've got so much planned for hen I get there, I don't know if I'm going to get it all done. I'm planning on 5-7 days in Tokyo, 2-3 days in Osaka and 2-3 days in Hiroshima. As always, hope you are well. Looking forward to having coffee with you when I come out.

I miss being in japan! Keep your head up!

Sounds like warm beds during the winter are sleep devils that steal time. Looking forward to the graduate school video.

You can do it Caraaaa!!! Have tried looking into vitamin d supplements? My dad had to take them for his winter blues..but these were prescribed soooo... 😊 look into it when u have chance

I'm kind of shy so I was soooo lucky I met someone who wanted learn english and wanted to teach japanese in return and was just a genuinely good hearted person. Since leaving Japan, we have visited each other once a year whether she visits me in Hawaii or I visit her in Okinawa. Super cool beanie by the way!

Loneliness is my true friend. Been best friends since childhood. Any “friend” I make, even current, is a one sided friend with me giving 100% and the other doesn’t realize I exists. So I guess this won’t be a problem for me as I’m used to this. And I love the cold...went solo trip to Hokkaido this past February, snowed every day and it was the best.

Hi! I am applying to be an ALT this fall right now! I am from Canada and I know all about Seasonal Affective Disorder, SAD for short (Ironic I know) and in my city we son't get much sunlight in the winter. One thing that I found has helped is that you can order a special type of lamp that mimics the wave lengths of natural sunlight and it can help combat the sadness. I usually just put it on when I am at the computer or reading. I hope this tip helps!

Thank for sharing Cara! Jeez, I'm a little worried about winter in Japan. I live on a tropical island and I complain when the air conditioning is turned up too high in my classes. How do you deal with the cold weather?

Funny for the weather. The place I live in the south western US get both get really cold during the winter and hot during the summer. At least to say it always dry as hell but I think if it is humid then it would be similar to your experience in winter.

For some reason I felt fine with being isolated, but I hate being judged for doing things no one told me not to. Like, studying Japanese is out, ok. But I only picked that up after a week of sideways glances and people being cold to me. Preparing too many activities? Tell me mottainai to my face!! :( Can't wait to have a job in English that just tells me what's expected. Shout out for LA girls, I'm in the snow, too, and it suuuucks.

What do we think about a live stream session on Nov 11, Eastern Time 9pm? Like this comment if you'd like to attend!

I can do it, no matter what it takes!

Please keep warm and happy :)

Sucks that Winter has left such a negative impression on you. I remember your video from last year. I absolutely love the winter and can't live without snow! Hopefully this year will be better for you. If you are feeling down and want to talk to someone but can't reach anyone, hit me up!

Nice hat ! You look like a hip hop star !! (seriously!). The cooler weather seems to put you in a philosophical mood. I think moving to Japan is really really tough at first. Not everyone can deal with it, and some people use the wrong strategy. I knew this guy who had been living in Japan and working as an ALT (non JET) for a while, he didn't really feel like he belonged in his own country and had nothing much to go back to, but didn't really entirely feel at home in Japan either. He used to drink heavily to deal with his loneliness and other existential issues. I think most ALTs have to deal with issues of not really being viewed as a proper teacher, or communication issues, or not being told what is happening at the school, or being hassled by some Japanese teacher, or wondering what the hell they are doing there ! To be honest I think there is no real answer to those questions. In my opinion the best approach is to do your best, while trying to focus on positive aspects of the experience as well as planning for the future. For some JETs their location might be problematic, but I think it is best to plan trips, excursions or activities every weekend to stay busy and have things to look forward too. In some ways I didn't really like my area, but it was centrally located so I could catch a train to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya etc most weekends and just hang out for the day and do some sightseeing. I guess since you are from HK / SYD / LA you probably struggle with really cold weather !! N1 test ? Sounds tough ! Gambatte !!

I live in Russia and our winter is usually -25/-30. When coming to Japan I thought their winter will feel like spring in Russia. How wrong I was! We had an awful amount of snow coming every day(I was in Kanazawa btw). Even though it was about -10, I felt super duper cold all the time, because of the high humidity the cold gets you everywhere! How pity that Japan doesn’t have central heating...

In Canada we call those hats a Toque. Beenie sounds weird to me, lol.

That sounds exactly like my situation but I don't mind it too much. My town has 3000 people and i'm the only Jet. it's mostly fisherman. However, I have gotten closer to my co-workers because we became interested in the same things. We go to pachinko to hang out which isn't the best hobby but I really enjoy it :P. Knowing Japanese definitely helped loosening up the mood and tension between my other teachers at the beginning.

I'm applying to go for next year. And Reddit has alot of communities that do weekly meet ups. You should check it out.

Hey I'm a first year JET and I'm having problems with making friends. I relate to a lot of what you said in your video! I go to work and I come home to an empty house. I'm in the inaka and fairly alone in my area. Do you have any tips for making Japanese friends?

XD I'm sorryyyy. I choked a little when I heard -2. I'm from Canada so i'm used to -15/-20 and the higher end of -30. Thank you for the video. Always good to get insight on the realities of whatever it is you hope to get into. (Hopefully going to japan in august).

I keep sending people to you videos and i keep forgetting to subscribe. lol. Thank you for the insight! Now everyone I recommend to your channel wanna be your friend. lol. :D

EPIC

I’m in the middle of applying for jet, but this video made me rethink everything. Idk about snow because I’m also from California and not used to really cold weather. Though loneliness is ok for me because I’m a little of an introvert. But should I still apply?! Haha

Thoughts on possibly staying long term, Cara? :) I hope everything is working out better for you this year!

Hi Cara. Would you mind sharing the car accident you had in winter? How bad was it? Is it very difficult to drive during winter there?

Cara, let's swap placements! It's still 27 degrees here, and I'm constantly checking to see when it's going to cool down. I'm totally down for the cold. I love it. Haha.

Hey everyone, I wanted to ask a question. I have sent my application yesterday and forgot to write jet program on the envelope, wrote the Embassy address only and my address with number. Will it get rejected?? Iam having sleepless nights coz of it.

My husband and I are super interested in applying together, do you know if JET will place married couples together if they are both accepted? He's Mexican and I'm American I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

I can tell you are an emotional girl but I'm happy to see you are coming along strongly...😀 Hopefully everything will work out for you in the future 😄 Maybe get another boyfriend to kill some time 😁

yay

i guess loneliness wont hit me until later on, don't get my wrong its fun to hang out with my friends but i enjoy being my own company most of the time i rather have it really cold than really hot, since you are from Australia you would know what its like here we get a bit of everything sometimes in the same week :L blazing hot one day then extremely cold the next

Nice hoody!

Would you say it is easier for you to integrate yourself in the community as someone that isn't immediately read as "foreign"? Do you know anyone that is white/black that has also had positive rural experiences? I'm so afraid of visually sticking out as racially 'other' and if that will make my experience more isolated.

i already don't have friends so it shouldn't be to big a deal

Complaining about -2 degrees? Try living here in Canada!

You are talking like a teen, saying friends is my whole life and I need friends. I have been crying alone for 20 years in my own country. I hope that you grew up since November 2017 and get it that adult's life is not about loving people and moving on when it doesn't click, that is so juvenile to think that.