English DiaryKeep Going. Keep Growing.

I can still vividly remember the time I spoke to a friend telling her “the chance to visit Japan is maybe not for me yet, but who knows, I might not be just a visitor, but someone who’ll experience living there”. And here I am, living in the place I once dreamed of visiting.

I was an English Teacher in one of the International schools in Thailand when a window of opportunity opened for me. Having a stable job in the middle of a pandemic is a blessing.

But, I recklessly took the chance and applied for a job I happened to see online. I hesitated at first, then went for it after thinking for some time. It was a job opening for an English teacher in Japan. After months of waiting, I finally saw the country I once dreamed of visiting. I was relocated to Iwate Prefecture— known for its scenic beauty of rugged coastlines, cherry blossom trees, and historical places and temples. Seeing the environment of my new place, I can’t help but be amazed by the sights, and how peaceful the area is.

I was an ESL Teacher for Japanese students for almost 4 years in the Philippines, and that experience somehow gave me a bit of perspective on my new workplace. However, reality came and hit me. My first teaching experience in Japan is not as easy as I thought it would be. The communication between me and my students, the culture, and the learning system— all needed big adjustment.

Having a new life I once dreamed of, seeing the nice environment that I get to see every day, plus the support and guidance of people around me, made my adjustment a lot easier. Though I know that I still have a lot to learn. In this experience, I became more certain that there is always a timing for everything. So, don’t stop dreaming. Work hard, and who knows? – yours might be given when you least expect it.