Alternate

Just found out I'm an alternate for JET today. JET= a government sponsored program to bring English speakers from all over the world to Japan to work in elementary, junior, and high schools as English language teachers. Alternate = as of now, I won't go, but if someone that was chosen decides not to go, I may be chosen (there is a waiting list).

Not particularly inspiring. On the one hand, I'm not good enough for the "regular" program. On the other, I'm not outright rejected, so I can't just forget about it. I may have to wait until as late as August. And that sucks.

But it has made me think. Do I really want to teach English in Japan? I want to teach, yes, I want to be in Japan, but honestly I wonder if I want to be in the middle of nowhere, teaching a subject 95% of Japanese students could care less about and that, honestly, I'm not sure I would want to learn about. I'm not saying I don't - it could be good experience, and if I were in a good situation, it could be fantastic. But for 3 years, really, I have been looking to JET as a way to get to Japan, but when it really comes down to it, I'm not COMPLETELY certain it is what I want to do.

More later...