Finding your tribe: reconnecting with the JET Program and sending off new participants!

For many alumni, the JET Program is a turning point—opening doors to careers in education, diplomacy, international business, and beyond. But perhaps its most lasting gift is the global network it fosters: a community of passionate, curious, and culturally engaged individuals who continue to support and inspire one another long after their time in Japan.

Since its inception in 1987, the JET - Japan Exchange and Teaching - Program has welcomed participants to cities, towns, and villages across Japan, where they serve as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs), and Sports Exchange Advisors (SEAs).

I joined the JET Program from Belgium in 1997 as a CIR, a role that immersed me in local government, cultural exchange, and community-building. I was placed in Komatsu, a relatively small town in Ishikawa Prefecture on the West coast of Japan, because of their sister city bond with the Belgian town of Vilvoorde.

Even though I already spoke Japanese, the experience was still life-changing. I learned not only about Japan, but also about myself—how to adapt, listen deeply, and grow with humility.

Now that I live in the Bay Area so many years later, the local JET community has become a new source of friendship and shared reflection—a space to reminisce, reconnect, and continue growing together.

The JET year starts in August, and I feel so fortunate that I joined the JETAANC alumni community here in the Bay Area just in time to help with sending off the new batch of young people starting their life and career in Japan just a few weeks from now. We had a fun potluck picnic in Palo Alto on Saturday, I made some new friends and even met an ALT who will be moving to “my” city Komatsu!

I’ll admit—I felt a twinge of envy! To be that young again, standing on the edge of such an incredible adventure! I still vividly remember the excitement and the fear I had upon moving to the other side of the world, going to a place so far away from friends and family. It was a huge step to take but looking back it was all so worth it.

In the end, the JET Program is more than a professional opportunity; it’s a mindful journey of cultural exchange, personal growth, and lifelong connection. I encourage anyone looking for self-exploration and personal growth to apply and experience this life changing program.

The relationships you build and the insights you gain will stay with you forever!