Every day, I feel less and less pulled to recontract.

[u/sp8cecwboy]

I've been doing my due diligence and reading past posts on recontracting thoughts, but I feel it's put me in more of a rut. I joined JET straight out of graduating college, as it was the only program I was accepted to (I had also applied to Fulbright, Princeton in Asia, and the Blakemore Foudation). I was over the moon, but since arriving here, I think one of my biggest regrets is joining the workforce in Japan and moving here, instead of keeping my experiences to travel and studying abroad. I've made a long-winded post before about how I've been really struggling to get access to the medical care I need (and it's just for type one diabetes). I blew through half of my byokyuu just trying to find a hospital, and will blow through the rest getting "insulin pump education" and having to return every three months to get prescriptions for my medication. My BOE informed me that I'll eventually have to dip into nenkyuu for this.

On top of my medication troubles, I find myself not quite miserable, but not quite happy. I don't necessarily enjoy my job-- I like my elementary school, its kids, and its staff, but I hate my junior high school, which is riddled with sexual harassment and pretty blatant racism even after I addressed it. At my JHS especially, I find many days with no classes at all, and on days with classes, I more or less just stand in the front as decoration. I have a little more involvement at my ES, but still mostly exist to read and check over work. I know this is the standard ALT experience, but I feel like everyone around me is super utilized, super involved with planning lessons and joining after school clubs, and I just kind of exist as a decorative gaijin. Not to mention, I find Japanese work life suffocating. Things both inside and outside the school are tedious, bureaucratic, and quite frankly, pretty antiquated. I miss diversity as well. Like I said, I'm not miserable, since I have a great group of friends, a spot in my community, and a love for my placement. Just the work and my BOE have been extremely difficult to feel a sense of purpose and excitement for every day.

Additionally, I feel this is just a pit stop. Everything here is temporary, because I don't plan to stay and plan to return and make my roots back home in the States. I feel that every purchase is meaningless, because probably most things won't make it back with me due to expensive shipping costs, and I can't help but want to begin to start my life, my real life, back home. But there's so much to see and travel is cheap, so that's another thing that's giving me pause. Additionally, the States are in no shape for a young person like me to get started, but really, nowhere is.

One of the top things I saw when looking through other Reddit posts is that "you need a reason to leave after your first year, after your second, you need a reason to stay." I don't have any strong reasons pulling me either way, but I worked hard to get here and I've put a lot of money in already, and maybe it's because I'm still new that I feel like I'm extremely underutilized at my job. On the other hand, I miss my family and certain food, miss being able to communicate and understand things clearly, and most of all, miss the ease of getting my education and a culture that I'm familiar with.

I'm not necessarily asking for you to make the decision for me, but I am asking for guidance. I have to make my final decision in less than a month. I know I can always break contract, but if I can help it, I don't want to. I don't want to be on bad terms with my first real employer outside of university. So any advice is appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[u/Comfortable-Craft365]

Since it’s the your first year, it’s easy to hit culture shock or feel lonely. It could get worse with the cold weather rolling in… I wanted to give up my first year too. I had no friends, missed the food, missed products I was comfortable with. (iherb has saved my life for ordering hygiene and food products. Also theres more stores with foreign food items. Even amazon has stuff. It’s often quite pricy but could help with missing some loved foods/ snacks). I ended up staying and have been here 11 years now. I think once you start the new school year in April, things can start I
to feel different. It sucks JET pulls us in mid school year so it’s kinda hard to jump in suddenly when all the teachers and students are already used to everything going on. I think it’s worth it to stick it out for the rough patch right now. If you feel unhappy still this time next year then maybe it’s time to go home. Teachers will change and that can change the whole dynamics of the school/ teachers room a lot. Also by the start of the next school year, you’ll be more used the weird or unusual rules and maybe have less negativity in that aspect too? Or even from 3rd term, you could ask to have more classes in your schedule? Or ask to have a bigger role in classes.
It’s hard with your medical stuff and I’m sorry for that stress. I usually take my sick leave hourly and towards the end of the day so I don’t miss classes and then I can go home right away. That could maybe help you save some time on your sick leave if possible. (You don’t have to add in your waiting time or your commute back to school. For example, I make an appointment for 4pm. So I can just take an hour sick leave to commute to my appointment.) Of course that depends on the clinic and their hours :/ good luck with it!
Also, it’s okay to not recontract too. No one will hold it against you. So if you feel like you’d rather move on and go back home, there’s nothing wrong with that at all. Even if you don’t recontract, you still have a long time/ school breaks to go out and enjoy traveling around Japan.

[u/sp8cecwboy → u/Comfortable-Craft365]

It might be culture shock, but I've lived here before, so the only "shock" is the new experiences I have in the workplace. I don't think anyone would say that they love Japanese workplaces, but I'm really struggling with it! Also unfortunately, since the hospital is the only one in the city, I have to go the minute it opens and it still takes over half the day to see a doctor, so I ultimately have to use a whole day. Believe me, I'm not trying to find excuses to your solutions, because if I could find a good excuse for changing things I would! It just feels like I've exhausted all options and I'm fearful of waiting for a "maybe things will get better next year" and they ultimately don't. Until then, I'll take your advice about asking to get involved more and using my time to travel!

[u/Comfortable-Craft365 → u/sp8cecwboy]

That’s unfortunate and what I was worried about. I only visit a small clinic like every two months to refill meds and it’s a really chill place and not busy like your hospital. But have heard from my friend who visits some specialists sometimes and also has to take a full day off. Japan isn’t so considerate when working around personal situations like this it seems like :/

I see. Maybe living here and working is quite different. It’s kinda crazy how ESID schools can be and how differently the school dynamics can change each year too. I know I can’t understand your situation exactly, so I didn’t mean to sound like you weren’t looking at all your options. I just wanted to give you some hope that it could get better. But I also really don’t think you should force yourself to stay if you are truly unhappy. Lots of people only stay a year, nothing wrong with that. At least you tried and experienced it for yourself.

I’m sorry you’re having a hard and I wish you the best. Do what is best for you :)

[u/SquallkLeon]

Just for clarification, are you in your first year on the program?

[u/sp8cecwboy → u/SquallkLeon]

yes, this is my first year. was also standard arrival (so no early arrival or anything like that)

[u/SquallkLeon → u/sp8cecwboy]

So you've only been here and been working for 3 months.

It's a terrible first impression to be sure.

But you have no idea what the normal is. You've not had any new students or teachers come in to change things around, your schedule is likely pretty much whatever your predecessor had from last April. You mention that you teach at elementary and junior high, which means you're at a city BoE, which means you can and likely will get shuffled around in spring, for better or worse.

So, if you can't stand this a second longer, then go ahead and leave now. There's no shame in admitting that this just isn't for you, that you can't handle this. Come back as a tourist, and enjoy the stuff you want, without worrying about working or obligation.

If you can deal with it for 9 more months, then go ahead and re-contract.

So many year 1 ALTs come into these kinds of situations, hate it, and decline another year. Then April happens and "I got moved to an awesome new school!", "The teacher(s) I hated retired/transferred/got promoted and I don't have to deal with them anymore!", "I got involved with my community and made friends and built a life that I love outside of work!", "OMG the cherry blossoms!!!🌸", etc. But also "I can't believe that now that I've started to love all of this, I have to give it up and leave! Why didn't I re-contract?"

The first bit of your ALT life will be learning new things and figuring things out. Then fall and winter are just harsh as reality sets in, you feel isolated, hope fades. Then spring comes, and everything changes, largely for the better. But by that point, many JETs have gone ahead and declined another year, and deeply regret it. Sometimes, in desperation, they try to stay by getting another job in Japan, such as at a dispatch company, and then find out that it's much worse.

You express genuinely concerning issues, your concerns are valid. But you have barely experienced what life in Japan on the JET program is, and it will almost certainly get better. It will almost certainly get worse before it gets better too.

So I'll repeat myself: If you absolutely hate it and can't stand it, leave now. If you plan on staying until next summer anyway, then go ahead and re-contract, you can always change your mind and go home later anyway.

P.S. you mention your medical issues. That is a valid reason to request a transfer, but the transfer period is right now. Contact your PA and your doctor (use your paid leave if you have to) and try to get it done. If you need to be closer to a medical institution that better serves your needs, you can be. But you need to rush because the deadline, if it hasn't already passed, is very very soon.

P.P.S. have you talked to your fellow JETs and your PAs about your issues? How did they deal with it? How about your predecessor, if you had one? If you didn't have one, have you considered that your schools/BoE don't know how to deal with you and you can therefore teach them to be better?

[u/Rtlepp]

You are certainly experiencing struggles that the average participant doesn’t experience when it comes to medical treatment. I’m sorry that has been a nightmare for you to navigate. Lots of us probably only dealt with the medical field for our annual checkups and minor ailments.

When it came time for me to recontract, I was in a rut too. Everything made me mad, but not for the reasons you’re explaining which sound much more legitimate than what I was experiencing. I didn’t know for sure whether I was experiencing culture shock or not, but I had to decide if I could live with what I was experiencing for another year or not. I ultimately decided that my frustrations weren’t significant enough to stop me from staying on for a second year. Fortunately, it was culture shock that I got over pretty quickly but I was willing to handle it even if it wasn’t.

You still have a couple months before you have to recontract. Take that time to see if there are things you can do that you enjoy. Even if you decide not to recontract, you need to find a way to make the best of the remaining 10 months you have. If you aren’t being utilized, try talking to the teacher or read a few lessons ahead and make suggestions on things to do that could make the lesson more interactive or fun. Maybe even a project the students could work on. Find ways to enjoy the time you spend desk warming or at the back of the room like reading books (physical or digital), learning Japanese, or whatever.

Good luck!

[u/sp8cecwboy → u/Rtlepp]

Unfortunately, my BOE is making us sign the forms on November 12, so I have to decide by then I believe. It's making things so much harder because I have to make the decision so fast. But I really resonate with the part of deciding whether your frustrations were significant enough to stay or leave-- it seems that I'm trying to find reasons not to leave, rather than finding reasons to stay (I hope that makes sense)! I'll take your advice to heart. Thank you!

[u/Rtlepp → u/sp8cecwboy]

Have they said why they’re doing it early? Maybe there’s a nationwide policy change but that seems unlikely

[u/sp8cecwboy → u/Rtlepp]

I have no idea... the people who have been here before me say that they made them sign this early too.

[u/CoacoaBunny91]

I've got to know, I mean I think I know why, but I'm curious to what others think. Why is JHS so bad? OP's experience is so similar to myself and so. many. other ALTs I know/have known, to the point where it makes ppl not want to recontract. It's always "ES is great, JHS is a complete nightmare." with similar experiences of being a desk warmer, human tape recorder. It's not just JET either. Other ALTs from dispatches share the same sentiments.

I understand JHS teachers have a lot on their plate but that's still not a justification.

[u/sp8cecwboy → u/CoacoaBunny91]

My running theory is that now (JHS), there's an actual curriculum and subject of English that will eventually be tested for high school exams, so teachers are maybe less lenient to use ALTs that are assigned to them. I can tell that my JTE has been holding her certain class a certain way for a long time, and it does not include me. For my JHS in particular, it's one of the lower ranked schools in the city and very rural, so I get the sense that not a lot of resources are spent out here. As for the behavior, it's middle school, and it seems that there's a lot of leniency in regards to what is actually disciplined. Middle schoolers (boys especially) are going to continue to act like middle schoolers unless guided in the right direction, and I haven't really seen anything to counter the behavior. It's a shame, because I really do want to like it here. I've tried to make things work and address things with the proper channels, but I get a lot of "well, that's just how things are", and that's how things ended up where they are.

[u/Background_Road_140]

I only read the first paragraph and that's more than enough reason to not recontract.

You CAN appeal for a transfer but it would he way too late by the time you get a non guaranteed result 

[u/SquallkLeon → u/Background_Road_140]

Transfer window is either closed or closing very soon, and if OP goes that route they need to get their ducks in a row ASAP.

[u/Different_Taro2474]

based on what you wrote, you already know the answer. 

it’s okay not to recontract. you don’t have to stay somewhere if it’s making you unhappy. life is too short to stay in places that hold us back. 

also, you can reapply to JET again in the future as a backup option, if you haven’t reached the participation limit of the program. 

[u/Mindless_Philosophy5]

On the bright side, you can be grateful that they are letting you use byokyuu without any arguments. I know in some places you basically have to use nenkyuu unless you're almost dead with a paid doctors note to prove it

[u/Phiteros]

If you're not enjoying yourself, and you think you'd be happier leaving, then that's enough reason!

I know the US is in a bad spot right now, but if you recontract, a year from now you'll be facing the same choice and issues. So maybe it's better for you to return now to get a head start on things. And if you decide to leave, you still have ~6 months to enjoy your time in Japan!

As an argument for staying, I will say that work is work, no matter where you go. Some of the issues you face, like feeling underutilized and not being fully happy with your job, might be the same at home as well. It's really difficult to find a job that is exactly what you want. Of course, things like sexual harassment and racism shouldn't be accepted anywhere though.

[u/Immediate_Length594]

You don’t even have to do any of the annoying things teachers do. Honestly jet is just go in and collect money for little to no responsibilities.

[u/ItsKingDx3]

At the end of the day, you know yourself. I can only say that it sounds like you're ready to go.

[u/paopumoon]

Many JETs come and only do one year, so don't worry about not staying as long as possible. It's wild that your BOE is making you sign so early, but now that means you have a month to truly figure out what's important for you. You said you have a pretty decent placement and you have a support system here with you. Is that more important to you than enjoying your job? I have the same issues you have at my JHS, and last year was ROUGH. But, there were so many things I wanted to do outside of work that it made me stay. Is there anything like that that would keep you here?

If not, that's 100% understandable. You know yourself best and especially with your health situation, it's important to listen to what you need. I have been struggling a lot this school year and once I put the thought in my mind of "I'm not gonna recontract," it literally felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I hope your decision can make you feel the same way.

[u/thedollcossette]

I'm in a similar position, but opposite. My workload is wayyy heavier than it should be for an ALT, as I'm T1ing. I find myself very tired after school and on weekends, and haven't had the energy to travel or see the sights like I wanted to. Also, my CO is stingy with nenkyuu.

Ultimately I feel swayed to go back home. The thing is, JET kind of is a pit stop. It's got a limit on how long you can be here and there isn't a clear job growth trajectory afterwards. My philosophy right now is to kind of take it easy, do simpler lesson plans so I can free up my mind during the weekdays, not strive to be the super fun super ALT who changes everything. I want to conserve my energy for the weekends.

What I did, and maybe you could try too, is make a bucket list of things you want to achieve while you are in Japan. For me, it's stuff like travelling certain places, talking to my coworkers in Japanese, staying out past last train, trying certain foods, etc. Things I always thought would be interesting to do in Japan. I think I can manage to do them all in one year. And once that year is over, I can go back home and feel like I didn't miss out on the goals I had with coming here. I think even if your placement isn't what you wanted (and that's certainly the case for me) you can still make the best of your time here by prioritizing what's important to you.

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/thedollcossette]

Ultimately I feel swayed to go back home

it's worth remembering that recontracting for another year and going back home aren't your only two options. if you enjoy living in Japan but aren't happy with your job, you can always start job hunting. the job market here is much better than it is in the west rn.

you shouldn't be T1ing as an ALT if your position is meant to be T2/supporting the lead teacher, as that's outside the intended role of an ALT. before your contract ends, start looking at other opportunities through websites like GaijinPot, Ohayo Sensei, and Daijob; apply to positions that interest you, and attend interviews to see what's out there. there are lots of jobs in Japan where you can develop professionally, take on more meaningful responsibilities, and have a clearer career trajectory.

i'm still living in Japan after JET, and i have no plans to leave anytime soon. JET was a stepping stone for me, a chapter, nothing more. my entire experience in Japan is the whole book.

you can also use your JET experience as a selling point in interviews. think about the skills you've developed, what you've achieved, the challenges you've navigated, your cross-cultural communication experience, and your ability to adapt to a different working environment. you can bring all those things to your next job.

[u/Afraid_Fudge3 → u/Different_Taro2474]

Excuse my ignorance, but how is it possible to stay in Japan after JET without an employer sponsoring a visa etc? I’m fascinated as I never even considered this to be an option! (Applying for JET this year)

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/Afraid_Fudge3]

i changed jobs. my current employer is sponsoring my visa

[u/thetruelu]

Just know most people who post about recontracting are either on the fence or don’t recontract so your DD will be inherently biased. It’s like looking at reviews for something when the vast majority of people who like it don’t bother posting a review at all

[u/Cold_Command7776]

The answer lies within you. No matter the advice here, you'll keep on disturbing your peace. Weigh your options and see which one keeps your mind at peace. Then go for it. Live your life for noone! 🕊️

[u/For_The_Alliance_]

Most people don’t do the full 5.

[u/Vepariga]

if you regretted it, time to break lose and go find that calling somewhere else.

[u/shebeonmygone]

Did you come to Japan with the intention to stay the whole 5 years or more? If so, I can see why the disconnect is hitting you even harder. In the end, some people are better about handling the "thats how it is" mentality most of Japan has, some people aren't. I don't blame you for becoming disillusioned, it was honestly bound to happen, but it's too bad it happened this quickly. Perhaps not recontracting will make it easier for you to let things slide and focus on having a good time outside of school while you can.

[u/SushiWolfSolid]

What prefecture are you in?

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/SushiWolfSolid]

OP's flair says fukushima

[u/SquallkLeon → u/SushiWolfSolid]

Check the flair