Hey there – This Isn't Tokyo

Just checking in to let you know that I’m alive. My family’s here, which means that I’m spending all my time with them and none replying letters or e-mails. I apologize for all the e-mails I haven’t responded to over the past 2-ish months, and all the IM conversations I’ve sort of abandoned–I swear I’ll catch up soon. I have a long weekend coming up before the semester starts, and lots of photos to post and lots of things to write about…maybe I can get started then.

Hi! I’m Smitha.

I’m an alumna of the JET Program. I currently live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

In 2018, I’m spending ~1.5 months doing the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage from late February through mid-April.

From 2005 to 2007, I lived in Ikeda-cho, Miyoshi-shi, Tokushima-ken, on the island of Shikoku in Japan. I taught at 1 junior high and 6 elementary schools, and I taught 2 weekly community English conversation classes.

I’d maintained this blog during my time on JET, including the months before departure and the waves of reverse culture shock after returning to the US. I sought to capture my full experiences, both good and bad, to try to paint a realistic picture.

This blog “broke” sometime over the years; I had never meant to take it down. It’s finally back online, in the hopes that it gives prospective/current JETs some help or commiseration.

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