Alumni Interview with Chelsea Tobias

Chelsea spent two years living and working in the snowy, rural prefecture of Aomori, Japan. While there, she taught English in three Elementary Schools and one Junior High School. Even today working with international students is still a huge passion of hers.

Chelsea enjoying the Hirosaki Chrysanthemum Festival outside of the Hirosaki Castle in Hirosaki, Japan.

Why did you want to teach in Japan?

I wanted a chance to travel and explore a culture I had been studying before starting graduate school. I also really love working with kids and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. 

What was the most unusual experience you had while teaching abroad?

It is almost impossible to pick just one, as living in Japan is kind of like having one long awkward moment. But right now, the time I was made to eat shirako, otherwise as known as raw fish sperm, at an office dinner party really stands out. 

What was a normal day like teaching in Japan?

I taught at a different school each day of the week, but each day generally consisted of teaching two to four classes, eating lunch with my students, helping them clean their classrooms, and joining them for recess. I did usually have some down time in my day during which I would plan lessons, chat with teachers, brush up on my Japanese (when I was feeling especially motivated), and catch up on some reading. 

What were housing arrangement like abroad? How did you find them?

My Board of Education had a small house (about the size of a one bedroom apartment) ready and waiting for me when I got there. They tend to use the same house/apartment for each new JET participant. I was lucky in that I had a much newer house with better insulation than most other JETs (very important in northern Japan).

What lessons or things did you learn while interacting with the locals?

I learned how to be patient and how to really enjoy the little things in life. 

If you could change one thing about your program, what would it be?

I wish I had more autonomy in creating lessons and making a curriculum. 

What is the next place you hope to visit and what do you want to do there?

I would love to visit somewhere in South America or India. I'm currently teaching English to international students at my University part-time, and about half of my students are Venezuelan, so it would be really cool to explore where they are from. I also just really love Latin food and culture.