Samantha Blankenship
Samantha Blankenship
Samantha Blankenship was in Chiba from 2019-2023. This recent returnee gives us the lowdown on how JETAA has impacted her life:
My time in Japan was life changing because I grew up in a small Appalachian town with very little diversity. All my experiences abroad made me realize how vast the world was and how many possibilities were before me. The friendships and connections I made on JET are something I will treasure for the rest of my life. Do not forget to travel around while you are in Japan. There is magic in its natural beauty.
While abroad, I got involved with the JET community. I joined Chiba AJET and helped plan events for English teachers across the prefecture. My favorite part of the job was doing social media for the prefecture. I worked on Instagram, Facebook, and hosted meetups for ALTs on Discord. Even when we could not meet in person due to COVID, we kept things active online so everyone in the prefecture could feel connected.
A memorable moment on JET was my last big trip before I returned to the United States. My friends and I decided to visit Sapporo for the snow festival. Half of the time was spent with us sliding up the snow-dense lanes to our destinations and laughing as one of us took a tumble. I have the distinct memory of boba tea flying into the air during one such incident. On the final day, I rode up the cable car up to Mount Moiwa and my breath was taken away. The entire city below and the jutting mountains around me were blanketed in heavy snow. Everything was so silent. It was one of those moments when everything about you feels small, and the world seems wide and vast. It was a good feeling, considering that in a few short months I would be leaving Japan and had an unknown future. I knew there were opportunities for me out there.
Currently, I am pursuing a Digital Marketing Communications M.S. at West Virginia University. My goal is to work internationally in marketing – preferably in study abroad or tourism related fields. Without my time on the JET Program working in social media, I never would have found this passion. My advice to incoming and current ALTs is get involved with AJET or other volunteer opportunities available to you! Who knows what sort of passions you can discover.
Are you a JET alum with a story to share? Get in touch to be featured in an upcoming Senpai Spotlight.
