Laura Escher - Okinawa (2023-2024)

Laura on a mountain along the Shimanami Kaido (Nishiseto Expressway) in the summertime

Where were you in Japan as a JET and when? 

I was placed in Okinawa as an ALT from 2023-2024. I lived in the south of Okinawa, in

an area called Yaese. I taught at Koyo High School.

What sparked your interest in applying for the JET program? 

When I was 16 years old, I discovered the JET Program from a famous YouTuber named

Chris Broad from his channel called “Abroad in Japan.” Although my first introduction to anything from Japan was playing Nintendo games with my siblings, I slowly discovered more about Japanese culture from high school friends who enjoyed manga, anime, music, or art. I started to do my own research online and I came across the "Abroad in Japan" channel. After watching videos about his experience teaching English with the JET Program, I went down a rabbit hole scouring the internet for more testimonies and information about the program. I started to think, “Wow! I would love to have this experience living in Japan. Teaching English as a second language sounds like an adventure.” Thus, it became my goal at 16 years old to teach English with the JET Program after I finished my undergraduate degree.

Laura posing with her Debate and Discussion students at the end of her time in Okinawa

What are some of the things your prefecture is known for? e.g. food, hotspots, etc. 

Okinawa Prefecture is known for many things: beaches, snorkeling, caves, parks, castles,

and plenty of food! Tourists with an ocean-focused itinerary go island hopping through

Keramashoto National Park, swim in the clear waters at Furuzamami Beach on Zamami Island, and drive to Chiraumi Aquarium to see the whale shark and other local Okinawan fish. Tourists who want to stay on land go shopping on Kokusaidori in downtown Naha, head south to Peace Memorial Park, create their own Ryukyu glass at Ryukyu Glass Village, or tour the historic Shuri Castle. Many tourists love buying souvenirs such as kariyushi shirts, shīsā (Okinawan lion or lion dog) figurines, or bingata (紅型 - traditional Okinawan dyeing method) textiles. My friends are always surprised when I tell them that kariyushi is considered formal wear in Okinawa since it resembles the American Hawaiian shirt. You can see many businessmen walking around Naha after work wearing them!

Zamami Island is one of Laura's top recommendations when visiting Okinawa Prefecture. It has beautiful beaches, amazing snorkeling, and delicious food to try. Here she is with a sea turtle that her snorkeling group spotted in July 2024!

There are a few seasonal events that are popular as well! Unlike the rest of mainland

Japan, the sakura season comes in January and February. I recommend checking out Nakijin

Castle Ruins for beautiful hanami (花見 - flower, especially cherry blossom, viewing)! Also, Ie Island Lily Field Park hosts their annual Ie Island Lily Festival in late April or early May. Another popular event for many Oki JETs is the Yonabaru Tug of War festival in August, where a five ton, 90 meter long rope is pulled! At festivals in Okinawa, you can usually see traditional folk dancing called eisa and hear Okinawan shime-daiko drums or sanshin (三線 - Okinawan traditional three-stringed instrument) performances.

Regarding food, Okinawa is most widely known for its agu pork, seafood, shiikuwāsā

(citrus fruit), kokuto (brown sugar) production, and awamori (Okinawan alcoholic beverage). Other notable foods are goya (bitter melon), mozuku seaweed, umi budou (sea grapes), beni imo (purple sweet potato), and jimami dofu (peanut tofu). I would recommend trying Okinawa’s famous dishes such as Okinawa soba, rafute (boned pork rib meat), goya champuru (bitter melon stir-fry), jūshī (seasoned rice dish), and taco rice! For dessert, please try Blue Seal ice cream, sata andaagi (deep fried donut), or chinsukō (shortbread-like cookie)!

Laura joined a local tennis club at Onoyama Park in downtown Naha twice a week. Here is her class posed at the end of their time together, celebrating with cake. She gives special thanks to Coach Taisei and Coach Gima.

Did you pick up any of the regional dialects? What are some of your favorite words or phrases? 

While I did not become fluent in any of the Ryukyuan languages, I learned a few phrases

of Okinawan, or Uchinaaguchi. The most common phrase you encounter on the island of

Okinawa is mensoore, which means “welcome.” To say hello, you can say haisai (men) or haitai (women). At work parties, teachers would say kari!, meaning cheers! My favorite phrases are: ichariba choodee, or “Once we meet, we are family,” or nankurunaisa, roughly meaning, “Everything will be alright.”

If you were to return to live in Japan, would you choose to live in that same prefecture? 

I would choose to live in Okinawa again, but I am also open to living in other areas of

Japan. For example, areas such as Kanazawa, Nagasaki, Nagano, and Kobe are a few that I

thoroughly enjoyed visiting and pondered about the possibility of living there.

During New Years 2024, Laura visited her friend Riko and stayed with her family in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. They walked around Kairaku-en, one of the three Great Gardens of Japan!

How has your connection in relation to Japan changed since living in Japan? 

My connection to Japan is stronger now than ever before! I returned to Okinawa this past

summer to see friends and volunteer at an English summer camp. I helped in the interview

process for the JET Program in January of last year and plan to help again. I am taking the JLPT N3 in December this year as well. My passion for teaching English as a foreign language hasn’t faded and it will likely remain something that I do on the side throughout my life. I hope that my future work can involve Japan in some capacity, whether that is traveling to Japan for work or working for a Japanese company in the US. Without a doubt, Japanese language and culture will be a part of my life forever.

Laura says goodbye to her first-year students on her last day of class. They surprised her with handwritten messages from each student and a stunning drawing with 感謝 (kansha - gratitude) written on the front.

Thank you, Laura, for sharing your JET story!