Hello, I’m Jillian.

I originally created this blog to chronicle the stories of myself and four other companions on a month-long Rotary Group Study Exchange to Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures in Japan in October 2010. It was the first time visiting Japan for all of us, and we were shown the best of local culture, food, and events by the Japanese Rotarians. Each week we were welcomed into the homes of different host families.

I was able to return to Japan for a 3 week holiday again in Spring 2011, twelve days after the giant Tohoku earthquake. Once again I rekindled this blog, being that I was across the pacific.

I fall of 2011 I applied for and was accepted to the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. I also enrolled in the Cambridge CELTA course in Spring 2012 to get a TESL certificate. I spent June and July on vacation in Kyoto.

Two years have passed since my original trip to Japan, and I now find myself living here. I teach English to the equivalent of 10th and 11th graders at two high schools in southern Hyogo Prefecture. I hope to start regularly blogging about my life here.

Here is the original Group Information:

Team Leader Gerald is a physician originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1976, he moved to California and opened a medical practice in Petaluma as an Internist /Endocrinologist, teaching at the University of California in San Francisco. In 1983 he joined Petaluma Valley Rotary. Jerry finished law school in 1995, passed the bar exam and practiced law from 1998 to 2002 when he resumed his medical practice. Currently he works at medical/legal examination. He wants to learn about Japanese medicine, hospitals, private practice and the interaction between medicine and law.

Windy was born and raised in Santa Rosa, California with her loving family before leaving for college with the goal of establishing herself in the field of advertising. She graduated Cum Laude with Distinction from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and focuses in Public Relations and Journalism. Windy currently works at an advertising agency which provides print, radio, television and internet advertising as well as website development. She is passionate about her career and equally passionate about exploring different cultures. She also feels very fortunate to live in such a special place, famous for delicious foods and wines.

Brianne was born in Ukiah, California and now lives in Rohnert Park. She is a 911 emergency senior dispatcher. Brianne is also a Master’s student in Teaching English as a Second Language at Sonoma State University (SSU). She grew up in a rural small town with her parents and older brother. She has traveled to 15 countries, speaks fluent Spanish and loves music, cooking and anything outdoors including scuba diving. Brianne is also President of the SSU Rotaract Club. She is eager to learn about emergency services in Japan.

Craig was born in Livermore, California. His quest for a place to live and income led him to Eureka, where he studied theater and became a network engineer. He has two cats, a son, a girlfriend, and a finely tuned sense of humor. He is fond of sports, especially hockey. He is excited to see the differences and similarities that Japanese Information Technology and American Information Technology practices have. When not playing video games or working, he can be found asleep.

Jillian was born in rural Eureka, California. Throughout her life Jillian was drawn to nature and the sciences. She has studied physics, geology, and environmental engineering during her educational career, graduating form Humboldt State University with degrees in Environmental Resources Engineering and Physical Science in May 2010. She was also active in competitive sports, competing in track, cross country, and archery. Jillian has held several engineering positions the latest being at SHN Consulting Engineers and Geologists in Eureka. Jillian loves to practice archery, read, travel, exercise, and learn. She has a goal of becoming a P.E. and becoming a valued asset of the community by providing professional engineering solutions for complex environmental problems.