Thanks

Flowers say thanks,
As do some sweets,
But a poem 
Does them better...

For the flowers will die,
And the sweets will be eaten,
But a poem is immortal,
To all forms of death,
And may only be consumed
By the heart...

So thus is my thanks,
Hereby written,
In hopes that your hearts,
May be filled
By my thanks.

What’s your name, when and where was your placement, and where are you from originally?

I’m Terrence Michael Gardiner. I was a JET in 1993 in Japan, Ehime prefecture, working in high schools, and I lived in Yawatahama city . I’m originally from Corcoran, Minnesota, USA.

How did you find out about JET, and what led you to apply?

Found out about JET at University. I love travel, and was a Rotary Exchange student, so the fit was great .

What did you hope to achieve on JET, and did that change during your time here?

I wanted to learn about Japanese culture, and share my culture with others. No change. Goal well met.

What is your lasting impression of the work you did on JET and the communities you were part of?

Great experience, wish I would have stayed for two years, but met a fellow JET and got engaged.

Where did JET lead you?

I went into the Peace Corps.

Right now, some incoming JETs have been delayed by more than a year, and are in the difficult position of choosing to indefinitely wait for Japan to open up or to give up on coming here. Do you have any comments or advice for them during this time?

It is worth the wait, a life changing experience.

If you had been in their position, do you think you would have gone on JET if you’d been in limbo for a year?

Yes, considering our reality, I would have waited.