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  • Tyesha Michel White of Tarboro holds a set of bows that she purchased during a trip to Japan. White went back to Japan Saturday where she will teach for one year.

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July 30, 2012

Local resident to teach in Japan; ‘I love their culture’

Staff Writer Calvin Adkins

TARBORO — At an early age, Tyesha Michel White set many goals, which included completing high school and college.  She accomplished both of those, finishing near the top of her classes. On Saturday, the Tarboro native checked off another one of her goals when she boarded a plane for Japan where she will become an assistant language teacher in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture.   

White, 22, was selected to participate in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET). The JET Program invites college graduates to Japan to teach English in schools or to engage in international exchange activities at local government offices.

Participants experience Japan at the grassroots level through daily activities at schools and local governments, and act as “cultural ambassadors” of the United States to the local community.

“This was one of the things that was on my list of things that I wanted to do,” White said. “When I found out that they had selected me, I was shocked because the program is so competitive. I know I’m going to enjoy it because I love their culture.

White’s love for the culture began to receive nourishment when she took a course in Japanese when she was in the eighth grade. She continued taking the courses in high school and the fascination grew more when she was selected as an exchange student to Japan, where she spent two months. After high school, she went back to Japan as a college exchange student. That trip was scheduled to last one year, however a tsunami in the heart of Japan forced White to return to the United States.

“It was bad, but I didn’t want to come back,” White said. “That’s how much I like it over there.”

The news about the tsunami got the attention of White’s mother, Levonne White, and put her on edge. After hearing from her daughter, she was put at ease. When her daughter returned to American soil, Levonne was overjoyed. So, when she got the news that her daughter was going back to Japan, she had mixed feelings.

“In the back of my mind I said, oh no, not again,” she said. “But then again, I was happy for her. I don’t believe in holding not only my child back but no one else’s child because there is too much out there for them. Whatever their goals are they should go after them. We didn’t have these opportunities when we were growing up.”

White appears to take the advantage of the opportunities in Japan that have become available to her. Including the high school and college courses, White often reads Japanese books. She said she doesn’t speak fluent Japanese, but can carry a conversation.

When asked what’s next, she saidd, “I plan on getting a masters (degree). I don’t know what yet. I know I want to deal with the Asian culture. But I’m not sure what yet.”

  Participants of the JET Program receive a generous stipend and round trip airfare to Japan. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, and have a bachelor’s degree; they are not required to have knowledge of the Japanese language. More than 54,000 participants from 50 countries have taken part in the program since its establishment in 1987.

White is the daughter of Levonne White and Charlie Harper.

 

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