Farewell, Fukui: Leaving Japan After Five Years on the JET Program
Looking back on five years teaching English, exploring Fukui, and finding a new home in Japan.
Cover photo: Posing in front of my ALT English board at school, Fukui, Japan (2026).
Farewell, Fukui
After nearly five wonderful years teaching English in Fukui, Japan, as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) on the JET Program, my time is coming to an end. Last Friday, I stood before some 500 students in my school’s sweltering gymnasium to deliver my farewell speech:
Since I was a child, living in Japan was my dream. I was interested in anime, music, and art. I wanted to experience this amazing country for myself.
I had a wonderful time in Fukui. I enjoyed learning about dinosaurs and local history. I visited many beautiful places such as Eiheiji Temple, Mikata Five Lakes, and Maruoka Castle. I also ate so much delicious food: crab, soba, sauce katsudon, habutae mochi, and so on.
I especially loved my school life at [SCHOOL NAME REDACTED]. It was fun for me to talk and play games with everyone. I enjoyed your jokes, dances, and recommendations. Thanks to you, I learned many things.
Now, I’m excited to go back to Texas for a new adventure. I hope that you will continue studying English. Through English, you can do many things like enjoy foreign music or talk with many kinds of people. Maybe you will visit me in America someday! It’s important to experience the world, to see new things, and to grow forever.
Thank you for five years. Good luck!
I read my speech in both languages, alternating between English and Japanese, with my notes transcribed in Roman letters. Looking out over the sea of faces, it was a challenge to keep my composure. I was so nervous, but one piece of classroom advice echoed in my mind: “Big voice, eye contact, and remember to smile.” I’d repeated this dozens of times as an ALT preparing students for oral exams, but now it was my turn to follow it.
I’ve received kind notes from almost all my students as well as many fellow teachers. I realized that even my smallest comments — “How are you?”, “That’s a nice drawing!”, or “What anime do you like?” — had touched many hearts. I came to Japan hoping “to bridge language barriers and to establish meaningful connections.” I feel grateful to have fulfilled that mission.
As I left the staff room for the last time, I bowed to a waving crowd of teachers. I delivered my final osaki ni shitsureishimasu (“excuse me for leaving before you”) while holding back tears. When I first arrived, Fukui was simply someplace I’d been assigned. Five years later, it’s the city I’ll always think of as my home in Japan.
These five years shaped not only who I am as a person, but also the communicator, designer, and storyteller I’ve become. Living and working across cultures taught me empathy, adaptability, and the power of meaningful communication — lessons I’ll carry into every future role.
I am incredibly grateful to the JET Program, my schools, my colleagues, the people of Fukui, and everyone who made these past five years unforgettable. With the honorary titles of Fukui Prefecture Friendship Ambassador and JET Kizuna Ambassador, I’m excited to continue sharing Japan’s stories while beginning my next adventure back in Texas.
Go-nenkan arigato gozaimashita!
