Before I even sat down to talk to Corey Johnson, I was already itching to ask questions. One look at his LinkedIn page had told me only part of the story, that much I knew. His work history was filled with schools all over Asia. From the Philippines to China to Korea. What could the path of a person who had spent almost all of their professional life overseas be like, I wondered. What stories could someone like that tell?

Not everyone gets to live out a childhood dream. In fact, not many are brave enough to even try. But for Yuri Lowenthal, the passion and love for all things Japan paved the way toward making his dream a reality…

A 15-year-old Carlo Capua wasn’t thrilled when his mother suggested he try a program one summer that was mentioned in a certain pamphlet that arrived at their house. “I said, ‘Mom, that sounds terrible. I wanna go play sports — baseball or soccer.’” Capua, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, stated. “And she said, ‘Just give it a shot. It’s just two weeks over the summer. I think you’ll enjoy it.’”

Celesté Holmes-Tate says she’s always trying to figure out what she wants to do. She’s certainly done a lot. Celesté has, among other things, organized Black History Month events, obtained a Master’s degree in Japan, and served as a college lecturer. And, oh yeah, she was an ALT in the JET Program for six years in Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

For the majority of JETs, their time in Japan lives on through fond memories: bowing on instinct, deciphering kanji-packed paperwork, and forming friendships over cups of green tea and numerous omiyage snacks. But for Nichole Mayfield, the experience didn’t end with a plane ride home.

“The days and months are travellers of eternity, just like the years that come and go. For those who pass their lives afloat on boats, or face old age leading horses tight by the bridle, their journeying is life, their journeying is home.”

-Matsuo Basho, Oku no Hosomichi, Translated by Tim Chilcott (The Narrow Road to the Deep North, 2004)

If Tuan Do’s parents had their way, he would have become a doctor. Instead, Tuan parlayed a passion for languages into an international career — including a stint on the JET Program and positions in the United Nations that have taken him to Jordan, Switzerland, and Vietnam over the last 24 years. 

This profile of JET alumnus Harry Hill highlights how his early experiences in Japan laid the groundwork for a dynamic career bridging U.S.-Japan relations. From interpreting for local officials to launching successful businesses, Hill turned his time on JET into a lifelong mission. His story highlights the power of building meaningful relationships, embracing challenges, and seeing one's outsider status as a strength.