when one is no longer present in time and place that this nostalgia and imagination is once again revived. How does this process relate to the JET participants and alumni? Emerging adulthood For JETs their time in Japan is an influential period in their early adulthood lives. There have been many studies done to demonstrate how early teen and adulthood has a huge impact on our identity later in life. It is the time where we are trying to mould and forge the kind of person we want to be in this overwhelming world we find ourselves in. Matanle (2006) did a study between British and Japanese university students, a time period within emerging adulthood. He reveals the differences between how they approach life time employment, and was most significant was that contact with others through different experiences is important for future development. Thus, for young JETs, the time they spend in Japan will be some of the most impactful and memorable times of their lives. They challenged themselves by living in a totally different society, most likely both culturally and demographically as many of them are placed in villages and towns. They will have forged friendships with other JETs and locals who they may have not found comfort in, perhaps in another context. Many of them will learn about themselves in ways they would not have been able to reflect upon otherwise. As they leave the programme they may long for the aspects of their life they never thought they would have missed. Indeed, memory is a malleable process and nostalgia will begin to set in. The longing for the past and certain aspects of their life in Japan will run its course. The JET Programme has frequently been emphasised as a youth exchange programme, and it is this point that is of great importance. Officially, the programme does not have a specific age limit, however they emphasise on their website that they
when one is no longer present in time and place that this nostalgia and imagination is once again revived. How does this process relate to the JET participants and alumni? Emerging adulthood For JETs their time in Japan is an influential period in their early adulthood lives. There have been many studies done to demonstrate how early teen and adulthood has a huge impact on our identity later in life. It is the time where we are trying to mould and forge the kind of person we want to be in this overwhelming world we find ourselves in. Matanle (2006) did a study between British and Japanese university students, a time period within emerging adulthood. He reveals the differences between how they approach life time employment, and was most significant was that contact with others through different experiences is important for future development. Thus, for young JETs, the time they spend in Japan will be some of the most impactful and memorable times of their lives. They challenged themselves by living in a totally different society, most likely both culturally and demographically as many of them are placed in villages and towns. They will have forged friendships with other JETs and locals who they may have not found comfort in, perhaps in another context. Many of them will learn about themselves in ways they would not have been able to reflect upon otherwise. As they leave the programme they may long for the aspects of their life they never thought they would have missed. Indeed, memory is a malleable process and nostalgia will begin to set in. The longing for the past and certain aspects of their life in Japan will run its course. The JET Programme has frequently been emphasised as a youth exchange programme, and it is this point that is of great importance. Officially, the programme does not have a specific age limit, however they emphasise on their website that they
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