So I’m 30 and a UK JET who will be placed in Hyogo/Kobe this summer. I am assuming most people starting the programme will be early to mid 20s probably just graduated. Just wanted to know what the general age range of the programme is this year.
Obviously there’s a lot to say about being 30 packing your bags moving to the other side of the world and taking a 50% pay cut to your annual salary in the process. But I have been a little bit anxious about being an older person on the programme when people have those expectations “that you should be established by 30” and here I am about to completely have a lifestyle shift. It’s been a bit of mental hurdle lately.
41 comments
I know exactly how you feel. I’m 35 and I’m packing my bags and heading to Hokkaido in August with JET. I think we’re the perfect age for this because we have some life experience under our belts. Don’t worry about other people’s expectations. Live your life the way you want!
I’m not a JET, but most of the ALTs in my area are in their 30s or late 20s. One dude who recently left was even in his late 40s. At 23 I’m one of the youngest ALTs I know so far.
Not being a JET and being out in the inaka might be significant reasons for that, though! ESID
29 here, just got here earlier this year.
It’s not so bad. I’m a couple of years older than many of the ALTs, but that’s no biggie. My only worry is that I stay for 5 years and kinda age out, but we’ll see.
26 and arriving in Kushiro, Hokkaido in July. It seemed like a good time for me to do JET since I have basically no attachments to the US besides my family and I don’t mind being away from them for several years.
I’m in that weird spot where I’ve been out of college too long to still act like a college kid, but the pandemic kept me from establishing a career for the years I was out of college. So I’m just some random 26 year old bachelor with no skills (I have a BA in World Politics, so like I said, no skills) moving to Japan for a change of pace. At least that means I’ll be open to any and all opportunities while I’m over there.
I departed last year, but was 30 when I arrived and framed it the same way you did (blowing up my life to move halfway across the world for a 75% paycut and…????)
The 22 year olds will exhaust you. The 25-27 year olds will make you feel old. Working with kids will remind you how to have fun in ways you didn’t know you forgot. Some people will be great, some people will be annoying, same as anywhere. You’re coming in with a huge leg up, though, because I imagine you know how to set boundaries and conduct yourself in a day-to-day job and have appropriate work interactions…
I haven’t met anyone (even Japanese) who has told me, “Wow you’re 30 years old! You should be established.” Most of the time they are impressed that you have the courage to do something like this, and I think the teachers are secretly relieved to have another adult to relate to.
Dear god, though, I can no longer drink like a 25-year-old.
We have a 61 year old JET ALT, if that’s any consolation 👍
I am a US JET ALT coming this year to Niigata – shi. I am 32. I think you will be fine. I know it’s crazy to uproot your life in your 30’s but this isn’t something everyone gets to experience everyday.
Not only am I in the same boat as you but I also just finished my bachelor degree this year. It took me a long time to let go of the idea of the “timeline of life”. Take the plunge! I know our placements aren’t close but it would be nice to have a few people also around my age to talk to. DM if you need someone to talk to.
One of my friends came on JET at 28 and is now 32. We have some 1st years who are 23, so its a nearly a decade age gap, but no one really gives it much thought (except to tease each other). As long as your personalities vibe, there’s no reason to get so worked up about age gaps. One of my closest Japanese friends is 51. (I’m 26)
As far as the pathway of life goes, I think everyone doing JET is saying “fuck it” to a certain extent, even if you come here straight out of college. I came here at 22, and after 5 years am planning to transition to another field. (Add in a year of grad school and) I’ll be essentially starting a career at 28. Even if you only stay here for a year or two, you’re still “starting” a year or two behind everyone else your age. So I think you’re kind of in the same boat as everyone else. We’re all ignoring the expected escalator of career trajectory to move abroad and try something new.
I’m 29 and there’s another JET here who is 35, and another who is 31. The guy who’s 35 and I respectively decided to leave after our first year, but the guy who’s 31 is going into his 3rd year now.
In my experience, my age didn’t have anything to do with other people’s impressions of me. And personally, I think it’s brave of anyone to uproot their life to experience something totally new. I experienced a lot of anxiety just before leaving for Japan, most of it ultimately unfounded. Just roll with things as they come and you’ll be okay.
​
edit: spelling
I’m 32 and I’m honestly not worried about it. It’s a little bit daunting, and I am taking a pretty massive pay cut, but the field I work in is pretty safe so if I absolutely want to or have no choice but to return to that field, I can. The pandemic has really changed the way I look at things. That’s cliché, I know. But I just need something different after 2 1/2 years holed up.
I’m gonna be going to Tokyo. If nothing more, it’s a couple of years away from the endless routine and starting a new routine that might be a little more interesting. Plus I’ve never lived in a very big city before so I’m all for it.
Finally, I look back at really shitty jobs that I had and some of them only lasted a year and they are like a distant memory to me. One year, two years, three years – In the grand scheme of things, it’s really nothing.
Hello, I am 31, from the UK and placed in Kobe. Message me and we can be friends! It’s honestly nothing to worry about. We have a bit of an older crowd here.
Im out here at 36. I’m in Shikoku. This is a nice paid vacation if you’re coming from a vicious field. you can even save money. its pretty nice. hopefully, you have a good time!
I’m turning 30 this year and will be departing Japan after 3 years here. I’m a bit anxious about heading home because I didn’t really anything of a “career” before I left, and will essentially have to start from scratch (in a 3rd world country). Being older here wasn’t a problem (just be willing and open to hanging out with the “youths”) but my advice: use that wisdom to set boundaries at work that younger ALTs might not feel confident enough to do. You will have a better time all round.
Edit: I do think that if I’d come in my early twenties I would have had a far different and more exciting experience. I’d hoped this experience would give me an opportunity to break out of my ways, but alas, the pandemic and placement only kind of reinforced my hermit tendencies. Which is super comfortable, but I might have gotten way more out of it in my early twenties.
Hey! I’m an older JET as well, and I’ll be in Tokushima (2 hours away from you!). I’m older than you, so don’t worry about it lol. I’m pretty happy to be trying something new even if I’m doing it in my 30s. Most people will be impressed that you’re doing something new and different as a 30-something.
I’m a current JET and in my 30s. Don’t worry about it just as long as you are ok with it. From my experience of meeting other JETs (which is somewhat limited) people of all ages come on JET. It seems to be some people in their early twenties not long graduated or people a bit older later twenties, early thirties or mid thirties. Just depends on who lives near you but you won’t be the only person ever to do JET in their thirties so don’t worry!
I’m 24 and I think the older JETs are really cool! They’ve got cool stories and more life experience. As far as I know, they don’t have any age-related problems here in Japan, besides the inescapable “when are you getting married/having kids?” questions. And for what it’s worth, don’t pay attention to what people might say about your career. Life is literally too short. Just have fun and live your life how you want to!
Been here for all of my 30s so far, honestly inaka placement would’ve driven me crazy in my 20s so I’m just super thankful I did life ‘out of order’. The maturity and workplace experience has been very useful to being a functional ALT. I try to keep an open mind to age gaps, but spend a lot of time secretly wondering if I was like that at 22 too…..
I’ll be 34 when I land in Japan this summer so you’re hardly alone! And to hell with “expectations”. I know so many people my age in different life circumstances – some are married with kids, some are married with no kids (and no plans to have any), a couple are separated with kids, and some (like me) are single and have no kids. Some have houses, some don’t. Some of us are happy, some of us are not, most are somewhere in-between.
To me, all that matters is that you do what is right for you. What I want is not necessarily what others want. I know people who have known for ages that they wanted a house and a family. Me? I knew from childhood that I wanted to see the world…and, well, here I am! If this is something you want, I say jump in with both feet and embrace everything that happens afterwards, no matter what anyone else says 🙂
I joined at 37 years old, and am leaving this year turning 41.
You’re fine. XD
Joined 26, leaving 32. But staying in Japan for longer because I don’t want to go back yet. Heck if I’ll ever be “established” or “settled” like people back home say we should be in our 30s.
All I want to do in life is to eventually find myself some comfy inaka area, trying to revitalize a town while fixing up an old house all while visiting the local grandparents & helping them out.
I knew plenty of **incoming** JETS (from foreign place to Japan) who were 30 or older. I also knew that most of them moved back (**departed** JETs).
Before I departed from my home country, I got meet many other JETS, and then got to meet the group I would be with in the same prefecture as well.
I know some older JETS that have also decided to stay in Japan and have become teachers at international schools, doing other businesses and stuff.
It’s fine. Tou aren’t Ojisan until you are (age + 2 years) in Japan anyways, from my experience.
I’m a UK Jet who came out here last November, I’m 34 (: don’t be anxious, you’re defo not too old! I’m kind of glad I did it at this age actually after getting some irl work experience before hand, it’s helped a lot. You’ll have a great time, don’t worry about anything!
I’m a US 2020 JET who came in November and I’ll be 31 in a few weeks. I was actually 28 when I interviewed, lol. Don’t worry too much. I have met some other JETs who were around our age range and even older. My students love me, and my JTEs like that I can handle myself since I’ve been an adult for a while.
You might find yourself doing different things the younger JETs in your area, but you’re also not obligated to be buddies with everyone. For me, I don’t drink, so I’ll probably never go to a nomikai, but that’s not really age specific anyways. Many younger JETs are more mature for their years as well. Just come in with a clear and open mind.
I’m an incoming JET Im 37 and leaving for Nagano in august hopefully!
Currently 32 and this is my second time on JET. First as a fresh grad and second time I applied as a displaced worker because of Covid.
It really really depends on where you are put – there is a Facebook page for JETs over 30.
When I was here previously I had friends of all ages I didn’t think twice of coming back a little older ( and there’s quite a few 5th/6th year jets here about my age now )
Coming back a second time I decided not to recontract. I’m very ostrisized. City has two foreigner bars and I’ll ask if anyone is doing anything – get zero response – go out myself and run into people who all made plans with eachother ( younger. ) Covid has kind of pushed people to be a little more clicky as for a while group size was limited.
It very well could be that I’m not all “oos and ahhs” about Japan this time that I’m not fitting in (because I’ve done this before) or it could be my age – I can’t say – no one is mean in particular.
No matter what your area leaders and AJET will always have meet up events and no matter what age you are there’s people looking for friends.
I hope you have an amazing time on JET
I started when I was 29 or 30 and still had the time of my life. Stayed 5 years. Great times. I was definitely one of the older ones near the end, but once you get to know people age doesnt matter. Its just a bunch of people with something in common you hang out with. Don’t even worry! You will have an awesome time!
EDIT: Not that it has much relevance, but im in the middle of studying for my masters in TESOL and planning to move back to Japan when I can 😀
To be honest, I think a lot of BOEs like older JETs because they’re (usually) more mature. I came to my city at 25, the guy after me was 27, and we’ve got a guy in his mid-thirties coming this summer. I’ve also met plenty of people who are close to or over 30. Nobody has ever treated them poorly, and they usually get along well with teachers at school. And even though I’ve almost hit 30, I’m still the youngest teacher at my JHS.
Where I live there’s a number of other JETs in the upper age group. I’m 31 and married with my spouse in the states still. Yeah being at older changes your perspective and experience a little but imo I’m glad I came here while I was mature enough to be able to handle so much of the small stuff with ease. As far as the pay goes, that’s just a matter of perspective. I value my experience over the pay cut but that’s definitely an opinion.
Thanks for the comments they have been reassuring. I’m already a teacher in the UK so I’m not too anxious about the job more about the pay cut and shift in lifestyle. I guess I’ll need some adjusting to being the assistant teacher instead of the main teacher.
i’m an incoming Kobe JET from the UK and i’m 28. hoping to connect with some more ‘mature’ people. send me a message if you’d like! it might be good to make connections prior to leaving the country 🙂
I am going to Shimoneski Yamaguchi prefecture at 33. I am actually happy that I didn’t do this programme before because I am better able to cope with pressures of life and problems that will inevitably come my way. Plus I am unattached with no children so still in a good place to go at this point.
I was in my early 20s when I did JET the first time and now I am in my early 30s— Some of my favorite people were the older JETs and I often forgot that we had a difference in age. In fact, now that I think of it, most of the Japanese people I befriended were in their 30s, 40s, and 50s too. I had a few friends my age, but most of them were older than I was. Now that I am older, I appreciate more that they put up with less mature me haha. Yes, JET does skew young, but there’s a good amount of people who are in their 30s and older, and there were former JETs who still lived in my prefecture who were older too.
I think the expectation to be “established by 30” can be quite harmful, because it pushes people to do things they don’t want to do instead of living the lives they want to live. My parents got married, got steady jobs, and had kids before they were 30 because it’s what they thought they should do, but they were deeply unhappy being married to each other and in the situations they were in. That’s not to say others can’t be happy with those same choices, but it’s sad that a lot of people follow that path only because they feel like they ought to do so. I hope we can free ourselves of those expectations.
For the past 10 years I’ve been traveling, teaching, and getting degrees and I’ve really loved my less conventional choices. I took a steady job during the pandemic (out of necessity) and I hated it. Sure, I made more money, but I wasn’t happy. That’s not to say our material conditions don’t matter (they very much do), but JET provides enough money to live on and flourish (or at least it did for me).
I’m an incoming UK JET in my late 30s and heading to Hyogo .
I know how you feel!
I’m taking a career break (and a salary cut) to do the JET Programme.
I’ll be 39 when we head out in August. We are taking a 75% pay cut, quit our jobs and sold our house! My eldest is 19 and having a gap year and will go to Japanese language school. Youngest going to Elementary school. We will be heading to Nara but don’t know exactly where as yet as prefectural. It’s never too late to do anything. We only get one go round 😊
I’m 34 and will be going to ibaraki in July. Don’t love your life according to societal standards. How many people would have the guts to move to a foreign country to pursue a dream? No many. Most just stay at the same place at the same job talking to mostly the same people until they get old. Be proud you are adventurous enough to do this. When you come back it will be a nice notch in your belt of world experience. If you decide to stay there longer or make a life there, all the more power to you…we never know what trajectory our life can take by doing this program. Just keep an open mind and roll with the punches, it will likely be a struggle the first few months
In my experience, most JETs are older actually. I’m in the fresh out of college crowd and I’m the youngest JET I’ve met in my prefecture (I’m 23 and I’ve met a couple 24/25 year olds but most are 27+). Many of the people here may be fresh out of college but not everyone graduates at 22, since sometimes people’s educations are interrupted or whatever.
31yo Irish Jet heading to Kobe this year too, I was worried about the same thing, glad to have seen this post!
31 years old, heading to Tokyo. No shame in being older. I was working in biopharma doing 12 hour days and I’m just feeling burned out. I’m leaving everything on good terms, taking a break from it all and just looking forward to having a nice gap year or two doing something different. Opportunities like this don’t just come around often. I do feel you on the whole “established by 30” thing, so I was careful about good terms and continuing to network and work on my credentials while I’m over there. Its all definitely a mental hurdle but then I can guarantee to you that no on on their death bed ever said “gee I sure wish I worked more and made more money.”
I came to Japan when I was 32, now I’m 39 and finishing my 7th year. I think the oldest JET I’ve talked to was in there 50s.
Older JET FB group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/olderjets
You’ve probably gotten all the answers you need, as you’re probably here by now… but I can tell you this, Kobe is has a lot of JETs and is a mixed bag when it comes to ages. I’m 33 and only arrived in April, and I wasn’t the oldest in my group either. So, while I’m super late on the answer, you’re 30, you’re still a young whippersnapper! 😉