Jacquie Bamba S. Zamora is a proud Filipina who works as an English teacher and coordinator as well as a Cambridge English Speaking Examiner in Western Japan. She has been teaching for over 10 years and is now enjoying a quiet and simple life abroad. Today, she’s giving us a preview of what her working day in Japan is like and why it’s important to do self-reflection once in a while.

I am a full-pledged English teacher and I’ve been teaching for almost a decade now. Before, a mentor told me you can’t consider yourself a good teacher unless you’ve taught for 10 years. So I guess I can now consider myself one.

I think being a teacher has always been what I wanted. I love writing and reading. And as an English teacher, I am able to turn my passions into actions and practice them every single day. Some people say teachers don’t get rich, at least in the way that most people see being rich should be. But you know what, if we look at the amount of love and appreciation my students have given and continue to give me, I can say that I am rich.

Time flies so fast when you’re busy hustling, especially in a foreign country. Fortunately, after more than two years living and working in Western Japan, I could now say that I have adjusted and taught myself to cope with the norms at least, especially now that I am able to speak and practice Nihonggo in communicating with my Japanese friends and colleagues on a daily basis. Even the educational system here has its own uniqueness and identity that I had to learn first before I was able to truly appreciate it.
I’ve also learned how to live a quiet and simple life like the locals here. Living alone in a foreign country with a totally different culture from what I grew up with taught me a lot of things and made me a wiser person—both in my career and personal decisions.

I believe that more than so-called greener pastures, personal growth is so far my most valuable achievement since I ventured outside of my mother country. Today, let me give you a sneak peek of my day here in Western Japan.

6:30 A.M. – I usually wake up at this time. I prepare my breakfast and lunch early since I bring my own obento
(Japanese food tray) to school. We eat lunch with the kids every day which I consider a meaningful experience.
7:30 – I take a shower and get myself ready for work.
9:00 A.M. – Time to start work. I teach three to four classes a day for students aged three to six years old. I make sure that our lessons are aligned with the Young Learners English for Cambridge (Pre A1 Starters) standards. As the assigned coordinator of the program, my goal is to educate these children on how to read, write, and understand English as a foreign language in a more fun and engaging environment.
2:00 P.M. – I take my daily personal break. Sometimes, I do errands during my breaks like going to the bank or the post office.
6:00 P.M. – I finish work at this time. I make my way home.
6:30 P.M. – I prepare my dinner. I usually cook but sometimes, I buy obento from the convenient store or supermarket since I live alone. Here’s a tip: Japanese bentos can be 50 to 70 percent cheaper at night. It’s a very good deal!
8:00 P.M. – I take a shower and get ready for bed.
8:30 P.M. – Before I sleep, I video call with my fiancé or my family. This has become my so-called “Long Distance Relationship Routine.”
11:00 P.M. – I usually finish the call by this time. But there are nights when the calls are longer, haha. After the call, I finally go to sleep.

What do you like most about your job?
I didn’t find my job easy at first. I had to learn the language on a practical basis so I could communicate with my bosses and colleagues and that is the most challenging for me. I had to understand the entire system and comply with the non-verbal rules especially since Japanese people are known for being polite, punctual, and organized. But what I like the most is that I get to immerse myself in an authentic Japanese educational system and it gave me a chance to appreciate the culture more. Also, the job itself is less demanding since I basically work at my own pace and facilitate using my own styles and strategies of teaching. My superiors and colleagues are very kind and supportive too. Plus, I super love kids! They’re so adorable!

What goes through your mind throughout your day and how do you feel?
There are days that I truly enjoy the job and I don’t usually notice the time. We have so many school activities and I’m learning each day! But there are also ups and downs especially when homesickness strikes. However, at the end of the day, I remain focused on my goals and I do self-reflection. I think about why I made this life-changing decision in the first place. Besides, I am lucky to have met new friends here in Japan who consider and treat me as a family member.

What is your favorite quote and why?
As I age, I become more rational and practical in dealing with my life and career so I’d rather stick to this not-so-catchy statement which is simply, “Do what you can as of the moment and don’t do what you cannot.”

I can totally relate to this and I apply it in all aspects of life. Sometimes we are too pressured to do things and we ended up disappointed when we failed to do so simply because we do not accept the fact that we do not have the capacity to do it yet. When we live each day without expecting too much from ourselves, I believe then we can appreciate the beauty of life more.

Did Jacquie Zamora’s “Day in the Life” inspire you? Interested in sending your “Day in the Life” story? Join the Connected Women community now!

GET FEATURED IN OUR MAGAZINE!
We would love you to be part of the CW community!
Join now to share, connect, work and learn – it’s free.