JET Study Tour Oct,2015 Members Report07

JET Study Tour Oct,2015 Member's Report07	Name：　Fiona Stamp（UK）
Fukushima is a wonderful prefecture with an unfair reputation. Before moving to Fukushima, I was not the only JET who viewed the move with some trepidation. However, I can happily say that all my experiences in Fukushima have proved me completely wrong. The JET study tour has been a highlight in what was already an amazing few months. The study tour combines Fukushima’s cultural sights with interesting talks about the recovery programme. We visited rice testing facilities, geothermal power plants and even the Ministry of Agriculture. Fukushima is working hard not just to tell the world that it is safe to live here, but to show it. The gumption and dedication of the people of Fukushima ensures that the food that is produced here is completely safe by any international standard. Furthermore, the prefecture’s energy programmes are far more progressive than many other places in the world. Learning about our prefecture can be thirsty work, so it was necessary to break up the lectures with a visit to a sake brewery or two. With free drinks all round, the prospect of living in Fukushima was becoming even more appealing. But it wasn’t all free booze and power plants. We also stopped off at some of Fukushima’s top tourist attractions, including Aizu’s castle and the Edo period town Oouchijyuku. One of the definite highlights was watching everyone struggle to eat their traditional soba with a spring onion instead of chopsticks. We also witnessed first-hand the kindness of the people of Fukushima as we stayed with local families. The couple that I was lucky enough to stay with where amazingly kind, and treated us to a fantastic meal and even a mini shamisen concert! We’ve seen the best of Fukushima, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.

JET Study Tour Oct,2015 Member's Report07

Name：　Fiona Stamp（UK）

Fukushima is a wonderful prefecture with an unfair reputation. Before moving to Fukushima, I was not the only JET who viewed the move with some trepidation. However, I can happily say that all my experiences in Fukushima have proved me completely wrong. The JET study tour has been a highlight in what was already an amazing few months.

The study tour combines Fukushima’s cultural sights with interesting talks about the recovery programme. We visited rice testing facilities, geothermal power plants and even the Ministry of Agriculture. Fukushima is working hard not just to tell the world that it is safe to live here, but to show it. The gumption and dedication of the people of Fukushima ensures that the food that is produced here is completely safe by any international standard. Furthermore, the prefecture’s energy programmes are far more progressive than many other places in the world.

Learning about our prefecture can be thirsty work, so it was necessary to break up the lectures with a visit to a sake brewery or two. With free drinks all round, the prospect of living in Fukushima was becoming even more appealing.

But it wasn’t all free booze and power plants. We also stopped off at some of Fukushima’s top tourist attractions, including Aizu’s castle and the Edo period town Oouchijyuku. One of the definite highlights was watching everyone struggle to eat their traditional soba with a spring onion instead of chopsticks.

We also witnessed first-hand the kindness of the people of Fukushima as we stayed with local families. The couple that I was lucky enough to stay with where amazingly kind, and treated us to a fantastic meal and even a mini shamisen concert!

We’ve seen the best of Fukushima, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.

Fiona Stamp

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