National AJET’s “Life After JET”: Beth Nicholls
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National AJET shares former JET participants’ experiences – and a little advice – with current JETs in their new monthly interview, Life After JET. Contact lifeafterjet [at] ajet.net to be featured in future posts.
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Beth Nicholls was a CIR in Yamagata from 1999-2000. Since then, she has been busy translating and traveling the world with UNICEF, as well as working at major sporting events.
Currently, Beth is undertaking a new endeavor, called Do What You Love, which includes an e-course starting on March 14 designed to help participants “[discover their] true passion, and [find] a way to make it a greater part of [their] everyday life.” Read the interview and check out Beth’s website to find out more about the course. If the course seems right for you, be sure to take advantage of the discount just for JETs — enter the discount code J1102 when you register at www.dowhatyouloveforlife.com/ecourse–spring2011/.
NAJET: Do you have a favorite story from your time on JET? (Anything that you still pull out at parties to this day?)
Beth: When I was on JET I had the good fortune to land my own TV show – ‘Besu Nikoruzu, minna tomodachi’ (possibly the cheesiest name for a show in cable television history). I loved every minute of it but never suspected anyone actually watched it. One day I went to visit the gorgeous temple Yamadera, and as I climbed the last of the 1000+ steps, windswept and puffed out, a monk came up to me and said ‘Besu-san? I love your show’?! I nearly fell off the side of the mountain!
NAJET: What kind of impact did your time as a CIR in Yamagata have on you? In terms of your future career, personal growth, or anything else.
Beth: My year in Yamagata was a formative one. I lived with a wonderful couple who were jazz musicians, with a studio in the house and parties most weekends. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and I felt an incredible sense of possibility. The experience gave me real confidence in my Japanese ability, and an understanding of the responsibility you have as an interpreter. I had many wonderful experiences – interpreting for athletes at the World Ski Jumping Championships, hosting my own TV show (see above!), being Chief of Police for a day, interpreting for dignitaries like the Governor of Colorado and the Thai Ambassador to Japan. I was frequently terrified but always gave it a go anyway, and as a result expanded my comfort zone massively. I went on to get a Masters’ degree in Japanese Interpreting and Translation, and although I don’t use Japanese much in my current endeavours, it was a crucial element of my path to here.
NAJET: From the ‘About Me‘ on your blog, it looks like you’ve had some amazing adventures so far. Can I hear a little more about one? Either one that stands out above the rest or you can choose at random (I’m voting for meeting the Prince of Bhutan, but I’m not picky). I’d like to hear how it come about, any highlights, and lasting impressions.
Beth: Every single adventure has come about as a result of seemingly random connections, and being a combination of curious and brave. When I was writing my MA dissertation, which specialised in interpreting for elite athletes in a competitive sports environment, I requested an interview with one of Japan’s most famous ever football players, as he had played for several teams overseas and worked both with and without an interpreter. Somewhat bizarrely I ended up teaching him English and we became good friends, meeting up and travelling together in places like Ghana, South Africa, China and Bhutan. When we were visiting Bhutan we were invited to a special dinner as guests of the Bhutanese FA, and our host was one of the Princes of Bhutan, who had studied at Oxford University. We had a wonderful evening discussing football, fashion, food and relationships! We dined on yak curry (which actually gave me really bad food poisoning), and laughed into the early hours.
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