If you’ve landed here, there’s a good chance you’re in the same boat I am — application submitted, interview done, and now absolutely nothing to do but wait.

Welcome to JET Purgatory.

For those who aren’t familiar, the JET Program (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme) is a Japanese government-run program that brings people from around the world to Japan to work as Assistant Language Teachers, or ALTs, in Japanese schools. The application process is no joke — a detailed written application, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and then an in-person interview. It’s a lot. And after all of that, they basically say “great, we’ll let you know” and send you on your way.

So here I am. Waiting.

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What the waiting actually feels like

I won’t pretend I’m handling it gracefully. I’ve refreshed my email approximately 4,000 times. I’ve Googled “JET Program results 2026” more than I’d like to admit. I’ve had at least three conversations with myself that started with “okay but what if I don’t get in” and ended nowhere productive.

If you’re doing the same thing right now, hi. I see you. Let’s be anxious together.

The interview itself felt — I think? — okay. But that’s the thing about JET interviews. You walk out either feeling like you absolutely nailed it or completely second-guessing every answer you gave. Sometimes both, on the same walk to your car.

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What I’m doing while I wait

Sitting still isn’t really an option for me, so I’ve been trying to channel the nervous energy somewhere useful.

First, I started this blog. If I’m going to obsessively think about Japan anyway, I might as well write about it. Lost in Translation is going to be my space to document all of it — the application, the (hopefully!) acceptance, the preparation, the arrival, the teaching, the language learning, the culture shock, all of it. Whether I end up in a big city or a tiny rural town, I want to write it down.

Second, I started — okay, re-started — learning Japanese. My current level is best described as enthusiastic but lost. I can say arigatou gozaimasu and order ramen. That’s about it. I’ve got a long way to go, and I’m kind of excited about that.

Third, I’ve been reading everything I can find about life as an ALT — blogs, Reddit threads, YouTube videos. If you have recommendations, drop them in the comments. I’m collecting them all.

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What happens next

JET Program results are typically announced in the spring. When that email comes — whatever it says — I’ll be writing about it here. If it’s a yes, we celebrate and then immediately panic about moving to Japan. If it’s a no or an alternate, I’ll write about that too, honestly.

For now though? We wait.

If you’re also waiting on JET results, leave a comment below. It helps to know there are other people hitting refresh on their inboxes at 2am. And if you’ve already been through this — what did you do to survive the wait? I need tips.

Fingers crossed. 🤞

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— Katherine, somewhere in Arkansas, waiting on an email.