January 2026: Sarah Markee
Hello, and welcome back to the JET Alumni Spotlight! Today we feature Sarah Markee. Please read on to learn more about her time in Fukushima, her affinity for Auld Lang Syne, and her experience working for a Prefectural Super Science High (SSH) School.
Are you from the Great Lakes area? What is your experience in the Great Lakes Area?
Born and raised in the Genesee county area in Michigan! I’m proud of our state and of course our beautiful lakes. Being in Japan helped me to realize what I missed about Michigan, so I can appreciate it so much more now. I enjoy our autumn season best with all the donuts, cider, orchards, hayrides, and fall colors I can handle!
What is your favorite Japanese convenience store?
My favorite convenience store is 7-11! I love their pizza-man, black thunder ice cream bars, and the fact that it was my closest conbini to home. Their prize collaborations were always fun too.
What is the biggest difference you see between Japanese and American culture? What do you believe these two cultures could learn from each other?
One of the biggest differences initially was realizing how loud we are as Americans! I remember getting back into the airport once COVID restrictions eased up, during the Olympics. I remember hearing Americans sitting near me and just being so overwhelmed with the noise level! In comparison, I recall the soft spoken words, gentle smiles, and graceful bows as I was greeted in Japanese stores. I do miss the closing song, “Auld Lang Syne,” and I really wish we did it here in America. I think it would be nice to see Japan become more progressive, diverse, and less bureaucratic. For America, it would be great to have public transportation, universal health care, and the deep connection and appreciation with nature that Japan does so well.
How did you become interested in applying for the JET program?
I became interested in the JET Program in college. I was studying to be an elementary teacher and I always wanted to travel and visit Japan. At some point I looked into joining to Peace Corps, but I heard about the JET Program and decided to apply. I interviewed right out of college graduation and landed the job, despite waiting in limbo for a while. I got the call May 22 for the upgrade!
Were you an ALT, a CIR, or an SEA on the JET Program? How long were you on the program, and where was your placement?
I was hired as an ALT from 2019-2023. I was placed in Aizuwakamatsu City in Fukushima. I requested Hokkaido originally because I had a friend there but was open to anywhere. At the time I had no idea where Fukushima was and I was a bit worried about the radiation, since that was all I could find on Google. But I’m so glad I got the chance to go there and it was a perfect fit for me. And don’t worry, they are actually better in radiation levels than most places in the world, since they have stricter protocols on sievert levels. So I know the food is high quality! Please go try their peaches and sauce katsu!
Would you please tell us more about your placement? For ALTs, what were your schools like? For CIRs and SEAs, what sort of work were you involved in?
I was in a Prefectural Super Science High (SSH) School. What that means is that it was a high performance school, that was difficult to test into, focusing on science in conjunction with Aizu University, but also focused on other extracurriculars that were less common like kendo, naginata, kyudo, English Debate, tea ceremony, and so on. It was a junior high and high school combination, so the school was massive! I worked with well over 300 students a year just in junior high, and I would teach each of them twice weekly. For example, the first year junior high students were 1A, 1B, 1C on Mondays and Wednesdays. I was assigned to be the junior high school ALT, and there was a high school ALT as well. However during COVID, the high school ALT left, and I took over both portions until the borders reopened, and we got a new high school ALT. It was quite a lot of work, but I don’t regret getting the chance to work with both groups. I do wish I had more chances to work with preschool or elementary students, as my college degree was in early childhood and elementary education, but I got plenty of opportunities to see them in community events and volunteering.
What is a memory you have from your time on JET that sticks out to you?
I think it’s the little interactions with the Japanese community. For example, one time I was at HardOff looking at yukatas for a photoshoot I was working on. I was having a difficult time matching obi and other accessories, and an older Japanese lady, who was a customer not an employee, helped me! She coordinated an outfit so perfectly AND helped dress me in it. Another moment, I was walking near a temple, enjoying the peace and beauty in the garden and an old Japanese lady saw me and asked if I would join her to pray at the temple. I never had a chance to do it, so having someone there to show me what to do felt like I was getting a glimpse into real Japanese life. Afterwards she gave me some edamame from her garden! Another crazy movie scene of an adventure was when there was a typhoon that caused all public transportation to close. With the help of the service desk at the station, I got a private taxi, who drove me 5 hours from Tottori to Hiroshima, but only charged for half the ride. He wouldn’t take more money, and told me it was the least he could do. My heart is so full at the lengths people will go to in Japan. The hospitality and care is beyond anything I’ve ever seen from strangers.
What has your career path been since leaving the JET Program? How has JET influenced your journey?
My career path has fluctuated so much! Before the JET Program, I spent years studying and working in early childhood centers. But after JET during COVID, I was burnt out. I didn’t want to teach anymore, especially not in the US. I took some time to readjust back into American life. Eventually I went back to working as a cake decorator, which I had done throughout college for six years. After that I worked at a greenhouse in the perennial department. And now I just started a new job as a travel consultant for Inside Travel Japan! I’m so excited to work within the realm of Japan again. I think the break I took in between helped me to appreciate Japan again after a difficult transition with reverse culture shock. I’m hoping to start adding more options into the Tohoku region in the company, since there’s not as much travel done there and it’s such a rewarding travel experience!
Do you have any advice or other support that you can give to current / future JET applicants? How about your fellow alumni?
For current JETS, I would recommend that you seek out support and mental health earlier than later. Don’t be afraid of getting help, taking mental health leaves, or sharing the workload. Please be aware of making boundaries around your work, colleagues, and fellow JET participants. While it is wonderful to want to experience everything, listen to your body, less is more. Quality over quantity. And look for quality relationships you can trust, you don’t need to be a friend to everyone. Being in the JET Program can be so rewarding, and I hope you enjoy your time there. For alumni, don’t stop looking for whatever it is that calls you. I thought for sure my dream option of a company that is ethical, environmentally conscious, diverse, supportive, remote, cares about their employees and more was going to be impossible to find. But with the help of Kasia at Ikigai Connections, JETwitJobs, and Nihongo Jobs, I was able to find the perfect fit! Make sure to talk to fellow alumni, network at GLJETAA or other community events. You never know when a conversation will lead to a connection to someone who’s hiring, looking to start a business, or in my case, finding a rental home!
Where can we reach you for networking?
You can find me professionally on my LinkedIn, or at my Instagram for my creative side.
Please do reach out if you have any questions for our alumni. Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your own story.
Alumni Spotlight is an outreach activity through the Great Lakes JET Alumni Association seeking to build stronger connections between alumni and to provide bridges for networking. If you or an alumnus you know would like to be featured in an installment of Alumni Spotlight, please email us at .