NOW:
Kate Bracefield is planning to "find land and paint." She recalls her most triumphant moment as being a time when a student unwittingly said, "I am gay" in flawless English.

NOW:
Vayong Moua is going to grad school at the University of Madison (USA) to study the philosophy of how the universe began.

NOW:
L.J. Cagney is persuing her career in accounting at a company in Aomori City. She’ll be leaving the JET program, but she won’t be far away…

NOW:
Claire Simon hopes to go on to teach in China after a while at home. She suggests that all of you remember to laugh and to always see the funny side of things to at least keep yourself entertained.

NOW:
Helen Taylor hopes to teach geography at high schools in the U.K. Her most triumphant moment was when an ichi-nen-sei that she was tutoring after school said, "AH! Wakatta!"

NOW:
Walker Leiser is planning on travelling until his money runs out, at which time he will live with his parents until their food runs out, while looking for a job in international trade. Once the job is secured, he hopes to have 2 kids after finding the wife of his dreams (who likes big dogs) after getting a dog.

THEN:

I have been in Washington D.C. for the last seven years, so if I appear a bit too reserved please forgive me. I am also suffering from information withdrawal, the 24hrs news, the up to the minute analysis and so on. I am also missing dearly the love of my life, Alma. I am an old Scout, so anything and everything to do with outdoor activities "I’m there."

NOW:

Mark Christoffersen is going to travel in Australia for a while and then move back to Washington D.C. (USA). He hopes to work with National Security Policy. He says that one of his proudest moments as a teacher was when one of his students (Yokohama) won the Kita-go speech contest for Nakasato.

THEN:

Canadian Press: nice guy who likes to drink beer.

Japanese press: hit and run driver.

NOW:

David MacDonald is going to persue a degree in Asian Studies from a business school in London.

THEN:

Fond of music, stories and especially chocolate. *A delicious compliment to hot tea and friendly company.*

NOW:

Word has it that Charles Kowalski is going to graduate school to study Linguistics. (Just to compliment the 11? 12? Languages that he already speaks.)

THEN:

Hi all! I’m Helen, I come from Vancouver, Canada and I live in Joyful City Towada. I love travelling, biking and hiking. My latest hobbies are trying to learn Japanese- mo ichido itte kudasai; and eating all types of Japanese food- I have yet to try the dreaded natto. I’m looking forward to skiing and frolicking in onsens. Hope to meet all of you at functions throughout the year!

NOW:

Helen Moore is attending the University of British Columbia to get her Master’s in Library Science.

THEN:

A Diedre is a person whose resistance factor is higher that her enthusiasm (except for gossip- come over for coffee anytime!) She is inclined to be reclusive, but always spends the rest of the nights at home regretting it.

NOW:

Deidre Boleyn is taking herself and the large amounts of rocks and broken pottery that she has acquired in Aomori (and other places not disclosed) to Manchester (UK) to get her Ph.D. in English Literature. She is quite anxietied about going to a spooky place like Manchester, but she hopes to ease her mind with the magic tricks that she learned here in the classroom.

THEN:

Sweet in sobriety, deep in discussion, charming in company and a bull-shitter beyond belief. Let me also add that, contrary to stereotype, drink is not my single focus: I love nature (barley and hops), sport (elbow bending), music (any pub song’ll do) and people (when it their round).

NOW:

Mark Moore is going to the University of Tennessee to get a Ph.D. in sexual fetishes so that he can slap anyone in 5 years that won’t call him "doctor." His most memorable moment was when he inspired one of his lowest students to become one of the most active in the class. He would like to leave you with these words, "It was the best of times, it was the best of times."

NOW:

Shauna Johnson is moving to Guam with her fiancé, Chris, who is stationed there with the US military. She hopes that her students will keep in touch and visit her there, a place that she describes as a second Japan. She fondly recalls the day when, each year, her students would return from their school trip (to the USA!) and say that it was the best time of their lives.

Emi Hogan is moving on to film school in Manchester in the UK. When asked about her experience, she said that all of her Japanese friends and Japanese social life has made her time in Japan "an amazing, precious thing" and that she wishes that she’d stayed another year.

Erik Levin is going to study linguistics at Indiana University. One he will be taking back with him that he did not expect was a bad work attitude.

Heather McGhee is going to study law at the University of British Colombia (In Canada, case you didn’t know). She encourages everyone to come and visit her: "You know where I’ll be- knee deep in law books."

Leah Kirkland is running back to immerse herself in "dope, snowboarding and psychology" (University again). She says that "the students made her job," BUT SHE’S OUTTA HERE!!!

Carl Horwell is going to try to put his linguistic talents in Chinese to use and find a job with a publishing company in a Chinese-speaking country. He says that he has enjoyed his experience here: "I’ve never stayed anywhere for 3 years and not wanted to leave."

Bruce Arendt is flying home (to the USA) with his luggage loaded up with Japanese fly swatters. Did you know that they have tweezers on the end so that you don’t have to touch the dead bug?

Mike Agostini is moving in with his roommate from college to an apartment near back bay in Boston (USA). The one thing he says that he’s realized is that nobody knows anything and that you just have to do your own thing. "When I came here, I thought I would really teach, not just English- but the really important stuff. But you can’t teach the important stuff. That’s that kind of stuff that they need to learn on their own."

Greg Harvey’s destination is unknown as of yet. He’ll be travelling around Southeast Asia and Oceana

Cary Dipietro is going to get his Ph.D. in Shakespearean Literature in the UK. He figures that he’ll eventually teach at uni or do something in theater.

William J. Garth Irons is going to Kagoshima-ken to continue being an ALT and investigating the subtle nuances of Japanese beaurocratic organizations.