Hey everyone, how’s it going? Great Friday! There was ボーリング at work, then I came home to my cat child and watched The Office finale episode, and I’m about to head out to see the new Star Trek movie! :) :) Can’t wait. 

First things first though. My FBI report got to the consulate this week and all my paperwork is in for them! Now all I’m waiting on are my residency certificates from the IRS, which is something I’ll hand over to someone at my CO in Japan. Been reading up a bit on bringing medication to Japan as well, and hearing about the やっかん証明, basically for bringing any meds that last for a duration longer than two months. I think I’m going to do it, just so I can have enough of what I need (which isn’t much) until I can find a replacement or something. 

But here’s what is really on my agenda to write about. A week or so I was cool with waiting for placement and stuff. Yeah, of course I wanted to know, but I was at a point of ‘It’ll get here when it gets here.’ 

Well, throw that out the window! Someone asked about plane tickets/placement in our Google group and the coordinator said ‘June. If you’re lucky.’ D: So I was a little distraught that it would be a bit further in the distance. (Was still okay at this point, though a little shocked by the timeline.) And then someone referred us to this little gem, which appeared in the JET forums:

Placement release history:
2006 – 2007 JETs: May 16th ~
2007 – 2008 JETs: May 16th ~
2008 – 2009 JETs: May 22nd ~
2009 – 2010 JETs: May 24th ~
2010 – 2011 JETs: May 15th ~
2011 – 2012 JETs: June 15th (US) ~
2012 – 2013 JETs: May 22nd~

Of course, it’s pretty unofficial, but dates were collected from the forums where previous JET’s around the world started posting their placements.  The key factor here, the thing that has my テンション at a super high level right now, is the fact that info has been pretty consistently released in the latter end of May.

……. IT’S MAY 17TH. 

Whoa town. My head was spinning when I put it together.

Since then, I’ve relaunched myself into research mode for the third time since being told I was to be interviewed and again when I was shortlisted. People might ask why we get so worked up about it, but for me personally, being able to look at the map and see where you’re going makes it that much more real! I’m sure it’s the same for quite a few new incoming JET’s. 

So now I’ve got one eye on the forums and another eye on my email. I’ve even got a finger  constantly poking F5 on my email window. So for those of you who think you might be crazy or too excited because you’re doing the same thing, I know that feel bro. 

And I think it’s okay to be a little bit manic. On this occasion. ;)