Category: JET Program

Recontracting Time

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So, about the middle of last month came time for recontracting. At that time I was thankfully given the papers which extended me the offer of staying for another year, which I am really excited about, so I signed the recontracting paper immediately and returned it to my Board of Education.

Although I’m very excited about all that may come to pass in the next year, I am sad to see some people go. This year, out of the 17 JETs placed in the greater Amakusa area, 11 will be replaced, which means only 6 of the current ALTs in the area are staying! But don’t misinterpret the situation. All is good here in Amakusa, but many situations have led to older JETs moving on to the next tasks in their life. Amakusa is very unique; because we are somewhat displaced from mainland JETs and/or limited by access, we enjoy a close-knit community here. So a lot will change come July/August, but I am really interested to know, meet, and subsequently welcome those who will be joining us this year.

About this time last year I was preparing for my interview, which was somewhat stressful but just remember it involves a certain degree of common sense. I rehearsed very much only to be assigned a comparatively laid-back interview committee (for which I am incredibly grateful). We shared some laughs, addressed the questions, and though I couldn’t be sure I left feeling great, and definitely relieved. That being said, be diligent as well; I heard of other serious interview committees who questioned very pointedly on points of reuniting with Japanese girlfriends and such. (For those of you wondering, I interviewed in Houston.) Best advice: don’t panic or stress to much, and be prepared for either situation. Also – a suit! Absolutely necessary. I was very surprised to see someone turn up without one on my interview day. Everyone will be wearing one so just grin and bear it (the expense and discomfort).

Regardless, come May or June, if you find yourself accepted and your placement to be Amakusa, I will be looking for you! Even if you’re not the incoming JET who will be placed at my school (unique situation – two ALTs in one school), I look forward to setting your mind at ease on some points. I will be prowling the JET forums as well. Though they deleted the entire Aspiring JETs section, the Kumamoto prefecture thread still exists, so I will mainly be looking there.

That’s all for now folks!

英語案表大会 -English Recitation Contest-

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For those of you who will be accepted to JET and have just arrived to Japan and your schools, this will be the first project you will likely be handed: the regional English Recitation Contest.

Now, ALT’s are not in charge of this contest, but it is expected that we show up to practices and help guide the students in their efforts to memorize and pronounce a 2-3 page English piece. There are 20-minute practices before school, 10-minute practices during hiruyasumi, and hour-long practices afterschool. So we are expected to put in a fair bit of effort to help whichever kids are chosen to rise to the occasion.

After about a month of intense and often harried practices, we all load up with the supervising teacher and head to the area contest, allowing students to compete on a local level to decide the best deserving speakers, to move on to the prefectural-wide competition.

DSC_0281Last year we took five students to the massive(ish) Amakusa regional contest and the results were pretty good!! Our first-year pair and our second year got awards though they didn’t move to the next round, but our third-years got first place and went to the prefectural competition a month later. If this happens you’ll need to keep helping them with their delivery; otherwise, you’re free. The only downside for some of us that had students move on is that for the prefectural our schools didn’t even invite us to attend! We were frustrated by this because we do want to show our support for the kids at any opportunity. Nonetheless though, I was incredibly proud of them. All of the ALT’s wanted the best for their kids but it’s of course a competition. If only all of the kids could move on, then we’d have a real gigantic competition on our hands! And a greater sense of improvement. All of the kids make great improvements over time, so it’s an all-around beneficial exercise for everyone, including the teachers!

 

Today’s the Day

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Hey everyone!

It’s been a while, and rightfully so, as tomorrow (later today) is departure day for Group A JET’s. Today was the Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) and we had a great speaker, who happened to be one of my interviewers! There’s 48 of us, and we all got information for tomorrow and required materials, like YS and luggage tags. I found one of the handouts quite interesting. It’s a quick statistical look at JET’s who are departing for Houston.

JET Houston - Quick Stats

Cool right? Anyhow, it’s 12 am and I just got done packing. More specifically, I just got done strategically rearranging my paraphernalia so that both of my bags come under 50 lbs.  After scanning some notes I’m going to hop off to bed for a short while. And before I know it, I’ll be on my way to Japan! Still can’t believe it.

TTFN you guys; ’til Tokyo, everyone!

8 Days to Liftoff

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Much progress has been made my friends. The narrow gap between myself and Japan is quickly closing.

Omiyage have been bought. Boxes are filled with clothes and shoes and jewelry I can let go because of this move. My cat has successfully assimilated into my parents’ household and is working his way into the hearts of their own two cats. My suitcases lay half-packed with much cat hair amassed in them. There’s still a few things on my to-do list, but I even closed a couple of US bank accounts I had yesterday — which was remarkably easy — and cutting up cards has never felt so great. ^__^ I’m also digitizing a lot of docs I’ll need while abroad and storing them in the cloud so that they won’t take up space in my luggage. One notable part of this digitization process is recipes, of the Texan/Southern/Tex-Mex variety. So yeah, I’m trying to be prepared in any case. I’m also apparently trying to eat as much good food as possible before departing. I don’t know if I’m a good cook, but I am definitely a good eater. That is the truth.

Basically, the only thing left at this point is to linger and enjoy the presence of my family for a week, go to Pre-Departure Orientation at the Consul-General’s, pack, and then catch a plane 8 days from now. That day, in the words of a very good friend, I will have to wake up “at the butt crack of dawn” to facilitate group check-in and catch the flight, but I think I’ll enjoy every minute of it.

Last week, Wednesday-Sunday, I completed a circuit of where I grew up and where I’ve spent the majority of my “grownup” life. It was pretty great to see some friends and family that I haven’t seen in a while. But it was also humbling for me to be there again. The overall effect though was positive, and it put me in the right state of mind to move forward confidently!

This past week I had some Honest Tea – you know of it I’m sure. Well this is the quote I discovered inside of my lid:

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” – T.S. Eliot

This seems to be very true. And I can’t wait!

So Much to Do, So Little Time

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Whoa guys! Hey! It’s three weeks until I’m leaving for Japan!!

How did that happen so quickly…. LOL. Never has this crappy saying been so apt.

The other day I suddenly had the thought.. WTF am I doing?! But not a second later I was like… Nah, this is totally necessary.

What’s really been the challenge lately, and what’s been making me fall behind on blogging and everything else, is the preparation required to get all your banking/finance, medical, and pre-emptive shopping out of the way. I’ve still got a TON of stuff to do and about two weeks to do it in (because I’m visiting some extended family and friends this week before leaving and I will likely get nothing done during that time).

Anyhow, been hanging out with my parents and the cats as much as possible, and I’ve taken to bicycling a bit because I know I’ll be doing quite a bit of that in Hondo. I’m still not 100% sure of my car situation, just because a lot of my Japanese friends have warned me off of getting a car that is 10+ years old because of the required (expensive) inspections every other year, and this is mostly what I’ve been seeing people advertise on the Facebook groups for the area. So maybe I’ll be looking for a scooter? And navigating the bus schedule would really require my Japanese to improve so… hell, I’m gonna wing it and just wait until I get there!

Also had a really fun and productive Skype chat with my pred!! We shall call him… L-san.  He gave me the scoop on what it’ll be like working in our schools, which is incredibly helpful. I’m excited I’ll actually get to meet my pred IN REAL LIFE once I get there. I don’t think many people get to do this so hooray! He can show me the ropes.

He also approves of my omiyage ideas. Basically, food-type items go over well, so I thought: candy, pecans, bbq? And this was based off of research! So I hope to bring pecans and make Pecan Sandies – southern cookies. (But mostly southern just because of the pecans.) Heh heh. I may also bring some knick knacks and candy of course, but over time I think my big thing will be making southern food of just about any kind. I think there’s another Texan headed in the Amakusa direction, so we could have a legitimate Texan-style BBQ/cookout thing. (Non-normative Texan here – I know absolutely nothing about preparing barbecued foods.)

So other than worrying about being a poo Texan, and worrying about getting my nuts through customs, and making sure I get my medication, all is well. I think I’ll go do some dusk-time biking now. :)