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Living in Japan has been quite the experience. I have now been here for ten months, and I'm happy to report that there have been far more ups than downs while living here. Having said that, the purpose of this blog isn't to necessarily encourage you to join the JET Program (they're not paying me enough to justify advertising in my spare time); it's more to give everyone the information one would need to make the big life decision of moving to Japan.

You know moving to Japan is huge. You've heard the warnings, the cautions, the encouragement. For a few minutes, consider what moving to Japan will do for you as a person. Consider how you will cope with:

1) Living alone

2) Making new friends (or sucking at life and making no friends)

3) Being the only foreigner in your location

4) Possibly having a long-drop toilet

5) The language barrier

6) Homesickness

7) Driving/Commuting

8) Never connecting with a Japanese person or fitting into the community

9) Being an assistant teacher

10) Being treated like a full-fledged teacher

11) Being reprimanded for your habits, your clothes, etc.

12) Being a novelty

Yes, I put having a long-drop toilet before overcoming the language barrier. What the fuck. I would never want one of those.

Anyway, my point is that living in Japan isn't 100% EXCITINGEASYSPECTACULARANIMECOSPLAYRAMEN!

It just isn't.

It's life. You don't come to Japan and put your life on hold. You're still going to be living your life, just in a different location. You still have to do dishes, take out the trash, pay bills, allot yourself time to de-stress...

Don't come here expecting things to be so wildly different that you are no longer you. That's not the case. The worst thing you can do is come here with unrealistic (or unevaluated) expectations. What I mean by "unevaluated" is that you really need to think things through. JET can be fun; JET can be the bane of your existence, and sometimes it's not up to you which one it is. Your BoE can make your life a living hell or it can give you free nenkyuu just because you have a pretty face. JET is "what you make it" only to an extent. You can't control what BoE you get or if you're a prefectural ALT. Gird yourself for hard times.

Stepping out of the Negative Nancy shoes, my personal experience on JET has been very good. I have a nice house, I'm safe from tsunami; I'm reimbursed for gas I use to travel to my two schools in the mountains; my kids are well-behaved; I started playing futsal and have made some Japanese friends; my Japanese is improving; the ALTs around me have become some of my best friends; my BoE cares about my safety; my supervisor is incredibly easy to work with; I am not expected to act as a full-time teacher (making lesson plans, staying at school late, etc.); and I'm not made to feel guilty about anything.

I'm not exaggerating when I say I have the best placement in all of Japan. I'm proud of Sai. It's a beautiful place with great people. (Do you see how the gushing is slowly getting more annoying than the previous negativity?) I'm treated very well here, but I also don't ask for help that often and am really low maintenance. I try to make my supervisor's job as easy as possible, which I'm sure she appreciates. (She's a busy lady being a yakuza and all.) 

One of the most important pieces of advice I can offer you is: be an adult. My friends and I can act like retards when we're together (PC mumbo jumbo, GTFO), but when I'm in public, I conduct myself professionally. Living in a small village mandates this. Someone sees me wherever I go. People talk. I don't want one immature action to haunt me for the rest of my time here. I'm not saying you have to wear a suit all the time and walk around frowning. Be yourself, but remember to have a little restraint. Teachers in Japan are role models. Make sure your students (and their parents) see you in the best possible light.

Make sure you have a goal in mind when you get here even if your goal is to come up with a goal while you're here. It's really easy to set your time here on JET aside from your normal life but DON'T DO IT. If you don't plan on staying in Japan for the rest of your life (or even the five consecutive years you're allowed to be in JET), spend your free time preparing for the future you know you want. A lot of ALTs I know are applying to graduate school or are in the process of at least searching for which schools they'd eventually like to get into once they leave Japan.

Another thing... if you get here and absolutely hate it, don't fucking break your contract. It's a huge inconvenience for your contracting organization, and it's a really poor reflection of you, your country, and the JET Program, which is already in danger of being terminated. For some reason, you are completely free to break your contract without legal penalization. You'll have to pay your own way to get back home and be a douchebag though.

If you're a sensitive person, this experience is still possible for you. This is the first time I've ever lived on my own. After high school, I had a roommate for a year and a half at university, and then my boyfriend and I rented an apartment together. It's not so bad though. In fact, if I didn't have a boyfriend to miss, I'd be perfectly content where I am right now. Living alone is the best way to get to know your own needs and solidify who you are. In my opinion anyway. It is imperative to get out at times, however. Make friends! Explore!

Hopefully I'll be able to write about all the other things I've wanted to talk about soon. Between work, studying Japanese, and trying to stay sane, I don't have much time for blogging. I do think they're somewhat helpful though, so I'll keep writing them. Maybe I do have enough time and I'm just being lazy. It's probably that.

Flowers for a Hundred Yen

I've now been in Japan for almost 3 weeks, 2 of them in my actual placement in Sai-mura. I must say... wow wow wow. These past few weeks have been... what have they been? Let's let the events speak for themselves. Luckily the journal I've been keeping is right next to me. Otherwise, this blog may never be written. So, here we go!

My flight to Tokyo was pretty sweet. My consulate (Miami) flew out on Continental. There were TVs on the back of every seat, and you could choose from over 100 movies to watch along with some popular TV shows. There were also a bunch of games. I was entranced for about an hour playing that BookWorm game that's basically just Boggle. I watched The Hangover, Date Night, Alice in Wonderland, about 1/4 of Ice Age 3, and about 15 minutes of Pocahontas in Japanese before my brain started to hurt. I wanted to sing the songs, but I didn't know the words. Sadface.

After 12.5 (napless) hours, we reached Narita Airport. You'll hear from your coordinator that you'll be greeted either incredibly cheerfully or eerily and silently by fellow JETs. About every ten feet on your way to the buses, you will be waved on by a JET. You'll probably feel like a rat in a maze.

Make sure you have your blue accident insurance book with you. You'll be giving that to the JET guide on your bus ride to Keio Plaza. The ride is about 2 hours long, give or take. The only thing that sucks about it is more sitting. Get ready for your ass to hurt every day until you get to your contracting organization. The sitting! The sitting! But hey, you'll get to see Tokyo Tower on your way. Yeah, I wasn't that impressed.

All of the instructions you get about orientation and what will happen on your way to your CO are completely confusing and usually convoluted. But, there's a flow to Tokyo Orientation. Know what time and where you need to be, and you're golden. Just follow the mama or papa duck. Seriously, I'm surprised they don't wipe your ass for you. And those workshops they say are incredibly important are useless. Now, I'm not saying you should skip them and spend the day touring Tokyo, but... >_>

Depending where your CO is, you'll be taking a car, bus, train, shinkansen, or plane. I had an hour flight to Aomori airport and was picked up by my supervisor and two of my coworkers from the Sai kyouikuiinkai (Board of Education). The drive to Sai-mura was about 3.5 hours of mountains, trees, farms, and sunflowers. We did stop at a nice little restaurant along the way where apparently whatever meal I chose was what everybody would order. I chose pork ramen.

It was really scary to all of a sudden be thrust into a van with three Japanese. I've studied Japanese for roughly three years, but I have never been to Japan before this. I tried my best to ask intelligible questions to one of my coworkers who was sitting next to me. We'll call her Phoenix. Phoenix speaks some English thanks to Black Cat, but apparently Black Cat stopped speaking English after her Japanese got better. Now Phoenix doesn't really get any practice. Maybe I should help out.

When we got to Ohma (where the grocery store is), I hesitantly picked out some food to last me for the next couple days. I hate when you're taken somewhere by someone else's generosity and you feel like you're wasting their time. Long story short, I ate bananas and bread for the next two days.

I was really happy to see that Black Cat left the house in immaculate condition. She even left me little notes on things like on a Jamaican flag colored tin with a joint-smoking monkey on it: "I thought this was hilarious for some reason. Feel free to throw it out!" Will do, Black Cat. I only wish you'd left helpful hints on how to operate the gas stove, microwave, clothes washer, shower, and boiler before you left.

The principal of the junior high school came over to my house unexpectedly my first night in Sai. I was expecting to just sit around alone and unpack my stuff, but I was treated to an amazing dinner (complete with shrimp head soup!) by kouchou-sensei and kyoutou-sensei who tagged along. I haven't seen either of them since. I think kouchou-sensei was away fighting crime or something. Duty calls.

The next day was all about being issued my hanko/inkan, applying for my gaijin card, and creating a bank account. Oh, and learning how to sort the trash. It's no big deal here. I only have 5 different trash categories. On the JET video, there's some girl with 22. Yikes.

On Saturday (my fourth day in Sai), I nearly cried at the car dealership. The car I'm getting is fairly expensive, I couldn't understand what the salesman was saying, he was asking me what kind of insurance I wanted and showed me some ridiculous prices, and then it happened that since I didn't have my gaijin card yet, I couldn't even get the car. Needless to say, I was pretty frustrated. BUT, I didn't cry. I told myself it wasn't a big deal. Who cries over buying a car? Not this lady!

I also went to SoftBank to get an iPhone but was told without the gaijin card, I basically can't do shit. Whatever. I went out to dinner and karaoke with a bunch of other Shimokita JETs, and we had an awesome time! Totally made up for my shitty day of not being able to get anything done. It was really a great way to get to know everyone. I sang "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals and "Somewhere Beyond the Sea," the Robbie Williams version. I had NEVER sung karaoke before, so I was quite pleased that I came out of my shell a little and had a fantastic time. The two closest ALTs to me, now known as Rogue and Shadowcat, are also new JETs. This made it really easy to bond. We've actually almost hung out every day since we got here. During karaoke, we sang GaGa, Aqua, and a whole bunch of other embarrassing songs. ;)

Rogue is the Kazamaura ALT, and Shadowcat, the Ohma ALT. Since meeting, we have done karaoke, had a sleepover, cooked dinner together, gotten lost in the mountains for four hours, roamed around the most famous place in Sai-mura (Hotokegaura), seen about 7 monkeys and a kamoshika, and been to two festivals together. This is a really crazy way to start friendships! After Rogue drops off Shadowcat when the three of us hang out (Rogue is the only one with a car right now), she and I listen to crazy songs on full blast in her car and sing obnoxiously loud all the way back to my place. Songs butchered have included: I Need a Hero, Just Dance, Mr. Sandman, the Pokemon theme song, I'll Make a Man Out of You, and the list goes on.

I’d like to point out that I have not cried or felt homesick since I’ve been here. I’m working really hard at staying positive and staying busy. I don’t see the point in lamenting my move here. I had plenty of time to drop from the program. This is what I want to do, and I’m not going to cry about it.

This blog takes us up to Sunday, August 8th. My next blog will be up shortly!

Sai-yonara! ;)

Star Wars Movies are not Children's Movies

Before you leave for Japan, you're going to want to get your crap in order. My coordinator suggested delegating a power of attorney and procuring a living will. I am doing neither of these things. If I die, I have nothing of value to be given to family or taken by the government. No car, no house, nada. My only possessions are as good as anonymous. If you have important adult-like possessions, you should probably do the aforementioned things. If you're like me, just do what you normally do and stare into space.

I have the glorious task of not only packing for Japan but also packing up everything I will not be taking and shoving it into my mom's garage for an indeterminable amount of time. I don't know how you feel about packing, but I am not a fan. Packing twice kind of makes me want to die.

As far as preparation goes, I have spent the majority of my time shopping for clothes. Aomori prefecture is incredibly far north, and the village I have been placed in might as well be in Hokkaido which might as well be in Russia. Okay, not really. But my point is that I need lots of clothes. So far I've been to two different malls, an outlet mall, and my mom's closet. If you'll be living in a northern prefecture, some things you'll need include:

• long johns/ long underwear/ under layers/ thinner clothes to wear under your heavier clothes (I realize these are all the same thing. I'm doing this for your benefit here.)
• snow jacket (You may not be familiar with snow. It does exist, and yes, it has the potential to be kind of cold. Your snow jacket should be well insulated and have full length sleeves. No cardigans unless you enjoy hypothermia. Hood preferable.)
• boots (Without a heel or with a modest heel, ladies. Snow is made out of water. Thus, it is slippery water. Must I explain further why heels on snow is a bad idea? Pretend you are a little train that needs enough grip to climb a hill. Have you ever seen a train wear high heels? My point exactly.)
• sweaters/ long-sleeved shirts (I shouldn't have to remind you about this, but I'm looking out for you.)
• socks: thick and thin (Don't forget that Japan is full of shoeists. Shoes are not allowed inside a lot of places and also have designated waiting areas. Make sure your socks are neither dirty nor holey.)
• gloves (Snow gloves are different than gloves you wear when it's just chilly. Buy a set of both. Glove liners are also a good idea for extra warmth and sweat-wicking.)
• hats (When I say "hat," I immediately think of Indiana Jones's epic fedora, but that's not going to help you here. Other than getting you awesome points, I mean. Get a warm hat that covers your ears.)
• scarves (Not the fashion scarves, the practical scarves, silly goose.)

So, if you've never lived in snow, there you go-- inside tips! Optional accessories include... earmuffs.

As with most things, every situation is different, but it's still a good idea to dress professionally at your office/schools. You're an ambassador of your country while you're on JET. Don't you want to take the time to look nice? Me either. Damn it.

Black Cat said the dress code was semi-casual (completely casual meaning jeans and t-shirt). She dismissed the option to wear jeans to work. Khakis and polos it is! Actually, I'll probably wear dress pants and a nice top to work on my first day. We'll see how well I can put together an outfit after 13 hours of jet lag.

If you have no clue what to wear to work, dress it up. You can never look too good when making a first impression. When you see what the other teachers are wearing, follow their examples. Of course, you can always continue to dress in your business attire when they're all wearing track suits, but you may look like a douche. Be prepared for that possibility.

I finally bought some omiyage yesterday! If you're not savvy on the whole omiyage issue, here's the rundown: "omiyage" translates as "souvenir". Giving (cheap/edible) omiyage upon returning from a vacation or trip is a standard Japanese custom (a way of thanking everyone else for working while you were off gallivanting like a poof). In a JET's case, it's simply a nice gesture to bring something from his/her hometown to share with his/her superiors. (This means don't bother buying your neighbor something. Unless your neighbor happens to be your vice principal, of course. If you make friend with your neighbor, however, you may want to get them something. They will return the favor! Possibly deliciously.)

Another important thing to know is that your gifts must match the social hierarchy of the school/office. The JTE (Japanese Teacher of English) should get a small gift. I bought glass paperweights that say "Sunshine State" and "Florida" on them. The vice principal must get something better than the JTE. I bought fire-glazed plates that show some kind of beach scene on them that also say Florida. (These were all really cheap in a gift shop in Orlando.) The principal must get something comparable to the vice president's gift but better. I actually forgot to get the omiyage for the principals while I was in Orlando, but I think I'm going to buy them bags of Starbucks's Via instant coffee. There are no Starbucks's in Aomori at all (from what I've read), and the Japanese are into instant coffee, so voila. I'm originally from Seattle, so giving Starbucks coffee is extremely appropriate, and don't you say otherwise.

I know I said the gift should be comparable to the VP's gift, but hey, the coffee is going to be way more expensive and delicious than some painted plates (They were $1.99). At least there's kind of a food theme...? I'm reaching, I know. I've actually yet to find out if I'm allowed to bring coffee into Japan. I hope so

The Japanese also like things that are individually wrapped. Remember that if you ever give them food. They don't want something if there's the possibility that someone else has touched it. Personally, I'm bringing some wrapping materials with me to Japan so I can individually wrap everything when I get there.

Last thing about omiyage: you don't have to give them immediately upon arriving in your placement. Wait it out for a bit, get to know people, and THEN shower them with cheap, foreign gifts they'll never appreciate and likely toss the moment you disappear from sight. (Oh, and don’t forget a gift for your supervisor.) As for the students, I bought Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse stickers that say things like "Fantastic" and "Girl/Boy Power". Yeah, I know. They were cheap, okay? I've heard kids go gaga for stickers, so we'll see.

If you'll be needing to drive in Japan, make sure to get your international driver's permit. If you're American, you win! You are from practically the only country that must obtain an actual Japanese driver's license after your first year in Japan. Don't you feel so lucky?! More to come on that when I actually have to take the test. *indistinct grumbling surely laced with colorful cuss words*

I'm sure there's more I wanted to say here, but I forget. I went to sleep before finishing this blog, and now I'm all confused. As always, direct any questions to this blog or TanukiSunrise@gmail.com.

I think my next entry will be about the vast amount of paperwork you will need to complete upon being accepted to JET that can utterly destroy your sanity piece by piece.

That Metaphor Just Went Somewhere Horrible...

For those of you, like me, who are interested in the money aspects of JET, I've decided to make an entry about my current math adventure. Those who know me know I hate math; however, I love to know how many moneybags it will take me to haul my plunder back to the U.S.

Of course, these numbers will not be your numbers. I realize that. But if you're put in the inaka as I have been, they will be relatively close. It's generally difficult to make an accurate figure for how much one will be paying each month in utilities. Personal preferences aside (and those can vary incredibly), house/apartment size, weather, and whether your housing accommodation includes an AC unit factor into how much you'll be shelling out every month. Come with me on a glorious math adventure!

The JET salary is 3,600,000 yen/year. It may have fluctuated a little bit over the years, but it's never far from this amount. For me, this means $40554.23/year at the current exchange rate (which, granted, will probably change during my stay in Japan). And if you're reading this and thinking "HOLY SHIT! MONEY!" I am about to crush your precious little bubble of naiveté. There are TAXES in Japan! Doh! And you thought you could get away from them. Silly taxpayer. There are some taxes that you won't be able to weasel out of. These include the mandatory pension program, health insurance fee, and unemployment tax.

Yes, mandatory pension program. That means, every month, the Japanese government will take 25,000 yen out of your paycheck and sit on it until you leave Japan. The only stipulation is that you work there for at least 6 months. If you work for less than a year, you will not receive the full 25,000/month back. Don't blame the messenger. You will not be able to collect this money until you are back in your home country (or at least out of Japan completely) and file the necessary paperwork. For your convenience, here is a handy link to more info: JET Pension Info. You're welcome.

The refund after working for an entire year in Japan is equal to a month of salary, that being 300,000 yen right now. Also, there is a 20% fee taken out of said refund. However, this is also refundable. Why the hell they take it out in the first place, I just can't say. The point is that you can get it back after filling out MORE PAPERWORK! For this entire process, you will need a tax representative (in Japan) and a Japanese bank account. If you stay for two years, you get 600,000 yen; three years, 900,000 yen. However, if you stay for four years, you are capped off at 1,000,000 yen. You will not get another 300,000 yen from the pension program, and you'll have to wait that much longer to get your pension money back.

Like the pension fee, the health insurance fee and unemployment tax are automatically deducted from your paycheck before you ever see it. The health insurance fee is 13,000 yen/month, and the unemployment tax is 2,400 yen/month. If you've been following along, you know the total deductions from your paycheck add up to 40,400. Now you're left with 259,600 yen for a month's work. But wait! Now you must factor in your rent and utilities. Unfortunately, at this point, I can't factor in anybody's rent but mine. But I have faith that you, blog reader, can do simple math.

My rent is a ridiculous 9,000 yen/month (about $100). And I mean "ridiculous" in that the average cost of a JET apartment falls in the 20,000-50,000 yen/month range. So I'm pretty lucky on that front. As far as utilities go, water is roughly 1,800/month and electricity is about 4,000/month. In the winter, Black Cat's gas bill is approximately 10,000/month, and there's a guy who comes to fill up the kerosene tank for 2,000. I am in a very cold area of Japan, so I don't have AC. While my electricity bill is fairly low, my gas bill is going to compensate by being a total douche.

Okay, so, lots of numbers. But hopefully this gives you an idea of how much money you'll actually get to keep every month. On average, with utilities (leaving out winter expenses for now), taxes, and rent, I'll get 244,800 yen/month, which figures out to 2,937,600 yen/year, which is $33,092.25/year. This doesn't look as nice as the full 3,600,000 yen, but if you're living in the inaka like I will be, you're going to have nothing frivolous to waste your money on. Every month, my paycheck will go to groceries and... that's it. There is nothing else to spend money on in Sai-mura (if you want to get technical, there is actually nothing to spend money on in Sai. The grocery store is 20 minutes away in Ohma). Let's say I spend 18,000 yen/month on groceries. That's only 216,000 yen for the year, which gives me 2,721,600 ($30659). Nothing to turn one's nose up at. Some people make $30k a year before taxes and expenses. So, in short, JET can be a really great way to save up some money.

Some of that thirty grand is going to find itself traveling back to my U.S. bank account. Some will be spent on snowboarding trips, and a lot of it will probably go towards gas for the car I must buy. I'll also have internet and keitai bills to pay. Factoring those in right now wouldn't be helpful since I have no idea what I'm doing for either of them. My point here is that if you're in a situation like I have been placed in, you won't have to worry about money. I do know some people who have to pay 50,000 yen/month for their apartment because they live in more populated areas. While they're surrounded by things to do and restaurants to eat at, they just won't be able to save up the amount of money that I will. On the flip side, I live on a mountain. I must basically entertain myself. (Good thing The Old Republic is coming out soon. I've never played an MMO, but I would marry BioWare if such a union could be recognized by law. I'm also writing three novels, a video game RPG script, and a graphic novel.) I will slay thee, boredom!

In short, the number of moneybags I will need when I leave Japan is... one. The other hand must be free to wipe away the tears over leaving a job with decent pay and minimal work in a beautiful country. But it's too early to get nostalgic. I'm not even in Japan yet! 30 days and counting, by the way. Maybe my next blog will be about me panicking and setting the streets ablaze in my madness. Or maybe it'll be about my hunt for winter clothes and luggage. Regardless... you got questions, I (might) have answers.

If any of my math is wrong, I blame it on the American education system. >_>

Once More, With Feeling

I've been possibly the luckiest JET from my consulate concerning being contacted by my predecessor and supervisor. I don't believe anyone else has yet been given the amount of information on their placement as I've received about my placement in Sai-mura. Because of this, I have had a lot of time to speak with my pred over e-mails and Facebook, positively bombarding her with every question I can think of. I've also corresponded with the woman who is to be my immediate boss, my supervisor, via e-mail (strictly in Japanese since she doesn't not speak any English), and she is incredibly nice. This preliminary correspondence has also included haggling with my pred over the belongings she wishes to sell before she leaves Japan. After three or four e-mails, we've almost got everything covered, and soon I'll have a finalized price. I'm particularly excited about a rattan floor lamp that she bought on a trip to Thailand.

Remember not to feel pressured to buy your pred's belongings. Surprisingly, this was the first thing she told me. (I guess I'm of the certain mentality that pegs everyone as a self-serving, greedy asshole.) She really put me at ease about deciding whether or not to buy her things. I'm really fortunate to have such a great pred. (Let's refer to her as... Black Cat from now on.) So Black Cat sent me a spreadsheet with everything she wished to sell, the prices of each item, freebies included with purchase, and even a list of things she would simply hand over to me without monetary transaction. During this process, I found out that my apartment will have a VHS player. Words cannot describe how completely, totally geeked I am about this development.

So as to not lose the informative vibe I've been trying to construct here, I will make a list of questions that I asked Black Cat and also a list of the things you may want to buy from your pred before/upon arrival at your placement.

_____

Questions:

How far is the nearest grocery store?

Will I need a car/bike? What kind would be best?

How is the public transportation?

How many schools will I be teaching at?

How many classes will I be responsible for?

What are the operating hours of the schools?

How long will I have to get settled in before classes start?

What are the dress codes for teachers in each school?

What will my obligations to the schools be during summer/spring/winter breaks? (Some schools will expect you to go in for a few hours even when classes aren't technically in session. Some schools are more lax about this. It's good to know what kind of environment to expect before charging in.)

What kinds of activities did you become a part of while there?

Is there a local dialect I should know about before I get there? Am I expected to learn it?

How long did it take to get the internet hooked up? (Yes, there is fast internet in the inaka.)

How much is rent? Will I have to pay any key money/deposits when I arrive?

Are there pets allowed? (Almost never. Ho hum.)

Can you tell me about the layout of the apartment/house?

Is there a futon or a bed? (In my case, I bought Black Cat's mattress so I won't have to sleep on the floor.)

Did you ever travel back home for any holidays? How much did that end up costing you? Was it worth it to go home and be somewhere familiar for a while?

Was there anything you didn't bring to Japan initially that you wished you would have brought?

What kinds of things did you miss from home and how did you compensate?

Did you send money back home? Which method did you use?

Would you recommend investing in a keitai?

What do you do for fun?

Why are you leaving the JET Program? (Something I personally thought was very important to ask. Thankfully, my pred had very good reasons for leaving and wasn't fleeing after a terrible one-year experience. She gave Sai three years of her life and decided it was time to start living life back home instead of observing it in Japan.)

How much Japanese should I know upon arrival? How was yours when you went? How much Japanese do you use per day? How much have you learned in your time there?

What are the age demographics? (For me, this was a valid question since Sai-mura is... well... a mura. If you end up in a city, this is an unnecessary question. You'll find all age groups.)

What kind of certification do I need to be able to...?

Are the teachers open to your ideas for projects/activities in the classrooms?

How are the kids you work with? (Temperament, willingness to learn, etc.)

Is there anywhere in (Your Placement Here) that is a must-visit?

Where are some of the places you traveled to while on JET? (Black Cat traveled to soooo many places in her three years as  JET. If you live in the inaka, be prepared to have a lot of extra cash on you to be able to travel!)

How is the wildlife there? Is there anything I should be cautious about?

Are there lots of bugs? What kinds? Prevention methods?

What is the weather like? How did you deal with extremely hot/cold temperatures? 

_____

Those are pretty much everything I've asked thus far. I'm sure I'll have tons more. Black Cat has been awesome about it. I seriously couldn't have asked for a better pred. As for buying her belongings, she informed me that she discounted everything 50% off of what she paid for it. I found that acceptable for pretty much everything she had to sell. The only things I can't buy from her are her snowboarding boots and bindings, because we don't wear the same size shoe! Blast!

Things she had to sell:

1 year-old mattress (Preferable to the BoE putting the old one back in that Black Cat says smells moldy. ::shudder::)

Zabuton (Cushions for guests)

Kotatsu set (Table with built in heater with a blanket on top and a reflective pad underneath. Essential for cold climates!)

Towels

Rattan floor lamp from Thailand (Pictured above!)

Sleeping bag (There can often be JET activities such as camp-outs.)

Snowboard (With boots and bindings that I cannot buy.)

Long wooden table to put out for guests

Double-sized futon set

Ironing board and iron

Brita container with filters

Nabe bowl and lighter (Nabe is a meal that many people share out of one bowl. It's considered the closest and most sociable way to eat together.)

Fan

Router and modem

Digital scale

Electric kettle

Things she's leaving for me for free:

Shower curtain and rod, pots, pans, silverware, chopsticks, glasses, garbage can, umbrellas, electric air scenter, toilet paper, laundry rod, travel maps, plastic bags, ECO shopping bags, hangars, desk lamp, cell phone charger, road map of Aomori, power bar and foot switch, SV cord so I can hook my laptop up to the TV, shampoo, conditioner, spices, cleaning supplies, canned/dried food, laundry detergent, tissue boxes, hand soap. 

As you can see, she's not leaving me a Ferrari, but as I told her, I would be grateful if she left everything she could there. When I get there, I'll probably be so flustered and in awe that I'll forget something as simple as hand soap or toilet paper. It would be nice to have a few things at the apartment in case I temporarily lose my mind. If you're a germaphobe, ask your pred to throw everything away. As for me, I don't see anything wrong with using Black Cat's leftover shampoo and conditioner.

I do recommend, if you're living in a cold climate, to buy your pred's kotatsu. You've been warned. Dishes are also an expense that you can save on here. Hangars, spices, cleaning supplies, pots, pans... these can easily add up if you purchase them yourself when you get to Japan. I'm in the position where my pred decided to give me these things for free, but you may not be. In an e-mail from my contracting organization, the representative explained what comes with my apartment:

"It comes equipped with a washing machine, satellite TV, telephone, refrigerator, bed, desk, kerosene heater, gas stove, broiler, microwave, rice cooker, table, chairs and a vacuum cleaner."

Other than this, you decide what else goes in your apartment, so keep in mind that the little things for the kitchen that most of us consider necessary can add up considerably. If it helps, make a list of the things you use every day in your home country. That way you'll know exactly what you use and what you'll be needing in Japan. If your pred is bullying you into buying his/her stuff, don't fall victim. In that case, just go buy your own dishes. On the flip side, be nice to your pred. They're spending time answering your questions and also trying to make a fair return on the things they've purchased. The least you can do is have a little respect and common decency.

When all is said and done, I'll probably be paying Black Cat about $500 US dollars for all of her stuff, or around 46,000 yen. It may be more if I decide to buy her snowboard. Usually, dropping that amount of money would make me balk; however, as the Sai-mura JET, I will be receiving a 300,000 yen bonus upon arrival so I'll be able to buy things for my apartment and live until my first paycheck. Keep in mind, not every JET gets a bonus like this. I actually have no idea why I'm getting such a bonus. Before you hear from your contracting organization, make plans to bring at least $2000 US dollar equivalent with you to Japan for living expenses. If you're like me and discover that you'll be positively all right without saving up the extra money, all the better. Personally, I breathed a great sigh of relief when I heard the news. Now I don't have to get a loan, and I'll actually have money to buy clothes and luggage. Imagine that!

I hope this blog entry was helpful! I know how hard it can be to search for all the JET information one wants in a single place. Hopefully my blog has simplified things a bit for you. :) Again, I'm really grateful for Black Cat. When the time comes for me to be someone's lucky pred, I'll definitely make it as easy for them as Black Cat did for me.

Of Mice and Men

Now for the most harrowing part of the entire JET application process (what, you thought you were done?): the interview. Now that JET has assessed how you look on paper, they want to see you in person (assuming that you passed the initial screening). Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare.

The Interview:

• You will need a suit. No ifs ands or buts. If you don't show the interviewers you are dead serious about the JET Program, they will notice immediately. There are even instances where some interviewers were highly offended (or acted offended) and demanded to know if the interviewee was serious about the JET Program and why they are not wearing a suit. Keep in mind that you are interviewing for a job. They don't want slobs representing Americans (or wherever your country of origin happens to be) in Japan. Because, hey, we're not all slobs.

• Shake the interviewers' hands when you enter the room for the first time and again when you leave. This gives them a great first impression. You can show them your professionalism and appreciation for their time in two simple gestures. If you make a bee-line for your chair, the first impression that you've made is that you're timid and can't be bothered to be friendly to the people about to spend the next twenty to thirty minutes with you. Don't be a jerk.

• Brush up on your Japanese current events. I was not asked any questions about Japan, but knowing, for example, who the prime minister and emperor are, can display your interest in Japan to the panel. And plenty of consulates will ask you simple trivia about Japan. Be ready for anything.

• Again, have good reasons for why you chose you placement requests. I was asked this in my interview, and I'm very, very glad that I had answers. My placement requests were Nara, Kanazawa, and Gifu. Nara, I said, intrigued me because it was in an area where women in the Heian period took their pilgrimages, and I would like to visit those historical locations. Kanazawa for the historical architecture and museums. I said I would like to visit ninja-dera because the layout intrigued me. Gifu has a 700 year-old sword making history. When I said this, one of my interviewers laughed at me and said all of Japan has a long sword history. I laughed as well and agreed with her. If you ever have the chance to show your humility, DO SO. If you're a hothead, be a ninja turtle, not an English teacher.

• On that note, here is a very important tip: the interviewers' main goal is to test your temper. NEVER argue with an interviewer. Smile, laugh, or nod happily when appropriate. If you blow your lid, you blow your chances at being accepted. If your pride comes before your professionalism, you will not survive in Japan. (Hell, you won't even get there if you're an asshole in the interview. Thank you for weeding yourself out.) This goes triple if you're applying to be a CIR. Business etiquette is critical.

At times, your interviewer will ask you questions to trip you up. It is not uncommon for a panelist to act like a complete dick. (Luckily I didn't have any of those.) They can be very brutal, telling you that you just want to go to Japan to jerk around, etc. If you get the impression that an interviewer is going out of his or her way to make you hate them, keep your cool. They're not just an asshole; they're trying to get a rise out of you. Roll with the punches and show them that you are unfazeable! (That, for the record, is a made up word.) If you play it cool, they'll see that you won't cause trouble while on their program. This, of course, is what they want. In short: don't be a ruffian. (At least until you get to Japan, you devil, you.)

• WHY JET?: This is the mother of all questions (besides maybe, do you have a criminal record?). The good thing about this question is that you can totally lie and they'll never know. But really, you should be applying for this job for the right reasons. Anyway, sorting your moral obligations is not my job. If you're a douche who wants to go to Japan through the JET Program for the wrong reasons, you are just as welcome to benefit from my tips. Just know, sir or madam, that you royally suck.

So why JET? This is a question you're going to want to think a lot about. You're not running for Miss America here. You don't have to give them a Nobel Peace Prize answer. Tell them the truth. What got you interested in JET? The most important thing to remember here is that your interviewers want to see that you'll contribute yourself fully to the schools you teach at and to the Japanese community you will be living in. For my answer, I told them straight up that what interested me in JET was its mission statement. (Interviewers are now: ?O_O? Tell us more, Aiden Vail!) As you've read in my long term plans section, I'm interested in localization in video games. I extended this into the field of creating my own educational games that would help people internationalize and learn foreign languages easier. (Okay, this isn't my number one goal in life, but it sounds really unique, right?) I told them that JET and I had the same mission statement: to promote cultural exchange and support internationalization. And I do believe this. I wasn't just sucking up-- honest! Your goal here is to relate JET to who you are as much as possible. Make yourself inseparable from JET, and they will remember you when it comes time to pick the finalists!

• This is kind of a specific issue, but I was asked if being part Japanese would hinder my experience in Japan. For example, would I feel a lot of pressure if people expected me to speak a lot of Japanese since I am part Japanese? I turned this question in my favor and said that JET is about internationalization and cultural awareness. I am 100% American and am ready to share that with the Japanese community. I said I think a large part about being a JET is breaking stereotypes: that Americans can't use chopsticks, that all of us own guns, etc. I said it would be fun to get to know real Japanese people and maybe help them form a positive image of Americans whether I'm part Japanese or not. (Question PWNED!)

• Another goal of the interviewers is to find out how homesick you're going to get. While it is completely normal to experience homesickness, JET does not want you to freak out when you get to Japan and discover you can't live without Olive Garden and Chef Boyardee. Oh, and your family, too. Be prepared to be asked how you'll handle homesickness. I told them that I'll bring pictures of friends and family, but in general, I'm a very relaxed person who loves the adventure of a new place. I said to combat homesickness, I would make Japan a home away from home-- be active in the community and participate in a lot of the afterschool functions with the students. Make sure you emphasize how much you're looking forward to the afterschool activities. It shows that you're already thinking about becoming involved and that you're enthusiastic about projecting a positive image of your home country in Japanese society.

• What clubs would you like to start at your school(s)? Would you join any pre-existing clubs?: The answer for the first one lies in what your own hobbies or interests are. If you're bringing your guitar to Japan, maybe you could start a guitar club. I said I liked to crochet, so maybe if any students were interested in making their own stuffed animals, blankets, etc., that would be really fun! As far as pre-existing clubs, YES I would love to join them! (Are you getting the enthusiasm here? Don't run out of it.) I told them that I liked to read, sing, cook, hike... and doing them with other people just made it better. I said joining a choir would be incredibly interesting because I could learn some songs in Japanese and feel more a part of the community. Even if you have no intention of ever joining an afterschool activity, let the interviewers know that you're not completely shutting out the idea of participating. Things won't go well for you if they see you're already biased and leaning toward being antisocial.

• If you're a female, they might ask you some situational questions: what if the principal is drunk and hits on you, grabs your butt, etc. I'll tell you what the answer isn't... it is not SPRAY THE MACE AND RUN LIKE HELL! Think of the most mature solution you possibly can that does not involve any kind of ostentatious confrontation. That is the right answer. Of course, JET doesn't expect you to tolerate being molested by your superiors. If you really have a problem at one of your schools, you can always call CLAIR or your BOE, and someone will help you resolve the issue or be relocated to avoid the problem all-together. If your principal is drunk though, remember that the Japanese do not hold their alcohol well and try to resolve the issue without causing a fuss.

A question you may be asked, if you have a significant other, is: how will you cope being so far away from them? My answer to this would be (I was not asked it) that my boyfriend has known since we met that my goal has always been to go to Japan. If I am accepted into the JET Program, I am confident enough in our relationship that the distance would not affect me in any negative way or prevent me from doing my duties as an ALT. Besides, I've woken up to his ugly mug for 3 years; I can do without for a little while! I'd throw that little joke in there because that's my personality, and I'm sure my panelists would have enjoyed it as well. If you're not comfortable making jokes, you're under no obligation to. I just find that it makes it easier for the interviewer to make a connection to you and therefore remember you better. For the record, my boyfriend is very cute.

• The interviewers will be looking for your level of adaptability. They do this by asking you to do an impromptu English lesson and asking you uncomfortable questions, but sometimes they will simply ask you outright: what if you're placed in Hokkaido where it is extremely cold? What if you're placed in Okinawa where you'll sweat off every pound of water weight in your body? My answer to these questions was that I've lived in both climates and found them both not only tolerable but also enjoyable. Every place is what you make of it. You determine your experiences. Let the panel know that you are up to any challenge and will make the most out of wherever CLAIR decides to place you.

• The impromptu teaching lesson: You have a real opportunity to shine here. I believe I already wrote that when they asked me to do a quick lesson, I hopped out of my chair and enthusiastically made my way to the whiteboard. Even if you're not an experienced teacher, you can get into JET. I have little to no teaching experience, but I showed the interviewers that I'm up to the challenge and will remain positive throughout. For my lesson, I decided to go with the pluperfect tense. I stumped all of the interviewers but assured them that with proper planning, I could make the concept quite easy to understand. IN FACT, I have a lot of games in mind that would nicely facilitate learning in the classroom by keeping the children interested and continually occupied. I demonstrated a game to them complete with jumping around and rushing to the whiteboard to write down an answer. Be as active as possible in your interview! Your cheeriness will rub off on them, and they'll remember you in a positive light!

• Final tip: You are in Japan as an ASSISTANT language teacher. Although it is not unheard of that a teacher could completely dump all of his/her responsibilities on you, if they are in the classroom, you must defer to them. They are the sensei, you are the grasshopper. I was asked, immediately after my enthusiastic English lesson, what if my teacher was not open to my method of teaching and didn't want the students playing any of the games I had prepared? Without missing a beat, I said that that would be completely okay. I recognize my role as an assistant language teacher and would aid the sensei in whatever ways I could. If I thought one of my lessons would be particularly helpful, I would respectfully request that we use my lesson. But if the sensei was absolutely opposed to it, I wouldn't mind. My job is to help them in the classroom, not take it over.

This ended up being a lot longer than I thought, but I think I covered the vast majority of questions I was asked. The most important things I can tell you are to be enthusiastic and keep your cool if you are asked some difficult questions. Remember to stay focused on what YOU can do for JET and what you will contribute during your time there. Don’t forget to be excited! Show the interviewers who you really are.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.

My post titles may get more and more irrelevant from this point on.

Anyway, I'd like to add some specific, important tips to complement my first post:


The Application

• Have good reasons for your placement requests; your interviewers will want to know your motivations for living there. For example, I requested Nara because I took a class on The Tale of Genji and was interested in living in an area surrounded by temples I could visit. I also told them that I was unconcerned about where I was actually placed in Japan, as long as I got to go. Make sure your interviewers know you're interested in Japan as a whole. If it sounds like your attitude is "Tokyo or bust," you most likely won't be getting in.

• The "Prior Experience" page, in my opinion, is where you can really set yourself apart from the other applicants. If you have teaching experience, your interviewers will see that before you applied for JET, you were already interested in teaching. If you don't have any official experience, it's time to grasp at straws. Have you ever tutored ANYONE in school? Think back as far as high school even. Any way you can fill up those boxes with relevant information, the better. Personally, I never intended on becoming a teacher. My only official teaching experience was a year as a teacher's assistant in high school. STILL, that is better than nothing.

• Other Teaching or Tutoring: I also mentioned that I unofficially tutored my classmates in English and Spanish when I was in the Spanish Honor Society. If you're leaving a lot blank on this page, don't worry. JET isn't necessarily looking for seasoned teachers. They're looking for multi-faceted individuals who will represent their respective country in a positive light no matter the situation. Remember: if you are chosen as a JET, you may go to a small village where many people have had limited interaction with a foreigner, or no interaction for that matter. How you act (and react) will mold their impressions of everyone from your country. It's a lot of responsibility.

• International / Intercultural Experience section: Extremely important. The whole point of JET is to promote internationalization (a key word for your statement of purpose). Show them you care about different cultures. And this doesn't only apply for ethnic or racial cultures! This can also be any subcultures you happen to be interested in. For example, I took a literature class a few semesters ago that involved a lot of underground movements such as beatnik and burgeoning homosexual subcultures, among others. Don't forget about subcultures. They are specific interests that you can expand upon in your interview to show the depth of your interest in various fields! Just like any job application, don't forget to relate everything you have done to aspects you can contribute to the JET Program. Have you organized extracurricular activities? Worked with kids? Don't forget that the homeless are a subculture. If you've ever participated in a soup kitchen, you've had experience with another culture. Make it work to your advantage.

• The last section on this page is "Long Term Plans." I see no harm in posting what I wrote in my application. Remember, it's all about cultural exchange and internationalization.

"My future profession concerns creating educational video games that help younger generations build interest in foreign languages earlier in life so that 1) foreign language acquisition will be easier overall and 2) children will be exposed to and immersed in foreign cultures to which they may not have otherwise had access. My aim is to create culturally aware children (and adults) who will perpetuate the knowledge to their children. Through my career, I hope to encourage popular media to embrace intercultural exchange and display positive attitudes toward foreign languages and cultures."

I hope this blog was helpful! My next one will be about the actual interview process. If anyone has any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask here on the blog or e-mail me at TanukiSunrise@gmail.com!

To JET or Not to JET...

If you're on the fence about applying for the JET Program this fall, maybe I can help answer some of your questions, alleviate fears, or hey, even confirm some of them. If you know for sure you are applying to JET and nothing short of death could possibly stop you, maybe my blog will supply you with helpful tips for the application process and excitement during those four months you're basically chewing your fingers off waiting to hear if you've passed the interview process.

Don't underestimate the application process. It is competitive, and if you're like me, you will second guess everything you have ever done in your entire life every day until you get your final acceptance letter. Applying to JET, for me, was really stressful because I was in my final year of my undergrad at UF and had to juggle a lot of projects, a job, and not-so-spare time. The application itself is of decent length. JET wants to know what you like to do, what activities you've been involved in, what placement you're looking for if you make it to Japan, and if you are of sound mind. Basically, they want to make sure you look good on paper. If you do, congratulations! You have won half the battle! Errr... sort of.

Before you fill out the application, ask yourself if you are ready to live in Japan (most likely by yourself if you are unmarried/unburdened by children like I) for an entire year. Remember: you have NO control over where you are placed. If you aren't ready for the coldest winters in Hokkaido or the hottest summers in Okinawa, maybe you should consider visiting Japan before you apply for JET. I was asked about this in my interview-- how would I feel if I were placed in a prefecture with an extreme climate? I gave them an honest answer, full of confidence: I was born in Washington State. I am no stranger to chipping ice off of the car in the morning or having to trudge up the hill to my house because the road is too slick for the car to drive up. In fact, I told the interviewers, "I MISS that weather." (This got me some very shocked and wide-eyed panelists.) On the flip side, I have lived in Florida for over ten years now. I've adjusted to the heat and the bugs. Okinawa ain't got nothin' on us; Florida invented humidity! (That may or may not be verbatim.)

The point is that you need to convince the interviewers that you are flexible, that you aren't going to get your placement in Hokkaido and freak out that it's too far away from the places you want to vacation to and break your contract. (Speaking of breach of contract, if you do so, you'll be paying not only for your flight back home but also the flight that just flew your happy ass to Japan. So think hard about how your decisions could affect your bank account. Even if you decline the position before you go to Japan, if you wait too long, you could still be stuck with an airline cancellation fee.)

Back to the application. The part that you should be spending the majority of your waking hours on is the statement of purpose. I cannot stress how important it is, and any other blog you read or vlog you watch will tell you the same... hopefully. If not, back away slowly. My statement of purpose took me weeks to get "right." If you are satisfied after your first draft, you are still not done. That is why I recommend you begin the SoP as soon as possible. If you can squeeze out the entire thing in one night, great. Leave it alone for a day and then come back to it. You'll be amazed at how much you'll change. The SoP is two double-spaced pages long with one inch margins on all sides. No exceptions.

If you are an English major like I was, this is probably going to kill you. Two pages seem like a whole lot until you're hardly done explaining how you saved quadriplegic orphans in Africa when you've run out of room to write things that are actually relevant to your prospective job as an ALT. Suddenly, you have to decide if your humanitarian story is more important than talking about those academic awards you won or that community project you led. (Hint: the community project wins.) Maybe you wanted to talk about your career goals more. JET knows the two-page limit is tricky. They want to make sure you are able to effectively condense important information without losing content.

My best advice is to write it, leave it alone, come back to it, write your second draft, have at least two people read AND critique it (I'm talking solid critiques, not "Yeah, oh, this is good. You're definitely getting in." If you're in college, chances are you know an English major or at least someone with decent writing skills), absorb their input, and write another draft. Yes, I said DRAFT. I told you this thing is important. Do you want to go to Japan? Then write this statement of purpose as if you've just heard Jigsaw say he wants to "play a little game." Okay, it's not life and death, but it's pretty up there. Once I'm physically in Japan, I'll think about posting my statement on this blog. I know how frustrating it can be to get a paper off the ground. Thankfully, there are some benevolent souls on the intertubes who have posted their SoPs for the public to plagiarize. It's just a matter of beating the crap out of Google 'til it gives you what you want!

Also on the application is a self-evaluation of your Japanese abilities. If you are advanced, put advanced. If you have never spoken a word of Japanese besides "sushi," that is completely okay. A little weird, but still okay. Keep in mind, they will most likely ask you to speak in Japanese in your interview if you say you have Japanese ability. I put intermediate for mine, was asked a question in Japanese, KNEW what the question was, but completely froze when I tried to answer it. I thought my chances of becoming an ALT were over then and there. That's when interview tip numero uno comes into play: your best assets are your confidence and your SMILE!

In a predominantly English interview, any sudden foreign language can trip up a non-native speaker. Your interviewer is trying to gauge how resourceful you are and if you fold under pressure. I thought about what I wanted to say for a moment, felt my brain turn to absolute slosh, looked at my questioner with a big smile and apologized that I couldn't come up with an answer. Luckily, I was given another chance when they asked me if I could at least introduce myself in Japanese. I looked at them as if to say, "Sir and madams, bind me, gag me, and cut out my tongue, I will give you the best damn Japanese introduction you have ever heard." And then I followed through. (Without the follow-through, I probably would have been screwed. I'm really intermediate, I swear!) It just goes to show you that one choke-up is not the end of the world. Your interviewers have a job to do, but they're all human (I think). They have all been in an interview before and know how stressful it can be. They aren't there to make you feel like a bug. They are there to make sure you are strong enough to survive in a foreign country. Really, they're doing you a favor.

Honestly, at times I felt like an absolute clown in my interview. And, to an extent, if you're not feeling just a little embarrassed for smiling/laughing too much, you're probably not smiling/laughing enough. You don't have to pretend to be cool in your interview. If you are totally geeked about teaching English in Japan, let the interviewers see that! Don't cosplay to your interview or anything, but DO bring your enthusiasm! When they asked me to do an impromptu lesson, I jumped out of my chair and pretty much skipped toward the white board (try to envision this semi-less retarded than it sounds). If they see energy and enthusiasm, your chances of going to Japan increase dramatically. You could be placed in an elementary school (or several) that requires you to be high-energy all day in order to keep the kids entertained enough so that they will pay attention to the lesson. Don't think you'll just be teaching one class a day or in just one school for that matter. If you can't imagine yourself being at a school from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (and even later if you stay for afterschool activities) every day while simultaneously commuting to other schools with classes for which you are responsible, JET may not be for you.

This isn't to say your time in Japan will be miserable. I can't actually comment on that yet since I haven't shipped out yet, but that part will come in due time. As for most things in life, JET will probably be what you make of it. As this post has seemed to sprout arms and devour the internet, I shall sever it now before it does some real damage. I hope this was somewhat helpful. I'll finish up talking about the interview in another post. A, uh, shorter post. ^_^v

(Should I have a clever sign-off? Those things are rarely really clever. Once I get to Japan, I'll have a daily picture or something.)