Mar 18

Helpful info and links from the Japan Foundation (NY)

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Via Tatsuaki Kobayashi, Deputy Director General for the Japan Foundation in New York:


Mar 18

The Encounter

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Renay Loper (ALT, Iwate 2006-2007) is a freelance writer and international education professional currently seeking FT opportunities.

As we watch the news…check our emails…and receive phone calls and updates about what is happening in Japan daily, I am sure that images and fond memories of our time there flood our minds. Our hope, prayers, and positive energies remain with our friends, families, colleagues, and fellow JETs still in Japan.

I wanted to share a positive note and reflection that I wrote during my time as an ALT in Iwate. In the least, I hope I can incite a smile.

Enticed by your beauty and charm.  My interest was peaked from the first time I heard about you…only in passing.

“I’ve got to meet her”.

I willingly left my land behind.  Blindly following your majestic legend.  Your mystery captivated me.  I was led like a shy schoolgirl following a strange hand offering a piece of candy.

Not knowing where my decision would land me, I went.

Greeted by the rising sun, and the setting smiles. You hugged me. I hugged back.

I was consumed by your culture and charm.  Your fickle mind left me unarmed.  Your questioning eyes stare at me.

Piercing my being.

I want to give you my all.  Share with you everything that I am.  I am nervous.  Borderline afraid. I am forced to ask myself, “why?”  You have shared with me the intricacies of your history.  Your timeless culture has embraced me.

Surely I can do the same.

Greeted by a room full of your children My worries are trumped, to return no more. You have welcomed me unconditionally.

To you, Lady Japan, I say thank you.

Published 2007 JET Journal


Mar 18

JETAA UK Fundraising Campaign

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Via JETAA National Executive Member 2010-2011, Fiona Steel.

GIVE A DAY FOR JAPAN

  • JETAA UK is asking all former JET Programme participants to support relief efforts in Japan by giving a day’s pay to the Japan Society fund.
  • The Japan Society Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund link will channel all donations received to the ongoing work of voluntary and community organisations (NPOs) working in the most affected prefectures.

    • Read More


    Mar 18

    Unaccounted for JETs 03.18.11

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    JET Taylor Anderson - still unaccounted for

    Two U.S. JETs remain unaccounted for as of Monday, March 21 8:22 am NY time.  If you have any information, please email it to jetwit [at] jetwit.com.

     

    Montgomery "Monty" Dickson

    Read More


    Mar 18

    Two more JETs located

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    10:43 am NY time Friday Mar 18

    Good JET news:  Got confirmation that Jessica Besecker and Edward Clemons have been located.  Here’s a Chicago Tribune article about Edward when he was still unaccounted for.

    Edward Clemons in an earlier photo

     


    Mar 18

    JETAA Music City website launch and Bluegrass Subchapter Fundraising event

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    Via JET alum Terry Vo who works at the Consulate in Nashville:

    JETAA Music City (MC) is proud to announce the launching of their website www.jetaamc.org.

    JETAA-MC is the newest chapter in the US that supports former JET participants in Kentucky and Tennessee.  We are so thankful that we can launch in time to add another means of communication to assist Japan through this difficult time.

    Our sub-chapter, Bluegrass will be having a Japan Relief Event TONIGHT (Friday, March 18) at 9pm.  Please come out and support them if you can.

    We hope that you will take a few moments and visit our website to see what we’re doing to educate our community about Japan and provide a place where our members can find useful information.  We really appreciate all the other JETAA chapters who assisted us and have great websites that we could view while building ours.

    Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to hearing from you all soon.  All feedback is welcome!


    Mar 18

    Consulate General of Japan in New York Accepting Donations

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    Dear all,

    ●The Consulate General’s account to receive financial donation: please go to the link below;

    http://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/en/t/2011/110315_02.html

    ●The Consulate General of Japan in New York wishes to inform you that a book of condolences for the victims of the recent Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake will be open for people to express their sympathies on the following dates:

    ・        March 17-18 (Today-Friday): 9:30am-4:00pm
    ・        March 21-23 (Monday-Wednesday): 9:30am-4:00pm

    The condolences book will be on the 18th floor of our offices at 299 Park Avenue.

    The Consulate General of Japan wishes to extend its sincere appreciation for your kind support.

    Consulate General of Japan
    212-371-8222

    This post was written by Sam Frank, an ALT who taught English in Hiraizumi-Cho, Iwate Prefecture from 2002-2004 and worked in Shirahama-cho, Wakayama Prefecture as a JET from 2004-2006. He currently manages the New York Division of UnRated Magazine (http://unratednyc.com) and works as a Project Manager at Arrow Root Media (http://arrowrootmedia.com).

     


    Mar 17

    JETAA Southeast President Theresa Kanter on public radio interview in Atlanta

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    Local groups raise money for Japan relief efforts

    http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1776789/Atlanta./Local.groups.raise.money.for.Japan.relief.efforts


    Mar 17

    New Orleans to help Japan In a Time of Crisis

    Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, JetWit Diary, Volunteer Add Comment (2)

    After his hometown of New Orleans was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina the Japanese government offered material and monetary assistance that surpassed $1 million and that included tents, blankets, power generators and portable water tanks. Japan also provided $200,000 to the American Red Cross to aid hurricane victims. Now former Fukushima Prefecture, Iwaki City JET from 2007-2010 Doug Tassin is on a mission to help his former home in Japan.

    The New Orleans Japan Quake Fund is currently in the process of being established. It is being formed by a coalition of New Orleans-based, Japan-related groups: Japan Club of New Orleans, Japan Society of New Orleans, jetaaNOLA (JET Program Alumni Association, New Orleans Chapter), and Japanese Garden Society. With the full support of Honorary Consul General of Japan Donna Fraiche and hopefully the endorsement of the govenor of Louisiana and mayor of New Orleans, we are creating this fund as a means for all of New Orleans to repay the generosity and care that Japan showed us in our time of need. This donor administered fund will be created through the Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF), and we plan to raise money in the fund and give it directly to an organization in Japan. GNOF has a long history of successfully administering funds, and we will still be able to direct where the money goes.

    Click below to read the full story by Doug and see how you can make a difference. Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu.

    http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150159551445306

    This post was written by Sam Frank, an ALT who taught English in Hiraizumi-Cho, Iwate Prefecture from 2002-2004 and worked in Shirahama-cho, Wakayama Prefecture as a JET from 2004-2006. He currently manages the New York Division of UnRated Magazine (http://unratednyc.com) and works as a Project Manager at Arrow Root Media (http://arrowrootmedia.com).


    Mar 17

    Role of JET alumni community in this crisis

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    There was an article in the NY Times earlier this week saying there has not been a large response from the Japanese community in NYC, because it’s not as big as other ethnic communities in NYC and because many members are here for short periods to work for their companies, etc.

    But that article didn’t understand this important fact:  We–the JET alumni community of 55,000+ worldwide–we are part of the Japanese expat community.

    So when the media talk about the Japanese community in the world, they need to factor in the JET alumni.  Because we all have a lifetime connection to Japan no matter what else we do in life, and in our minds we are all Japanese.  We are hurting like hell and we are also helping.

    JET alumni are doing amazing things right now to organize and mobilize resources, funding, translations, information and volunteers.  Through the JET Alumni Association.  Through independent efforts.  And also through the roles established JET alumni already play in myriad organizations and companies that are supporting Japan.

    In addition to these efforts, part of our role as JET alumni is to engage the people around us in our home country so that they understand and feel connected to Japan.  So that they understand and are aware of ways they can help.  Cultural outreach is one of the most important ways that JET alumni can help right now.

    Minasan, ganbatte kudasai.


    Mar 17

    Japan’s Prime Minister Launches English-Language Twitter Account for Quake Updates

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    http://mashable.com/2011/03/16/japan-prime-minister-english-twitter/


    Mar 17

    JapaneseLondon.com Round-up 03.17.11

    Earthquake Tsunami, Events Comments Off on JapaneseLondon.com Round-up 03.17.11

    Thanks to JETAA UK’s Vanessa Villalobos for sharing this:

    WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JAPANESE LONDON?

    It feels like the world is a different place, post March 11th.  The massive tremor has actually shifted earth on its axis.  Now, all we can do is come together as friends of Japan to send our love and donations towards the recovery effort.

    Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief in London

    There is a book of condolence for the victims of the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake, now open at the Embassy of Japan.  You can call in between 9.30am and 5.30pm until the 23rd March (including Saturday and Sunday) to sign the book.  Don’t forget to take a form of photo ID (driving licence or passport) for the security on the door.

    The popular violinist Taro Hakase has been holding charity concerts in venues around London since Monday, and will continue with an appearance at Fortnum and Mason, 5pm, Thursday 17th March, and a concert at Cadogan Hall this Friday 18th March.

    The Japan Society has now set up its Tohoku Earthquake Relief fund, and will be channelling donations specifically to grassroots organisations in the Sendai area.

    Also, visit the Play for Japan website to get the latest about fundraising events, or to let them know about yours – it’s ‘an interactive portal set up to give the maximum publicity to your efforts’. Read More


    Mar 17

    Volunteers needed for “Multilingual Medical Terms Translation List” created by Okinawa JET

    Earthquake Tsunami, Translating/Interpreting, Volunteer Comments Off on Volunteers needed for “Multilingual Medical Terms Translation List” created by Okinawa JET

    Multilingual Medical Terms Translation List

    This is a project that Stephanie Toriumi (CIR Okinawa-ken, Ishigaki-shi) is just getting off the ground.  She is  looking for volunteers to help check, add terms & other languages so that the list will keep growing.

    https://spreadsheets0.google.com/ccc?pli=1&key=tOXlkY2K3JSEhLa5TCJEC0w#gid=0

     


    Mar 17

    JET Steve Mendoza (Minamisanriku) interviewed by NHK World

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    I just woke up and pulled up NHK World on my computer to see JET Steven Mendoza of Minami Sanriku being interviewed on NHK World.  He was explaining how everyone went right to work helping out and taking care of each other, how the students were terrific and were put to work right away.  He was asked about future ALTs in the town to which he responded that the town is gone so the students will have to go to other schools in the area.  At the end of the interview, the announcer pointed out that Steve was scheduled to finish his contract this summer but that now he plans on stay on to continue to help.

    I think this is likely typical of other JETs in affected areas.  JETs are part of the communities in which they’re working, feel a strong connection and are playing significant roles in their communities.

    Keep up the good work.  You continue to instill great pride in all of us who serve or served on the JET Program.


    Mar 17

    Earthquake: Japan – A Land of Fragile Beauty, or Take a Break from the News Feed

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    Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
    ———————————————————————————————————————————-

    The following facebook group, Japan: A Land of Fragile Beauty, or Take a Break from the News Feed, was set up by a JET based in Ishikawa Prefecture in the days after the earthquake. The group description says

    This is an attempt to create some sort of haven away from the constant images of death and destruction that we’re being bombarded with on TV and the internet. Post whatever you want…thoughts, music, haikus, pictures of Japan that don’t make you want to cry.


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