Arisa Takahashi (CIR, 1991-94), the Treasurer for JETAA Northern California, has started a much-needed new LinkedIn group for JETs and JET alumni for those working in or interested in non-profit organizations and related fields.

CLICK HERE to sign up for the JET Alumni Non-Profit Group on LinkedIn.  (Or just do a search for it on LinkedIn.)

Domo arigatou Arisa-sama!

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.  For further reading regarding JETs and the law, he recommends JETs with J.D.s.

Anyone see Kore-eda Hirokazu’s 「誰も知らない」(Dare-mo Shiranai), the movie about the mother who abandons her four children in a Tokyo apartment?  I thought of that movie when I learned that 4/10 law graduates over the last forty years are neither practicing lawyers nor judges.  What happened to them?  Did they land on their feet?  If you’re going to law school will you end up like them?  Found out more here.

A new LinkedIn group called “JET Alumni Policy & Government” has been set up by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) for JETs and JET alumni who work in any field related to policy or government, aspire to work in related fields or have an interest in the topic.

CLICK HERE to see the group and join.

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.  For further reading regarding JETs and the law, he recommends JETs with J.D.s.

You studied political science before JET didn’t you?  Do not lie!  For those of you with a healthy interest in politics, specifically international relations, please read, “How Law Schools Behave Like States in International Relations Theory,” and tell me who’s the realist.

JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following translator’s conference through the Japan Association of Translators, and thought it might be of interest to current and former JETs in the Tokyo area (or those that can get to Tokyo relatively easily). Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he occasionally posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.

PROJECT Tokyo 2010 is the third in a series of one-day conferences on translation and interpreting organized by the Japan Association of Translators (JAT; 日本翻訳者協会) for participants to build skills and exchange information about their professions.

Theme: Tools and Workshops: Better, Faster, Richer
Date: Saturday, September 11, 2010
Time: 9:30 to 17:00
Registration opens at 9:00
Venue: TKP Shinagawa Conference Center

3F Takanawa Court, 3-13-1 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Approx. 5 minutes’ walk from Shinagawa Station (Takanawa Exit)

Admission:
Students: ¥4,000
JAT Members: ¥5,000
Non-Members: ¥6,000
Post-conference networking event: ¥5,000
Two-hour buffet meal and open bar

* Registration for the conference and post-conference networking event closes at midday on September 4, 2010. Registration is via the conference website only.

The program will consist of introductions to translation tools, workshops to improve practical skills, and informative sessions from industry specialists.

* Visit the conference website for more details.

Come to PROJECT Tokyo 2010 and find out how you can change the way you work!

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.  For further reading regarding JETs and the law, he recommends JETs with J.D.s.

I’m pretty sure that most Jets Wit out there live here in New York.  If so, you’ll be right at home with this week’s post—where I chide the Big Apple for adding five law schools during its 1970s economic and demographic slump.  But when your contract expires please return to NYC, JETAANY needs your support!

Andrew R. McCarthy (Akita-ken, 2005-08) is a law student at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law focusing on international trade, business, and tax.  He currently runs the blog JETs with J.D.s, an information source for current JET alumni law students and prospective law students for career paths and approaches within the current legal market.  For those considering law school and trying to comprehend the costs and the risks of such an endeavor, he also recommends The Law School Tuition Bubble.

You may not have to channel Miss Cleo to get legal employment these days.  But, in addition to the healthy dose of luck you’ll need, the legal career services world has created a brand new buzzword concept through which all prospective employees can be vetted: emotional intelligence. What is emotional intelligence, you ask?  Emotional intelligence, or as those trying to sound more professional than they really are might call it, “EI,” is the demonstrated ability to show, and practice, professional competence by providing good answers to hypothetical questions and connecting with interviewers. The idea behind the concept is that you are being hired not just for your legal acumen and ability to detect italicized commas in a document of hundreds of pages — you’re being hired to develop and maintain clients. What does this all boil down to? What help, if any, does a JET background provide? Is law school even conducive to developing “emotional intelligence?”

All those answers (or at least educated guesses) are right here.

Andrew R. McCarthy (Akita-ken, 2005-08) is a law student at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law focusing on international trade, business, and tax.  He currently runs the blog JETs with J.D.s, an information source for current JET alumni law students and prospective law students for career paths and approaches within the current legal market.  For those considering law school and trying to comprehend the costs and the risks of such an endeavor, he also recommends The Law School Tuition Bubble.

Former JETs naturally have a little bit of adventurer in them.  Unfortunately, the sedentary life of the law student spells disappointment for those of accustomed to a more active life.  This isn’t to say going out and enjoying life doesn’t happen in law school.  But if you like inordinate amounts of time reading and editing italicized commas, however, you’re in for a real treat.

Fortunately, life after law school doesn’t necessarily have to be like that — and if you still have that glimmer of a sense of adventure and the desire to live in not-so-often traveled parts of the world, a judicial clerkship in on of America’s international territories might be what you’re after.

To read information regarding clerkships available in Palau, click here.

For those interested in American Samoa, here.

For those interested in clerking for the Northern Mariana Islands, information is available here.

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.  For further reading regarding JETs and the law, he recommends JETs with J.D.s.

I’m not sure, but some JETs who go on to law school choose Temple University, or at its Japan Campus (TUJ) as I did.  For those of you who’re Pennsylvanians or contemplating studying law in Pennsylvania, I have for you a Frankensteinian experiment, “Failure to Launch: The Curious Case of Wilkes Law School, PA.”

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.  For further reading regarding JETs and the law, he recommends JETs with J.D.s.

Before leaving to teach in Saitama, I remember going to a Minnesota handcrafts shop in the Mall of America to find gifts for my new coworkers that reflected my home state.  I think I bought some of them a bag of wild rice and then I bought a beautiful box of assorted jelly beans from Candyland on North Wabasha in Saint Paul.  All were well received.  When I left JET, though, even then I knew better than to study law in my home state of just over 4,000,000 with all four of its law schools in the Twin Cities.  For those of you who’re Minnesota JETs like me, or want to study law in the North Star state, these posts are for you.

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.

Law school isn’t always a bad option.  If you bring more than a bachelors (of arts!) degree to the table, you have a better chance of coming out ahead after graduating.  For those of you whose eyes are bleeding from memorizing kanji for the JLPT 一級, take a break and read this post.  Don’t worry, it’s in English.

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.

Wait a second?  Why would I defend the ABA when it fails to act on the tuition bubble?  I have my reasons between labor cartel and attorney oversupply, and you can read them here.

Laura Popp (Mie-ken, 2009-Present) is a current JET who writes fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults, and is an occasional playwright/film maker.  Her short work includes a short story titled “In theShadow Realm” and a documentary she made in Malawi.  To read about her amazing adventures all over Japan, go to her blog at laurajanepopp.blogspot.com.

Here is a practical list of organizations, market guides, and networking opportunities for jump starting your writing career.  My apologies that it is heavy on the America and Speculative Fiction side, but that is who I am and what I write, so that is what I know best.  But hopefully everyone can find something useful from this list:

Read More

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.

Do you like tables?  Not kotatsu!  I mean data tables!  Ones that show where law schools and law students are geographically saturated in the United States.  If you’re considering law school in the U.S., you have to see where not to go.

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.

Plenty of people accept the facts about runaway law school tuition, but they think legal education is in a “bottleneck” until the economy recovers and law starts paying off again.  Watch me defend the Dojo in, “Bottleneck Attack!”

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.

Higher education costs more each year, but if a law school is just a bunch of classrooms, a library, and faculty, why is attending it so much more expensive?  Place your bets on who will win the final bout of the Big Bubble Battle before clicking!

Theatre de Moon is casting for ”Kutsukake Tokijiro ～a Makaroni Western～”, Benefit Staged Reading Performance.

We are seeking actors who are interested in our newly translated Japanese play.

As we had a success of the studio performance in June, 2009, we are keep on going this production to make a Off-Off-Broadway theatre.

To make it possible, we’ll have a Benefit Staged Reading Performance on July 31st.

The play by both in Japanese and English.

Please bring your monologue for audition.

This is for the Benefit Performance, however, there might be a chance for casting for the Off-Off-Broadway production in near future.

To make your reservation for audition. Please send us email:kurotama@cybercap.com

• Date:Thursday, June 3rd
• Time:6pm-10pm
• Place:CRS- 123 4th Ave., 2nd FL(between 12th&13th St.)
• New York, NY10003
• Play:Kutsukake Tokijiro
• Playwright:Shin Hasegawa
• Director:Jun Kim
• Translator:Keiko Tsuneda
• Music:Ryo Yoshimata
• Choreography:Kayoko Sakoh
• Benefit Staged Reading Performance:July 31st, 6pm-10pm
• Rehearsal Schedule:starts from June, weekends in June and July. Additional rehearsals in mid July.
• Tech & Dress rehearsal:July 30th, 5pm-10pm
• No pay
• www.kurotamakikaku.com

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.

If American law schools are festering in a tuition bubble, universities must be too!  Right?  Break out the tako-yaki and watch universities and law schools enter the sumo ring to see which bubble is bigger.

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.

Like me, many American JETs contemplate going to law school when faced with their contracts expiring.  You may hear about the value of the Juris Doctor – the degree that’s so flexible you can do anything with it.  Find out why you should recontract and save your yennies by reading this.

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Laura Popp (Mie-ken, 2009-Present) is a current JET who writes fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults, and is an occasional playwright/film maker.  Her short work includes a short story titled “In theShadow Realm” and a documentary she made in Malawi.  To read about her amazing adventures all over Japan, go to her blog at laurajanepopp.blogspot.com. (And check out the Authors/Books section of the JetWit Library for a list of more writers in the JET-o-sphere.)

Tired of submitting queries to agents and editors and simply getting form rejection letters or worse, NO RESPONSE?  Wondering if they`re even bothering to read your stuff?  Frustrated by wanting to submit to publishing houses that only receive submissions from agents and “referred” writers? Consider meeting publishers and agents at a conference!

Recently I returned from a writers` conference in my home in Oklahoma and came back with some great success stories to tell.  Even better than the wonderful presentations on writing, polishing and marketing were the opportunities for networking and industry contacts. One literary agent asked me for the first fifty pages of my middle grade novel Dargon, another agent requested a proposal for my young adult novel Treasure Traitor, and a publisher from Simon and Shuster asked to see the full manuscripts of BOTH. A travel publisher also requested a proposal for a non-fiction travel-essay book on Japan, and best of all, a Christian magazine publisher accepted one of my stories on the spot! Of course, most of these are just birds in the bush, if you will, but they are certainly a good start.

So how did you do it? you may be wondering. Well, let me tell you…

Do your homework

Many conferences post information about editors and agents who will be attending in advance. Research them and pick the ones that look like they may be interested in your completed fiction projects or non-fiction ideas. Note that most agents and publishers will ONLY consider finished fiction works and proposals for non-fiction articles and books.

Try to make an appointment

If you have the option to make an appointment, Read More

Are you on LinkedIn? For those of you who are, or might want another incentive to join, there’s a new JET Alumni Association group in the mix.

There’s already the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme group for current and former participants with over 500 members, but now there is another especially for those looking to continue working in the education field. The JETAA Education Professionals group aims to connect those JET alums in or looking for teaching positions around the world. So if you’re looking to talk to and connect with other JETs working in schools and universities, this would be the place to start.

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Laura is a current JET who writes fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults, and is an occasional playwright/film maker.

Namaskaram! Greetings from India! Ever consider volunteering abroad? With all our JET paid vacation time, there`s lots of opportunities. It looks great on your resume, and it’s a sure way to give you inspiration for your writing! Why stick to the touristy spots you can read about? You can get a feel for “the real thing” by helping out in the rural villages and slums, and see a part of the world you might never see otherwise.

I definitely just got a feel for the “real India” after spending ten days in Andhra Pradesh building houses and teaching the children of Dalits (untouchables) with five other English teachers through Longitude International. What an amazing experience! The moment we entered Chuvuru village we were greeted by drums and dancing. The people welcomed us into their homes and there seemed no end to the smiles, laughter, and chai tea! 

We spent our mornings helping build new cement houses that would stand the tempest of the fall monsoons, and our evenings teaching and playing with the children. In the beginning they were shy and called me “madam,” but within a few hours they completely opened up and called me “sister.” “Sister, one more song, one more photo, one more dance!” Boy, did they love to dance! We taught them the hokey pokey, the Macarena, head-shoulders-knees-and-toes, everything we could think of, and in return they showed us their “Bollywood moves.” They also loved my fife and recorder. Whenever I brought them out, they instantly began shouting requests.

During a game of “let`s travel,” one of the kids asked me, “Your village?” I didn`t know how to respond. Temple, Texas, where I was born? Owasso or Tulsa Oklahoma where I was raised and went to school? Nabari, Japan, where I live now? Malawi, Africa, where I left a huge part of my heart with the AIDS orphans? Or right there in Chuvuru where I felt so at home? 

It was a bit of an identity crisis. I asked myself if I really “belong” anywhere. For weeks I`ve been nervous about my upcoming visit back to the States and wondering if it has “changed,” or more importantly, if I`ve changed. Will I feel “at home” in the place my friends and family consider to be my “home?” 

After puzzling over it I came to a rather relieving, though somewhat clichéd conclusion. The world is my village. Perhaps that sounds cheesy, but I really think so. Not that I would be welcome let alone feel comfortable anywhere in the world, but I think wherever I do go where there are welcoming hearts and warm smiles, that place will be my home, my village for as long as I am there. And the villagers of India really are so welcoming, so loving that you feel like one of them from the very beginning. There is no insider/outsider. Only friend and family.

Of course, the trip wasn`t all fuzzy feelings. It was very difficult to see how some of the people suffered. Thirty years ago in a nearby village, the government gave the Dalits land to farm, but are now taking it back. This forces the villagers to migrate long distances through dangerous roads or hire themselves out as domestic servants where they are physically and sexually abused. Disease is still a major problem, claiming many lives.   

So a lot of people have asked me, why did you bother going to India? There`s not much you can do to help anyway; why not just send money? Sending money is great, but if I`m traveling anyway, I might as well make a difference as I do and experience the “real world.” I can already tell you, those kids and that place are already showing up in my fiction!   

We were the first volunteer group to visit Chuvuru, but this is only the beginning of their brighter future. Hopefully many more teams will come to help build and teach, continuing the cause of awareness, human rights, and global friendship. Who knows, maybe you`re next? If you`re interested in learning more about longitude and their work, you can visit their website at http://www.golongitude.org/. 

For more details, pictures, and videos about Laura`s adventures in Asia, visit her weekly blog at laurajanepopp.blogspot.com.

Are there any JET alums out there who work on or are somehow involved in dealing with or researching or reporting on the issue of human trafficking?

I’ve received an inquiry from a current JET who is interested in working in this field and would appreciate the opportunity to talk or email with any JET alums currently working on this issue.

You can just send an email to jetwit @ jetwit .com if you’re willing to be contacted.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

-Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94)

Thanks to JET alum Harlan Rosacker of Washington, D.C. for passing along this information:

JET alum David Boling has announced his candidacy for the 2^nd Congressional seat in Arkansas.   You can see David’s website at:  www.bolingforcongress.com and you can follow his blog at:  www.bolingforcongress.com/blog.html.

Harland adds:

“We have known David since the mid-1990s.  Our association grew as a result our having lived in Japan ourselves from 1969 to 1976.   Our son Andrew (born in Tokyo) was a JET in Kanagawa-ken from 1996 to 1998.”

Here are a few JET-relevant snippets from David’s bio:

• David Boling, 45, is a fourth-generation Arkansan. He is a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Department of Justice; a one-time lawyer at the Mitchell Williams law firm in Little Rock; and, until last month, the Chief of Staff to Congressman Vic Snyder (D, AR-2).
• Boling is married to former Fuji Television reporter Mine Sasaguri; he and his wife are the parents of two children, Christopher (7) and Ellen (5).
• Fulfilling a desire to learn more about the Japanese educational system, David took a one-year break from law school, 1988-1989, to teach English to students in Fujishiro. He was later selected for a competitive Rotary scholarship which he used to master the 1800 character Japanese language, visit Pine Bluff’s Sister City, Iwai and, most importantly, gain an understanding of the Japanese legal system and trade between Japan and the United States – specifically, about trade between Japan and Arkansas.
• David passed the Arkansas Bar Exam in 1993 and then completed a Masters in Law (LL.M) at Columbia University School of Law in 1994, where he focused on international and Japanese law.
• In 1995, David joined the US Department of Justice Antitrust Division as a lawyer. He worked there for 10 years, spanning both the Clinton and Bush Administrations. As they increasingly litigated cases against Japanese firms, David’s background was a strong asset to the Justice Department, but he also worked to investigate alleged illegal monopoly behavior in the concert ticketing business and on criminal investigations to crack down on international price-fixing cartels, which steal from American consumers. He helped prosecute a Japanese executive and Japanese company for obstruction of justice in two separate antitrust investigations. In 1999, Janet Reno signed an international antitrust agreement between Japan and the US to further open the Japanese market and improve antitrust enforcement that Boling helped to negotiate.
• Boling was selected for a Mike Mansfield Fellowship at Justice, during which he worked in the Japanese Justice Ministry and other government agencies, deepening his understanding of their legal system.

David-san, ganbatte kudasai!

I’m looking for JET alum lawyers or law-related types out there.  Especially ones who would be willing to be contacted by fellow alums seeking career advice and perspectives on careers in law.

Please contact me at jetwit [at] jetwit.com if you are willing to be contacted.

Yoroshiku.

Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94)

p.s.  If you’re not already familiar with these, here are some JET alum law resources out there:

• JETAA Law Facebook Group (open to all JET alums) (Admins:  Zach LeNarz & Steven Horowitz)
• JET Alumni Restructuring & Bankruptcy Group on LinkedIn (Admin:  Steven Horowitz)
• Japan Law Society (Admin:  S. McIntire Allen)

The Global MBA at Doshisha Business School, Kyoto, is a young, growing, high-quality and globally orientated program that builds upon the existing and highly regarded Japanese language MBAs. We welcome applications from highly motivated individuals seeking to develop internationally orientated careers in the global economy. As a former JET myself I consider the GMBA an excellent option for those looking to gain an MBA and to develop careers in international business and management. The Global MBA will equip you will the knowledge, skills, network and intellectual framework expected and required of twenty-first century global businesspeople. Our first JET alumnus will be joining us as a GMBA student in September and we look forward to further applications from JETs.

Find out more

If you are interested in finding out more about our program I strongly recommend that you visit our webpage, http://gmba.doshisha.ac.jp/ , where you can find more details about course content and structure, video interviews with faculty and students, online business seminars and much more.

Provisional applications

We welcome provisional applications from potential candidates as an initial step towards the formal application process. Simply submit your CV/resume and a personal statement outlining your motivation for applying to the Global MBA by email at your earliest convenience. These documents will be reviewed by faculty members who will pass on their comments within a week. This is an opportunity for potential candidates to confirm their eligibility and suitability for the program. There is no cost for this provisional application.

Funding opportunities

I should also like to draw your attention to the generous funding opportunities that we are offering for 2010 entry including two full MEXT scholarships (full fee waiver, monthly stipend and return flights) and a range of monthly stipends. Full details can be found on our webpage but please be aware that only applications received by the March 31^st deadline can be considered for this funding.

Visit us

If you are in or near Kyoto, why not call in and see us? We are delighted to meet with applicants and to show them around our facilities. During normal teaching periods we are also more than happy to introduce you to current students and faculty. Please contact the office directly should you wish to arrange a visit.

Any questions?

Feel free to contact us at anytime should you have any questions or queries related to the course and the applications process.

Finally

As a JET alumnus I can fully appreciate what it means to be contemplating the end of your time on the program and what your next step will be. The Global MBA offers an excellent bridge to your future career and will equip you will the knowledge, skills, network and intellectual framework expected and required of twenty-first century global businesspeople. I look forward to receiving your application.
With best wishes,

Dr. A. Staples
Global MBA
Doshisha Business School
astaples@mail.doshisha.ac.jp

JETAA NY’s annual Meishi Exchange is this Thursday, March 11.  See the slick flyer designed by the wonderful and talented JETAA NY Secretary Amber Liang:

JET alum Chris Kennedy recently helped his company, translation and localization specialist Keywords International, set up a Tokyo branch.

Here’s the press release:  http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/55566/Keywords_International_Limited_Launches_Branch_Office_inTokyo.php

Chris added that, “Translation and localization are definitely fields that former JETs can get involved with, so if there is anything I could do to provide some information about the field, or anything similar, just let me know.”

New England JETAA Career Workshop:  “Marketing Yourself in a Tough Economy”

Make sure to RSVP to president [at] nejetaa.com!

When: Tuesday, March 02, 3:00PM – 6:00PM (This coming week!)
Where: Downtown Crossing, Borders Bookstore, Robert M. Morgan Conference Room
Map: Borders Boston Map (near Downtown Crossing T station): http://bit.ly/%20BordersDTX
Cost: Free! (There will also be some free food)

Highlights:
We will get a pep talk from Professor Ian Condry of MIT about how to use your JET experience to further your career.

We will have a discussion with people in several different industries in which you may have interest:
*Translation
*Academia
*Teaching
*Entrepreneurial/ Non-profit
*Biotechnology

There will be a resume workshop. Bring some copies of your resume to trade with others and help each other out! The more eyes you have looking at your resume, the more ways you’ll be able to improve it. We will also have a discussion on resume dos and don’ts.

We will adjourn to a nearby bar/restaurant afterward for informal networking and relaxing. This is a great way to meet new people and
discuss your career.

Finally, for those who cannot attend the event but have some career-related wisdom/advice they would like to pass on, please send an email to webmaster [at] nejetaa.com. We’ll make sure to share your comments with our attendees at the end of the workshop.

Here’s your chance to get some JET-specific advice in your quest to career-up!

Thanks for your attention, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options.  Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com.  She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Over the past couple of weeks, a few different readers have emailed with questions related to finding the “creative spark” or inspiration for finding their passion in life through work.  Here is another creative task that may help, inspired by the highly recommended book “The Artist’s Way,” by Julia Cameron.

Task 1:  Collect magazines of different types that you can cut up. One afternoon or evening, listening to music or watching a movie, skim through the magazines and without judgment, purely on attraction only, cut out any words or images that appeal to you for any reason.  Do not analyze the selection, but instead enjoy the sensory aspects of the images or words that appeal to you. Take all your cutouts and place them into a shoe box, folder, or envelope for another task later.

Task 2 [different day]:  Reread your paragraph and list from the exercise of February 15, 2010. [If you did not do that exercise, you can still proceed with this activity]  Then, gather the following materials: a poster board of any size; some glue; scissors; and your shoebox or envelope of magazine words/images from Task 1.  Lay everything out on a table or work space, and while listening to some good music or during some quiet time, make a collage of all these words and images.

 Task 3 [different day]:  Take some time to really look at your collage and reflect on what it tells you about what inspires you, what you like, and the type of work/profession you would enjoy right now.  What story does the collage tell about how you want to show up/be perceived in your profession?  Take time to journal  all the thoughts and feelings that arise in a stream-of-consciousness way while looking at your collage.  You may wish to do this over a period of time as new ideas and expression bubble to the surface of your mind.  May you be pleasantly be surprised at what is revealed to you about your dreams and desires. 

Like hiring a personal trainer to reach your fitness goals, a personal life coach can assist you to attain your personal goals.  You may write the Muse with any coaching questions, or inquiries into life coaching options on a one-time or ongoing basis at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Call for Japan-related actors,

Tea Leaf Theatre (www.tealeaftheatre.com) will be hosting some workshops to explore Japanese theatre.

We are looking for actors who has some sort of connection to Japan or has an interest in the culture.

The aim of these workshops is to explore how Japanese theatre skills can be transformed into British theatre context. These workshops will stretch your skills and enable you to look at acting from a different perspective.

Tea Leaf Theatre is a London-based theatre company. Our aim is to bring together the East and West through modern theatrical media such as physicality, projected images, and live music (think Theatre de Complicite).

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer you any payment at this stage. However, you will not only gain some Japanese traditional theatre techniques but also learn how to use them for your day to day acting requirements. (i.e., Auditions)

There’s no long term commitment required, you simply need to attend one or two day workshop over a period of time. Each session will focus on one element of Japanese theatre for you to explore.

There will be several sessions over this year. So if you are interested to be involved in this project, please send your CV, headshot, and a short description about your relation to Japan; to tealeaftheatre@gmail.com. We will send you further information on when they are going to happen.

Thanks for your help.

Tanroh Ishida

Artistic Director of Tea Leaf Theatre

tealeaftheatre@gmail.com / 077 9154 1749

Actor/ Director, Jun Kim (Heavenly Bento) brings his Tokyo based theatre workshop to New York.

For more info click here.

- Date: 2/20,  2/28,  3/6,  3/13
- Time: 1pm-4pm
- Place: Center StageNY Studio A 2/20, 3/6, 3/13  (SAT)
Rod Rodgers Dance Co Studio 2/28 (SUN)
- Fee: $120
- Limited to 15 participants

www.kurotamakikaku.com

Thanks to JETAA NY Webmaster Lee-Sean Huang for passing this on:

*****************

Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options. Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com.  She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Dear Dr. Muse:

Based on the question from N.H. in Long Island [January 30, 2010 Post], we are creating a series of exercises aimed at getting “unstuck” in a job or life.  Based on the previous exercise of the Rating System, let’s revisit the eight areas of evaluation:

What three areas have the most priority or importance to you for the next three months?  Using the logical, analytical, problem-solving side of the brain you will create an Action Plan. By processing backwards, in your journal, write the steps that it would take to lead you from where you want to be to where you are now. This is like planning a party or event where you have the end in mind. Try to get engrossed in the details because each little step leads you closer to what you want.

Now, looking at your Action Plan details, on a new sheet of paper, and processing backward from the end result, assign a deadline in three months for the first few specific tasks.  For instance, in three months time, you wish to move one or two steps forward on the Action Plan.  Determine what discrete tasks you need to do each month for the next three months to get there. Then, for this first month, break down the steps into weekly goals.  Finally, with this upcoming week, set three tasks to complete toward this week’s goal.

Create an Action Plan for the three areas of the Rating System you determined a priority for the next three months.

Most importantly, spend time each week evaluating your weekly progress and establishing goals for the week ahead, all with your three-month goal in mind.  This work-in-progress requires recalibration.  Some weeks you may get ahead of your goals, and other weeks you may feel you lag behind.  In truth, you continue to make progress, so enjoy the adventure!

Every few months, revisit the Rating System and create new Action Plans.  While working on the foundation areas of your life, you allow more creative inspiration and energy to move you out of a place of feeling “stuck.”

Stay tuned for the next Dr. Muse post where I’ll answer other life/career change questions.

Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options.  Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com.  She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Dear Dr. Muse:

I feel so stuck and frustrated in my current job, but I can’t quit and don’t know what else I want to do. What if I feel the same in my next job and I will never be happy? –N.H., Long Island, NY

Dear N.H.:

This common issue resonates with many people who hire a life coach. Over the next few columns, I will break down some of the layers of this question and give you some tools to determine what changes you can make to feel less “stuck” in your life.

Step One: Gathering Information.

In any construction project you first have a plan, and it should be no different when it comes to building a life you want, including the profession you want. So, to begin, you need to assess your starting point and the resources at hand. Often a feeling of dissatisfaction at work is actually a distraction from dissatisfaction in other areas of life, so it is important to evaluate your life as a whole. Moreover, before you embark on a journey that involves change, implement measures to ensure your health and wellbeing remain balanced.

For this first week, take some time to assess where you are right now. First, obtain a blank notebook or journal to record your thoughts, ideas, and progress. On that first page, write your full name and then write out your commitment to make any changes necessary to create the life you want. Now, agree to have fun with the exercises and start with the Rating System.

The Rating System

First, rate each of the following, as it pertains to your life at this moment, on a scale of zero [absolutely stinks] to ten [could not get any better]:

1. fitness/health
2. money
3. career
4. friends/family
5. fun/recreation
6. personal growth/spiritual development
7. physical environment/home
8. romance/significant other

Next, on the other sheets of paper, put each label from above at the top of a page. Take time to look at each section and write a description of what a perfect ten would look like. Describe your perfect TEN in an uninhibited, entitled, and passionate way. In other words, you may not write what you think you can have, you must write what you really WANT.

Stay tuned for the next Dr. Muse post where I’ll expand on this exercise.

**************

Laura Popp (Mie-ken, 2009-Present) is a current JET who writes fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults, and is an occasional playwright/film maker.  Her short work includes a short story titled “In theShadow Realm” and a documentary she made in Malawi.  To read about her amazing adventures all over Japan, go to her blog at laurajanepopp.blogspot.com. (And check out the Authors/Books section of the JetWit Library for a list of more writers in the JET-o-sphere.)

Hello again!  This week I would like to report on the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) conference in Yokohama.  It actually occurred on November 14^th, but, alas, I have been ill with swine flu and other “opportunistic infections” so I was unable to report.  But now you get to hear all about it!

For those of you who don`t know, SCBWI is a great group to get involved with if you write for kids.  They have lots of events, critique groups, contests, and resources.  Here is their website: http://www.scbwi.jp/

A note on transportation. There are many events for writers and translators in Japan, but most are confined to the big cities. For those of you who live in a small town like me, you may be wondering how you will ever get to this wonderful career-building opportunities and still stay within your tight school-teacher budget.  Fear not!

There is a wonderful, often overlooked form of transportation in Japan called the night bus.  It may seem like a pain, but the bus I took from my home in Nabari to Yokohama was very comfortable.  The bus ride was about eight hours, so if I were more accustomed to sleeping on a bus, I probably could have been well rested when we arrived very early in the morning.  The earliness gave me plenty of time for sightseeing before the conference, and since my bus home didn`t leave until 11:00pm.  Plus it cost less than half than taking the shinkansen, and there`s no need to pay for a hotel!

That said, I was very tired when I arrived back in Nabari at 7:00am.  Fortunately it was Sunday, but I would not recommend taking the night bus if you have to go to work the next day.  Also, be warned, not all night buses are created equal. Check to see if the bus you want to ride has reclining seats or not, and if there is a bathroom on board or if they stop ever few hours, turn on the lights, and have people jostling past you trying to get in and out constantly.  If you are interested in taking a night bus somewhere, I would recommend contacting the main bus station in your town.  Most of them don’t speak English, but a Japanese friend helped me get the information and make reservations over the phone.  You may be surprised how many places offer night buses to common destinations such as Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, etc.

(FYI, Yokohama is famous for its Read More

I got an email over the weekend from about two new (and related) sites that list English teaching positions in Japan that might be of help to JETs, JET alumni and Friends of JET:

• JCareer.com – http://jcareer.com and
• JapanEnglishTeacher.com – http://japanenglishteacher.com

If any JetWit readers visit the sites, it would be great if you could post a comment to this post on JetWit sharing your opinion and thoughts about the JCareer and JapanEnglishTeacher sites for the benefit of other JetWit readers.

Reminder to go to JetWit’s Job Site Links page for a longer list of helpful job sites.  And feel free to let JetWit know if you know of other good job sites that you don’t see there.

JET alum and technical writer David Kowalsky has a nice book review on the book Twitterville:  How Businesses Can Thrive in the New Global Neighborhoods in the latest edition of Sound Views, the newsletter for the Puget Sound Chapter of the Society for Technical Writers.

Here’s the link:  http://bit.ly/3hix5A.

Have a look and feel free to share your thoughts on Twitter as well.  Also, you can follow JetWit via Twitter at http://twitter.com/jetwit.

By Kirsten Phillips (Niigata-ken, 2005-08) who is currently a teacher in the NYC Teaching Fellows Program.

I have an ESL kid! WHEEE!

I am way too happy about that!

I became fast friends with the ESL teacher at my school, Amercy. And she is. I love her first name. It’s eloquent! Once upon a time she worked as a push-in for my class but no longer. I was sad to see her go. However now she is coming back because someone gave me Jesus!

Though a majority of my native-speaking students need major assistance with English reading, writing and most importantly, EXPRESSION, this kid is mandated. His former classroom was taught by a Spanish-speaking teacher and his classmates were all bilingual.

But mami wants her baby to start speaking English.

He’s a good boy. Let’s call him Jesus. Jesus is half Puerto Rican and half Dominican. For the most part he sticks with my native-tongued Paras in the kitchen. Sitting him down for instruction in English is understandably a slow process. It’s scary being the kid who doesn’t quite catch everything. He’s a smart boy, though, and damn have I missed teaching ESL.

I don’t get much one-on-one time with my new kid and I always try to corner away just a little for everyone when they first come in. Plus, there’s no way I’m letting Graciela mommy him. He’s in my class because his parents want him in an all-inclusive English environment. It’s been a while since I’ve forced English on innocent kids who need it. Read More

Popp, Laura (Mie-ken, 2008-Present) is a current JET who writes fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults, and is an occasional playwright/film maker.  Her short work includes a short story titled “In theShadow Realm” and a documentary she made in Malawi.  To read about her amazing adventures all over Japan, go to her blog at laurajanepopp.livejournal.com. (And check out the Authors/Books section of the JetWit Library for a list of more writers in the JET-o-sphere.)

Hello, everyone!  I`m new to Japan and the JetWit blog, so allow me to introduce myself!  I`m a sci-fi/fantasy young adult writer from Oklahoma in the U.S.  I love to travel, as you can probably tell from my blog, so most of my posts will be about my wonderful adventures all over Asia and any writing news I learn about.

This week I`ll be reporting on two writers` events I attended last weekend,  a critique meeting in Osaka and a conference in Kyoto! For those of you who don`t know, there is an excellent group called English Writers and Readers that meets every Saturday in Osaka from 2:30 to however long people want to stay.  It’s not just for writers; if you love to read there is also a book club and various other discussion boards and events.  But if you are a writer, of any genre or form, you can email your work to group members and have it critiqued the following Saturday.  For me it was very productive. They tore apart (figuratively) my story “Tapestry of Time,” but now I know how to make it better.  I will warn you that the turnout for meetings tends to be very low (there were only four of us), so if it`s quite a trek for you, I suggest getting a general idea of how many will be there before you go all that way.

One of the girls in the writers` club, Rianna, was really sweet and let me stay with her Saturday night. On Sunday morning, I headed off to the writers’ conference in Kyoto. I was a little disappointed.  Good luck trying to publish an English fiction book in Japan, they said, because no publishers here accept them. There are English printers here, however, and a strong potential market of foreign readers.  So if you have a book already published elsewhere and would like to promote it in Japan, there are several resources available to you, including Printed Matter Press.  Here is their website: http://www.printedmatterpress.com/.   And of course, if you want to go the self-publishing route, these guys can help with that too.

Other than that, the “Revising Your Novel” seminar, presented by Holly Thompson, was most helpful.   Her basic strategy was to systematically go through your novel and create a detailed spreadsheet of necessary revisions in character, setting, theme, etc. and mark these various “threads” wherever they appear with colored sticky notes.  Then, read through the novel with only one of these threads in mind.  That way you can stay focused and not get bogged down by the sheer size of the project.  Here’s a picture of her session:

During lunch, I happened to run into the right people at the right time. I was looking for a place to eat my bento and sat with three ladies outside.  We got to talking, and one of the three happened to be Suzanne Kamata (Tokushima-ken, 1988-90) who I`d been trying to get a hold of for some time. She’s an American published young adult writer living in Japan who’s involved in the SCBWI (Society of Children`s Book Writers and Illustrators). She invited me to go to their major conference in Yokohama on November 28th that`s going to host Alvina Ling, a Senior Editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.  What an amazing opportunity!  For those who are interested, the registration deadline is November 4th.  You can sign up at their website, http://www.scbwi.jp/.

To hear more about the Kyoto conference and my other adventures in Japan, visit my full blog at laurajanepopp.livejournal.com!

Professional translator Terry Gallagher shared another good event for translators with JetWit, this one via the honyaku Google Group:

As part of its ongoing efforts to develop an international presence, foster new talent, and connect with peer organizations, the Japan Association of Translators (JAT) will be sponsoring a mixer in Manhattan on Friday, October 30, 2009, for veteran and aspiring translators/interpreters alike. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to network, find out more about JAT, and socialize with other translators/interpreters in the big city….Non-members are most welcome. Cash bar, with partial subsidy from JAT.
WHEN: Friday, October 30
Starting: 10:30 PM (after the traditional Friday night JLD dinner
[http://groups.google.com/group/honyaku/browse_thread/thread/c153d891486ac1c8])
Ending: During ATA’s Annual Conference (?)
[https://www.atanet.org/conf/2009/sessionschedule.php#5]
WHERE: Press Box (932 Second Ave., between 49th and 50th Streets)
[http://www.thepressboxnyc.com/index2.html]
Signup (by 10/26; and for last-minute notices/updates):
http://jat.org/2009/10/16/jat-new-york-mixer-oct-30-2009/

Feel free to pass the word on, and hope to see you there!

ニューヨークでJATネットワークパーティを実施します。 会員・非会員を問わず、翻訳に興味のある方ならどなたでもご参加いただけます。 翻訳未経験者の方にとってはベテラン翻訳者と交流する絶好の機会です。
日時: １０月３０日（金） 10:30pm～
場所: The Press Box (http://www.thepressboxnyc.com/index2.html)
参加費: 一部JATが負担。追加分はキャッシュバー。
参加希望者は、１０月２６日（月） までに
[http://jat.org/2009/10/16/jat-new-york-mixer-oct-30-2009/]
へご予約お願いいたします。

Professional translator Terry Gallagher shared the following with JetWit:

The American Translators Association holds its annual conference in NYC at the end of this month. It includes a dinner for the Japanese language division, which will be on Friday, Oct. 30 at IL Punto Ristorante, 507 Ninth Ave.

Contact person is Mina Seat, minaseat [/at/] gmail [/dot/] com  More info here:  https://www.atanet.org/conf/2009/

Cost is $53. It might be late to sign up, but it was an open invitation, and you might still be able to talk your way in. There will be lots and lots of working translators/interpreters there, and you might be able to pick up a bunch of new ideas.

Are you a JET alum (or friend of JET) who works in the world of financial restructuring or bankruptcy?  Or perhaps you aspire to get into the field?

Now you can join the JET Alumni Restructuring & Bankruptcy Group on LinkedIn.  http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2386127&trk=hb_side_g

Contact Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) at jetwit [at] jetwit [dot] com with any questions.

Author Suzanne Kamata (Tokushima-ken, 1988-90) who also serves as the Publicity Assistant for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, shared the following, which she mentioned is, “a great opportunity for writers in Japan to meet one of the top editors in the world of children’s books.”

The World of Children’s Book Publishing

with

Alvina Ling, Senior Editor

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 10:30 am – 5:00 pm

Manuscript critiques 8:30-10:00 a.m.

Place:      Yokohama International School, Middle Building Cafeteria, Yokohama

For access information and maps, visit www.yis.ac.jp

Fee:         Advance Registration 4,000 yen SCBWI members; 7,000 yen nonmembers (contact info@scbwi.jp by November 5)

At the Door 5,000 yen SCBWI members; 8,000 yen nonmembers

Reservations: Required! Contact info@scbwi.jp to reserve your place.

This event will be in English.

SCHEDULE

************ Read More

Via Michelle Fox of JETAA Sydney:

Returnees Networking & Careers Night:  “Jump into life after JET”

Looking for a job, or a change of career? Come to our Networking and Careers night for JET Returnees, or any jobseekers in Sydney.

When: October 30, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Where: The Japan Foundation

Keynote speaker – Paul Burgess, Author of Natural Born Success as shown on Today Tonight.

JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following interpretation opportunity through the Honyaku E <> J Mailing List and thought it might be of interest to former JETs in the Tokyo area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.

McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, seeks an interpreter for its Tokyo office.

The successful candidate would:
* Interpret from Japanese to English and vice versa for consultants and clients in all types of business meetings, from one-on-one interviews to large-group presentations
* Be proficient in consecutive interpreting, whispering, and simultaneous interpreting using a transmitter or in a booth
* Demonstrate capability across a range of industries, with specialization in one or two, e.g., finance, pharmaceuticals, or high tech.

Applications from university graduates with excellent spoken English and Japanese, and at least five years worth of interpreting experience are welcome.

To excel in this role, you must be flexible in responding to consultant and client requests, strongly motivated to continue improving your performance, and work well under pressure. You must be confident of commanding respect from demanding colleagues, and feel comfortable managing your schedule while working with multiple teams. Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity are required.

The initial contract will be full-time for three to six months, with potential renewal depending on performance and demand.

Interested parties should e-mail their resume in English and Japanese to Helen Iwata by Thursday, October 8, 2009.

JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following career workshop being held by CareerCross, and thought it might be of interest to former JETs in the Tokyo area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.

CareerCross is holding a special seminar designed to give job seekers an added advantage when interviewing at a foreign company in Japan.

Due to corporations reducing their work force over the past year, the market is flooded with experienced job seekers making it an extremely difficult time to get a job. To succeed in an interview you must be 100% prepared and ready to prove you are the best candidate for the job.

CareerCross has brought in Japan’s leading interview skills trainer to teach you how to “Get Your Job Now!” From your cover letter and resume to the interview, learn exactly what works and doesn’t when interviewing in English or at a foreign company in Japan.

You will be able to answer the difficult questions with confidence, as you will be prepared and coached by the very best.

There will also be a section on finding your job online and how to use CareerCross more effectively.

Join CareerCross for one afternoon designed to prepare you for success.

– Get Your Job Now! Space is limited, so sign up now! –

CareerCross Japan Presents:

***************************************************************
TITLE: Get Your Job Now! – How to get a job with a foreign company!
SPEAKERS:
Michael Ghiglione and Bernd Kestler
DATE: October 8th (Thur), 18:30 – 21:00 or October 10th (Sat.), 9:30 – 13:00
ORGANIZER: C.C. Consulting Co., Ltd. / CareerCross
LANGUAGE: English
VENUE: Anaheim University; click here for a map of the venue
COST: 5,000 yen
REGISTRATION & CANCELLATION DEADLINE: October 6th, 2009
***************************************************************

Hot off the presses from the Pacific Northwest JETAA yahoogroup:

Dear PNWJETAA Members & Friends of PNWJETAA,

SAVE THE DATE for TRANSITIONS 2009!!! – REGISTER TODAY!!! SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17th

“TRANSITIONS:  PNWJETAA Opportunities Forum & Networking Expo” is BACK!

The Pacific Northwest JET Alumni Association in Cooperation with the Consulate-General of Japan at Seattle and local businesses and educational institutions is proud to present it annual fall career and opportunities event!  In conjunction with the recent return of JETs, who have just completed their contracts in Japan, PNWJETAA is putting together a great program open to all PNWJETAA Members & Friends of PNWJETAA!

• LOOKING FOR A JOB?
• CONSIDERING A CHANGE IN CAREER PATH?
• INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY?
• SEEKING TO SHARE YOUR SKILLS AND ENERGY FOR A GREAT CAUSE?
• CONSIDERING GRAD SCHOOL?

THEN YOU NEED TO ATTEND:  TRANSITIONS 2009:  Opportunities Forum & Networking Expo!

ON-LINE PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED, SO REGISTER HERE:  http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEpYWE9tajBIUG5PTS1jckd1aVE5OWc6MA

This year’s program will include:

• Opportunities Forum:

o   Key note speakers who will address the current job market & grad school options

o   Panel (based on needs of those who register, this may break into 2 separate panels) with information & advice for:

§  Getting into the job market

§  Volunteering to serve the community & broaden your social & professional networking circles

§  Strategies on how to use your JET experience when applying to grad school

• Networking Expo –  Connect with a variety of organizations including:

o   Local Companies

o   Educational Institutions

o   Community Service Groups

o   J-LINK Businesses (J-Link is comprised of companies & organizations owned by or endorsed by PNWJETAA Members)

WHEN – Saturday, October 17^th, Noon – 5:30 pm

WHERE – Kirkland, WA

ATTIRE – Dress for Success!

COST – $5 for JET Program Alumni who are registered with PNWJETAA* / $10 for Friends of JETs (FOJs) & Guests

Further event details will be provided to those who register for Transitions 2009.