Click this link to join:  http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=4221521&trk=anet_ug_hm&goback=%2Egmp_2973279%2Eanb_4221521_*2

Click here to see all JET Alum Linkedin groups, both prefectural and professional.

Update:  This is now a “group.”  I originally set it up as a “page” but realized that’s not the way to go.  Apologies for any inconvenience.

Are you a JET or JET alum and a parent?  Or planning on being a parent?  Then here’s a new JET alumni group for you:

JET Alumni Parents Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/231863163545612/

Yes, enough of us have reached that stage in our lives where it makes sense to set this up.  So join the group, meet other JET alum parents, share stories and photos, and maybe even set up exchanges across countries where we swap our kids for a week or two! :-)

Update:  I originally set this up as a FB “page” but have now more wisely switched it to a “group.”  So make sure to sign up for the “group.”

For anyone who’s interested, I’ve set up the Brooklyn JET Alumni group on Facebook for JET alumni who live in Brooklyn, are from Brooklyn or are just interested in Brooklyn.

Here’s the link:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/319357708081547/

I’ve had an informal email list for a few years, since I live in Brooklyn.  And it was just time to turn it into a Facebook page.  It’s not an official chapter or sub-chapter.  Just an informal group for the convenience of those of us living in Brooklyn-cho.

BTW, if anyone wants to come up with a better graphic, please feel free to make one and send it to me at jetwit [at] jetwit.com.

JETAANY held its annual Career Forum/Welcome Back Reception on Saturday at the Nippon Club in NYC.  And in addition to the usual combination of useful advice, networking, natsukashii talk and reconnecting in general, this year’s Welcome Back Reception was notable for one other reason:  It was attended by approximately 25 participants in Japan’s new Japan-U.S. Training Training and Exchange Program for English Language Teachers (JUSTE) program, sometimes referred to as the “Reverse JET” program.

The program selected 96 Japanese teachers of English to spend 6 months in the U.S. studying ESL teaching methodology–in English–at 6 different universities across the U.S.:  Rutgers University (NJ), University of Delaware, University of Michigan, University of Texas, University of Iowa, UC Irvine and UC Davis.  The teachers are in turn supposed to bring back their learning and share it with their respective school systems as part of an effort to improve English ability of Japanese students.

The Reverse JETs attending on Saturday came up from Rutgers and the University of Delaware.  It was a terrific opportunity to get to know them and learn more about the program.  Following a brief intro by all of the returning JETs, the Reverse JETs were asked to do the same.  And as they said their names and prefectures, there was an almost instant connection as JET alums from various prefectures cheered when the Reverse JETs called out their own home prefecture.

It was also apparent that these were top rate teachers–the really genki, creative and engaged teachers you remember from your JET days.  (We all were fortunate to have had at least one of these if not more.)  This was made rather apparent when the Delaware contingency decided to forego the traditional introduction style and instead go with a teaching game they had all learned in class the day before.  (See video below.)

Throughout the reception and the nijikai at Faces & Names, JET alumni found the Reverse JETs extremely friendly and easy to talk to.  And it was interesting to hear about their situations and the parallels with our own first time experiences in Japan.  For example:

• While the Rutgers participants are all living on campus in a dormitory for foreign students, the Delaware participants are all living with homestay families and generally need to rely on them for transportation to and from the campus (as they’re not permitted to drive while in the U.S.)
• Most participants were surprised to have been selected for the program.  That’s because most of them hadn’t even known of the program’s existence until their principals called them into their offices and asked them if they’d like to go to the U.S. for 6 months.  In same cases, participants only had hours to contact their spouse and decide whether to say yes.  Though in everyone’s eyes, this was too good an opportunity to pass up, not to mention a terrific honor.  They realized they had been 1 of 96 selected out of a total pool of 50,000 English teachers in Japan.  It sounds like each prefecture is permitted to select a few school systems, and then the Board of Ed in those school systems chooses the teacher.  Interestingly, some schools apparently passed on the opportunity because they didn’t feel they could afford to be without one of their top teachers for 6 months.  And in some prefectures, the selection process is different and teachers can actually apply to be a participant.
• The teachers seemed to be aware of the costs involved in sending them to the U.S. and expressed a strong sense of obligation to study hard and share their learning upon return.  Though one confessed to worrying about maintaining a delicate balance of sharing knowledge while also not wanting to be the nail that sticks up.
• And perhaps most interesting of all, in talking with one of the participants from Aichi (my JET prefecture), I learned that she grew up in Inuyama City and had JET alum and Inuyama City Council Member Anthony Bianchi (Aichi-ken, Inuyama-shi, 1988-89) as her ALT when she was a student!  Now that’s full circle.  (If anyone knows a good Japanese kotowaza for that idea, please share.)

Hopefully, the Reverse JETs through the U.S. will be able to find JET alumni in their area.  And it would be really terrific if JETAA chapters as well as the JET alumni community in general could do its best to reach out to the participants wherever they are.  They truly appreciate getting to spend time with the New York JET alumni on Saturday.  Imagine how great it must feel to be from Tottori-ken and find an American who is also familiar with Tottori.

Unfortunately, they’re only here through January.  So now is the time to reach out.  In addition to meeting some great people, you’ll also be helping to support a very unique Japanese education program that we hope will continue in the future and grow to meet the English learning needs of Japan’s society.

Here’s the link to “Jewpanese – Where Jewish and Japanese converge“:  https://www.facebook.com/JewishJapanese

Thanks to JETAA Chicago’s Elizabeth Gordon (Iwate-ken 2003-05) for sharing this info:

JETAA Chicago will host its annual Job and Networking Fair on Saturday, November 5th from 1pm to 5pm at the Japan Information Center in downtown Chicago.

This is a great opportunity for JETs that have recently returned from Japan, current JET Alumni, friends of JETs as well as professionals looking for new networking and career opportunities.

A lot of JETs return from Japan looking for ways to maintain and even build upon the experiences they made while living abroad and we hope to provide support in helping you reach those goals. This is also a wonderful opportunity for individuals that are interested in pursuing a new career and would like some guidance from current Alumni or other established professionals.

There will be an open table top session with booths from various Chicagoland companies and organizations as well as a wine and cheese reception. We are also planning on having a speaker to kick off the event so please stay tuned as there will be more specific information to follow!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email our Social Activities Officer, Daniel Martin: social@jetaachicago.com

Location: Consulate General of Japan at Chicago (JIC – Japan Information Center), 737. North Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL (map it)

Here’s the link to join:  http://www.linkedin.com/groups?homeNewMember=&gid=4145299&trk=&ut=1tt3q-WQ4vCkY1

Also here’s a link to the full list of JET Alum professional and prefecture LinkedIn groups out there.  And a reminder that if you don’t see one that fits, start your own and we’ll post it here on JETwit.

It’s official. Soumusho (Ministry of Internal Affairs) sees great value in the JET alumni community being organized and identifiable by prefecture and would like to see such groups formed and put to better use. This according to an announcement that came through the official bureaucratic news source (iJAMP). (See very unofficial translation summary below.)

Why do they care so much about this idea? Because the local governments (i.e., the prefectures) need to see the long term benefits of JET to really make it worth it for them to continue to hire JETs and to contribute funding and resources to the program. They need to see that JET alumni are supporting and contributing to longer term economic benefits in various ways. This is the concept of Local Return on JET-vestment.

Fortunately, JET alum groups by prefecture have existed for the past year thanks to LinkedIn. And many have already joined. If you have not joined one yet, I strongly encourage you to do so now. (It also couldn’t hurt to join any of the various professional JET alum LinkedIn groups as well. Or start a new one yourself if you see a field not covered.)

Here’s the unofficial translation summaries of the official communication:

Soumusho has called on the prefectures to promote the creation of JET OB networks as a resource in their internationalization and overseas business initiatives.

To encourage this, Soumusho is allowing prefectures from this year to fund travel and other expenses for alumni out of their local allocation tax revenues, and is asking prefectures to work with municipal governments.

It is further hoped that these alumni will be a source of accurate information on Japan. And there have been many instances where alumni have gotten involved in fundraising and other support for the affected areas through their deep connections to their communities in Japan.

While there have been many groups formed by alumni according to their countries of origin, schools they taught at or years on the Program, there are few instances of groups formed by prefecture and it is difficult to really say that alumni are a resource to these areas. The importance of prefecture alumni groups was pointed out at the 25th anniversary symposium, leading to the call to form prefecture-level networks.

The notice mentioned Tottori as a good example of a prefecture making the best use of its JETs, having its CIRs act as “Tottori Hometown Ambassadors”, submitting policy proposals and contributing articles to its informational magazine. It also uses its “World Tottori Fan Club” to send out information to its ALT alumni.

Thanks to JETAA Music City President (and Arkansas Cherry Blossom Princess) Terry Vo (Kumamoto-ken, 2007-09) for the heads up:

Join us for a Japanese-Style Potluck on October 4, 2011. Come mingle, eat, drink, and be merry! This event is open to our Friends of JET Alum as well so please feel free to invite your family and friends! Please bring either your favorite Dish, Dessert or Beverage!

RSVP DEADLINE: September 30 to Leah atvp@jetaamc.org

Location: 1812 Cahal Avenue, Nashville TN 37206″

Here’s the link for anyone who would like to join:  http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=3757582

I believe there are a few hundred or so MEFs in existence and would love to track you guys down and bring you into the JET alum orbit to the extent possible.  So if you are an MEF or BET or other pre-JET, please identify yourself by joining the group.

FYI, two prominent MEFs I’m aware of are Michael Green, former top Japan guy at the State Department during the Bush administration and Bruce Rutledge, founder of Seattle-based Chin Music Press.

Happy time in a happi coat. (Rashaad Jorden)

By Rashaad Jorden (Yamagata-ken, 2008-2010) for JQ magazine. Rashaad worked at four elementary schools and three junior high schools on JET, and taught a weekly conversion class in Haguro (his village) to adults. He completed the Tokyo Marathon in 2010, and was also a member of a taiko group in Haguro.

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

Those two sentences are a lot more than the beginning of A Tale of Two Cities. The former could best describe my time in the JET Program (with a couple of exceptions), while the latter is an accurate description of my post-JET time.

I was disappointed and sad to leave Yamagata Prefecture last year, but the old saying “when one door closes, another one opens” came to my mind. As much as I enjoyed Japan, I was eager to launch my new life in the U.S.

Since I had talked myself out of grad school for the time being, I figured I ought to put something worthwhile on my resume before commencing the serious job hunt. As my resume included mostly teaching English abroad (France and Japan), I figured I might as well do something related to what I eventually want to do: something editorial related.

Currently, I am seeking an editorial assistant/copy editor/proofreading position. But I would also open to working for cultural exchange programs and in positions that utilize French ability (I am fluent in the language due to having and worked in France).

So I quickly obtained an internship at Friends Journal, a magazine devoted to the Quaker community. Best case scenario: the internship launches me towards a dream editorial/copy editing/proofreader position. Or if nothing else, employers will like the fact I’ve been keeping active.

Thus, in January this year, I figured I’d start banging out job applications. Seemingly, there is no shortage of jobs I’m qualified for. All I have to do is go to the right websites, find the appropriate positions, send out resumes/cover letters, receive e-mails and phone calls asking if I can come in for an interview, wow the interviewer(s) and…voila! I have a job.

Except that the phone calls and interviews haven’t really been coming in. I didn’t land my first interview until late April at an employment agency in New York. I thought the interview went as well as it could have, but I didn’t get the job I interviewed for (a legal assistant position).

Although that job interview was unsuccessful, it may have marked a turning point in my job hunt. Up until that point, I had no luck even landing job interviews. Being called in for a job interview gives me confidence that it’ll finally be the day. I believe that good things often happen in bunches, and on one of those days all the starts might align.

The good news I’m hoping for obviously hasn’t happened yet. It’s frustrating that my time in JET hasn’t helped land more interviews because the skills I learned in Japan would serve me well in numerous capacities. As a teacher, I definitely learned how to handle people on my own (which would be useful in any position that requires supervising) and communicate with them effectively in spite of language barriers. I also would be able to instruct employees (and others) on how to accomplish numerous tasks. And I have obviously have experience in working with diverse groups of people.

I am definitely tempted to work for Japanese companies/non-profits/schools, etc. I have great memories of the country, so it would be amazing to work for a Japanese company. Unfortunately, I can’t say my Japanese ability is the greatest—which hurts me in trying to get a job with a Japanese company. (When I decide to take the JLPT, I’ll be shooting for Level 4.)

The longer-than-expected job hunt has been an educational process. I have always been the type that if I can do something myself, I’ll do it myself. While that may be a positive trait to have, it might not be conducive to changing unsuccessful paths. I thought landing the right job would be one of those things I could easily do by myself. Perhaps forgetting that to even participate in the JET Program in the first place, I needed letters of recommendation from two different people.

It’s taken me a lot longer to realize this than I should haven, but people who succeed don’t do it all by themselves. There are always people helping others who are willing to help themselves (and others). It’s just up to us to find those willing to help us. With that in mind, I’m trying to do a much better job of networking. The large number of JET alumni are one big family, and they are always willing to help those in need—especially since all JETs have needed help in order to thrive in Japan.

Even if there isn’t one former JET who can help turn me towards my dream/ideal job, I have realized that the JET Program can help in the littlest ways. I remember picking up a piece of paper with a list of employment agencies in the New York area. So I’m in the process of registering with as many as possible (which I should’ve done earlier).

The biggest lesson I’ve learned from my job hunt is that there are limits to what people can do by themselves. Sure there are people who have told me that they have landed their jobs by looking online, filling out some forms, and clicking “Send.” But certainly, that’s not the easy of way of doing it. When facing difficult tasks (such as job hunting), it’s best to utilize friends and family. I didn’t greatly enjoy my JET Program experience by just doing things solo. I should’ve realized that when kicking off job hunting.

The “best of times” feeling about my JET Program time has definitely motivated me to keep searching for something fulfilling because I know it exists, and I know how wonderful it feels to be in a position that seems to fit perfectly. Finding it is a challenge and frustrating because it’s taken that it should have fun. But actually, it took me quite a while to land a position in the JET Program (long story), so it was definitely rewarding when it happened. Likewise, I’m motivated to keep job hunting because I will feel so happy when I get the good news.

For new jobs posted on JETwit, click here.

JET Alum Okane

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=4045224&trk=anet_ug_hm

For JET alumni who have an interest in, work in or aspire to work in fields related to money – i.e., finance, fundraising, investment, accounting, tax, economics, insurance, etc.

Click here for a list of all of the other JET Alum LinkedIn groups you can join.

JET Alum Health Professionals Group on LinkedIn

http://www.linkedin.com/e/ai06o5-gqax67os-a/vgh/4008893/

So if you’re a therapist, a doctor, a nurse, a researcher, a nutritionist or in any other line of work (or aspire to be) that has some connection to health, please join!

Also a reminder that there are a whole host of other JET Alum LinkedIn groups to join (e.g., law, policy & government, MEFs, media professionals, etc.) as well as the JET alum LinkedIn groups by prefecture.

Volunteer Host Family:

Remember your time in Japan or as a study abroad student where you were welcomed by super amazing host families?  Do you miss sharing your culture and learning about new ones??

Single parents, retirees, “empty nesters,” young couples with small children, as well as more traditional two parent families with teenagers/pets, all are currently sharing and enjoying the exchange experience!

If you are interested in hosting a student or know of someone who is interested, please email us at ayp@laurasian.org

We are looking for host families in all states throughout the US!

Students’ arrival date: August 13th 2011

End of the program: June 2012 (when host school’s term is over)

Host Families are important members of the U.S. Department of State’s citizen diplomats. If you are interested in being part of this program and the larger picture of supporting public diplomacy, please contact us! Feel free to ask us any questions. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Yoroshiku oneigaishimasu!

They might say they worked or taught English in Aichi Prefecture or were an ALT in Osaka, but no mention of JET.  I realize that specifically mentioning JET is not appropriate in every bio and profile.  But if your work relates to Japan or to education (and in many cases even if it doesn’t), I want to suggest that it would be a beneficial to us as a community and to the JET Program as well to make a point of mentioning JET.

In addition to the fact that the JET Program enjoys an excellent reputation, it’s also important to let the world know that we’re out there.  It’s kind of like that “Canadians:  They walk among us” bit from the movie Canadian Bacon.  There are JETs everywhere, but you may not always be aware of it.

The more we’re aware of how many of us are out there and where we are, the stronger the community and the network becomes, the greater the positive visibility for JET and the more likelihood that the JET Program and JET alumni community continue to play a unique and positive role for Japan in the future.

Just one more small thing you can do to help improve Return On JET-vestment (aka JET ROI).

Update 6/16/11: Jennifer Jakubowski of cross-cultural consulting firm Bridges To Japan got in touch to say that after seeing this post she updated her profile to mention the JET Program.

Update 6/15/11:  Good example – JETwit and JETAANY Webmaster Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) makes a point of mentioning the JET Program in his bio for Purpose.com.

As New York is home to many other similar prefecture associations, perhaps this could end up serving as a model for future JETAA Chapter-Prefectural Association events.

Here’s the link:  http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3949084&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr

And a reminder to go to JET Alum Groups on the JETwit site for a list of all professional/career oriented LinkedIn and other groups for JETs.

I’m going to delete the group that I created and would like to encourage MEFs, BETs and other pre-JETs to join the version of the group set up by Thomas.

Yoroshiku!

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

Every now and then I hear from a Monbusho English Fellow (MEF) or other person who was part of a pre-JET program in Japan.  I know there are plenty more MEFs out there, and you are very much JET alums from the perspective of the JET alumni community.  So I thought it would make sense to create a LinkedIn group for MEFs and others who participated in programs.  (I think there was also a British English Teachers program?)

Monbusho English Fellows (MEFs) LinkedIn Group

• JET Alum Academics

• JET Alum Creative Types

• JETAA Education Professionals

• JETAA Law

• JET Alum MBAs

• JET Alum Media Professionals
  

• JET Alumni Non-Profit

• JET Alumni Policy & Government LinkedIn Group

• JET Alumni Restructuring & Bankruptcy Group

• JET Alumni Travel & Tourism

• JET Alumni Writers

*Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Start your own JET alum LinkedIn group and e-mail jetwit [at] jetwit.com.  We’ll post it on JETwit.

**Also, don’t forget about the JETwit Jobs Google Group as well as the JET Alum LinkedIn groups by prefecture.

CLICK HERE to join the

JET Alum Academics LinkedIn Group.