Chapter Beats February, 2019

JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by AJET‘s Director of Alumni Relations Megan Buhagiar (Ishikawa Prefecture, 2017- Present)

 

1. JETAA Rocky Mountain

 

(*RSVP required. See below for details.)
Where: Tamai Tower Penthouse in Sakura Square
1255 19th St.
Denver, CO 80202, USA

When:  Saturday, February 2 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

The Japan Exchange & Teaching Alumni Association, Rocky Mountain Chapter, is proud to announce that we are hosting our annual Shinnenkai on Feb. 2nd. This year is special because we are working with the Sakura Foundation and Sakura Square, building a bridge between JET and Japanese American communities in Denver. Come join us for food, fun, and a kampai to celebrate 2019. We will have some fun activities to help our communities learn more about each other, and share our stories. The event will be catered so please bring your appetites.

An RSVP is required. This event is $20 a person that covers attendance, parking, drinks, and entertainment at the Tamai Tower Penthouse in Sakura Square, located in Downtown Denver at 1255 19th Street. There is a parking garage you can enter on Larimer street. You will be given a parking validation before you leave the event.

Ticket Purchase Link – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jetaarm-shinnenkai-2019-tickets-52991637414

Please direct any additional questions to the JETAARM event coordinator, Teri Galvez (events@jetaarockymountain.org)

 

 

 

2. JETAA Singapore

 

Hey JETAA members!

Here’s wishing you a happy and smooth sailing 2019! 明けましておめでとう！

As our first event of 2019, we are officially launching the haiku contest!

 

What’s a haiku… ? 

A haiku is a simple poem with a 5-7-5 syllable structure. It usually represents the mood or thoughts of the writer at that point of time. We are accepting responses in both English and Japanese.

 

E.g.-

Write your own haiku (5 syllables)

It’s easy as ABC (7 syllables)

How about today? (5 syllables)

 

References – 

https://www.britannica.com/art/haiku

http://haikuwotukuru.com (article in Japanese)

https://jpnculture.net/haiku-tsukurikata/ (article in Japanese)

 

What to do – 

1) Write your own original haiku (2 entries each; no plagiarism please!) in English, Japanese, Singlish or a mixture of the above mentioned languages.

2) Your entry should contain your name, prefecture, period/year(s) on JET and the haiku.

3) “Like” us on JETAA Singapore Facebook page if you haven’t done so.

4) You can PM us your entry via JETAA Singapore Facebook page or reply email (to publicrelationsjetaasingapore@gmail.com) to enter the contest

5) Deadline will be February 28th, 2019, so do submit by then!

 

Winner(s) will… 

– be announced during our AGM 2019 (16 March 2019) as a way to start JETAA 10th anniversary celebrations! Please mark it in your calendars.

– win attractive prizes; first prize is a pair of Kiriko glass and Capitaland vouchers!

 

Hope to see your entries soon!

 

 

 

3. JETAA Ireland

 

The Japanese Speech Contest in Ireland

In order to encourage and promote Japanese language education in Ireland, JLTI and the Embassy of Japan in Ireland jointly host an annual Japanese speech contest.

The 17th Japanese Speech Contest will be held on Saturday, 9 March 2019.

Application forms now available: General Category Secondary School Category Reference: Judging CriteriaApplication Deadline Secondary School Category (TY & LC1 Group): 11 February 2019 Secondary School Category (LC2 Group): 18 February 2019 General Category: 22 February 2019Please note that each category has a different closing date.

Criteria for Participation Participants must not be Japanese native speakers and should be resident in Ireland for more than six months at the time of application (General Category): Participants cannot have lived in Japan for longer than 5 years in total. (Secondary School Category): Participants must be studying Japanese for the Leaving Certificate in Ireland, and may not have taken more than two weeks total of classes of Japanese in Japan. Neither participants themselves nor their immediate family members may be members of the JLTI. Past winners may not enter the same category. Participants should submit the application form and their speech script to the JLTI Committee by e-mail by the deadline.

 

Organised by

Japanese Language Teachers of Ireland (JLTI) The Embassy of Japan

Supported by

The Japan Foundation The Japan Business Society in Ireland Department of Education and Science

 

 

 

 

4. JETAA DC

The 10+ Reunion is a casual get-together for any JET alumni who departed for the JET Program in 2009 or earlier. Join fellow alumni to re-connect and reminisce about your time in Japan.

Date: Sunday, February 3
Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: Teaism Penn Quarter
(400 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004)
Price: $20
Register: https://tinyurl.com/JETAADC10plus2019registration

Attendees have a choice of bento (fried chicken, salmon, or black bean cake) and each meal is accompanied by desserts and an exclusive Japanese green tea sampling. +1’s are welcome!

Please register and pay in advance by Wednesday, January 30.

Feel free to contact secretary@jetaadc.org if you have any questions.

 

 

 

5. JETAA NY

   

Do you want to share Japanese culture with NYC youth?

At this annual event with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of NYC, we help introduce different aspects of Japanese culture to the kids and their big siblings.

Activities include:
– Kimono/Yukata/Happi Coat Fitting – Origami – Japanese Writing – Chopstick Challenge – Making Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)

If you are interested in volunteering please complete this form by Thursday, February 7.

Send questions to Ryan at membership@jetaany.org

When: Sunday, February 10 at 10:30am – 3:00pm
Where: 40 Rector St, New York, New York 10006
RSVP: Please complete this form by Thursday, February 7.

6. JETAA

The Heinz College has partnered with JETAA because our faculty have found that students affiliated with JETAA have found great success not only as a Heinz College student, but as a professional in their field.

(Free) Application Deadline Extended: January 31, 2019

 

 

30% of tuition per semester guaranteed minimum scholarship for eligible individuals affiliated with JETAA who are enrolling in any master’s degree program at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.

Heinz College offers top-ranked graduate degree programs in Information Systems & Management, Public Policy & Management, and Creative Enterprises Management. Heinz College provides students with the analytics, technology, and policy skills necessary to solve complex societal problems in an increasingly connected world. Our research excellence and expertise in data analytics set Heinz College apart in the areas of cybersecurity, health care, the future of work, smart cities, and arts & entertainment. In 2016, INFORMS named Heinz College the #1 academic program for Analytics Education.

To learn more about our programs and the application process, prospective students can listen to a recorded webinar.

 

7. JETAA Toronto

 

 

Midnight Curling

JETAA Toronto welcomes you to our annual winter sporting tradition: Midnight Curling. Join us on Saturday, February 9th at the High Park Club for food, drink, and a night of rock-throwing, sweeping, hollering, and grace on ice.

No curling experience? No worries! An instructor will be on hand to guide you in the all the finer points of Canada’s other national sport. Don’t forget to bring a pair of clean indoor running shoes and warm, layered, comfortable clothing.

We’ll be meeting up at the High Park Club’s lounge area for refreshements at 9 and going on the ice at 11. The bar will be open for beverages, but food options may be limited because the dinner rush will be over, so please eat before coming or be prepared to order in.

Links

Tickets: $20 + eventbrite fee at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/jetaa-midnight-curling-tickets-54675799789

Find the event on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/585078695276324/

Event Details

Date: Saturday, February 9th, 2019

Time: 9:00 pm to 1:00 am

Place: High Park Club (100 Indian Rd)

Questions? Contact events@jetaatoronto.ca

See you on the ice!

 

 

 

 

8. JETAA NSW

 

JETAA NSW Wollongong Beach BBQ

DATE:            Sunday, February 10^th 2019

TIME:              12:00 – 15:00 UTC+11

PLACE:          Stuart Park North Wollongong

George Hanley Drive

North Wollongong

Come join us for a day of family fun on the South Coast.
Friends and family welcome.

TIME:
Sunday, February 10th, 12-12:30 start.

PLACE:
We will be claiming a public BBQ at North Beach, Wollongong:

https://goo.gl/maps/dUeMbkAxZoy

ACCESS:
On Sundays, trains to Wollongong leave Central every hour, usually from Platform 2. Cost is $2.70 on Sundays!

If anyone is keen on walking or cycling, Stuart Park is a 30 min walk or 10 min bike ride from North Wollongong Station.

Everyone else should get off at Wollongong station and get the 55A (free bus) from the stop opposite the station. Get off near the corner of Kembla st and Blacket st – this is the 7th stop and will take about 12 minutes to get to.
The free bus runs every 20 minutes from 09:40am – 5:20pm

Taxis https://www.illawarrataxinetwork.com.au/ (including Maxi Taxis) or Uber are also options. There is a taxi bay right outside the ticket gates on the east side of the station.

There is free, un-timed parking opposite Diggies Café and along Cliff rd, however this gets very busy.

WHAT TO BRING:
– Food you would like to cook.
– Something to sit on.
– Sun protection.
– General picnic supplies.
– Outdoor games and your sense of fun!
* There is a kiosk nearby that sells take away food and drinks, however, there is nothing in the way of a convenience store or supermarket nearby.

IN THE EVENT OF BAD WEATHER WE WILL NEED TO CANCEL.

 

 

 

9. JETAA Quebec/Atlantique

Winter Book Club

 

 

DATE:            February 21^st

For its sixteenth edition, the JETAA Q/A Book Club will delve into Hiro Arikawa’s International Bestseller, The Travelling Cat Chronicles!

Here are the details for the winter meeting:

• Date: Thursday, February 21, 2019
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Cost: free (free snacks too!)
• Location: The lounge of Argo Bookshop (1915, Sainte-Catherine St. West)

Argo Bookshop (est. 1966), the oldest independent English-language bookstore in Montreal, is now owned by two fellow JET alumni, and long-time book club participants, who have generously invited us to use their lounge to host these events!

The Travelling Cat Chronicles, by Hiro Arikawa

Synopsis (277 pages)

We take journeys to explore exotic new places and to return to the comforts of home, to visit old acquaintances and to make new friends. But the most important journey is the one that shows us how to follow our hearts…

An instant and international bestseller, The Travelling Cat Chronicles has charmed readers around the world. With simple yet descriptive prose, this novel gives voice to Nana the cat and his owner, Satoru, as they take to the road on a journey with no other purpose than to visit three of Satoru’s longtime friends. Or so Nana is led to believe…

With his crooked tail–a sign of good fortune–and adventurous spirit, Nana is the perfect companion for the man who took him in as a stray. As they travel in a silver van across Japan, with its ever-changing scenery and seasons, they will learn the true meaning of courage and gratitude, of loyalty and love.

(Synopsis and book cover from Indigo)

Here are handy links to purchase or borrow the book!

• Argo Bookshop
• Bibliothèques Montréal

If you are interested in joining us or have any questions, please contact us!

Even if you are not completely finished, your presence will always be welcome!

executive@jetaaqa.ca

 

 

 

10. PNW JETAA

When:                        February 16, 2019 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Where:           JCCCW
1414 S Weller St
Seattle
WA 98144

Cost:               $20+

Contact:         Email

 

 

明けましておめでとうございます！
今年もよろしくお願いします！

Join the Pacific Northwest JET Alumni Association as we celebrate another year! Meet new friends and reconnect with old ones as we reflect on 2018 and look ahead to 2019, the year of the boar.

— TICKETS & RSVP —
Brown Paper Tickets
Facebook Event Page

Admission includes food from local restaurants and vendors served buffet-style, non-alcoholic drinks, and raffle entry. Wine and beer will be available for purchase with admission and on the day of. Everyone is welcome to this family-friendly event, and children under 10 are free with an accompanying adult.

We will be having our traditional nijikai at Venus Karaoke following the party. We look forward to seeing you then!

— TICKET INFO —
Online Sales
General Admission: $20
General + Drink Tickets: $25
Children under 10 years: Free

Day-Of Sales
General: $30
General + Drink Tickets: $35
Drink tickets: $5 for 2 tickets

 

 

Special Announcement

National AJET’s first set of LINE stickers will be available soon! The eight sticker set features National AJET’s official mascot, Tsuru-chan–a red-crowned crane that represents AJET’s mission to nurture and cultivate the JET programme and its’ participants. Add a little character to your LINE chats with this collection, available in the LINE sticker shop for

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Ikigai Connections for the story!

Senpai Success Story #6: Faye Sensei, the Japanese Language Teacher

Welcome to the Senpai Success Story (senpai = mentor), where you can read about others who have walked a unique career path using their Japanese language/cultural skills.

I am a particular fan of this week’s SSS because I believe we need more Japanese language teachers to teach and inspire students. My own story started because of my Japanese high school teacher, Van Camp Sensei, and I am forever thankful for him opening my eyes to a whole new world. (If you have your own SSS to share, please reach out to info@ikigaiconnections.com.)

Have you seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding? That’s my life, but here’s my version of that movie. Growing up in a bilingual household, I was already the odd man out. No one in my neighborhood spoke anything but English. To make matters worse, in those days, it was frowned upon to learn a different language as a child. They felt it messed with one’s English learning. The school even told my mom to not speak anything but English with us at home. She didn’t listen. Greek was my first language, and we spoke it at home. We went to Greek school from 1st grade, after school, twice a week. We ate the Greek foods that people couldn’t pronounce, but it was delicious! It wasn’t until I was an adult that I appreciated that we went to Greek school, that we spoke it at home, and that we were forced to speak/read/write it.

Growing up I had a huge admiration for my teachers. I looked up to them for guidance, reassurance, help, education, and problem solving. I had some great teachers in my lifetime. It was because of my teachers and the work they did that inspired me to want to be a teacher when I grow up.

Here I am about to enter high school, and low-and-behold my district is offering Japanese. It wasn’t heard of then; no one had it in Michigan, it was different. But, it was the “Japan-boom” in Michigan, so it was the new language to learn. I was signed up for French, but it didn’t happen. My mother made me take Japanese. She felt that since I spoke English and Greek, I needed to learn another language, and one that could possibly take me somewhere in my future. I didn’t like it. I already wrote and read Greek letters, which has its own alphabet; I didn’t need another language that had a different writing system. I even dropped out of it at one point, but my mother put me right back in. I held on, but didn’t try my best. I’ll admit I didn’t know how to study for this language. That was the problem, now that I look back on it: I didn’t how to study for it. I was clueless and felt helpless.

Senior year of high school, I got the opportunity to go to Japan with the school and visit our sister school in Shiga. At this point I was slowly starting to like Japanese. While in Japan, we stayed with a student from our sister school, went to school everyday, but we also went to the Michigan Boat, where Americans were working on the boat. I saw one guy selling phone cards, and he was doing it all in Japanese. I was so envious at that point. I was thinking, “wow, I’ll never speak Japanese that well.” Little did I know where my life was going to take me.

Those two weeks in Japan made me realize that Japanese is indeed a cool language to learn. The culture, the food, the houses, the school, the people – everything just made such a huge impression on me, that I started appreciating it.

Upon returning home, I went to Eastern Michigan University, entered their Japanese program, but I had no idea how much college is different from high school. I was overwhelmed. I almost dropped out of the Japanese program. My professor, Tabuse-Sensei, told me that if I don’t go to Japan for a study abroad for a year, she wouldn’t let me graduate. Everyone listened to Tabuse-Sensei, so off I went to Japan.

That time I spent on the study abroad in Kagawa, Japan, was the best time ever. Having that kind of immersion was the best thing for me and my professors at EMU knew it would have a positive impact on me. I came back to EMU, and my professors were blown away. I not only came back with so much knowledge, but a much larger base of vocabulary and grammar, and much more confidence. I also came back with a new fire, an urge; I wanted to become a Japanese teacher. I finally figured out my two loves: teaching and Japanese.

Fast forward to my senior year of college. I was introduced to the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme. Tabuse-Sensei highly recommended I apply, so I did, and I got accepted. Off to Japan I went, back to where I lived before, Kagawa.

Here I am now, a high school Japanese teacher. I reflect on my time in high school and I see my students struggling, so I often tell them my story to give them hope. To show them that just because you don’t like something now, doesn’t mean you won’t excel in it later in life. I give them tricks to studying; with technology there are so many apps out there that one can use to learn Japanese. I now love to talk about my time in Japan, my own struggles with learning the language, and how important Japanese is in the state of Michigan. I thank my mother all the time. I also thank Tabuse-Sensei for pushing me to live in Japan.

Lesson here is: don’t give up. Do push yourself. Total immersion is the way to go; just hop on that plane and do it. Study abroads are so important and essential to our learning a language. Keep it up and you will be successful! Also, Japanese teachers are so few and far between, if you have the love of Japanese and teaching, do it! Get that teacher certification! You already have me over here cheering for you!

Check out the latest “We Are Tomodachi” publication provided by the Office of the Prime Minister of Japan:

The theme of the 2019 Winter issue is “A Society with Health and Longevity.” In this issue, we showcase the initiatives and achievements taking place in Japan, which is facing the challenges of a super-aging society. We present a diverse line-up of articles including the breakthrough discovery of Nobel Laureate Dr. Tasuku Honjo, which has opened a doorway to new medical treatments for cancer; the advances in medicine achieved by a medical cluster created in Kobe; innovative solutions for hearing problems, which are inextricably tied with aging; and innovative approaches to health checkups and normalizing dementia in society. Other stories include product manufacturing technology for nature-friendly plastic; a cleaning project in Bangladesh carried out by a Japanese agency and the Dhaka people.

– A Major Discovery to Help in the Fight Against Cancer

– A Biomedical Cluster Taking Medicine to a New Stage

– Unconventional Speakers Deliver More Than Words

– Monitoring Health in Everyday Life

– Restaurant of Mistaken Orders Brings Smiles

– New Biodegradable Material Reduces Plastic Waste

– A Milestone Project in Dhaka

Jay Schneider, a JET alum from Hyogo (1997-2000) is starting a website for sharing stories and is looking for real people who want to share their true stories. The stories can be about anything, but of course all JETs have great stories, not only from their days in Japan, but also in their post-Japan lives. Feel free to share your stories with him here.

Chapter Beats January, 2019

JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by AJET‘s Director of Alumni Relations Megan Buhagiar (Ishikawa Prefecture, 2017- Present)

 

• JETAA NC
  1. Hatsumode

DATE:      January 1-3, 2019

TIME:                     08:00 – 09:00

VENUE:   Konko Church in SF

Celebrate Hatsumode, a popular practice for greeting the New Year in Japan. This will be held at Konko Church in SF, 1909 Bush Street. 1/1/19 from 8-9AM for service and traditional Ozoni soup, and 1/1/19-1/3/19 from 9-5PM for prayers and wishes.

• JETAA SC
  1. JETAA SC Kikuchi Memorial Gold Tournament & Shinnekai

 

When: Saturday, Jan 12th, 1 p.m.
Where: Monterey Park Golf Course
3600 W Ramona Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754

The JETAASC Kikuchi Memorial Golf Tournament and Shinnenkai will be held January 12, 2019! We will play 9 holes of best ball golf, which means we play as a team. If you have never played golf before, this a great time to give golf a try. This was Nancy’s favorite golf course where she introduced other JET alum to the game of golf, and we honor one of our chapter’s founders by continuing her tradition. After golf, please help kick off a great 2019 and welcome the new Officers with dinner!

Please RSVP here and if you have any questions, please email mary@jetaasc.org

Dinner will follow the tournament. Location is currently TBD but we will be heading to one of the Chinese restaurants in Monterey Park at 6 p.m.

 

• JETAA Music City

Shinnenkai

DATE:                  January 16^th 2019

TIME:                    18:00 – 21:00 CST

VENUE: East Nashville Beer Works

320 E Trinity Ln.

Nashville, Tennessee

 

Join us and meet local young professionals who all share an interest in Japan and Japanese culture. Let’s celebrate together and make new friends!
A 新年会, or Shinnenkai, is a celebration of the new year. Join us in celebrating a new year of JETAA events and camaraderie!

 

• JETAA MN

Shinnenkai Karaoke

DATE:                  Saturday, 19^th January, 2019

TIME:                    19:30 – 21:30 CST

VENUE: DoReMi Karaoke Studio

1989 Silver Bell Rd,

Eagan, Minnesota 55122

Let us say Sayonara to 2018 and celebrate the new year with some Karaoke! Pay tribute or celebrate the goods and bads of 2018 to our favorite tunes at Do Re Mi in Eagan from 7:30-9:30pm.

We will also meet next door at Hoban for a Korean dinner at 6pm.

RSVPing will guarantee you a spot for karaoke. PLEASE comment below if you are interested in attending dinner before!! Yoroshiku!!

• JETAA Alaska

DATE:                  Saturday, January 19^th , 2019

TIME:                    15:30 – 18:00 AKST

VENUE: Asian Alaskan Cultural Center

4807 Northwood Drive,

Anchorage, Alaska 99517

The JAA Rice Pounding Festival has been rescheduled! It is Saturday, January 19th 2019, at the Asian Alaskan Cultural Center (Northwood Elementary School Multipurpose Room) from 3:30 to 6:00 pm. Please bring your friends and family to participate in traditional events to celebrate the New Year, such as rice pounding (mochi) and having some ozoni soup!

• JETAA Hawaii

 

Enkai Madness – Bon/Shinnenkai 2019

DATE:   Friday, January 11^th

TIME:                    19:00 UTC

VENUE: Odori-ko

1680 Kapiolani Blvd,

Honolulu, Hawaii 96814

We’re saying goodbye to 2018 and ringing in 2019 with a combined enkai to celebrate the years! Join JETAA Hawaii as we feast on a specially prepared menu and trade stories about our year. Food will be included at $25 per person while drinks will be available separately.

Validated parking is available upstairs in the building ($2 for 3 hours). Don’t wait to RSVP to our first event of the new year!

• PNW JETAA + JETAA ABC

VanSKi: PNW JETAA + JETAA ABC

DATE:                  Saturday, 26^th January, 2019

TIME:                    09:00 – 22:00 PST

VENUE: Grouse Mountain Resort

6400 Nancy Greene Way,

North Vancouver, British Columbia V7R4K9

Join PNWJETAA and JETAABC as we kick off 2019 with our first ever inter-chapter ski trip to Vancouver and Grouse Mountain!!

— REGISTRATION —
» https://goo.gl/forms/GU1NZdCKD0vSrJoa2

— LIFT TICKET INFO —
$69 CA (Adult) | ~$52 US
** Group pricing is available with 15 people or more! More info coming soon!

— CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE! —
// 01.26.2019 • daytime: skiing, boarding, snowshoeing and more at Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver OR sightseeing in Vancouver
// 01.26.2019 • evening: après-ski dinner in Vancouver (TBA)
// 01.26.2019 • night: nijikai?!
// 01.27.2019 • daytime: sightseeing in Vancouver with JETAABC volunteers

— FULL DETAILS —
» http://pnwjetaa.org/2018/12/ski-trip-2019-with-jetaabc/
» http://www.jetaabc.ca/vanski-2019/

_____
Photo from the Grouse Mountain website: http://grousemountain.com/

 

• JETAA NE

DATE:                  25^th– 27^th January, 2019

TIME:                    From 15:00 EST onwards

VENUE: Butternut Inn and Pancake House,

63 Weathervane Dr,

Killington, Vermont 05751

Warm greetings from the New England JETs!

The NEJETAA chapter is excited to invite you to our 6th Annual Northeast Region Ski Trip taking place this January 25th – 27th, 2019. It will be held again at Killington Ski Resort (please see https://www.killington.com for mountain info, weather conditions, and webcam views of the mountain).

We will be staying at Butternut Inn and Pancake House (https://butternutinnkillington.com/). You can look forward to a made-to-order country breakfast included!

Killington has activities for everybody, skiers and non-skiers alike! You can try your hand at skiing, snowboarding or snow tubing. If you’re up for exploring, you can visit nearby Woodstock, VT with many options for eating and shopping, or drive 20 minutes to the Long Trail Brewery.

Who: JET Alums & Friends of JET

When: Friday, January 25th to Sunday, January 27th 2019

Where: Butternut Inn and Pancake House, Killington, VT

————————————–
HOW TO SIGN UP?

If you plan on attending this event, please fill out the form below by Monday, December 10th for the Early Bird rate and by Friday, December 28th for the regular rate. RSVP as soon as possible to reserve your spot and the type of room you want, as both are limited.

————————————–
HOTEL COSTS:

Here are the approximate prices for a 2 night stay tax inclusive:

Double room (2 x double bed), 4 occupants – $102.44 / person
Double room (2 x double bed), 3 occupants – $136.58 / person
Queen room (1 x queen bed), 2 occupants – $182.88 / person

————————————–
LIFT AND EQUIPMENT COSTS:

Lift Tickets (with RFID card valued at $5):
1-Day: $66
2-Day: $124

Ski or Snowboard Equipment Package Rentals (includes helmet):
1-day: (Adults 19+) $41, (Youth under 18) $30
2-day: (Adults 19+) $71, (Youth under 18) $47

————————————–
HOW TO SIGN UP:

Deadlines to fill out the form and pay:
Monday, December 10th, 2018 (Early Bird – payment instructions will be emailed to you) or Friday, December 29

If you have any questions or would like to inquire about carpooling, email Agata Rybalkiewicz at social@nejetaa.com.

Please Note:

* By RSVPing for this event, you will be responsible for any costs incurred on your behalf.

** Extra cots are not always available.

*** The above prices are based on a 20+ person group rate. Therefore, the costs are subject to change if fewer than 20 people sign up (in which case, you will have an opportunity to withdraw).

Sign Up Form: https://goo.gl/forms/ai87kxeaORc3CRbh1

• JETAA Chicago

DATE:                  Saturday, 19^th January, 2019

TIME:                    17:00 – 22:00

VENUE:              The Japanese American Service Committee,

4427 N Clark Street, Chicago

IL, 60640

Want a taste of Japan this new year? Then come to the 16th Annual JETAA Chicago Shinnenkai on January 19, 2019 (Saturday), from 5:00 to 8:00pm. The Japanese American Service Committee (4427 N Clark Street, Chicago IL 60640) has graciously offered to host our evening of cultural celebration!

You must buy tickets on our Guestlist page for the event, which you can find here: https://guestli.st/591060

What Japanese things can you experience while there? Well…

– Japanese Food & Drink
– Calligraphy
– Ema Plaques
– Fukuwarai (Pin the Tail on the Donkey)
– Karuta (Playing Cards)
– Kimono Dress-up
– Onigiri (Rice Ball) Making
– Origami

And as always, all of our activities are free with the price of admission! Do note that events listed above are tentative and subject to change.

This year, in loving memory of Daniel Pruitt, a portion of the proceeds from ticket and Fukubukuro (Lucky Bags) sales will be donated to the Be The Match Foundation.

Again, you must purchase tickets here: https://guestli.st/591060

Be The Match Foundation

For the thousands of people diagnosed every year with life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, a cure exists. Over the past 30 years Be The Match®, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP), has managed the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world. They work every day to save lives through transplant. Visitwww.bethematch.org to learn more about how you can help.

• JETAA Texoma

RSVP to ring in the Year of the Pig with JETAA!

 

JETAA Texoma is pleased invite you to our holiday party in January! We’re extremely excited to hold the shinnenkai at Yokushi Robata, an izakaya-style restaurant that has graciously agreed to host us for this private dinner event.

 

 

Event details:

 

Date & time: Sunday, January 13th, 5-8PM Venue: Yokushi Robata, 3837 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77027 Parking is extremely limited at the venue itself; it may be necessary to park at the Greenway Commons shopping center across Richmond Avenue, at the Greenway Edwards Cinema garage (paid parking), or to otherwise seek street parking Tickets: $25 per person in advance ($30 at the door) Ticket includes a three-course meal plus one complimentary beer; all extras including beverages will be out-of-pocket Invitees will be permitted to bring a plus one (with additional ticket purchase) Nijikai venue TBA!

 

 

How to RSVP:

 

We’re using a two-step process for attendees to sign up: Step 1: Visit this Google form to provide your RSVP information. You’ll also indicate whether you plan to purchase your ticket in advance or at the door. Step 2: If you wish to purchase your ticket in advance, please make a payment to the JETAA Texoma treasurer via Paypal (search for jeslholloway@gmail.com) or Venmo (@Jessica-Holloway-17). As we need to give the venue a final headcount some time in advance of the event, please RSVP no later than Saturday, January 5th. Please feel free to address any questions to Chris at pressofficer@texomajetaa.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

明けましておめでとうございます！Happy 2019 and I’m sorry I haven’t posted the JETwitJobs Survey results sooner. Thank you again to everyone who participated in the survey and I hope we can continue to help the greater JET alumni community network and find jobs all over the world. Again I apologize, you have to download the full PowerPoint as the slides wouldn’t upload to strong quality images directly to the website. Enjoy! 

 JETwitJobs Survey

Emily Frank (Hokkaido, 1993-1996) is a professional career counselor and coach who has worked with and helped JET alumni all over the world. Her website is www.DenverCareerCatalyst.com. Today, she has provided some information regarding Hospitality Jobs!

Worked Overseas? Don’t Forget about Hospitality Jobs!

• Parle that français.
  If you worked overseas in any capacity, chances are good that you speak at least a little of that language—maybe even a lot! Hospitality jobs will allow you to put those excellent and exciting language skills to good use.  You don’t have to be fluent, just welcoming.  (And, of course, those who are fluent will find even more opportunities!)
• Make friends & influence people.
  Hotel and restaurant staff are in the business of making people happy. It’s called hospitality for a reason, right?  They also get to rub elbows with all kinds of fascinating people.  And with your background in cultural sensitivity, you can become a rock star!
• Kick 9-5 to the curb.
  Does the idea of a standard workweek make you itchy or downright miserable? Hospitality is your gig!  Conference centers, hotels, and restaurants all need people to work a wide variety of shifts and in a range of positions.
• Let your freak flag fly!
  As a hospitality professional, your job is to create an experience, a meal, a fancy drink, a vacation. That means this is a fabulous field for the highly creative individual.  And people who pick up and move to another country are, in my experience, among the most creative people out there!

What the pros say:
Using my experience that I learned through the JET Program, I was fortunate to find a career in the vacation ownership industry.  I’ve been with the same company for the past 18 years and it amazes me the number of lives that we are able to affect in a positive way.  It’s always wonderful to see generations of families on vacation together creating memories and knowing that we played a part in that is very rewarding. – Reid Yoshikawa, Regional Director of Marketing at Hilton Grand Vacations (Honolulu, HI)

 

Emily is passionate about helping creative professionals stop feeling stuck and start kicking ass.  She provides counseling to quirky, creative people so they can get jobs they love and flourish, both financially and personally.

 

Emily Frank
www.DenverCareerCatalyst.com
Emily@DenverCareerCatalyst.com
720-839-9769

 

 

 

 

This sheet may be reproduced if the contents of the individual tips are unedited and the contact and biography information are left intact.

 

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Lillian Rowlatt (Niigata-ken, 2003-2005) is continuing to promote Kokoro Care Packages. Please learn more about them below!

Ask any JET what they miss most about Japan and many will say the food. However, after returning from Japan, I realized the quality and taste of the Japanese food outside of Japan just wasn’t the same. That’s why I decided to launch my own subscription box business called Kokoro Care Packages, that delivers authentic and healthy Japanese food straight from Japan to your door.

Each of our Care Packages come with a variety of delicious Japanese foods and flavors that have been carefully selected for its quality, purity and incredible taste. We work directly with suppliers in Japan to ensure that each item is free from additives/chemicals and contains only the highest quality ingredients. We also provide English translations of the products and ingredients as well as some fun recipes to try. We offer two difference Care Packages to choose from:

Our Nourishing Delights Care Package comes with 5+ high-quality and delicious Japanese foods while our Seasonal Delights Care Package comes with 7+ high-quality and delicious Japanese foods PLUS a locally made artisanal gift.

We hope our Care Packages bring back your fond memories of Japan. Learn more at www.kokorocares.com or follow us at @kokorocares

Chapter Beats December, 2018

JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by AJET‘s Director of Alumni Relations Megan Buhagiar (Ishikawa Prefecture, 2017- Present)

 

• JETAA SC
  1. Bonenkai

Pencil it in your calendars! An amazing evening is in the work and you won’t wanna miss it. More details to come in future newsletters or on the JETAASC FB page.

 

 

 

• JETAA DC
  1. Life Goes On documentary screening

JETAADC Presents “Life Goes On” Monday, December 3rd 6-8pm 1307 New York Ave NW

 

Buy Tickets Here! Life endures. Six years after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, in the beautiful land of Tohoku, on Japan’s North-Eastern coast, people stricken by immeasurable loss never give up on moving forward. Join us for a special screening of the documentary Life Goes On 一陽来復, and understand how resilience, fortitude, and benevolence prevail after an unimaginable disaster. The JET Alumni Association of Washington DC [JETAADC] is proud to host an exclusive screening of this moving documentary here in DC. All collected proceeds from the subsidized tickets will be given to the film director, donations warmly welcomed. Dinner will be provided. Doors open at 6 PM for check-in and dinner; screening begins at 6:30 PM.

 

 

 

• JETAA UK
  1. Bounenkai

JETAA Pub Social

Get in the festive feels on the first Thursday of December and join JETAA UK for a pub social and end-of-year お疲れ様 at the Somers Town Coffee House!

Committee members will be there from 18:30 so drop in anytime and look for JETAA signs and friendly faces. Tickets are free and registration is optional but it helps us know who to look for if you sign up with Eventbrite – just follow the link :)

Look forward to seeing you there!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jetaa-london-pub-social-tickets-52476493605

 

 

 

• JETAA South Island (New Zealand)
  1. Bonenkai

DATE:            Friday, December 7^th

TIME:             18:30 – 20:30 UTC+13

VENUE:         Cookai Sushi Chain Train & Bar at the Crossing

Level 1 The Crossing 166 Cashel St.

Christchurch, New Zealand

 

 

 

• JETAA Ottowa
  1. Annual General Meeting

DATE:            Friday, December 7^th

TIME:             18:00 – 21:00 EST

VENUE:         C’est Japon à Suisha

                        208 Slater Street, Ottawa,

Ontario K1P 5H8

 

The 2018 General Annual Meeting of JETAA Ottawa will be held at C’est Japon à Suisha on Friday, December 7th at 6:00 pm, in the lower level of the restaurant.

All members are welcome. Bylaw revisions (stay tuned for a link to the final draft) will be voted upon, as well as BoD positions. Anyone wishing to join the Board of Directors may come and submit their candidacy for the elections. You’re also encouraged to bring up anything you’d like your BoD to know about, or wish to propose, or just mention officially!
Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

• JETAA Toronto
  1. Kurisumasu Karaoke

Join us 7-10pm on Friday, December 14th at Bar+ Karaoke to sing your heart out. Whether you’re just an occasional caroller or a year round singing sensation, this event is for you!   It’s Japanese-style, so everyone will be able to get some song choices in, and who better to rock out with than JET friends?

Date: Friday, December 14th, 7-10pm
Location: Bar+ Karaoke (360 Yonge St, Toronto)
Cost: $10

For any questions, contact membership@jetaatoronto.ca. Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

• JETAA Praries
  1. Ramen + Christmas Cake

Date:  Thursday, December 13^th

Time: 18:30 UTC-06

Venue:           Cho Ichi Ramen

1151 Pembina Highway,

Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2A3

 

Do you miss having a bowl of hot ramen to warm you up? Do you miss having Christmas cake as well? Do you miss mingling with likeminded people who understand what Japan is all about? Behold! We will have Ramen + Christmas Cake Night! at Cho Ichi Ramen, 1151 Pembina Highway. Cake will be held at a yet to-be-determined location. For JETAA Prairie members. Please rsvp by December 5th, 2018 by either this Facebook event (set yourself to “Going”) or rsvp@jetaaprairies.ca.

 

 

 

• JETAA Canberra
  1. Save the Date – Bounenkai Dinner and Karaoke

Date:              Thursday, December 13^th

Time:             18:30 – 22:30 UTC+11

Venue:           To Be Confirmed

Save the date for our annual bounenkai.
We will start with dinner somewhere in Dickson followed by karaoke.

Details to be confirmed soon so keep an eye out for updates.

Updates can be found here.

 

 

• JETAA Wellington
  1. Rakugo Performance at Tatsushi

Date:              Sunday, December 2^nd

Time:             18:00 – 22:00

Venue:           Tatsushi Japanese Restaurant

19 Edward Street
Wellington, 6011 New Zealand

 

This unique event comes to us courtesy of the Japan Information & Cultural Centre:

Have you heard of the Japanese art of Rakugo? Rakugo is a traditional form of storytelling, told by a solo Rakugo performer who entertains the audience by telling mainly comedic, but sometimes scary, moving or even erotic stories. Tatsushi restaurant, right in the middle of Wellington’s CBD, is hosting the first New Zealand performance of Tachikawa Koshira, an accomplished Rakugo performer who has entertained not only in Japan, but also in Australia and Spain! This performance will be solely in Japanese.

Spaces are limited, so get in quick and reserve by emailing Tatsushi! Prices are $30 for entry, or $40 for entry and a delicious Japanese Bento meal packed by Tatsushi.

WHEN: 6pm meal, 7pm performance, Sunday 2 December
WHERE: Tatsushi, 19 Edward Street, Wellington

Website 
Email: tatsushi@live.com

 

 

 

• JETAA Minnesota
  1. Talk: The Tale of Genji in Japanese Art

DATE:            Saturday, December 8^th

TIME:             10:00 – 12:15 CST

VENUE:         Minneapolis Institute of Art

2400 S 3^rd Avenue,

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404 JETAAMN is offering discounted tickets ($8) per person for this event.
Hurry- deadline to register is Dec. 1st!

Join us for an in-depth talk to learn about the “Tale of Genji” as presented in Japanese art. The “Tale of Genji” is celebrated as Japan’s greatest literary work. Written in the early 1000s by Murasaki Shikibu, a lady-in-waiting at the imperial court, the tale traces the life and romantic pursuits of an imperial prince called “Shining Genji.” Rich in poetry and offering an intimate look at the court, it has inspired countless Japanese artists over the centuries, and illustrations of or allusions to the tale appear on everything from paintings, prints, and decorative artworks to clothing and manga (comic books). These three presentations are offered in conjunction with Mia’s exhibition “Love Affairs: The Tale of Genji in Japanese Art” (bit.ly/2PmGIr0) and offer different perspectives on Genji-related art created over the past 500 years. On view through March 10, 2019.

To sign up, complete online form here.

Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email

---

Job Title: Shop Attendant
Posted by: Fukushima Prefecture
Location: New York City, NY
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Aya Ota, a coordinator for the Fukushima Prefectural Government for the following part-time job opening:

Fukushima prefectural government of Japan will establish a Fukushima Sake Information Booth at “Canal Street Market” called “Fukushima Sake Challenge Shop,” and they are now hiring part-time staff members in New York.

Please see the following document (PDF): FUKUSHIMA’S SAKE CHALLENGE SHOP

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Aya Ota <aya@bioartsnyc.com>

 

Written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03), WIT Life is a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as film, food and language. Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.

It’s hard to believe but 2019 is just around the corner, the time when Best of 2018 lists begin to emerge. From Japan, the nominees for this year’s buzzwords have been compiled. The 30 candidates will be whittled down to the top 10 as well as an overall winner, to be announced on December 3 (you can vote for your favorite at the bottom of the link!).

Unsurprisingly, many relate to Prime Minister Abe’s work-style reform initiatives (働き方改革 or hatarakikata kaikaku). I hadn’t heard of short-time harassment (ジタハラ・ 時短ハラスメント or jitahara・jitan-harasumento), the pressure employers put on their workers to reduce overtime and maximize productivity, but I was familiar with the high-level professional system (⾼プロ・⾼度プロフェッショナル制度 or kōdo puro・kōdo purofesshonaru seido). This allows specialists like financial dealers or analysts with ¥10.75 million plus in annual income to be paid based on work performance, rather than hours worked. They won’t receive overtime pay as a result of being exempt from typical regulations, something the opposition party said would lead to longer working hours. It managed to pass and will go into effect for large companies at the start of the next fiscal year.

In the sports category, I liked the selection of buzzword Naomi-esque (なおみ節 or Naomi-bushi). It refers to the gentle and polite way Japanese-Haitian tennis player Naomi Osaka speaks, in contrast to her on-court tenacity. As reported in this blog, she Read More

 

Written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03), WIT Life is a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as film, food and language.  Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s Japanese news, and here she shares some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.

This week the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) hosted the premiere of the 2018 documentary 3100: Run and Become from director Sanjay Rawal. It showcases the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race which takes place in Queens every summer. This elite competition requires participants to run this unbelievable distance within 52 days, which means averaging at least 60 miles per day. Competitors come from all over the world, and some have run it as many as 14 times. Rawal also intersperses stories of other amazing distance challenges, such as a member of the Navaho Nation running 110 miles across the desert in memory of his father’s struggles when young, the Gaolo-San Bushmen running in pursuit of their prey and as part of their lifestyle, and the Tendai-shu monks of Mt. Hiei in Japan who carry out a practice of walking to attain enlightenment.

Spiritual training via walking is called 回峰行 (kaihōgyō), and the monks on Mt. Hiei carry out a version that takes place over 1000 days during a seven-year retreat period, called 千日回峰行 (sennichi kaihōgyō). During this time, the monk must remove himself from all family ties and other worldly distractions. Since this tradition began in 1885, only 50 plus monks have finished this quest, most in their 30s and the oldest in his 60s. The film tells the story of the monk Gyoman-san who is midway through his journey, and examines his mental state as he attempts to accomplish this major feat. He describes a point where you no longer Read More

Kansas City, Missour-based JET alum Warren McAllen (Fukuoka-ken, 1988-92), who served for over 10 years as the JETAA Heartland chapter president, has set up a GoFundMe page to try to raise funds to save his home following his mother’s passing. Those of us who have known Warren over the years know what an amazing contributor he has been to JETAA and what a good guy he is as well as what he’s been through over the past few years. Here’s a chance to help someone who has given so much of his time and energy to the JET alumni community over the years.

https://www.gofundme.com/57c9n-save-my-home

 

On Thursday, August 23rd, JETAANY took part in a special fundraiser for flood relief efforts in Japan, featuring tastings of Japanese food and spirits. One hundred percent of net proceeds from this event went towards aid for those in western Japan who have been suffering from historic rainfalls and landslides this past summer. 

Japanese-inspired hors d’oeuvres as well as premium sake, wine, and beer provided by Chef John McCarthy of OKA were available, as well as special prizes. This was a collaborative effort of many Japanese/Japanese American and Japan-related organizations in NYC with the support of the Consulate General of Japan in New York. 

This was the first collaborative effort amongst the Japanese American Community Coalition’s (JACC) member organizations:

• JAA-Japanese American Association of NY
• HAA-Hoshuko Alumni Association
• JETAANY-Japan Exchange and Teaching Program Alumni Association of NY
• JMSA-Japanese Medical Society of America
• USJC-U.S.-Japan Council
• NYJALC- NY Japanese American Lions Club
• JACL-NY-Japanese American Citizens League of NY
• JAJA-Japanese Americans and Japanese in America

Net proceeds went to JAA’s Japan Flood Relief Fund to be distributed to the appropriate NPOs/NGOs on the ground and we will provide updates about the organizations selected. JAA, the Japanese American Association of New York, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. This event raised over $7,000 in net proceeds, which will help Japanese survivors recover and rebuild after the July floods that took 169 lives and resulted in the evacuation of over a million people (especially in the hardest hit areas of Hiroshima, Okayama, and Ehime Prefectures).

Additional support included endorsement from the Consulate General of Japan in New York, the hospitality and cooking skills of Chef John McCarthy, donations from ITO EN Tea, World Sake Imports, Skurnik Wines, and the wonderful contributors to our raffle: Japan Society, Asia Society, The Yagi family for the Sakagura restaurant gift certificate, Hiro Sake, Sanrio, Sake Man, Simon Chiew and Yasushi Sasaki, among other generous donors.

Also, a special thank you to our amazing volunteers and Kim Hyacinthe of JETAANY for her beautiful poster design.      

JETAANY was very grateful to be a key organizer of this joint fundraising effort and many thanks again for coming together as a community of New Yorkers to help communities in need in Japan and for your compassionate support! Until next time!

Lillian Rowlatt (Niigata-ken, 2003-2005) is starting a Kickstarter campaign that many JET alums might be interested in!