Mansfield Fellowship in Japan
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Via JETAA DC President Michelle Spezzacatena:
Mansfield Fellowship in Japan
Federal employees with a strong career interest in issues of importance to the U.S.-Japan relationship now have the opportunity to apply for a Mike Mansfield Fellowship.
During the two-year program, Fellows spend a year working full-time in Japanese government offices, preceded by a year of full-time rigorous language and area studies training in the United States. After completing the program, Fellows return to their U.S. agencies with proficiency in Japanese and practical, firsthand experience with Japan and its government that enables them to contribute to their agencies’ Japan-related work.
For more information about the Fellowships, information sessions in Washington, D.C., and application guidelines, please visit www.mansfieldfdn.org or contact Ms. Sara Seavey, Program Assistant, Mansfield Fellowship Program at 202-347-1994 or sseavey@mansfieldfdn.org.
Application deadline: April 1, 2010.
The Mansfield Fellowship Program is administered by The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, as grantor.
Japanese Events New York City – Nihongo Dake Dinner
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The Nihongo Dake Dinner is one of the few regular Japanese events in New York City designed to bring both Japanese and non-native Japanese speakers together. Currently run by Jon Hills for JETAANY (http://jetaany.org/), he’s also the founder of Hills Learning (http://www.hillslearning.com), a language school based in Grand Central, New York City.
The event usually numbers around 20 people, and is designed to be half Japanese, half non-native Japanese speakers. The Japanese participants come from all industries and backgrounds, from JETRO and JLGC to Mitsui and Nomura. There are also Japanese who are artists, recruiters, volunteers and students.
- Nihongo Dake Dinner – 02/23/10
The past event held at the Congee Restaurant in Chinatown was a mix of languages, intimacy and fun. As mentioned before, the typical attendance for the Nihongo Dake Dinners is about 20, quite a number for a Japanese language speaking event in New York. This past event only housed 7 people, pushing all participants to try their Japanese skills and get to know each other a little better. Also thanks to our Chinese American participant Ann, we had Chinese translation when ordering and handling the bill.
If you’re involved in the JET organization please be open to signing up for future Nihongo Dake Dinners. If you know someone from JET and would like to go as a friend of JET, it’s also possible to attend. Japanese people who would like to meet English native speakers who have an interest in Japanese are also encouraged to attend. As one of the best Japanese Events in New York City, it’s an event that can’t be missed!
Request: Tokyo apartment and language immersion program info
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*****
A request from WITLife writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03):
My friend Ryoko is looking to get some information for a college classmate who is hoping to spend a short time in Tokyo studying Japanese. Can anyone help out with the following questions? If so, please contact her at sr960002 [at] gmail.com. Thank you and yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
1) Do you have any suggestions for safe, short-term apartment leases/rentals in Tokyo? Or any idea of how to search for one?
2) Also, do you have any suggestions for good Japanese language immersion programs in Tokyo? (The kind where you stay in the country/program for 1-3 months.)
Ask Dr. Muse-Life Coach: The Quest for the Dream Job Continues
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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.
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
I just started an assignment as an interpreter for a delegation of young political leaders from Japan, divided about evenly between members of the LDP and the DPJ as well as one journalist. Over our first dinner tonight it was interesting to hear their respective viewpoints regarding various issues, especially ones that are personal to them. For example, one DPJ rep and one LDP rep were having a friendly debate regarding day care. Both of these men have wives who work and 3-year old daughters, and as they live in the Tokyo area child care options are limited. There are not enough facilities to meet current needs, and those that exist are deluged by requests leading to long waiting lists.
As part of the Manifesto, the DPJ has proposed the implementation of a 子供手当て (kodomo teate) of 26,000 yen per month to provide financial aid to those who have a child. The LDP, on the other hand, does not advocate this and thinks this money should instead be put toward Read More
Call for JET alum actors in the UK by Tea Leaf Theatre
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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
WIT Life #77: Breakdown of the bow
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
An interesting article this week in Slate analyzed the intricacies of the Japanese bow and its various gradations. It was in reference to the apology by Toyota President Akio Toyoda at a press conference last week regarding the company’s massive vehicle recall. His chosen bow was a keirei, or 30-degree tilt to show respect, though some say he should have opted for a saikeirei, or full 45- to 90-degree bow intended to show the greatest veneration or humility.
With the amount of damage control that Toyota needs at this point, perhaps it is true that Toyoda should have overshot with a deeper bow. However, critics were likely placated by yesterday’s news that Toyoda will testify before Congress regarding the recalls, something he had previously said he had no intention of doing. The threat of being subpoenaed by investigators seemed to have persuaded him to accept the formal invitation issued by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that followed an informal one. It remains to be seen how reassuring his testimony will be to the American public.
C-DOC: Why Businesses Should Learn Chinese
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The Chinese Doctor is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com).
Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Chinese, Japanese and Korean language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.
The buzz language in New York City these days is Chinese. Whenever you speak with someone about new business opportunities China will usually enter into the conversation. But is Learning Chinese really worth it? In a bilingual world where Chinese people are moving to New York City, you would think just a trusted in house translator would suffice for companies doing business in China. This article will argue that at least learning the basics of Chinese can jump start your business and give you the edge when winning contracts in the competitive Chinese market.
Quick Impressions Are Everything So you’re going to sit down with a Chinese business and attempt to negotiate a contract with them. Of course the thing they care about most is their bottom line, and how much it will cost to do business with you. But let’s say your prices are relatively similiar to your competitors…
Click here for the rest of the article, including other Chinese language and culture articles
Ask Dr. Muse-Life Coach: How Do I Find My Dream Job?
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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 am ready for a career change, but I have no idea what I really want to do. My current job is one that personality and career aptitude tests said I would be good at, but I am still not in love with my job. Any ideas? Cindy B. in New Jersey.
Dear Cindy B:
A vocation calls to us because of our experience, skills, and education; an avocation, however, calls to us from a deeper place. Sometimes we need a stable vocation to allow us to pay the bills and fulfill our obligations. If you feel restless and yearn for more, and if your discontent does not relate to some imbalance in other areas of your life [see other Dr. Muse posts related to this topic], then perhaps it is time to identify the ember of your avocation and fan it to a fire. The following two tasks may help you:
Task 1: Pick 4 jobs from your past and your very first job.. On the blank pages of your journal, draw 5 big circles with some space between [you may need several pages] . Above the circle, label the job. Then, for each job, inside the circle write 3 to 4 things about that particular job that you liked–e.g., projects; people; environment; anything. On the outside of the circle, write 3 to 4 things about that job that you did not like. Next, in a different color ink, go back and write inside the circle how you felt AT the job. Take your time to think and feel the whole experience of your past jobs.
Task 2 [different day]: Take out your circles of past jobs. On a single sheet of paper write a list all the items you wrote inside the circles.
When you are finished, take a moment to read through the list of all the things you liked about the past jobs. Then, reflecting on this list, write a paragraph describing as many details about the characteristics of the job/environment you like. Add anything else to this paragraph about the profession, such as your ideal day, the ideal coworkers, and ideal environment. This should provide the template for your avocation and you can analyze your current choice or potential choices against this template. The task is aimed at starting the process for exploration, and I wish you a happy journey on this adventure!
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.
Job: Development Associate – Noguchi Museum (Long Island City, NY)
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Via the Philanthropy News Digest Jobs Alert:
Development Associate
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/jobs/job_item.jhtml?id=166700052
Noguchi Museum (Long Island City, New York)
http://www.noguchi.org/
Founded by internationally renowned Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi, The Noguchi Museum is the first museum in America to be established by a living artist for the display of his own work. When Noguchi opened the Museum to the public in 1985, he established The Isamu Noguchi Foundation, Inc. to manage it. In February 2004, the Museum and the Foundation were consolidated into a single entity, The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, receiving a 501(c)(3) public charity status from the IRS. An extremely dedicated Board and staff are committed to the aesthetic that Noguchi articulated through his expansive body of work represented in the Museum and to extending his reach through exhibitions and public and educational programs.
In 2004, the Development Office was established to solicit, for the first time, support on a continuous basis from individuals, corporations and foundations, and to build upon the government support that the Museum had received throughout the years. Over the past five and a half years, the Museum has launched a comprehensive development plan and has successfully met and exceeded its fundraising goals. The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum seeks a Development Associate to assist in furthering the Museum’s campaigns to raise foundation, corporation, government, and individual support. The Development Associate reports to the Director of Development.
Specific responsibilities:
- Work with and assist Director of Development to draft proposals, letters, reports, and other fundraising materials;
- Coordinate the production and mailing of annual appeals;
- Oversee the Museum’s membership program;
- Manage the donor database (Raiser’s Edge), which includes processing gifts and acknowledgements, and generating reports and solicitation lists;
- Identify and research donors and prospects;
- Assist in organizing the Museum’s annual gala benefit and donor cultivation events;
- Perform general administrative duties as needed.
Adventures of a Stealth Gaijin: “E is for Elementary School” by Ann Chow
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Adventures of a Stealth Gaijin
By Ann Chow (ALT, Hyogo-ken, 2007-2009), a New York City-based JET alum currently seeking copy editing/proofreading/production editing jobs in news or book publishing. Email jetwit [at] jetwit.com if you would like to get in touch with her.
E is for Elementary School
E is for elementary school.
Elementary school in Japan is for students between the ages of 6-12, and they are easily spotted by the backpacks, called randoseru, that they carry. Sometimes, they wear sailor uniforms. Sometimes, they don’t. My students didn’t.
When I first arrived in Japan, the BoE I worked for told me I would be working at 2 junior high schools and 3 elementary schools. It was pretty standard for the ALTs working in my town, and I had no complaints except that one of my elementary schools was clear across town, 35 minutes or so by bike, and I wasn’t the ALT who lived closest to it.
Sometime in December of my first year there, I was told I would have to visit another elementary school. There was already another ALT who visited, but the teachers wanted extra lessons, so they added me on to the roster. On my first visit to that school, I was running late because I realized the main entrance to the school wasn’t on the main road, but on a back street behind the sports field and a construction site for new housing. It really didn’t help that they were Read More
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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.
J-News Mini Roundup: Toyota Brake Recall – Japanese Reactions to the Current Crisis
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J-News Mini-Roundup is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese and Chinese language learning options.
It all started on a usual family outing in California. It was there that a highway patrolman and his family were driving on the highway, when they realized the accelerator petal was stuck to the floor. After careening through the highway and eventually crashing though a guard rail, the car rolled over a few times and burst into flames.
Toyota has gotten lots of press lately for their recall of cars across America and the so called stuck accelerator problem. Americans have reacted with shock as their top quality car maker has had to recall some of the highest selling models on the American market. But how have the Japanese reacted to this?
Each Japanese newspaper today had a different take on the current crisis at Toyota, its affects on America and the overall financial health of the company.
Click here for the rest of the article, including other Japanese language and culture articles
Urgent short-term gig: Japanese Speakers Wanted For Translation Work (Los Angeles)
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Language Weaver is seeking Japanese-English bilinguals to work on a short job this Wednesday or Thursday. They must be able to read both Japanese and English, and be fluent native or near-native English speakers. The job will take about 4 hours, working through an online portal on a flexible schedule, with training by phone. They will work as independent consultants, not employees. Since the total pay is under the federal limit, it will not be reported to the IRS.
The task is to skim 200 sentences that were translated from Japanese into English by a computer, and rate the quality of the translation on a 5-point scale. The sentences are on general news topics that don’t require any special vocabulary. The consultant can be an undergraduate, graduate, senior citizen, someone’s spouse, or whatever — so long as they can read both Japanese and English fluently, and aren’t tied up with midterms this week.
The pay for the job will be $90 a person. People who are interested in the job should contact Michael Potts at 310-437-7300 extension 244, or mpotts@languageweaver.com. He is available both days and evenings.
Benjamin Davis (ALT Chiba-ken, 2006-07, CIR/PA Chiba Kencho, 2007-09) is a freelance writer/researcher, translator, renaissance man and jack-of-all-trades based in rural Chiba-ken. He can be contacted at davis.benjamin.j@gmail.com and is always on the lookout for new and interesting projects.
“Setsubun, Bean-tossing, and the Old Japanese Calendar”
This February 3rd, when he gets home from work, my friend Mr. Watanabe will be chased out of his own house, by his own children, who will shout at him and throw dried beans in his face.
No, this is not some clever new trick on the children’s part to get back at him for enforcing their bedtimes. On the contrary, it will be something he planned in concert with them days earlier. He himself will be wearing a demon mask, his wife will be encouraging the children on in the background, and the shouts in question will be repeated cries of “Demons out, fortune in!”
You see, this bean-throwing and shouting is actually an ancient Japanese tradition called “Setsubun” (節分). It is a ritual whose objective is to chase out the malevolent spirits that may have built up like dust bunnies in the dark corners of the house over the year and invite in good fortune for the coming year.
To make the experience more symbolically tangible, a male member of the house may dress up as Read More
