I’ll Make It Myself!: Honey Cream Scones with Nuts
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L.M. Zoller (CIR Ishikawa-ken, Anamizu, 2009-11) is the editor of The Ishikawa JET Kitchen: Cooking in Japan Without a Fight. Ze works in international student exchange; writes I’ll Make It Myself!, a blog about food culture in Japan and the US; curates The Rice Cooker Chronicles, a series of essays by JETs and JET alumni on the theme of cooking/eating and being alone in Japan; and admins The JET Alumni Culinary Group on LinkedIn.
Here’s an easy and delicious recipe you can make in your oven range in Japan!
I had extra cream from the Sailor Uranus cake, so I decided to try a cream scone recipe. Cream scones use heavy cream in place of the egg and butter, which makes them light and airy–and there’s no need to deal with cutting flour into cold butter. Very easy.
Job: Education Associate – Japan Society (NYC)
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Thanks to JETAANY’s Christy Jones, who works for Japan Society, for passing along this JET-relevant job listing. Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Education Associate
Location: NYC
Overview:
The Education Associate, working in cooperation with the Education Program team, helps organize, develop and administer programs and websites for families and K-12 teachers and students. Read More
Job: Assistant Japan Business Manager at Under Armour (Baltimore, MD)
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Thanks to JETAA Florida’s Tom Gregorich (himself an Associate Producer for The Golf Channel in Orlando) for passing along this highly JET-relevant listing from a colleague of his. The position reportedly involves working with Under Armour’s Japanese partners and requires strong Japanese skills. Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Assistant Business Manager
Location: Baltimore, MD
Overview:
It’s an entry level position really good for someone coming out of school, or still young in their career that is looking to get into the sporting goods/apparel industry. The position works directly with several cross functional teams at Under Armour, and will have a strong focus on meeting interpretation, Japanese email communication, and supporting Japanese guests when they are at our head offices in Baltimore. We really need someone who has strong Japanese and English communication skills, and preferably someone who has spent some time in Japan. Read More
I’ll Make It Myself! Kickstarter: Amy’s Mochi (Seattle)
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L.M. Zoller (CIR Ishikawa-ken, Anamizu, 2009-11) is the editor of The Ishikawa JET Kitchen: Cooking in Japan Without a Fight. Ze works in international student exchange; writes I’ll Make It Myself!, a blog about food culture in Japan and the US; curates The Rice Cooker Chronicles, a series of essays by JETs and JET alumni on the theme of cooking/eating and being alone in Japan; and admins The JET Alumni Culinary Group on LinkedIn.
Look at these luscious hand-made mochi! I found this Kickstarter via Have You Nerd? and, readers, I need this in my life. Amy’s Mochi is fundraising to cover the costs of starting up in Seattle – kitchen equipment, website, marketing, research and development – with the intent to sell them at weekly events (farmers’ markets) and/or pop-up shops. Kickstarter here: Amy’s Mochi by Amy Eam — Kickstarter. Ends March 28, 2014!
Job: 3 Positions at NYU Wagner School of Policy (NYC)
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Thanks to JETAANY Vice-Pres Pam Kavalam for passing on these higher ed openings from the office at Wagner where she works. Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Positions: Director of Alumni Relations, Database Administrator, Program Administrator
Location: NYC
Director, Alumni Relations:
Working closely with the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, the Director of Alumni Relations will develop and implement comprehensive fortification and expansion strategies for Wagner’s Alumni Relations. The Director of Alumni Relations will oversee program development, logistics planning, web-based content management, data integrity, and marketing of new and existing alumni programs to foster engagement. In addition, the individual in this role will lead the NYU Wagner Alumni Working Group, serve as Wagner’s liaison at university-wide alumni meetings and activities, and enhance giving to the annual fund. Read More
Jobs: Multiple Openings at VIA (Palo Alto, CA)
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Thanks to JETAA Northern California‘s Cerell Rivera for passing this on. VIA (formerly Volunteers In Asia) is affiliated with Stanford University. Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Overview:
Job: Convention Manager @ Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) (NYC)
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Thanks to JETAANY President Monica Yuki for passing on this very JET-relevant listing which she received directly from JNTO. (BTW, I think the position was previously held by a JET alum as well.) Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Convention Manager
Posted By: Japan National Tourism Organization
Location: NYC
Salary: 3,650 USD per month (Gross)
Overview:
Convention Manager is responsible for promoting Japan as a business, event and convention destination to the North American convention market. The position is subject to a three-month probation period. The candidate’s skill and ability will be assessed during this time. The employment to the full-time position will be decided upon the end of the probation period. Notwithstanding, employment is at will and either party may terminate employment at any time upon two weeks’ notice. Read More
Job: Assistant Director of Study Abroad at Southern Methodist Univ. (Dallas)
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Via JET alum Carleen Ben. Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Assistant Director of Study Abroad
Posted by: Southern Methodist Univ.
Location: Dallas, TX
Type: full-time
Overview:
The Assistant Director of SMU Abroad will assist the Director in promoting the strategic goals for study abroad and international programs. In coordination with the Associate Director/Finance Officer in the International Center, this position will support faculty on the development and delivery of SMU Abroad programs, as well as coordinate the review and approval processes for programs, and develop marketing plans.
Primary duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Oversee approval, review and evaluation processes for all SMU approved programs according to policies established by the Education Abroad Council;
- support projects assigned by EAC involving research and benchmarking with peer institutions.
- Supervise the Academic Records Coordinator, the streamlining of course approval processes, and the updating and use of the database and other advising tools.
- Deliver reports on undergraduate travel abroad and support Director in implementation of tools to track study abroad learning outcomes.
- Coordinate the approval and registration process for individual undergraduate travelers and groups traveling abroad across campus.
- Manage peer advising group (6-8 students) and coordinate peer advising with SMU Abroad Advising team.
- Implement and oversee SMU’s Abroad marketing and social media strategy across a variety a platforms and in coordination with other university units.
Job: Economic Staffer at Embassy of Japan in Ireland (Dublin)
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Thanks to CLAIR London for passing this along. Application due March 18th. Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Economic Staffer
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Overview:
The Embassy of Japan in Ireland is seeking a local staff employee (full-time position) for its economic section. Read More
Intern: Individual Giving at Japan Society (NYC)
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Thanks to JET alum Lana Kitcher (who works at Japan Society) for passing this on. FYI, she mentioned that it’s not up on the website yet but will be by next week. Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Individual Giving Intern
Location: NYC
Overview:
Japan Society’s Development office seeks a 2014 summer intern to assist with daily operations related to Individual Giving. Working with the Director of Individual Giving and Individual Giving Associate, this is an excellent opportunity to gain firsthand experience in individual fundraising at an internationally-recognized nonprofit cultural organization with a distinguished history of more than 100 years. Read More
Job: Convention Manager (NYC)
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Application deadline is March 21th
Via Actus Consulting. If you apply, please make sure to indicate you learned of the listing via JETwit. Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Convention Manager
Location: NYC
Salary: $20/hr
Overview:
Attract MICE from North America by promoting Japan as a MICE destination. (MICE stands for meetings, incentives, conferences/conventions, and exhibitions.) The position starts with the three-month probation period. The candidate’s skills and ability will be determined during this time. The employment to the full-time position will be decided upon the end of the probation period. Read More
Job: International Admissions Coordinator – Rennert International (NYC)
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Via JET alum Carleen Ben. Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: International Admissions Coordinator – Asia, Eastern Europe, Turkey
Posted by: Rennert International
Location: New York, NY
Type: full-time
Overview:
Rennert International, a leading ESL provider based in New York and Miami is looking for a dynamic, talented individual to join our International Admissions team. The position is based in New York City, and is a great opportunity for someone interested in starting out in the field of International Education or ESL. The job description is below and any interested candidates should contact Dorina Zaharia at dzaharia@rennert.com.
Job Duties:
- Process and screen admissions applications and determine admissions eligibility
- Act as DSO, verifying required documents and issuing necessary visa documentation for F-1 visa students
- Establish and maintain excellent partner relations with overseas recruiting agents based in countries in Asia, Eastern Europe and Turkey
- Have in-depth program and housing knowledge and be able to counsel agents and prospective students on program and housing options available in New York and Miami
- Respond quickly to inquiries and requests and be able to problem-solve in urgent situations
- Filing: collect necessary pre-arrival documentation for issuance of F-1 visa paperwork, maintain complete and thorough files for incoming students
- Verify payment collection for pre-arrival students/agents
- Provide Director with weekly reports on registrations and insights into country/regional market promotions and trends
- Coordinate with Director and company President on agent database maintenance and agent activation, email blasts and agent visit follow-ups
- Weekend emergency-phone rotation
Job: Supervisory Academic Exchange Specialist – U.S. Department of State (D.C.)
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Via JET alum Carleen Ben. Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Supervisory Academic Exchange Specialist
Posted by: Office of Global Educational Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type: full-time
Overview:
A position opening for a supervisory academic exchange specialist (GS-14) or “chief” for a new U.S. Study Abroad branch, located within the Office of Global Educational Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. This position is described below and the full job announcement, including how to apply, is available at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/364303100. The job will close on Friday, April 4. Please contact our HR officer, Chartrina Andrell – email: AndrellCA@state.gov or tel: 202-632-9477 – with any questions regarding this position.
The Supervisory Academic Exchange Specialist directs the U.S. Study Abroad branch, located in the Office of Global Educational Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), at the U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. The U.S. Study Abroad branch (ECA/A/S/Q) administers the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship (Gilman) Program, and related exchanges and activities to support study abroad by Americans. In addition to program management, the Branch Chief will provide knowledge and expertise on a wide range of programmatic and policy issues affecting ECA programs that support U.S. study abroad and guidance on the promotion, expansion and diversification of U.S. study abroad overall.
WIT Life #264: Campaign
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WIT Life 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 along with her own observations.
Yesterday I went to see director Kazuhiro Soda’s documentary Campaign (選挙) at Japan Society, being shown as part of Richie’s Electric Eight: The Bold and the Daring (part 2 of the film series honoring Ritchie that I talked about in a recent post). It came out in 2007 and was screened at the Berlin Film Festival that year, and was loved by Ritchie who introduced it at a preview at Tokyo’s Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan. This fascinating, self-funded film follows Soda’s Tokyo University (東大) classmate Kazuhiko Yamauchi in becoming the LDP candidate in a by-election for a seat on the Kawasaki City Council, after relocating there from Tokyo for that purpose. Campaign tells the story of how Yamauchi is groomed as a promising newcomer for this well-established conservative party. The LDP is killing it with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his reform platform on the national level, but engaged in a close battle with the DPJ on the local level.
Yamauchi’s education extends to his wife Sayuri, a particularly interesting character in the film. He is instructed to refer to her as his “housewife” (「家内」 or kanai) as opposed to “wife” (「妻」 or tsuma), a term they both take umbrage against but become resigned to using. In addition, Yamauchi’s supporters within the LDP’s well oiled local political machine later encourages her to quit her job to focus on her husband’s political career, an idea that outraged her. Yamauchi urges her to Read More
JQ Magazine: JQ&A with Jim Breen of Monash University on WWWJDIC
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“I just spent several weeks in Finland and Sweden, where the level of English speaking is extremely good. No JET Programmes there. You can’t even argue that they are related languages—Finnish is just as foreign as Japanese, and probably has fewer gairaigo (borrowed words). How do they do it? By teaching it properly in the first place, with trained and qualified teachers.” (Courtesy of Jim Breen)
By Tim Martin (Fukui-ken, 2006-08) for JQ magazine. Tim is a neuroscience researcher and swing dancer based in New York City. He runs a blog called The Floating Lantern, where he writes about humanism and other things that matter. Lately he is trying to learn more about effective altruism and the science of applied rationality.
Jim Breen is the man behind a resource that probably every English speaker trying to learn Japanese has used: the massive WWWJDIC online dictionary. In the 1980s, Breen developed an interest in Japanese that led to him programming a Japanese dictionary for DOS as a hobby. While a professor of digital and data communications at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, Breen continued working on the dictionary, until eventually it bloomed into an interface that connects and cross-references hundreds of thousands of entries for words, names, and kanji.
Now a recognized authority on lexicography and the Japanese language, Breen continues to work on his “hobby,” and is pursuing a Ph.D. in computational linguistics. In this exclusive interview, JQ spoke with Breen to find out how it all began, his thoughts on language teaching and the JET Programme, and how he thinks technology will affect our experiences with foreign language in the future.
How did you develop your interest in, as you say on your website, “things Japanese”? Is there a specific part of Japanese culture or media that got you hooked?
I guess my interest in Japan over other foreign countries began around 1977 when my eldest daughter, then six years old, began to study the violin using the Suzuki Method. My wife, a musician and music teacher, had heard about the Suzuki Method from a lecture and demonstration, had been extremely impressed, and had expressed an interest in our children studying in the method. From that point on Suzuki began to play an increasingly bigger part of our lives as our second and third children began to study within that method. Also, my wife began to explore teaching in the Suzuki Flute Method.
None of this interest was particularly focussed on Japan itself. In 1980, I took most of the year off work to complete my MBA (I was a budding junior executive in Telecom Australia in those days). A fellow student in our classes had studied Japanese, and impressed me by translating some of the titles of pieces in the Suzuki books. Also among the visiting lecturers was a former trade commissioner in Japan, who spoke eloquently about the importance of Japan and the need for people trained in Japanese. I recall going home that night and saying to my wife: “I think I’d like to study Japanese eventually.” She didn’t think much of the idea, and I concentrated on other things like finishing my MBA and completing a music performance diploma.
In mid-1981, my wife said one day that she thought she really should go to Japan to study teaching Suzuki flute with Toshio Takahashi at the Suzuki headquarters in Matsumoto, as there was no one in Australia teaching Suzuki flute. I liked the idea, and we agreed to go the following December and January, which is Australia’s summer period when schools are closed. Our kids, then aged ten, seven and three, could easily miss a couple of weeks school in December. I arranged two months’ Long Service Leave from Telecom (LSL is a employee right in Australia after you have worked more than 10 years with an employer), and after struggling for a short while with Teach Yourself Japanese (all Kunrei-shiki romaji), I also arranged to have weekly Japanese lessons with Brian Drover, who trained as a Japanese linguist in the Australian army during WWII.
So, in late November 1981, five Breens arrived at Narita, made our way into Tokyo, were popped on a Chuo-sen train to Matsumoto by people from the Suzuki organization, and later that day found ourselves being greeted by a welcoming party from the Nagano Girl Scouts(!). (My eldest daughter was a Brownie, so we had set the international tom-toms working.)
We spent two months in Matsumoto living in two tiny six-mat apartments rented to us by the mother of some local Girl Scouts. My wife had piano and flute pedagogy classes, my kids had lessons in violin and piano (the former with Shinichi Suzuki himself), and I did the housework, shopped, minded kids, tried to study Japanese, etc.
I guess I don’t have any particular parts of Japanese “culture” I concentrate on—my tastes are rather catholic in this regard.
