“Privy to Mysterious Loos” by New Zealand JET Tania Butterfield
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A recent blog article by current JET Tania Butterfield that recently appeared in New Zealand publication Marlborough Express. (Thanks to Jessica Tisch for posting on the JETAA South Island Facebook group):
Last weekend I discovered something I should have known since I arrived here – toilets are not my friend.
If you know anything about Japan, you know it has some unusual toilets.
No, I am not referring to the squat toilets, which I quite happily use at school.
I am referring to the insanely automated toilets with a billion buttons that do everything under the sun so you never have to touch that part of your body again.
Some of the buttons make sense – like the button to ….
Click here to read the full article.
JETAA Chicago Career Forum Videos
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Here are a couple videos from the recent JETAA Chicago Career Forum. (Thanks to JETAA Chicago Treasurer Thomas Osugi and Jobs/Social Activities Coordinator Dan Martin for making this available.):
Now in Paperback: “For Fukui’s Sake: Two years in Rural Japan” by JET alum Sam Baldwin
Books, Cultural Outreach, Japan Local, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Travel/Tourism, Writers Comments Off on Now in Paperback: “For Fukui’s Sake: Two years in Rural Japan” by JET alum Sam Baldwin
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JET alum seeks help contacting Japanese Antarctica residents for research project
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New Zealand JET alum Jacinta McKenzie is working on a research project (see details below) and is seeking help from anyone who can help her get in touch with Japanese people who have been to Antarctica, especially to Showa Base. Jacinta says:
Individual Project Proposal – Group adaptation and individual adjustment of (prolonged) isolation of Japanese people in Antarctica
はじめまして。私はジェシンタ・マッケンジと申しまして、現在ニュージランドのカンタベリ大学で日本語と南極を専門にしている大学院生です。
私は日本人と南極との関係について非常に深い興味を持っており、カンタベリ大学で南極の研究をしています。私は現在、南極における日本人の文化人類学と社会学に関するプロジェクトを行っており、「南極の厳しい自然と孤独な生活に対する日本人の集団的、あるいは個人的順応について」というタイトルの研究論文を書いています。私のこの論文のためにあるデータが必要であり、そのデータを集めるために、南極（昭和基地）で滞在している、あるいはしたことのある日本人と連絡をして、アンケートを行いたいと思っています。
そちらの研究所所属の研究者で南極に行ったことのある（あるいは今現在滞在している）日本人の連絡先（電子メールアドレスなど）を教えていただくことはできませんか？ もしくは、私がそちらにアンケートを電子メールで送信するので私のアンケートに協力して頂けそうな人に転送していただけませんか？
アンケートの内容は、丸かバツで答えるものがいくつかと、自分の経験を短く書いて頂く簡単なもので、20分ほどで終わると思います。ご迷惑をおかけしますが、宜しくお願いいたします。
Jacinta McKenzie jacy19@gmail.com
http://www.anta.canterbury.ac.nz/courses/gcas/
My name is Jacinta McKenzie and I am a student at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand studying Japanese Language and Antarctic Studies. I am very interested in Japans relationship between the polar regions, hence I am taking an Antarctic Studies course at Canterbury University.
I am currently do my individual project which concentrates on anthropology and sociocultural aspect of being in Antarctica, titled Group adaptation and individual adjustment of (prolonged) isolation of Japanese people in Antarctica.
I am seeking to get in touch with the Japanese people currently down at Showa Base or have been in the past, in order to do a survey regarding this topic.
Is there any one at the Institute of Polar Research who has been to Antarctica and would be willing to take part in my research survey? The survey will be a series of yes and no questions with a few places to write down your experience.
Any information would be much appreciated.
Kind Regards
Jacinta McKenzie jacy19@gmail.com
http://www.anta.canterbury.ac.nz/courses/gcas/
JET alum seeks members for new taiko club in Atlanta
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Posted to the JETAA Southeast Facebook group by Melanie Davenport (Gifu-ken, 1991-92):
“Hello everyone! I’m working with a young woman, Sarah Choy, who plays Taiko to try to form a Taiko Club here in Atlanta! If anyone is interested in becoming involved or just wants to be kept in the loop about our progress, please let me know! What fun will this be?! Ikimasho! Tanoshii!”
If interested, check for updates on the JETAA Southeast Facebook group and get in touch with Melanie there.
Kyodo News “Rural JET alum” series: Hughar Hartzenberg (Iwate)
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News agency Kyodo News has recently been publishing monthly articles written by JET alumni who were appointed in rural areas of Japan, as part of promotion for the JET Programme. Below is the column from October 2012. (Special thanks to JET alum Celine Castex, currently a CLAIR Tokyo staff member, for alerting JETwit to this series and making these available.)
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Hughar Hartzenberg (Iwate-ken, Ninohe-shi, 2006-09) was born and raised in South Africa, where he received a degree in Theology in 2005. After that he came to Japan on the JET Programme and continued as a participant for three years in Iwate Prefecture (2006-2009). During this time he met and married his wife, who was another JET participant and with whom he is currently living in Kanagawa Prefecture. Hughar is working as a wedding minister in Tokyo and is also the director of the NPO Japan Building Africa which he founded in 2011.
JET and beyond
It has been said that we should be careful of the actions we take as young men and woman, for those actions will shape the adults we will become. Reflecting on my own actions over the last seven years, and the experiences that these actions have led to, I can attest to this saying being the truth. One action that changed the course of my life was the decision to apply for something that is called the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, or “JET Programme” in short. This one decision literally changed my world. Read More
“Rural” JET alums write columns for Kyodo News series
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Thanks to JET alum Celine Castex, currently a CLAIR Tokyo staff member, for posting this to the JETwit Group on LinkedIn:
New JET alumnus’ article in local newspapers: the 「外・宝・人」column
News agency Kyodo News has recently been publishing articles written by JET alumni who were appointed in rural areas of Japan, as part of promotion for the JET Programme. The October edition features an article by Hughar Hartzenberg (Iwate Prefecture 2006-2009). Scroll down the page to the 「外・宝・人」column
http://www.47news.jp/localnews/chiikisaisei/39/chiho_net/
≪変わる大学と地域の関係≫ 地域に学生の受け皿を アイデア、人材に期待 47news.jp
大学と地域の関係が変わりつつある。少子化に悩む大学にとって地域とのつながりは、新たな可能性を開く。地域にとっても、大学は貴重な資産だ。全国の地方新聞社と共同通信社が識者らとつくる「地・宝・人（ち・ほう・じん）ネット」は、第３８回意見交換で「地域が大学に期待すること」をテーマに将来像を探った。…
Taylor Anderson documentary draws thousands to Center Stage
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NBC12.com – Richmond, VA News, Weather, Traffic
From Richmond, VA’s NBC news affiliate (click link below to see news video):
Taylor Anderson documentary draws thousands to Center Stage
RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) –
Thousands of people turned out to Richmond’s Center Stage theater Friday, to see the documentary of Taylor Anderson – a young teacher from Chesterfield who worked and died in the earthquake and tsunami in Japan last spring.
It’s the story of the 24-year-old who is believed to be the first American victim of the disaster.
The tsunami that followed the 8.9 magnitude quake rocked Japan’s eastern coast, killing hundreds.
Taylor was last seen after the earthquake riding her bike toward her apartment after ensuring that students at her school had been picked up by their parents.
More than a year later – Taylor’s story is shared through the documentary Live Your Dream: The Taylor Anderson Story.
Film maker Regge Life interviewed dozens even traveled to Japan to find her story.
“It wasn’t until I made the trip to Ishinomaki, and I can talk to her friends face to face, that I knew there was something there,” said Life.
At the screening, Andy Anderson was happy to see so many people take interest in his daughter’s story.
“Regge’s really good at being able to take all the people who are telling Taylor’s story and weaving us all together,” said Anderson.
“You see Taylor from her beginnings as a small child and her interests in Japan that just kept growing through her own nurturing,” said Life.
There may be more showings, but right now the documentary is not in theaters. It is being sold for educational purposes.
Copyright 2012 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved.
For JQ Magazine‘s May 2012 interview with Regge Life on the making of the film, click here.
JET alum Shaun Dakin mentioned in Huffington Post article about robo-calls
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Shaun Dakin (Shimane-ken, 1989-91), founder of StopPoliticalCalls.org
D.C.-based JET alum Shaun Dakin (Shimane-ken, 1989-91), founder of StopPoliticalCalls.org which seeks to stop the use of robocalls in political campaigns, was mentioned in a recent Huffington Post article (“Impeach Obama Robocall Campaign Launched by Conservative Group“).
Here’s the link to the article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/impeach-obama-robocall-campaign_n_2132682.html
Here’s a link to previous JETwit posts/articles about Shaun: https://jetwit.com/wordpress/?s=shaun+dakin
CLAIR Chairperson Yoko Kimura talks about JET in Mainichi feature
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Below is a feature (in Japanese) on CLAIR Chairperson Yoko Kimura who talks about the JET Programme. (If anyone feels the urge, feel free to post an English summary or translation in the comments section of this post).
http://mainichi.jp/opinion/news/20121108ddm004070166000c.html
毎日新聞 2012年11月08日 東京朝刊
◇「ＪＥＴ」国内でもより理解を
尖閣諸島をめぐる日本と中国、竹島をめぐる日本と韓国の厳しい対立は日本の外交力を強化する必要性を痛感させた。とりわけ草の根交流は個人間の深い友情や強い信頼関係に基づくため、ちょっとやそっとでは壊れない。国際関係を安定させる大きな役割を果たす。
草の根交流のうち、世界最大級の人的交流事業で、海外でむしろ認知度が高い「ＪＥＴプログラム」（語学指導等を行う外国青年招致事業）をご存じだろうか。軍事、経済力以外のソフトパワー外交の象徴として日本が胸を張れる活動だが、国内の知名度がいまだにもうひとつとすれば残念だ。
ＪＥＴプログラムは、都道府県や離島やへき地等、津々浦々の市町村が招致した外国青年がＡＬＴ（外国語指導助手）として小中高校で英語等を教え、あるいは、ＣＩＲ（国際交流員）として役所で働くなどして国際交流を推進する。１年契約だが、最長５年まで延長が可能である。自治体国際化協会（ＣＬＡＩＲ・クレア）は、総務省、外務省、文部科学省と連携し、プログラムを推進している。
ＪＥＴ参加者は日本の地域に溶け込み児童・生徒、同僚や地域住民に母国の考え方や文化、習慣などを生の声で伝える。同時に、日本の習慣、文化、日本人の考え方、物事の処理方法を理解する。 Read More
Regge Life documentary about Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson to premiere 11/9 in DC area
Earthquake Tsunami, Events, Film Comments Off on Regge Life documentary about Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson to premiere 11/9 in DC area
Via JETAA DC President Leigh Ann Mastrini (Hyogo-ken, 2006-08):
On November 9th will be the premiere of Regge Life’s documentary film about March 11, Taylor Anderson, and Monty Dickson. Click the link below for more information:
http://www.kickstarter.com/
The film is open to the community, with a suggested donation of $20 when you register. A small group of JETAA DC alumni will be driving down from DC between 2PM – 3PM.
UK JET alum Edward Drummond-Baxter killed while serving in Afghanistan
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Lt. Edward Drummond-Baxter (Gifu-ken, 2005-07)
I’m very sad to share that a JET alum, Edward Drummond-Baxter (Gifu-ken, 2005-07), was recently killed while serving in Afghanistan according to a BBC News article. The article doesn’t indicate that Edward was a JET, but a post by someone to the Pacific Northwest JETAA group about the news indicated that he was a Gifu JET from 2005-07.
Here’s an excerpt from the article (“MoD names two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan“):
Two British soldiers shot dead in Afghanistan by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform have been named by the Ministry of Defence.
They were Lt Edward Drummond-Baxter and L/Cpl Siddhanta Kunwar, both of 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, attached to 40 Commando Royal Marines.
They were killed at a checkpoint while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Tuesday.
Lt Drummond-Baxter, 29, lived in County Durham and L/Cpl Kunwar, 28, Nepal.
The MoD said they were shot and killed at the end of a meeting with Afghan police at Check Point Prrang in the southern part of Nahr-e Saraj.
The Taliban said the gunman was in their protection after having infiltrated the Afghan police.
Platoon commander Lt Drummond-Baxter, who was born in Peterborough, was deployed to Afghanistan for the first time on 30 September.
He was commissioned into the 1st Battalion in 2010 after spending two years working for the Foreign Office. He was a member of reserves regiment The Honourable Artillery Company while at University College London and later attended Sandhurst.
His family said: “Edward was fiercely loyal and totally sincere to his parents, sister and many friends who are mourning him today both in the UK and around the world. He loved the Gurkhas and died among friends doing the job that he wanted to do.”
Lt Col David Robinson, commanding officer, described him as “a character, a true gentleman and an inspirational leader”.
Please feel free to share any memories, thoughts or other comments about Edward in the comments section of this post.
Kagoshima JET seeks help improving new language learning technology
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A chance to help a JET improve on a really great language technology tool. See below:
My name is Jonathan Andreano and I am currently a 2nd year JET in Kagoshima Prefecture. At the start of this year, I began collaborating with friends from university to help develop Language Cloud, a free learning management system (LMS) designed for language education. In short, it helps provide instructors with an easy to use and, more importantly, free online platform for managing and enhancing the quality of their classes, while simultaneously promoting student collaboration and enthusiasm for foreign languages and culture through school-based social networking.
The development of Language Cloud’s academic interface was significantly influenced by our team’s personal experiences in learning and teaching foreign languages. One of our top priorities has been to create a resource that specifically addresses the common ALT challenge — teaching students of different academic levels at multiple schools. For this reason, Language Cloud was designed specifically with flexibility and user experience (UX) in mind.
Teachers can record audio directly on their browsers, quickly assess and mark writing assignments, and starting in January 2013, integrate their favorite textbooks and e-learning apps into their Language Clouds. These features were developed by working directly with instructors and have helped Language Cloud gain popularity within university language departments and private language schools. Currently, 50 institutions with approximately 7,000 students are actively using the Language Cloud beta platform.
Our team would like to continue connecting with instructors of K-12 classrooms to gain their perspective and feedback. For this reason, I wanted to reach out to JET alumni for their support and professional opinion of our free instructional technology. To get a better understanding of our educational resource, a fully interactive demo of the Language Cloud LMS is accessible on our homepage (https://www.languagecloud.co/).
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at jonathan@languagecloud.co
JETAA USA National Conference in San Francisco this weekend
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I’m heading to San Francisco today to participate in the the JETAA USA Conference for the next four days hosted by JETAA Northern California. A great opportunity to meet and work with officers from the 19 US chapters to build and strengthen the JET alumni community and its goals and purposes.
Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94)
Japanese Lessons by Reading Newspaper
Language Study Comments Off on Japanese Lessons by Reading Newspaper
The following is an ad for a private Japanese language tutor:
Do you want to focus on reading/writing? No problem! I will create a customized curriculum for you.
I am a native Japanese speaker, an experienced and certified (MA in Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language) Japanese language consultant. I have experienced all the class settings from a public high school to 4 year colleges. I previously taught business Japanese at the Japan Society in SF. I have also taught private lessons for business people at companies such as Fujitsu, Cisco Systems, and Palo Alto Research Center.
Through these teaching experiences, I found that reading Japanese News Paper can be an effective way to improve Japanese proficiency, especially for advanced learners. This approach can also bring learners closer to Japanese culture through the latest news in Japan. Thus, I decided to begin offering a Japanese tutoring program with Japanese News Paper, which focuses on reading using e-mail.
How to begin? Simply respond to parenthoodconsulting@gmail.com and I will send you a sample lesson for free, which is a selected Japanese newspaper article with Hiragana reading for every Kanjis. English versions of the article will follow for your reference.
If you like it, move on to the next stage: weekly lessons. It’s really affordable. I will provide tutoring if you need help with reading/pronunciation.
You can do a trial lesson (first 4 weeks of the weekly lesson) for FREE!
Come join our Japanese News Paper Reading Society today!!
Kenji
parenthoodconsulting@gmail.com
