JET alum Josh Zimmerman crafts a name for himself in ABC News article
JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Writers 
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Thanks to Gail Meadows (Hiroshima-ken, 2007-10), former Editor of the Hiroshima JET online newsletter The Wide Island View and current resident of metro Detroit for sharing this item about her former Wide Island View Co-Editor Josh Zimmerman (Hiroshima-ken).
According to an ABC News article titled “From Whittling to Knitting: How Modern Men Craft,”
Joshua Zimmerman’s creative outlet is tinkering with small electrical projects. The 28-year-old, fourth-grade teacher in Milwaukee makes Altoid tin USB chargers and flashlights, and small robots from toothbrush heads and solar battery chargers. His creations usually can be made with a few bucks and a few parts, often from recycling old electronics.
He simplifies ideas he finds online, assembles them in kits, and sells them from his online shop, Brown Dog Gadgets, and at Etsy. He also posts the instructions for all of his projects, most of which take under an hour for a novice and require a little metal soldering.
Here’s a description of the Altoids Solar iPhone/iPod/iPad Charger direct from Josh’s Brown Dog Gadgets website:
After weeks of sweat, blood, and soldering burns we’ve finally done it. We’ve made a solar charger for all the iProducts out there! Now you can charge up your iPhone, iPod, and even the iPad via the wonder of solar.
What separates this from our Solar Altoids USB Charger is that you can actually charge up those iProducts, which you’ll also find separates us from most solar USB chargers out there.
The charger works by recharging two high capacity rechargeable AA batteries through the included 4V solar cell. When you need to charge up your iPhone or iPod just plug it in via the three foot retractable cable. Then relax, because you deserve it
Features:
4V Solar Cell
2X High Capacity Rechargeable AAs (Between 2500-3000 mah)
3 Foot retractable charging cable.
Your choice of a fun Altoids tin.
Has been tested on and works with any iPod Classic, iPod Nano, iPhone, and iPad. We honestly went to a store and tried it out on all of the display models. We’re just happy that it works with our iPhone 4!
***iPods and iPhones will not directly charge up from the solar panel. You need to first charge up the internal AA batteries to a certain level before an iPod or iPhone will actually charge from it.
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Hey Josh, any chance we could order some with the JETwit logo? :-)
MSNBC story and article feature volunteerAKITA and other JET volunteers
Earthquake Tsunami, Interview/Profile, Japan Local, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Video, Volunteer Comments Off on MSNBC story and article feature volunteerAKITA and other JET volunteers
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Just saw this MSNBC video and article by NBC News correspondent Ian Williams that mentions JET and volunteerAKITA founder Paul Yoo as well as several other volunteers who seem to be JETs along with the good work being done by All Hands Volunteers. The article was posted to the Pacific Northwest JETAA Facebook group today.
“Young Americans take center stage in Japan tsunami cleanup”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43637669/
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
JET alums involved in yoga benefit for Japan quake victims (NY)
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The below article mentions JETAA U.S.A. Country Rep and former JETAANY President Megan Miller-Yoo (Hyogo-ken). And the reporter, Seana Magee (Okayama-ken, Niimi-shi, 1988-90) also happens to be a JET alum.
FEATURE: New Yorkers turn on heat, use yoga to benefit Japan quake victims
By Seana K. Magee
NEW YORK, June 28, Kyodo
Drenched in sweat, Megan Miller Yoo and about a dozen other students were pushing themselves to new limits during a special Sunday yoga session held at a Manhattan studio.
Stretching their muscles and testing their flexibility, they intently followed the instructor moving through 26 prescribed poses at Bikram Yoga Grand Central in a humid, 40 C room.
From the outside it looked like an ordinary 90-minute Bikram class, but it was not.
The hot yoga devotees were part of a so-called donation class specifically designed to raise money to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan on March 11.
Yoo explained to Kyodo News how taking part in the special class took her practice to a new level, particularly because of her close ties to the country, where she lived for two years.
”One instructor always says, ‘If you breathe through Bikram, you can breathe through anything,’ so I often think of that when I am in a tough situation, and it makes me realize I can get through anything if I just hang in there and don’t give up,” said the 33-year-old former Japan Exchange and Teaching Program participant who taught English in Hyogo Prefecture.
”I think that is the perfect message for the people in the affected regions of Japan.”
Before the March disaster wreaked havoc in her country, Kyoko Katsura, one of the two studio owners, and her business partner were mulling over ways to motivate students. So they hit upon the idea of offering the weekly donation class to highlight various charities. Read More
Ambassador Roos visits Monty Dickson’s school in Rikuzentakata, Iwate
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From this morning’s Frontline Daily newsfeed:
Loose translation:
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos visited southern Iwate and Rikuzentakata on June 28 and dropped by Monty Dickson’s school, Yonezaki Elementary, to talk to the fifth grade class and the principal there. He was much beloved by everyone and loved the community much in return. Roos told the kids to come visit America when they grow up. He also met with the mayor and emphasized the strength of US-Japan relations, promising ongoing support for the rebuilding effort. He then observed the American NPO, All Hands Volunteers, who are helping build housing in and around Oofunato.
★ 犠牲米国人ゆかりの学校へ～ルース大使が被災地訪問
ルース駐日大使は28日、東日本大震災で大きな被害を受けた岩手県南部を訪問した。震災の犠牲になった米国人モンティー・ディクソンさん＝当時（26）＝が英語を教えていた陸前高田市の米崎小学校では、ディクソンさんの生前の思い出話に耳を傾け、子どもたちの歓迎を受けるなど、日米の絆を再確認した。米崎小の佐藤圭子校長は、ディクソンさんが震災当日まで授業をしていたことを紹介。「子どもたちに慕われ、教職員も（彼のことを）大好きでした」と昔の写真を見せながら語った。大使は、ディクソンさんの家族が「彼にとって特別な学校、地域社会だった」と話していたと述べ、佐藤校長に謝意を表明。その後、５年生のクラスに立ち寄り「大きくなったら米国に来てほしい」と語りかけ、握手攻めにあった。陸前高田市の戸羽太市長への表敬訪問では「日米の友好関係は非常に深い。力になりたい」と述べ、米国が今後も被災地支援に全力を挙げる考えを伝えた。大使は、被災地家屋の復旧などに当たっている米国のNPO、オールハンズボランティアが活動拠点とする大船渡市も視察。午後には大槌町で小学生とのキャッチボールに応じるなど、１日かけて被災地を巡り、草の根交流に奔走した。（共同）
Job: Purchasing Speicalist for H.I.S. International Tours (NYC)
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Job listing received directly from H.I.S. Please make sure to mention JETwit if you apply.
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Company: H.I.S. International Tours, Inc.
Location: New York, NY 10017
Industries: Japanese Travel Agency
Job Type: Full Time
Job Title: Purchasing Specialist
This position is responsible for negotiating and acquiring contracts for hotel accomodation.
The duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
1) Establish and manage yearly purchasing contracts with hotels
2) Negotiate hotel room allotments, rates and cancellation charges for the annual hotel tariff submission
3) Establish and maintein good working relationshps with hotel sales
4) Provide Reservation Department with accurate and timely recommendations regarding hotel accommodations and their policies
5) Attend tradeshows, conventions and networking events specific to the travel industry and categories
6) Maintains accurate recordkeeping
General Requirements:
1) Energetic and dedicated
2) Strong negotiation skills a must
3) Deep understanding for Japanese culture
4) Excellent written and verbal communication and organizational skills
5)Must be able to interface on a daily basis with all personnel within the company
We are looking for someone who can help us grow our company together. If you meet these requirements, please send your resume and cover letter to icardenas@his-usa.com.
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I saw the below on the Pacific Northwest JETAA yahoo group, and apparently the Chicago Consulate has sent this out as well. MoFA and JNTO are willing to fly Tohoku JET alums back to Japan for a week for any JET alums willing to play a role in helping out their former communities and then help spread word of what they saw and experienced after their trip.
This sounds like a great opportunity for any Tohoku JET alums who can make time to do this. And a great opportunity for the JET alumni community to really help out Japan in a very concrete way.
Details are below. And you may get (or have already received) an email from your JETAA chapter or local consulate. There were also two attachments–guidelines and an application form–that I wasn’t able to access for some reason. If interested, hopefully you can get the documents from your consulate.
Minasan ganbatte kudasai.
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This message is being posted on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan Tourism Agency
DEADLINE for applications to be received by the Consulate-General of Japan: July 11, 2011
INVITATION PROGRAM OF JET ALUMNI TO DISASTER STRICKEN AREAS IN TOHOKU:
- One week stay to take place within the period of July – September 2011
- Transportation to Japan & per diem provided.
Conditions for application:
2. CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
(1) No limit of ages and sexes.
(2) To have a work experience for two years or more either as a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) or as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in local governments in Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture or Sendai City.
(3) To be able to contact directly by themselves with a school and a local government where they were assigned.
(4) To be accepted by the organization for which the participants worked as a JET, and to be able to arrange with the organization some exchange activities.
(5) To be able to travel without an escort from their arrival to their departure from Japan.
(6) To send out the information such as their experiences of the stay in Japan this time and their impressions from foreign visitors’ viewpoints by various measures including contributions of articles to the mass media, blogs, homepages, facebooks.
(7) To consent interviews by Japanese and foreign medias, in case they are arranged during their stay
For full details & required form, see attached documents.
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Additional eligibility stipulation for Fukushima-ken applicants:
For any former Fukushima JETs, who are considering applying for the previously posted “Special Invitation Program” for JETAA to re-visit their CO’s to report on the post-disaster situation, special consideration is being taken regarding personal safety.
In respect for the official US guidelines of an 80 km radius from the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, applications for former Fukushima JETs will only be accepted for areas beyond the US recommended safety zone.
Iwate International Association calls for ideas for events to help kids in disaster hit areas
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Recently posted to the Grassroots Aid for Iwate Facebook group by Hazuki Hiraga:
The Iwate International Association (IAA) is calling for ideas for events geared toward the kids in the disaster hit areas. Many of the teachers in those areas have noted that the kids are (understandably) more reserved than before, and still require a lot of care and support. But, they have also commented that ALTs have been playing an important role in making the kids smile when they stop by the schools to visit and chat.
One idea that the IAA has is organizing an English camp for kids (middle school to high school) from these areas this August, during the kids’ summer holidays. The tentative date proposed is August 5-11, 2011.
If you would be willing to help organize and/or travel to Iwate this summer to take part in the English camp, please post your thoughts on this page or send me an e-mail. The sooner the better as August is only two months away. It would be nice if some former Iwate JETs and other former non-JET Iwateans could gather to help out. I didn’t have the opportunity to participate in those summer English camps organized by some of the schools, so would love to hear what kind of sessions were held. Of course the IAA is open to hearing other event proposals as well.
The IAA has also mentioned that they are considering setting up a fund (including a paypal account) where people can donate money that would go toward organizing and running programs such as English camps for kids from the disaster hit areas, so if you are unable to travel to Iwate this time, you can make a contribution in other ways.
Volunteers needed: JETwit mapping project
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I’m working on a JETwit mapping project and need some volunteers to input some JET-relevant info and examples to see how it works and get a sense of how people will use it.
If interested in helping (it should only take a few minutes), e-mail me at jetwit [at] jetwit.com and I’ll send you further instructions.
Yoroshiku!
-Steven
Harper Collins set to publish a new book by JET alum Bruce Feiler
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JET alum Bruce Feiler (Tottori-ken, 1989-90), author of Learning to Bow, The Council of Dads, and several books on the Middle East including Walking the Bible, Abraham and Where God Was Born, has a new book to published by Harper Collins soon titled Generation Freedom: The Middle East Uprisings and the Remaking of the Modern World.
From the Harper Collins website:
At a time when the world is asking how the Arab Spring and the death of Osama bin Laden will reshape our times, Bruce Feiler, bestselling author of Walking the Bible and Abraham, offers a vivid behind-the-scenes portrait of history in the making. He marches with the daring young organizers in Liberation Square, confronts the head of the Muslim Brotherhood, and witnesses the dramatic rebuilding of a church at exactly the moment sectarian violence threatens the peaceful movement. Drawing on fifteen years of travels across the region, from Egypt to Israel, Iraq to Iran, Feiler brings his unprecedented experience to the most pressing questions: how the rise of freedom will affect terrorism; Middle East peace; and relations among Jews, Christians, and Muslims worldwide. Eloquent and thoughtful, Generation Freedom offers a hopeful vision of how this unrivaled upheaval will transform the world.
Auckland JETAA’s Ganbare Japan event raises over $2,500
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Via Emily Duncan’s Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief Idea Exchange via the Auckland JETAA GanbareJapan site:
The Auckland JET Alumni Association (Auckland JETAA) would like to thank everyone who attended the Ganbare Japan Charity Dinner held on 11 June, 2011, exactly three months after Japan was hit by one of the worst disasters in recent history. Thanks to your support, the evening was a complete sell-out and we were able to raise $2550.70 for the Japan Red Cross!
We’d like to say a special thank you to all those who made the evening a night to remember – our guest speaker from Sendai, Kaleb Urike, our talented violinist, Nick Jones, our MC, Linton Rathgen, AV extraordinaire, Dima Ivanov, organiser Krystal Lynes, Consul General Mr Ishida, and Mr Kawakami from CLAIR, Sydney. We’d also like to thank Limon Restaurant and Lion Nathan Breweries for their support.
The Auckland JETAA endeavors to do as much as possible to help our friends in Japan. If you are able to assist us in some way, or if you are interested in attending future charity events, we would love to hear from you.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, we look forward to seeing you at future fundraisers,
Auckland JETAA
Subscribe to the JETAA Sydney (Australia) Newsletter
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Here’s the link for anyone who’s interested in subscribing to the JETAA Sydney Newsletter:
http://sydneyjetaa.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=074f1003f7e0dbeb3de9861cc&id=8cc42074cb
MEF Bruce Rutledge article on CNN: Japan’s post-quake kawaii cute movement
Article/Journalism, Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Trends, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Writers Comments Off on MEF Bruce Rutledge article on CNN: Japan’s post-quake kawaii cute movement
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MEF Bruce Rutledge, founder of Seattle-based independent book publisher Chin Music Press and editor of Ibuki magazine, has an article on CNN GO titled:
“Japan’s post-quake kawaii cute movement: Harajuku’s colorful street-styles used to combat the quake crisis.”
Memo to JET alums: Please mention JET in your bios and profiles!
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I’ve come across a number of bios and profiles of established JET alums in recent months, usually on their company or organization’s website or on LinkedIn. And I’ve noticed many do not specifically mention JET.
They might say they worked or taught English in Aichi Prefecture or were an ALT in Osaka, but no mention of JET. I realize that specifically mentioning JET is not appropriate in every bio and profile. But if your work relates to Japan or to education (and in many cases even if it doesn’t), I want to suggest that it would be a beneficial to us as a community and to the JET Program as well to make a point of mentioning JET.
In addition to the fact that the JET Program enjoys an excellent reputation, it’s also important to let the world know that we’re out there. It’s kind of like that “Canadians: They walk among us” bit from the movie Canadian Bacon. There are JETs everywhere, but you may not always be aware of it.
The more we’re aware of how many of us are out there and where we are, the stronger the community and the network becomes, the greater the positive visibility for JET and the more likelihood that the JET Program and JET alumni community continue to play a unique and positive role for Japan in the future.
Just one more small thing you can do to help improve Return On JET-vestment (aka JET ROI).
Update 6/16/11: Jennifer Jakubowski of cross-cultural consulting firm Bridges To Japan got in touch to say that after seeing this post she updated her profile to mention the JET Program.
Update 6/15/11: Good example – JETwit and JETAANY Webmaster Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) makes a point of mentioning the JET Program in his bio for Purpose.com.
Japan Times article on Iwate CIR Amanda Krips
Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Local, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on Japan Times article on Iwate CIR Amanda Krips
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Thanks to Fukui JET Mike Maher-King for forwarding on this Japan Times article about Iwate CIR Amanda Krips.
JET coordinator finds Iwate spirit contagious
MORIOKA, Iwate Pref. — Iwate Prefecture’s coast suffered some of the most severe damage in the March 11 quake and towering tsunami, where more than 4,500 people have been confirmed killed and 2,700 are still missing.
But only about two hours by car inland, Morioka, the prefecture’s capital, was barely damaged by the 9-magnitude temblor. Residents only had to deal with a two-day power outage and a gas and supply shortage that lasted a few weeks, according to Amanda Krips, 24, an American who works for the prefectural government.
“Sometimes it makes it difficult to believe there is a total destruction only two hours away,” said Krips, who is on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program and serves as coordinator of international relations for the prefecture.
Iwate has one of the fewest numbers of JETs. In addition to three coordinators, including Krips, there were 21 assistant language teachers this year. But the tsunami took the life of one of them, Monty Dickson. The 26-year-old from Alaska perished in Rikuzentakata where he taught English to elementary and junior high school students.
As the prefectural advisor for JETs in Iwate, Krips contacted her colleagues soon after the earthquake. Although she had phone numbers and email addresses, checking updates on Facebook was the fastest way to confirm their condition, she said. “Even if they didn’t have access (to the Internet) they could call their parents who would post on the wall.”
In about four days, a worried Krips was able to confirm the safety of all the JETs except Dickson. “He became the only person who we haven’t heard from. So after about a week I figured that it’s probably not going to be good news,” she said. Dickson’s body was found about a month later.
“It was difficult to know that someone I had known in person had died,” Krips said.
She went with her supervisor to Rikuzentakata for the first time when Dickson was found. “That was the first time I saw what happened, the extent of the tragedy. About 6 km from the coast I started to see debris on the riverside. You get into Rikuzentakata and nothing’s there. Basically destroyed. That was really hard to see,” she said.
Dealing with what happened and the radiation scare has been difficult and stressful to many, but Krips said the JETs didn’t panic and reacted in a reasonable manner. A few returned to their home countries for spring break but are back and teaching at their assigned schools, she said.
Many will finish their contract in August and new replacements will arrive. “The situation is fine here; there’s nothing to worry about. We’ll try our best to assure them that they are safe,” said Krips, who has another year in Iwate.
Having spent a year in Kyoto as a college student, Krips, originally from New Jersey, said that although Kyoto was a magical time, she likes Morioka much better, even after the quake.
“People here take a little bit longer to get past their shyness (than people in the Kansai region), but they are nice and genuine, and they’re pretty strong people. That’s what made living here so wonderful.”
Krips observed that people have been stoic about the tragedy. “I haven’t seen anyone curse nature. It happened, so we have to deal with it. I haven’t talked with very many people, but I think a lot of them have the purpose of rebuilding now.
“Everybody is working hard. They have smiles and they don’t complain or anything,” she said.
Krips has done a lot of translation of incoming letters of condolence from other countries sent directly to the prefecture. “I don’t think I can do very much for the reconstruction, but anything I can do to help relations between Iwate and people from other countries that might want to help, I’ll do my best with that,” she said.
JET Alum Launches Cross-Cultural Business Consulting and Training Service
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Jennifer Jakubowski (Hokkaido, 1995-97), founder of Bridges To Japan
JET alum Jennifer Jakubowski (Hokkaido, 1995-97) has launched Bridges To Japan, a cross-cultural business consulting and training firm.
Jennifer has been engaged in Japanese-American cross-cultural business consulting and training for a number of years, including work for the Nagano Winter Olympic Committee and cross-cultural training for numerous Japanese and American executives. She is also the author of Executive Guide to Japan: The ABCs of Japanese Culture & Business Etiquette.
For more information:
- Bridges to Japan website: www.bridgestojapan.com
- Jennifer Jakubowski bio
