Bean There, Done That
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Professional translator Joel Dechant (CIR Fukuoka-ken, 2001-04) recently became a guest blogger for Fukuoka Now (http://fukuokanow.wordpress.com). Have a look at his first post on the site:
Bean paste, dumplings and beans...oh my!
Hi, my name is Joel. I’m from Pennsylvania in the US and have been living in Ropponmatsu since 2007. I majored in Japanese at university, spent a year abroad in Kyoto, and have been in Japan since graduating in 2000. I’ve lived in Osaka, Kirishima (Kagoshima), and Beppu, and after turning freelance, I decided to make Fukuoka my home base. I’m a translator by day, a bluesman by night and the Guest Blogger du jour. Today I’d like to talk about bean paste.
It’s been about 10 years since I first came to Japan and I fondly remember my maiden voyage as a study abroad student. My scholarship covered my airfare on a luxurious JAL flight complete with beautiful cabin attendants and a smoking section (I don’t smoke anymore, but back then I was in heaven). I don’t recall the food, however, because of traumatic desert experience. Something akin to a soft, delicious jelly donut was daintily laid on my plate, and after smoking who knows how many cigarettes, I was ready to tuck into that “donut”.
CHOMP!
WTF?!
ACK!!
Continue reading “Bean There, Done That”
By translator and writer Jamie Graves (Saitama-Ken 2002-2003)
Via the Honyaku discussion group:
We are looking for J>E translators for a fast-moving, high volume project.
The subjects are electronics, business documents and financial documents. If
you are interested in joining a highly committed gorup of language
professionals and can work at a high rate of output for the next 5
weeks this is a good job for you. Minimum output is 8000 words per week.
THERE IS NO MAXIMUM – WORK AS MUCH AS YOU CAN! Please provide a bi-text
sample of your work, your rate per English word and your potential output of
words per week to pmitz…@linguist.com . Thanks!
“Order of Odd-Fish Week” on Murphblog
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Writer Paul Murphy has declared it “Order of Odd-Fish Week” on his blog Murphblog. Every day this week, Paul will run segments of his long, in-depth interview with author James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06). And according to James, the week comes “with a contest! And pictures! And audio of Paul himself reading a selection from The Order of Odd-Fish!”
JETAA British Columbia Call for Submissions for Spring, Summer Newsletters
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JETAA British Columbia Call for Submissions – Spring & Summer 2009 Newsletter
We always welcome new contributors to submit an article. Any and all ideas (JET or Japan-related) would be wonderful! If you’re wondering what to write about, here are a few ideas to help you get started:
Deadline for submissions is Friday, May 22nd, 2009!
*life post-JET – personal anecdotes/experienc es
*JET Life / Life in Japan – personal anecdotes/experienc es
*upcoming events or a review of events that have taken place recently (ex. hanami 2009 with Mokuyokai, etc).
*restaurant reviews of Japanese restaurants in Metro Vancouver and Victoria
*former JET personal profiles; profiling local and prominent former JETs
*profiles on a specific prefecture/area in Japan
*articles touching on the JET 20-year anniversary – “JET Then & Now”
*topics on VirtualMuseum. ca – ex. Asahi baseball team
*Japanese TV and movie reviews
*photos, art, poetry
If you would like to share something with other JET alumni in the newsletter, please share your stories with us. You can contact me at newsletter [at] jetaabc [dot] ca
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I hope to hear from you soon!
Thank you,
Dinah
J-News Mini-Roundup: Japanese Companies Threatened by Swine Flu
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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 language learning options.
Background: Japanese companies with operations in Mexico are in a quandary about how to respond to the outbreak of Swine Flu. Through intelligence gathering and working together with government authorities, companies are deciding whether to send their workers home or to the U.S., or just to increase security measures at their Mexican offices and plants. The Japanese newspapers this morning each told a different account of how businesses are dealing with the threat of the Swine Flu.
Nikkei “Electronics Companies Prohibit Travel.” The Nikkei points out that both Sony and NEC have called for restrictions on business trips to Mexico. While Sony has just called for restrictions on Mexico City, NEC has called for restrictions on travel throughout the country. Not only has NEC prohibited trips into the region, but they’re also looking at sending people who reside in Mexico home.
Yomiuri “Financial Companies React by Emergency Evacuation.”
(Click HERE to read the rest of the post)
Job: Travel the world as Private Tutor. (This is not a joke)
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I’ve copied the entire ad below, because it is too good not to read. Thanks to PNWJETAA for sharing it. According to the message it was posted by a JET alum who’s co-worker’s cousin is the family looking for someone:
PRIVATE TUTOR NEEDED – ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL THE WORLD!
Boston-based family looking for private tutor to live/travel with them around the world from late August, 2009 through June, 2010. Primary responsibilities would be providing a structured education integrated with travel experiences for children (son age 12, daughter age 10) and providing adults with history and background on areas visited. Candidate would also be involved with various family activities such as skiing, biking, and hiking.
Tutor and the family will work out a reasonable pattern of involvement with the family to achieve the educational goals, be involved in various ways, and allow for personal free time. The family values the candidate’s commitment to this one year contract and realizes that it must be based on mutual respect.
Ideal candidate would: Read More
Job: Gov’t Programs Manager (Seattle)
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From the folks at JETAA Seattle:
We have posted the Government Programs Manager position on the OR website. The Government Programs Manager will manage and lead sales and business development for Unit Level Government Sales consistent with the company’s strategic plan. The position is located in the Corporate Office, Seattle, WA. This is a full time exempt position with full employee benefits. If you are interested in this position, please view the complete job description on the website. You may send a resume to jobs@outdoorresearch.com.
http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/Gov_Prog_Mgr1.html
Job: Bilingual Office Administrator (Illinois)
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Via to JETAA Chicago-
Location: Bloomingdale, IL
Base Pay: $32,000 /YearEmployee Type: Full-Time Employee
Industry: Manufacturing /Consumer Products
· Heavy Excel use: spreadsheets, organizational charts, formulas,
· Fluent Japanese verbal communication
· General administrative tasks as needed for Department
Requirements:
· Fluent in Japanese
· Minimum 1 year administrative experience or recent college graduate
· May be required to test in Excel & MS Word
Interested candidates please contact Iwona Walther at Arlington Resource. iwonawalther@ hotmail.com or 224-232-5900
Job: International education positions via Chronicle of Higher Ed
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Via the Chronicle of Higher Ed:
4/20/2009
- Ball State University (Indiana) : Associate Director, Intensive English Institute; Rinker Center for International Programs
Learn more in our Employer Profiles
4/17/2009
- Marymount Manhattan College (New York) : Director of International Recruitment and Multicultural Proagrams
4/14/2009
- Institute for Study Abroad (Indiana) : Director of Latin American Programs
4/13/2009
- St. George’s University (New York) : Manager of Overseas Recruitment Offices
4/8/2009
- The School for Field Studies (Kenya) : Center Director
JET alum heads Writopia Lab, creative writing nonprofit in D.C.
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This just in from JETAA DC:
Hi fellow JET alums,
I’ve just gotten a job as the DC director of a creative writing nonprofit called Writopia Lab (www.Writopialab.org/writopia-washington-dc.html) which holds writing workshops for kids and teens. The organization is based in NYC and is brand new to this area, so I’m trying to spread the word about summer workshops. I know that many of you are involved in schools and arts/education organizations, so if you know of lists/folks to pass this info onto, could you please do so? And let me know? I really appreciate any help you can give, as well as any advice for spreading this great organization to Washington! (Contacts at schools / local publications especially appreciated!)
Thanks so much!
Kathy Crutcher (Gifu ’00-’01) Read More
JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following events through the Consulate General of Japan in Toronto website and thought they might be of interest to former JETs in the Toronto area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
Click the respective links for more information related to the following events taking place in the Toronto area at the end of April and throughout May.
April 29 – The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre hosts a Dedication to Bill Hashizume, the translator of an invaluable directory of Japanese living in Canada, published in 1921.
April 30 – The Tokyo String Quartet plays the secnd concert of a Beethoven cycle which will develop over two concerts each season of Music Toronto for three seasons.
May 1 – The Japan Foundation, Toronto presents ANTIMATTER: A Viewpoint on Contemporary Japanese Art, a lecture by Yuri Mitsuda, the Curator for the Shoto Museum of Art in Tokyo.
May 2 – It’s time once again for the annual JCCC Bazzar at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre!
May 3 to 31 – East Meets West – The Art of Gerald and Setsuko Lazare at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre is the coming together of two people from distinctly different cultures, in love with art, and how it affected their future lives and careers.
May 6 – After hugely successful performances for two years in a row, Katsura Sanshi, the Rakugo master, will be returning for the third time to Toronto for a single performance at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.
May 6 to 9 – The annual CanAsian International Dance Festival is known for the presentation of world-class, pan-Asian dance that ranges from rarely seen traditional dances, to cutting edge contemporary forms.
May 25 – The Canadian Soccer Association will host the Women’s National Soccer Team of Japan for an intermational friendly match.
Japan America Society Roundup 4.25.09
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Current Hiroshima-ken JET Gail Meadows shines a light on some of the upcoming events of various Japan America Societies…
Lecture by Patricia MacLachlan – MacLachlan, Professor of Asian Studies at University of Texas, Austin, will give a lecture titled “Two Steps Forward, One Step Back? Political Change (and Non-Change) and the Future of Japanese Business.” MacLachlan will explore the past decade of political change in Japan and implications for innovation and entrepreneurship in the business community, paying particular attention to the ongoing process of postal privatization and other instances of “structural reform.” Free and open to the public. RSVP by April 28.
- Date: Friday, May 1
- Time: 3 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a wine reception
- Place: Stanford University, Encina Hall, 616 Serra St. (East Wing, Third Floor, Daniel and Nancy Okimoto Conference Room)
- For more information: http://japansocietyofnortherncalifornia.myshopify.com/products/maclachlan
- Contemporary Voices in Clay – Lacoste Gallery presents the work of Jeff Shapiro and four Japanese contemporary ceramic artists: Suzuki Goro, Kakurezaki Ryuichi, Kohyama Yasuhisa and Masamichi Yoshikawa.
- Date: Saturday, May 2
- Time: Special gallery talk and walk through with the artists of the exhibition at 2 p.m. (Space is limited; RSVP here .) Opening reception from 3 to 5 p.m.
- Place: Lacoste Gallery, 25 Main St., Concord, Massachusetts
- For more information: http://www.us-japan.org/boston/Calendar.html
Kodomo No Hi – Children and adults are invited to celebrate Children’s Day through performance and craft making. Watch a play of Japan’s classic stories for children, including Momotaro (Peach Boy) and Kintaro, and song and dance performed by Theater Arts Japan -KIDS-. Following the performance, participants can enjoy Japanese snacks while creating samurai hats and carp streamers, traditional Children’s Day decorations. The program is recommended for children ages 3 to 10. Tickets are $15 per family (up to five members), or just $10 if one family member is a Japan Society member. Advanced ticket purchase is strongly recommended.
- Date: Sunday, May 3
- Time: 2 p.m.
- For more information: http://www.japansociety.org/event_detail?eid=4fcb0fcd
Does your Japan America Society have an upcoming event that you’d like to share with JetWit readers? Email Gail Meadows the info.
JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following photography show through the Embassy of Japan in Canada website and thought it might be of interest to former JETs in Gatineau and the surrounding area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
Counter-Photography: Japan’s Artists Today
This exhibition brought to you by the Japan Foundation presents the work of eleven Japanese photographers sharing a common interest and pursuing a common ideal, to reveal the richness of the invisible or what is concealed in our material reality bereft of spirituality.
Date:
April 30 – June 7, 2009
Time:
Monday – Friday: 9am – 4:30pm, Thursdays: 9am – 8pm, Sundays: 12pm – 5pm
Location:
Galerie Montcalm, 25 rue Laurier, 1st floor, Gatineau
Admission:
Free
For more information, see the Ville de Gatineau webpage.
Florida JETAA: Japanese Lantern Fest in Clearwater, FL
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JetWit has learned that Tom Gregorich, the new Florida JETAA president, is going to be volunteering at the Japanese Culture and Lantern Festival in Clearwater this Saturday, celebrating Clearwater’s 50th anniversary of its sister city relationship with Nagano, and he encourages JET alums in the area to come out. Tom says, “I’m sure that many of you have good memories of Japanese matsuri, so this should be fun. I look forward to meeting some of you there.”
JETAA Chicago’s Japanese Food Hook-up
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Getting our Japanese food fix in NYC, LA, SF, Seattle and even places like D.C., Portland and Atlanta is relatively easy. But what about the Midwest? The following article by JETAA Chicago Treasurer Todd Kaiser, which appeared in the Spring 2009 Issue of the JETAA Chicago Newsletter, is a helpful resource for any JET alums that end up in or plan to go to Chicago.
Todd Kaiser: Your Chicago-area Japanese Food Hookup
Need more natto for your superbowl party? Wanna stock up on Pocari Sweat for your marathon training? Here’s a quick list of places to buy Japanese food (and stuff) in and around Chicago:
Mitsua – www.mitsuwa.com – 100 E. Algonquin Rd. (Arlington Heights) – If you didn’t already know it, Arlington Heights is the Chicago suburb where a lot of Japanese people live and Mitsuwa is where they shop. Mitsuwa is a huge Japanese supermarket with authentic Japanese food and health & beauty products. Check out the Japanese food court, bookstore and CD shop.
H Mart – www.hmart.com – 801 Civic Center Dr. (Niles) – This Korean superstore is similar to Mitsuwa but newer, bigger and closer to the city. H Mart is Korean but you can find plenty of Japanese food too. There are a couple of nice ladies working at a table in the middle of the market making kimchi. Buy a big bag of it because it’s fantastic. Buy an extra bag and send it to me. Then check out the home center to pick up a hot carpet, bento box, rice cooker, and hamutaro slippers.
Chicago Food Corporation (Joong Boo Market) – www.chicagofood.com – 3333 N. Kimball – This is a smaller Korean market that also sells Japanese vegetables, rice, curry, natto, gyoza and more. Hit up the small food counter in the back if you’re up for Korean food. This market is small, older and crowded, but convenient.
Tensuke Market – 3 S Arlington Heights Rd (Elk Grove) – Tensuke is known in the J-community for a great seafood department and their sashimi grade fish is popular. If you can read Japanese, they also have plenty of J-Magazines. If you’re feeling really Japanese, stand there a few hours and read. No one will mind here. Try a sushi setto or donburi at the small restaurant in the back. Tell them I sent you.
