It's getting close...

    7 days until the farewell/early birthday party at my house, where I'll get to see a lot of friends and family for a final time before I leave

    14 days until the last day of my current job (where I've worked at for 7 YEARS). I'll miss some of my coworkers, but I am very happy to be moving on to something new!

    And, last but certainly not least, 21 days until I accomplish one of the biggest items on my bucket list -- JAPAN.


    These past few weeks have been super busy with work, running errands, and trying to hang out with friends as much as humanly possible. Two of my best friends are moving to Baltimore today, which is a good 7 hours away, and I already miss them :( . One of my other friends who can't attend the party got to hang out last weekend and I have no idea when I'll get to see her again. There is just a lot of goodbyes going on recently and it's making the whole "moving to Japan" thing super real. Like, this is a thing I am actually doing. People are saying goodbye to me, and it's not the "I'll see you again in a couple of weeks for dinner" type of goodbye. It's the "I have no idea when I'll see you again. It will probably be a couple of years or something. We'll have to Skype every now and then..." type of goodbye. It's so strange.

    As far as preparations go, there's a lot left to do. Still got to call Visa about using my card overseas. Still got to get vaccines, if I'm going to get any at all (I'll probably just update my tetanus. I live life on the edge..). Still got to go to the dentist, if I still want to do that (probably not). Got to finish packing, but I've already got quite a bit of that done, actually. I have to get a mailer box and send off some bulky winter clothes to Japan ahead of me. Gotta print off some pictures that I took of my house and family that I can show students. Aaaaaand....I think that's about it. I think.

    Life has been moving pretty fast. I kept telling myself I would have plenty of time to get all this stuff done, but...not really. 21 days = 3 weeks, and I have to tell myself not to start freaking out. I'm excited, don't get me wrong, but stress has been getting the better of me lately. I think I'll going to go run off this nervous energy and start making a detailed to-do list for next week....



 

Yay! It's an Update!

So I have finally got the e-mail with loads of important documents (contract, guidebook, apartment details, etc.)! Here is what I know:
1) I'll be living near the downtown area of Suzuka.
2) My apartment is considered spacious in comparison to other JET apartments
3) It will be equipped with a western style toilet(THANK GOD) and a dryer. If I'm getting any other furnishings, I don't know yet.
4) I'll be alternating between two middle schools every two weeks. I may also visit some elementary schools and have occasional office hours at the City Hall.
5) I will only have to pay about 70,000 yen for apartment starting costs, which is pretty freaking awesome. I was expecting to have to pay at least 100,000 yen.


What I don't know is whether or not I have a predecessor. I know I don't have a JET pred, but I assume I do have one from the other ALT company. However, I do not know if this person is expected to contact me or not. It would be cool to know if any other furnishings would be left in the apartment for me and other little details.

I am really happy that I'm going to be in the main part of the city, close to lots of things to do and places to eat :)  Not to mention, most of the other ALTs in the city live in this same area. If you're reading this and you're a Mie prefecture JET too (or if you're a JET anywhere remotely nearby), let me know! I want to meet everyone I can.

....Hi

     Just dropping by to say hey, pretty much. Nothing has really happened since my last post, but I'm expecting to hearing some new news soonish. Just letting you guys know I'm still alive! haha
 We did get some info on the flight to Japan for us DC Consulate people, actually. We'll be flying through American Airlines: DC to Chicago, Chicago to Tokyo. Yep. Chicago to Tokyo is a 14 HOUR flight. That will be fun, right? heh.
     It seems like I've been getting emails from Japan every Monday for the past couple of weeks, so if that trend continues, I'll wake up tomorrow morning with an update from my BoE! We shall see....

Preparing for the Move

     Not too much has happened since my last post. I still haven't heard anything from my predecessor yet. There is a pretty good chance I may not have one, because it sounds like nobody in Suzuka has taught at a middle school before and I think that's what I'll be teaching... I have heard from the BoE (board of education), though. It was just a hello and welcome e-mail, so I'm still waiting to hear exactly what schools I'll be teaching at and where my apartment will be.
     I'm also still waiting to hear if my background check has made it through or not. I get my next credit card bill next week, so if the charge from the FBI isn't on there, I'll probably get a little worried. Thankfully, the JET office seems very understanding that things can happen and are willing to work with us to help solve problems that arise. I think the DC office said they would send out e-mails on the 15th to all the people they have yet to recieve the background checks from so that we know to call the FBI to see what's up.
     As far as other preparations go, I've bought a new camera -- Sony Cybershot, 12 MP with HD video capabilities and it can take panoramic photos, which is pretty cool. Also, the battery charger is two-prong and compatible with Japanese frequencies and all that jazz. Then, I bought a Samsonite roller luggage set from ebags.com( http://www.ebags.com/product/samsonite/winfield-2-3-piece-luggage-set/234482?couponid=28766504&sourceID=DEALTIME )  It's a little more money than I wanted to spend on luggage, but this set is perfect for my needs. Also, it fits airport regulations perfectly and they are very lightweight for being so heavy duty. I'm using the smallest of the 3 cases as a carry on. I've heard that if you don't spend a decent amount of money on luggage, it will probably fall apart as much as it can get thrown around by airport security, so I don't regret buying these.
     Today, I'm going to try making some phone calls. I say "try", because I really don't like calling and talking to people I don't know on the phone. I need to call banks and see who can convert my dollars into yen, because my bank won't do it. I've heard that there's no easy/cheap place to convert money in the Mie prefecture, so I'm going to go ahead and convert all my money here. Also, I need to make some doctor's appointments...yuck. Gotta get a new pair of glasses before I leave too...
    
     Safe to say, I have my work cut out for me... but I get to go to Japan and have an awesome job and stuff, so it's all worth it in the end :)

My Placement!

Last week, I was sent the email with my placement for JET and I think I'm really going to like it.
I got Suzuka City, in Mie Prefecture! Woot!
To give you an idea of where that is exactly, let's look at a handy dandy map.

As you can see by the teeny tiny map in the bottom right hand corner, it's pretty close to major cities and it's on Japan's main island (Honshu). While the Mie Prefecture is, as a whole, considered a rural prefecture, Suzuka is one of the more urban parts of the area. I'm pretty happy that I'll be so close to the water, considering I'm no where near the ocean at home.
Also, the other JETs in Mie seem to be really friendly and have already been extremely helpful on the MieJets.org forum.
While I'm still nervous about the big move, I'm also very excited. I don't think it's quite hit me yet that I'm actually leaving home. I don't think it will until I'm headed to DC for the Predeparture Orientation....

Regardless, I'm feeling fairly optimistic about everything at the moment. I'm ready for adventure :)

So you've been shortlisted! ....Now what?

     First off, to those of you who have been shortlisted for the JET Program: CONGRATS! The application and interview process can be rough and this isn't an easy job to get into. All that waiting can make a person want to pull out their hair....but you've MADE IT.

     I happened to notice my job results email while in the car, on the way home from a long, tiring day at work. I thought, "Hmm. It's been a few hours since I've had the chance to check my email on my phone....let's see.........oh my god. I see the word "congratulations". It has to be good!!!!  AhHHHHHHH". After I got over the inital shock of this news, I calmed myself down enough to call and text family and friends, then, of course, updated my facebook status :-P 

     The next day, the reality of everything set in. I read over the email again, and made note of all the additional documents that had to be submitted. I sadly realised that my work here was not yet done.... Here's the list of things you'll have to mail in after getting shortlisted or alternated for JET:
          
             1) Reply Form: This is a 2 page document. You answer some basic questions, attach two passport sized photos and a copy of your passport.

            2) FBI Background Check: First, you fill out this form: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/applicant-information-form ... then, you mail that, along with fingerprints(rolled impressions of all 10 fingers), and check/money order/credit card form, to the FBI (FBI CJIS Division – Record Request, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306). If you need the credit card form, you can find it here: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/credit-card-payment-form

             3) IRS Proof of Residency Forms (Form 6166): Here is the form 8802 you'll need to fill out to request From 6166 - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8802.pdf . Make sure you follow whatever instructions you are given from your consulate in your acceptance letter/email. You can find additional information about these forms here: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8802.pdf

             4) Medical Form: You must have a medical doctor fill out this form and make sure they answer every question. I've heard countless stories of people having to go back to their doctor, because something was missing. It includes a urine test, eye test, color blindness test, TB test (or chest xray), vitals (blood pressure and heart rate), and some medical history questions. If the question doesn't apply to you, have the doctor write "N/A".

             5) Proof of graduation: This applies only if you haven't already submitted it with your original application.


       In most cases, you'll be asked to submit the reply form, medical form, and copies of your background check request within 3-4 weeks of your acceptance email. Considering it could take some time to get in to see a doctor, get fingerprints, etc, it's a good idea to get started on these things as quickly as possible. Also, the background check takes anywhere from 6-12 weeks to be done, so sending that out quickly is important; the JET office usually wants it by late June.

      After you get all that sent, you can sit back and relax for a little while, until you get your placement email, which is usually sent in late May/early June. Then, a few weeks after that you'll get some additional info from your BoE (board of education), a contract, and your predecessor's info, so you can ask them questions.

I'll be posting again sometime in the next few days to talk about where I've been placed and what I'm currently doing to prepare for departure!

My Interview Adventure

      Upon hearing that I got the interview, I was, of course, very excited. I was also worried about how I was going to get there and back, what hotel I was going to stay in, etc. etc.....

     I live in western West Virginia, a good 5 hours away from Washington, DC, and I don't drive. Thankfully, my friends, Justin and Jackson, agreed to drive me there (for which I cannot thank them enough), therefore I didn't have to worry about taking the train or plane, which would have cost me a pretty penny. We also made a fun weekend trip of it (but that's a whole other story haha).

     We arrived in DC around midnight the night before my interview, very tired and disoriented. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott on Connecticut Ave. NW, which is conveniently located about 10 minutes walking distance from the Embassy of Japan (where the interviews are held). On weekends, which includes Thursday night to Sunday night, it costs $120 a night. That is pretty cheap in comparison to other area hotels, not to mention it's a really nice hotel! I definitely recommend it.

     No matter how hard I tried, I just could not sleep very well because I was so nervous. My interview time was at 10:35AM. I got up around 8AM, took a shower, ate some breakfast with my friends, then walked to the Embassy. I ended up getting there around 9:50AM, which was earlier than I had planned on arriving, but I decided to go ahead and walk in anyway. A guard checked my ID, then opened a gate to let me in. Then, I went through a metal detector, and met with a woman and showed my ID again. She signed me in and showed me to the waiting room, where there was a video playing and a JET alum, who was answering people's questions.

     I was glad to have arrived as early as I did, because once I walked into the waiting room, it seemed like time just FLEW by. I watched parts of the video, while chatting with a few of the other JET hopefuls and asked the alum a couple of questions. Before I knew it, a guy called my name and I followed him out of the room. He introduced himself as we walked back to the interview room, which was around the corner and down a long, very narrow hallway. I found out he was a JET alum and that he would be one of the people on my interview panel. He commented that I didn't look nervous, which made me laugh, because I was feeling quite the opposite.

     As I walked in the interview room, the two other people on my interview panel stood up to welcome me. I walked over to them, and we shook hands as we introduced ourselves to one another. (I've heard other JETs mention that some interview panel people don't want to shake hands, or they tell you to be seated as you walk in, therefore there is no chance for hand shaking. I say, go with the flow. Just do whatever seems natural at the time.) After introductions, they told me to have a seat and then we got started with the questions immediately.

Here are the questions I was asked:

1) What age group would you most like to teach?

2) How would you deal with homesickness?

3) How do you think Japan views the US, positively and negatively?

4) What would you say if a student asked, "Does everybody in the US have a gun?"

5) What extra-curricular/community related things would you like to get involved in?

6) What difficulties do you anticipate having adjusting to Japanese culture?

7) What qualities make up a good teacher and what qualities make a bad teacher?

8) Have you been keeping up with any current Japanese news?

9) How does JET relate to your future goals?

10) We saw in your essay that you've studied music and have had some experience in music education. Say your supervisor asked you to teach a music related lesson in class. What songs would you teach? How would you turn those songs into a lesson?

11) On your application, you answered that you have some experience with the Japanese language. Could you answer a few questions in Japanese for us? This won't effect whether or not you are hired, but we just want to gauge your ability. (I talked for about 3-4 minutes in Japanese with the native Japanese guy on my interview panel. He started basic, and gradually got more difficult. If I said I didn't understand, he would rephrase the question for me, then I would understand enough to come up with a decent answer)

12) Do you have any questions for us?

....and that was pretty much it! I felt like some of my answers were stupid, but I just kept a smile on my face and did my best to look confident and speak loudly and clearly at all times. I wore a solid black sleeveless dress with a dark gray blazer and black mary-jane-like flats and nude colored pantyhose.

Here is some general advice I have when preparing for your JET Program interview:

1) Give yourself PLENTY of time to get to your interview. Google maps may say that it's a 20 minute drive from your house to your interview, but you could easily run into traffic, turning that 20 minute drive into an hour long drive. Just don't risk it. Be prepared for anything inconvenient that could possibily happen to happen on that day.

2) If you are walking to the interview site, keep an umbrella in your bag. It might also be a good idea to have a water bottle (many tend to get dry mouth when nervous) and, for ladies, an extra pair of hose/tights.

3) Make ABSOLUTELY SURE that you have all the materials that are required. You'll need to bring a form of photo ID (passport or drivers license) and your interview voucher, which is form that will be attached to an email you recieve from your consulate that you'll need to fill out and attach a recent passport sized photo onto. You will not be allowed to enter without these two things.

4) Wear something professional and modest. Ladies, if we can see your cleavage when you bend over, don't wear it. Avoid bold, bright, distracting prints.

5) Smile :)

My next post will be: "You've been accepted into the JET Program!....Now what?" :-P