JET Streams the JET Programme Alumni Association Newsletter 2008 Edition Volume 18 from the CLAIR JETAA LIAISON
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JET Streams The JET Programme Alumni Association Newsletter 2008 Edition Volume 18 FROM THE CLAIR JETAA LIAISON Hello, and welcome to the 2008 edition of the JET Streams newsletter. This newsletter is a forum for former JET Programme participants to share their stories with one another, and to stay connected to the development of both the JET Programme and the JET Alumni Association. JET Streams is distributed via email once a year to all alumni who request it, and is also sent to all JET participants completing their tenure on the JET Programme this year. On behalf of CLAIR, I would like to say a big otsukaresama to the 2,200 participants finishing the JET Programme this summer. I would also like to thank all of the JETAA chapters and individuals who have contributed articles for this issue of JET Streams. We greatly appreciate it! IN THIS ISSUE: Sharon Bignell - CLAIR JETAA Liaison ([email protected]) From the CLAIR JETAA 1 Liaison JETAA News 1 JETAA NEWS JET Programme News 2 20th Anniversary of CLAIR 3 JETAA Member Count governments after their return home. The 2007 JETAA International 4 The JET Alumni Association (JETAA) publication will be sent to Japanese local Meeting in Toronto currently has 49 regional chapters in governments, Japanese embassies and JET Alumni Voices: 5 sixteen of the fifty-four countries that consulates, and JETAA chapters, and will “On Being an English have participated on the JET Programme be put on the JET Programme website. Teacher and Following Your Dreams” (Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, by Charles Browne France, Germany, Ireland, Jamaica, CLAIR would like to ask all JET alumni for their help to provide great examples to JET Alumni Voices: 7 Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Northern include in this publication. “Reflections on Japan” Ireland, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, by Paul Buckland and the U.S.A.). As of April 2008, there JET Alumni Voices: 8 are over 44,000 JET alumni spread across In particular, we are looking for: Alumni who are still in contact with “New Orleans JETAA the world, of which approximately 22,000 Volunteer Trip, 2007” are JETAA members. their former Contracting Organisation, by Bianca Jarvis school or prefecture JET Alumni Voices: 9 Update your Contact Information Alumni whose work involves “Japanese Language Please take a moment to update your cooperating with Japanese schools, Education in the UK” by Kim Woodruff contact details with CLAIR, to ensure local governments or prefectures. For you continue to receive the example, work involving sister city A Word from the AJET 10 Chair JET Streams newsletter via email, relations or organising student and all other CLAIR announcements. exchange visits to Japan, etc. 16th Annual JET 11 Programme Essay Contest You can update your information Alumni who are actively promoting “Given Names” by visiting the “Former JETs” section Japan in their home countries either as by Meredith Hodges-Boos of the JET Programme website part of a Japan-affiliated organisation or JETAA Chapter News: 14 (www.jetprogramme.org) or alternatively, individually Centennial of Japanese Immigration to Brazil email your contact details to: Photos of JET alumni promoting Japan [email protected]. in their home countries JETAA Chapter News: 16 JETAA USA Essay Contest JETAA Chapter Activities 21 CLAIR to Produce Alumni Publication If you are involved in any of the above Setting up a JETAA 26 CLAIR is currently working on a and would be willing to provide Chapter publication that promotes the activities of information for this publication, please JETAA Chapter 27 JET alumni around the world, and send an email to [email protected] by Representatives List showcases their continued interaction August 31, 2008. We really appreciate your help! with Japan and Japanese local 1 Volume 18 2008 Edition JETAA NEWS (Continued) Pension Refund Information friendship developed between JET participants, is Japanese Pension Insurance was deducted from your celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Since its monthly salary while you were a JET participant. If establishment, it has grown to be one of the largest you are eligible and have not yet applied for the alumni associations in the world, playing an Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment (dattai ichijikin) important role in the promotion of Japan in and the refund on the 20% flat tax that is levied on it, participant countries. JETAA International and please visit the “Former JETs” section of the JET individual JETAA chapters have planned various Programme website (www.jetprogramme.org) for events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of JETAA. details on how to apply. Please note that there are Check with your local JETAA chapter to see how you time limits on pension and tax refund applications. can get involved or visit the JETAA International We encourage you to apply for your refunds early, in website: www.jetalumni.org. order to avoid the possibility of being denied funds you are entitled to. JETALUMNI.ORG Your portal to all things JETAA related! JET Alumni Survey Coming soon to jetalumni.org is the new CMS This year, CLAIR will undertake an online survey of Membership Database! Find your old friends, sign-up former JET participants who finished their tenure on to join JETAA both internationally and locally, or just the JET Programme two years previously. More find out what‟s going on in the world of JETAA. All information will be sent out via email at a later date. this will soon be CLAIR greatly appreciates honest feedback about the available to you! Watch JET Programme, so please take the time to complete your JETAA chapter the survey and let us know your opinions. news or go to www.jetalumni.org for 20th Anniversary of JETAA the latest news and The JET Alumni Association (JETAA), created in release date. 1989 to strengthen and maintain the bonds of JET PROGRAMME NEWS Countries and Participant Numbers New JET Programme Website! In the 2007-2008 JET Programme year, participants On April 1, 2008, CLAIR introduced its new JET were welcomed from 41 countries. In total, there Programme website. The website contains lots of were 4,661 ALTs, 398 CIRs, and 13 SEAs. For the useful information for aspiring, current and former 2008-2009 year, the JET Programme welcomed about JETs. 1,800 new JETs, bringing the total number of participants to approximately 4,700. Take a look at the top page for the latest JET Programme announcements and details about New CLAIR Tokyo Office submission criteria and deadlines for the JET Essay On May 26, 2008, the CLAIR Tokyo Office relocated to the address below. Please be sure to send all www.jetprogramme.org correspondence to this address. Sogo-Hanzomon Building Kojimachi 1-7 Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083 JAPAN Phone and fax numbers have also changed, however email addresses remain the same. Tel: 03-5213-1729 (JETLine) Fax: 03-5213-1743 2 2008 Edition Volume 18 Competition, JET Journal, etc., which alumni can We invite you to have a look and participate in not also submit to. There is also a “Former JETs” section, only the discussions on the former JETs forum, but where you can: also to share your experiences with both current and update your contact details aspiring JETs. The forums can be accessed at the download past editions of JET Streams following address: www.jetprogramme.org/forums/ find information about the pension refund In the “Current JETs” section, you can download the “After JET Guide”, which contains information about preparing to go home, reverse culture shock, further education, post-JET employment, and JETAA. Would you like to join the JET Alumni Association? We hope you will find the new website useful, and The JET Alumni Association (JETAA) was created will check back often to see new additions and in 1989 to strengthen and maintain the bonds of features. friendship developed between JET Programme participants, and to promote a broader and JET Programme Forums deeper understanding of Japan and the countries CLAIR has created forums on the JET Programme participating on the JET Programme. website to provide a discussion place for anyone For further information about JETAA or to join involved with or interested in the JET Programme. your nearest chapter, visit the JETAA The forums went online on April 1, 2008, and there is International website at: www.jetalumni.org/ a separate forum for former JETs. 20th ANNIVERSARY OF CLAIR On July 25th, 2008, the Council of Local Authorities undertaking research, and providing assistance to for International Relations (CLAIR) held a ceremony local governments, both in Japan and abroad. To in Tokyo to commemorate its 20th anniversary. further these aims, CLAIR also established a network Speeches were made by representatives from each of of overseas offices in major cities: New York and the ministries that co-sponsor the JET Programme: London (established in 1989), Paris and Singapore the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, (1990), Seoul (1993), Sydney (1994) and Beijing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of (1997). Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Following this, a commemorative The JET Programme Management Department speech was given by New Zealand Ambassador to became a part of CLAIR in August, 1989. Before Japan, Mr. Ian Forbes Kennedy, about international this, all work related to JET participants‟ placement, exchange between New Zealand and Japan. In the counselling, conference planning, etc. had been evening, a reception was held where a 20th undertaken by a separate organisation, which was anniversary commemorative DVD was shown. founded in 1986. With the establishment of CLAIR, however, it was realised that the goals of both In addition, CLAIR produced a 20th anniversary organisations were similar: to promote publication, which details the history of CLAIR and internationalisation in Japan‟s local communities.