Newsletter for The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program Alumni Association, New York Chapter Vol. 15, Issue 1 WINTER 2006 THE “FAMILY” ISSUE What’s Inside?! 2 Letter from the Editor KAZOKU-BANASHI!! Family Stories from Days of JET 3 Sayonara Iida-san & Nagumo-san! While most of us went off to Japan alone, our When my little brother came to visit me, my 4 JETAA Society families played a big role in our JET experience, mother sent him with a huge suitcase stuffed whether through their visits or their absence, or in with goodies and necessities. My list of 5 And Baby Makes JET! some cases the susbstitutes we found in Japan, needed items was so large that she could and even the new families we created. Here are barely get the bag closed and had to leave some of those experiences. some things behind. When my brother went 6 Alien Baby through customs they I took my parents to Kyoto asked him to open the 7 Theatre Review: JET and Hiroshima for a bit of bag. To his dismay, he Alum Randall David sightseeing. On our first day opened the bag and loose in Kyoto, I bought a pack of tampons spilled out all Cook’s Sake with the bus tickets at a conbini. I over the place. Appar- Haiku Geisha gave one ticket to each of my ently, my mother couldn’t parents, tore off one for my- fit the two boxes of tam- 9 Mrs. Tanizaki, a short self and put the booklet back pons, so she had spread in my bag. We walked the them in all the open story by Alexei Esikoff one block from the conbini to spaces after everything the bus stop and in that time, was packed. needless to 13 Book Review: JET my father managed to lose say he didn’t speak to me Alum David Mc his ticket. I freaked out! I for two days after his ar- totally took on the role of the rival. Connell’s Importing parent and reprimanded him -Lynnette Martyn Diversity, reviewed by - how could he lose his ticket Justin Tedaldi in one block?! I made him I was a JET in a very small search his pockets, his wallet town, where everyone and the bag he was carrying knew everyone else's 14 DVD Review: and then I proceeded to business, so when my dad Story of a Prostitute & search. After much ado came to visit, it was practi- Gate of Flesh (about nothing - perhaps 150 yen), I reluctantly cally headline news. I brought him into Town tore off another ticket which ruined the symmetry Hall so he could see where I worked, and they of my plan. I would have to buy an additional pulled out all the stops. The Deputy Mayor and 15 Top 12 List & ticket so that we would all have a return ticket. Town Manager formally met with my father in Manga Corner To this day, I still get a hard time every time I go the Mayor's office, the Office Lady served tea to a museum, zoo or ride public transportation and bean cakes, the IT Manager demonstrated with my Dad. He's constantly asking if I'm sure his plans to wire the entire town to high speed that I still have my ticket. He wouldn't want me to internet, etc. Not being used to the celebrity lose it! status of Americans in inaka Japan, my father -Cindy Hoffman (“Kazoku-banashi” continued on page 11) The “FAMILY” Issue As the Pointer Sisters once sang about the JET Alumni Association, “We are fa-mi-lee.” And who are we to argue with the Pointer Sisters. We all went to Japan and lived our lives together, many of us feeling like babies as we looked around our new home with wonder and amazement and suckled from the teat of the Japanese government. We discovered our new playmates and did our best to make friends and learn the local lingo. And then, as we grew more comfortable and confident, perhaps we pushed back against the restraints Editor we felt and carved out our own new identities. And by the time we finished our service, we were like 5,135 distant cousins who had grown into semi-formed adults. Steven Horowitz [email protected] Well, perhaps I’m over-romanticizing a bit. But we did get to know each other and in many in- stances come to rely on each other like family. And as we’ve returned to our real families in our Assistant Editor home country, we still turn to and rely on each other for the original experience that we shared, Justin Tedaldi people with whom we can talk comfortably and who understand us in ways no one else can. So whether you’re an old JET like me, a recently returned JET or even an old JET who’s just President moved to this area, I’d like to say welcome to the JET Alumni family. Sure there are a few crazy Jennifer Olayon relatives among us, but for the most part we’re here for you and all we ask in return is a little partic- [email protected] ipation and the hope that you won’t get too embarrassed when you introduce us to your friends. Vice President Steven Horowitz Katrina Barnas Newsletter Editor [email protected] Secretary Carey Lynn Asselstine WELCOME TO THE FAMILY! [email protected] Presenting the JETAA-NY Officers for 2006 Treasurer Tony McCormac President - Jennifer Olayon [email protected] Vice President - Kat Barnas Social Coordinator Matt Jungblut Treasurer - Tony McCormac [email protected] Secretary - Carey Lynn Asselstine Philadelphia Representative Therese Stephen [email protected] WANT A HARDCOPY OF Webmaster Scott Norman THE NEWSLETTER? [email protected] DATABASE COORDINATOR Shannan Spisak You don’t need a note [email protected] from your o-kaasan. Please check out e-mail from our Secretary and the web site www.jetaany.org for updated announcements. Just e-mail your snail-mail address to: All material contained in this newsletter is the sole property of JETAA New York, Inc. [email protected] Sayonara Iida-san and Nagumo-san! In February, JETAA NY bid a fond farewell to Noriko Iida, and in New York and returning to Japan on February March we will bid an additional 15th to assume a new assignment at the Min- fond farewell to Masahiro istry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. Nagumo, both wonderful and dedi- cated members of our community My stay in New York for three years has been who have returned to Japan. very rewarding. I feel privileged to have had this great opportunity which permitted me to meet Iida-san, as as a key staff member wonderful people such as you. I would like to at the Consulate General of Japan express my sincere appreciation for your sup- in New York, and Nagumo-san as JETAA’s liason with CLAIR, focused on port and friendship that you have kindly extended to me throughout strengthening relations with JETAA NY and promoting the JET Program the past three years. I know that you will extend the same courtesies (among their many other responsibilities!) Their enthusiasm for the alumni to my successor, Mr. Hirotaka Ono. He will arrive in March 2006 to organization made them an integral part of the success of our various events take my position in New York. through their work with JETAA NY on the Pre-Departure Orientations each June and the Welcome Back Reception each October. Additionally, Iida-san I truly hope that our paths cross again in the near future. If you have was an integral part of planning the well-received JETAA International an opportunity to visit Japan or would like to maintain communica- Conference in New York (Feb. 2004), the innovative "Big Brother - Big tions, please feel free to contact me through the JETAA officers. Sister: Japan Cultural Day" (November 2005), and helped to encourage and Please accept my best wishes for your continued success. support us to pursue 501(c)(3) status for our organization, while Nagumo- san helped us to plan the Career Forum and cheerfully helps us prepare for Warmest regards and Farewell, every Newsletter stuffing. We will miss their positive attitude and generosity towards the growth of our organization. Noriko Iida Consulate General of Japan in New York Below is a message from Iida-san: ******** ******** ... and now a farewell message from Nagumo-san: Time flies like an arrow and I am writing to inform you that I will be leaving (“Sayonara” continued on page 15) It’s been a cold winter, but not as cold as in Japan (e.g., this JETAA NEW YORK year’s shinnenkai didn’t even have a blizzard on the same SOCIETY PAGE day.) What it did have was around 50 JET alums packed by Yoku Shitteiru once again into the super-long tatami room at Naniwa while Japanese travel agency that no everyone gorged themselves on serious nabe, of both the seafood and longer advertises in the carnivorous variety. Clara Solomon did another subarashii job of Newsletter and therefore will organizing, collecting the money and even getting her hubby Jeff to help remain nameless at the insis- her out again. Jeff no doubt this year appreciated the increased tence of my editor. attendance by JETASO’s (JET Alumni Significant Others) who all partici- ******** pated in an enlightening discussion of how to negotiate these types of It had been a while since the last Nihongo Dake Dinner, but Brian events in a relationship..