SHINKANSEN EXPRESS V3issue2 - JETAASAjetaasa.ca/.../2012/04/Shinkansen_Express_v3.2.pdf · JETAA Southern Alberta Shinkansen Express : Volume 3, Issue 2 1 しんかんせん EXPRESS

JETAA Southern Alberta Shinkansen Express: Volume 3, Issue 2 1

しんかんせんしんかんせんしんかんせんしんかんせん EXPRESS Volume 3, Issue 2, April – June 2011

こんにちは！

In this issue:

Upcoming Events ......................................................................................................................... 2

CJCA Stampede Breakfast ....................................................................................................... 2

JETAA Southern Alberta’s Annual Summer BBQ and Garage Sale ......................................... 2

Japanese Festival (Obon/Matsuri) ............................................................................................ 2

Event Reports ............................................................................................................................... 4

Hana Matsuri and Disaster Relief Fundraiser ........................................................................... 4

JET Alumni National Conference .............................................................................................. 5

JET Pre-departure Orientation .................................................................................................. 6

Canadian JET Programme Alumni Raise Thousands for Japan Relief Effort! .............................. 7

Things Learned in Japan .............................................................................................................. 7

Japan Inviting JETAA to Disaster-Stricken Areas ......................................................................... 9

Job Posting: Full-Time JET Programme Coordinator Position ..................................................... 9

Photo of the Season ................................................................................................................... 10

Stay in Touch with JETAA Southern Alberta .............................................................................. 11

Useful Websites:......................................................................................................................... 11

JETAA Southern Alberta Contact Information ............................................................................ 11

Hello JETAA SA members! My name is Jeff Jennens and I have been the JET Programme Coordinator at the Consulate General of Japan in Calgary since October, 2010. Unfortunately, I have just submitted my letter of resignation to the Consulate General of Japan in Calgary and my last day will be July 31st, the day after our new JET participants depart for Japan. This year, I was accepted to the UBC secondary education program, so I will be moving to Vancouver in order to pursue a career as an English and Japanese high school teacher. I have enjoyed every minute of my job here in Calgary and I hope the Programme will be as successful in the future as it has been thus far. A crucial part of the JET Programme's success has been the strength of the JETAAs, so I ask everyone to please work hard to continue supporting the JETAA, including JETAASA, in subsequent years. Thank you all for the amazing year and I wish you all the best! Sincerely, Jeff Jennens Japan Exchange & Teaching Alumni Association Southern Alberta (www.sajetaa.org)


Upcoming Events CJCA Stampede Breakfast Saturday July 9, 2011 9:00 – 11:00am Nikkei Cultural Centre 2236 29th Street S.W. On Saturday July 9th, CJCA will be holding their second annual Stampede Breakfast and will be preparing for an attendance of 500. For more details please check out their website, or contact CJCA: CJCA: http://www.calgaryjca.com/ twitter @calgaryjca JETAA Southern Alberta’s Annual Summer BBQ and Garage Sale Our annual summer BBQ will be held mid-to-late August of this year. We will be accepting donations of gently-used Japanese goods, books and items that are languishing in boxes and basements of your home. Want to find a new home for your omiyage? We’d love to help! We will be holding a volunteer meeting in late July to prepare for the BBQ. Please contact us if you’re interested in helping out during this great event! Contact us by email at: [email protected]

Japanese Festival (Obon/Matsuri) Saturday August 27, 2011 11:00am – 4:00pm Bridgeland Riverside Community Centre and Park 917 Centre Ave S.E. FREE ADMISSION This year, the CJCA (Calgary Japanese Community Association) and the Calgary Buddhist Church have teamed up to organize a grande Japanese-style Summer Festival in conjunction with the Obon Festival in August. Expect Japanese crafts, fusion foods, traditional obon dancing and other activities. Performances by Calgary Midnight Taiko Drummers, CJCA Renshikan Karate Club, Hiro’s Judo Club, Calgary Kendo Club, Kaede Cultural Society of Calgary Dance Group and more! Please see the event poster on the next page for a list of sponsors!

Photo by Ming Ko



Event Reports Hana Matsuri and Disaster Relief Fundraiser April 9, 2011 By Carrie Fischer

Hana Matsuri this year was a huge success and we couldn’t have pulled it off without all our wonderful volunteers and demonstrators. Roughly fifty people came to sample a bit of Japanese culture between 2:30 and 4:30p.m. We were also lucky enough to be featured on Global news not once, but twice! Our Event Coordinator, Jenn Kennedy was the guest on the Global Morning News and the event was featured on Global News Hour in the evening. Starting off our afternoon was Ms. Otsuki, and her assistants Rebecca and Freddie of the Calgary Sougetsu Ikebana Group. Ms. Otsuki made three lovely pieces to display while she demonstrated her craft. Afterwards she was kind enough to make her pieces into two beautiful potted pieces and two bouquets. Next up was Shona-Mae and Jay Arca, a brother-sister team who performed a beautiful Jpop set for us on the piano, cymbals and acoustic box. The siblings took us away to Japan with some classics and favorites including Shima Uta by The Boom. Last up was our dear friends, Midnight Taiko Kai. The drummers started out with two of their favorite numbers before inviting the audience up to try their hand

at taiko drumming! As usual, they were a huge hit. Joining us as well was:

• the CJCA to collect Red Cross donations as well as sell some beautiful Japanese goods

• The Japanese Students Association selling t-shirts

• Wings to Japan, selling paper cranes and accepting Red Cross donations

• Ms. Keiko Hatch and her daughter, Cielia, selling Japanese recipe cards

Together with these groups our Hana Matsuri raised $1,145 for the Japanese Relief effort. Thank you again to all our volunteers and everyone who came out to our wonderful event. We look forward to working with and seeing you all again!

Taken by Ming Ko


JET Alumni National Conference Vancouver, British Columbia June 3-5, 2011 By Jenn Kennedy

From June 3rd- 5th, 2011, JETAA Southern Alberta Executive members Carrie Fischer and Jennifer Kennedy were in Vancouver to participate in the JETAA Canada National Conference. Executive Members from JETAA Quebec/Atlantic, Ottawa, Toronto, Manitoba/Sask., Southern & Northern Alberta and B.C./Yukon as well as representatives from CLAIR New York, MOFA and the Vancouver Consulate were all present to participate in the three day conference. The conference was a great venue to discuss the current status of the JET Programme with members of CLAIR and MOFA, who discussed some of the changes that are taking place. Despite these changes, the representatives assured the JETAA representatives that they believe in the JET Programme and highlighted their belief in the “quality” that comes with using JETs. Topics of discussion throughout the conference included: the importance and utility of using social medial to reach out to JETAA members, reviewing the accomplishments of each chapter this past year, focusing on ways to improve Pre-departure Orientations for new JET’s and the overall ways to help promote JET, and JETAA, and retain and attract new membership. JETAA Canada representative Jamiena Shan presented on the status of the JETAA Canada and the JETAA Canada

website (which we are happy to say is now up and running, please visit us at www.jetaacanada.com). This is going to be a very effective and useful tool for JETAA Canada, as we are hoping that it can be used as a first point of contact for returning JETs. The website will have links to all chapters across Canada and can help refer newly returned JETS to a chapter in their area. The conference was fantastically organized and run, many thanks to JETAA BC/Yukon! Carrie and I learned a lot from this conference and we are hoping to start implementing new ideas and advancing our presence through social media and technology! We have lots of great ideas that we would love to start working on! If you are interested in helping us promote the JET Programme, JETAA Southern Alberta and JETAA Canada through technology, social media, or helping us work on our some of our ideas, please contact us @ [email protected]. Or if you’re just looking for ways to stay connected, you can follow us on twitter @jetaasa, you can friend or like us on facebook: JETAA Southern Alberta or visit us on our website @ www.sajetaa.org

We look forward to hearing from you!

Taken by JETAA BC


JET Pre-departure Orientation June 18, 2011 By Jenn Kennedy

This year the 2011 Pre-departure Orientation was held on June 18th from 9:00am-4:30pm at the University of Calgary. 12 new, eager and excited JET’s (short-listed and alternates) showed up to participate in the days’ events. This year we decided to ask the participants before the orientation what they would be interested in hearing about. So, based on their responses presentations included: money and finance, “getting around” (transportation), packing, relationships, studying Japanese and life outside of school. We were also fortunate enough to have Sasahara-san from the consulate come in and speak to the participants about safety in light of this year’s earthquakes and tsunami. Sasahara-san’s greeting was followed up by a safety presentation given by Jeff Jennens (JET Programme Coordinator), which parents were invited to attend.

Picture by Ming Ko

This was followed by a final question and answer period, where JET’s were invited to ask any last questions they had before the day was over. We had lots of yummy treats throughout the day and had an amazing bento lunch from Kinjo’s. The JETAA Southern Alberta Executive was very grateful to have had seven amazing volunteers who truly helped make this day a success. The new JET’s really rely on the advice they receive from JET alumni and I know that the JET’s appreciated all of the help and advice they received from the alumni volunteers. Overall, the day was full of great discussions, lots of questions and countless trips down memory lane for the JET Alumni. Many thanks go out to all the volunteers who helped make the day amazing and best wishes for a great JET experience to all the JETs!

Picture by Ming Ko


Canadian JET Programme Alumni Raise Thousands for Japan Relief Effort! By JETAA Canada

Thousands of members of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme Alumni Association of Canada have banded together to help Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11. JETAA Canada (7 Chapters) has raised close to $51,000! Our 7 Canadian chapters of former JET Programme participants across the country have hosted a number of benefit events aimed at disaster relief and rebuilding the devastated areas of North Eastern Japan. This nation-wide initiative, to show support, foster awareness and raise funds for Japan, has brought together JETAA chapters, Japanese-Canadian communities and locally based Japanese cultural organizations. All of these groups have worked together, to share knowledge and resources with the goal of helping Japan in this time of need.

Things Learned in Japan By Brandi Johnson

Disclaimer: I have learned all of these “rules” from first-hand experience and it has been a lot of fun and sometimes painful. Some of them may seem exaggerated (and are), but I assure you it is all true to some extent. Some of these rules (mainly with regard to the Japanese people themselves) are generalizations based on a few encounters and are not meant to be stated or taken as absolute fact and are not meant to be rude or derogatory to anyone, least of all the Japanese. It’s is just simply a fun and quirky little thing I’ve come up with. Without further ado… 1. Birds are NOT nocturnal. Bats are nocturnal. Thus the dark objects flying at you during the night at the speed of mach 1 are bats not birds. 2. A rice cooker that is dropped will eventually retaliate against the offender. Especially if said rice cooker now has teeth. (I lost a good portion of the skin on my toe learning this lesson.) 3. Cockroaches are awful, horrid, loathsome, vile, nasty, ugly suckers. (Side note: new words need to be invented to describe cockroaches.) 4. Cockroaches are FAST. World’s fastest man or woman has nothing on cockroaches 5. Cockroaches are the ULTIMATE in stealth and have a high sense of self-preservation. 6. When killing a cockroach chemical warfare must be waged. And it is WAR. Protective


combat gear is not needed, but highly recommended. 7. Japanese TV programs are SCARY and not suitable for someone with an intellect over the age of three. 8. There is nothing good about humidity. If there is something good about humidity, it has yet to be determined. 9. Riding a bike and using an umbrella simultaneously is a dangerous sport. one that will cause injury. (Should’ve seen the bruise on my thigh and the two holes in my palm obtained from determining this fact, ah, the price of discovery!) 10. Japanese have an odd conception of how to use space. Sometimes absolutely brilliant other times you wonder what they were thinking. The latter seems to happen more often. 11. Japanese are dangerous drivers. Looking both ways is a foreign concept. They will only look in the direction they wish to go. If you are going in the opposite direction from which they are looking you proceed at your own risk. 12. Being on sidewalks doesn’t guarantee safety from cars as the cars will sometimes drive on them to avoid waiting in traffic just to make a turn or to get around a car not moving on the road. 13. When in Japan you will, despite working out and eating well, gain weight. This is inevitable.

14. Old Japanese ladies (and some men) cannot walk in a straight line and you cannot predict which way the will weave next. Another reason biking is such a dangerous sport. 15. In reality Pedestrians and cyclists DO NOT have the right of way. Cars do! A fact I would do well to remember. 16. Being able to say one or two words in poor Japanese will bring one of two reactions: one – heaps of praise will be given to you and then that will be the end of it. Or two – they will assume you are fluent and speak to you in rapid Japanese, after lavishing you with praise. 17. Japanese have a hate-love relationship with foreigners. They hate it that they love us so much. 18. Japanese approach foreigners with one of two reactions; one – absolute fear in which they will run for their lives lest they make a mistake, or two – curiosity mixed with a dose of anxiety. 19. You will pick up Japanese words and phrases and use them appropriately with other JETs ,Japanese co-workers and friends. 20. You will adopt some Japanese mannerisms no matter how hard you try not to. Again they will be used with family and friends back home who will not understand them or will think you have gone around the bend.


Japan Inviting JETAA to Disaster-Stricken Areas The Japan Tourism Agency, MOFA, and other local governments in Japan want to sponsor 20 ex-JETs -- who were placed in Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima or Sendai -- to go back to Japan for one week in order to see the damages in the afflicted areas, so that when they return to their home countries, they can let people know what they experienced there. All expenses are paid (food, travel, insurance, etc.), except personal expenses. Unfortunately, because the Canadian Government still restricts Canadian nationals to travel to the regions within 80km of Fukushima Daiichi, we can't recommend any ex-JETs who were placed in these cities or towns. Applications must be mailed to the Consulate General of Japan in Calgary by July 8th, 2011. Please contact Jeff Jennens at [email protected] ASAP to apply!

Job Posting: Full-Time JET Programme Coordinator Position The Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary is currently accepting applications for the JET Programme Coordinator position. Please submit your resume with a cover letter in English to Jeff Jennens before 17:00, Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 in one of the following ways: 1) Email: [email protected] 2) Mail: Consulate General of Japan in Calgary (ATTN: JET Coordinator)

2300 TransCanada Tower 450 –1st Street SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 5H1

3) FAX: 403-294-1645 4) In Person: at the Consulate General of Japan in Calgary (address written above) 1. Job Summary Duties include, but are not limited to: * Answering inquiries regarding the JET Programme (by e-mail and in person) * Actively promoting the JET Programme in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba * Budgeting of the JET Programme (yearly and by event) * Coordinating the JET interviews (including travel to Winnipeg), training and departure * Corresponding with other JET Coordinators in Canada, making incremental improvements to the Programme * Working with JET Alumni Associations (JETAA) to process their budget requests and payments * Other duties related to Information and Cultural Affairs


2. Date and period of contract *One to three year contract (negotiable), including a one month probationary period, commencing on August 2nd, 2011. 3. Qualifications We would like to hear from you if you: * Have excellent organizational, problem solving and public speaking skills * Are comfortable working independently and taking initiative * Are familiar with MS Office tools such as Word, Excel and the internet * Have knowledge of the Japanese public education system * Have experience living in Japan * Are pleasant and enjoy working with people * Are a JET Alumnus (preferred) * Are willing to undergo a police record check 4. Contract Conditions *Full-time position *Commences on August 2nd, 2011. *Working hours: 9:00-12:30, 13:30-17:00, Monday – Friday except Consulate holidays *Some overtime will be mandatory for events related to the Consulate. *Salary: to be determined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters according to experience

Photo of the Season

Photograph by Jeff Jennens


Stay in Touch with JETAA Southern Alberta

Want to be the first to know when we’re having an event? Join our Facebook group! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2406291059

Follow us on Twitter at @jetaasa. Also, keep an eye out for our brand new JETAA Southern Alberta website!

JETAA Southern Alberta would still love your help! We’re looking for eager volunteers to help out our executive team! Possible roles include: treasurer, communications coordinator, and website administrator. Looking for some volunteer experience? Miss talking about Japan? Like travelling? Want to stay involved with the JET community? Free sushi? Volunteer for a position with JETAA Southern Alberta! On average members of the JETAA Southern Alberta executive volunteer between 2-4 hours a month, depending on the position. Interested? Want more details? Contact us at [email protected] ASAP!

Useful Websites: Consulate-General of Japan http://www.calgary.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/ JETAA Canada http://www.jetaacanada.com/ JETAA International http://www.jetalumni.org/158/ JET Programme www.jetprogramme.org CJCA http://www.calgaryjca.com/index.htm Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/jet/ JETwit.com http://jetwit.com/wordpress/ JETAA Southern Alberta Contact Information For all inquiries, information or submissions, please email: [email protected]

Documents

SHINKANSEN EXPRESS V3issue2 - JETAASAjetaasa.ca/.../2012/04/Shinkansen_Express_v3.2.pdf · JETAA Southern Alberta Shinkansen Express : Volume 3, Issue 2 1 しんかんせん EXPRESS