March 1999 Volume 5 Issue 2

Japan Exchange Teaching Alumni Association

March, 1999

Volume #5 Issue #2

OtlentatloH

President's Ramblings As the JET Program moves into another year, the JET Alumni Association continues to grow. Here in BC our chapter has a new set of leaders. I've taken on the reins of the

presidency. There are several new faces on the Steering Committee this year, and this is an extremely welcome sight.

In our brief time since the elections in

January we are already well along the road to our first major activity -the 1999 Preparation Seminar for new JETs. Krista will be looking for volunteers for this wonderful event, so please volunteer.

Speaking about volunteering, the whole theme for 1999 in JETAABC is volunteers.

I've been working with the Steering Committee for over three years now. There are others who are new hands and some who are old

hands. But we really need your help.

JETAABC is ready to take on the world and show the whole world how the best JET

Alumni chapter should be run. As the leader this year we will develop new ideas and new activities to make JETAABC just hum with activity and things to interest more and more

JETAABC's largest and perhaps most

important event of the year is rapidly approaching. The JET Orientation Seminar for the departing JET Program(me) participants.

This year we are lucky enough to have Krista Watson in charge of organizing and

coordinating the two day conference. May 29 and 30 are already rapidly approaching and those of us who have started the preplanning have realized the tremendous amount of work

that is required in preparation for this conference. SO:

1999 JET Orientation Seminar

needs you: The weekend of May 29 and 30 We need speakers for a variety of topics Your audience will be between 10 and 120

There are other volunteer positions available

There >vill be 2 or 3 meetings beforehand Free lunch and other benefits!

Call Krista Watson @ 733-5790 or e-mail kristaw@sprint.ca We need you right away. Call now!

of the Alumni. So when the newsletter

comes out. e-mail messages are sent, calls are made and the cry goes out for help let's see you quickly say yes and volunteer,

Table of Contents

Paul Donovan

608-4345(home) 608-6330(work) 608-6331 (fax) pauld@ppw.net(Email)

1999 AGM and Shin-enkai

#2

A Reader's Story

#4

1999 Interviews VARIOUS INFORMATION

#2 #6

Editors Ramblings

#8

1999 AGM and Shin-Enkai The evening of January 22 gave me renewed faith in our JET Alumni community. The AGM/Shin-enkal held at Paul Donovan's condo

was a huge success. The AGM was as It should be - short and sweet. Accolades go to Tanya for her record breaking Treasurer's report that

who came from as far away as the Yukon! Two men from the university were In attendance asking for our cooperation In filling out a questionnaire about attitudes towards Japan. In return for our efforts, they brought wine. They may be back to some of our other events.

Should they come bearing gifts again, I say they

lasted alt of 1.5 minutes. We counted 29

Continued on Page 3

JETAABC members In attendance. A few were

present for the meeting, but had to leave before the enkai began. Now that's dedication we can

all aspire to. Outgoing president Jason Hicks chaired the meeting and seemed sad to be leaving his post. However, I am positive we will continue to see his face at many gatherings and events to come. The main business of the

meeting was electing new members. All ipositions were filled by acclamation. But don't fret, this year's steering committee has a great make-up. A super mix of JETs who returned a few years back and those just recently returning, those who stayed all three years and those who were In and out of Japan, and even some city as well as rural JETs. After the elections, Mr. Shimokojl very generously Invited the new committee to dinner at his house at a later date.

A great incentive for running next year, neh?

Stacey Rolofs, Paul Donovan, Liz Stephen, Kevin O'Donnell, and Tanya Hill will be on the committee for a second year. New faces include Sean Fowler, Elizabeth Marty, Chris Macintosh, and Krista Watson. Appointed

Vnembers Include; Mr. Ida and Boleyn Relova.

These are the people who will be at every meeting, but anyone Is welcome to show up.

The Shin^enkai

Seventy-three people turned up to celebrate the year of the rabbit. Mr. Shimokojl was kind enough to start the evening with a short speech and a hearty kampal. After the initial cheers, people from Mokuyokai, JETAABC, and their guests began to feast on sushi, chicken karage, and other delights. It was wonderful to see the mix of people present. I even ran Into someone

Coming Full Circle With JET by. Adele Pransky

Having just completed my third year on the JET Programme and relocated to Vancouver in November of 1998, 1 found myself right In the heart of what Is affectionately known to most of us as "reentry shock". An alien, emerging from my spaceship for the first time to shockingly discover that I am no longer'Adele Sense!', the locally famous galjin of Minakuchlcho, and to my horror, no one was remotely Interested In the Intimate contents of my grocery basket. Ah, yes, my life after JET, when all the questions I had

about career direction came rocketing back with gale force, compounded by the fact that I had been enjoying myself so much in Japan, I very conveniently left little time to ask myself the larger question — What Next?

To my delight and great fortune, Liz Stephen at the Consulate General of Japan had the perfect solution to my employment woes - to assist In this year's JET Interview process as the consulate's JET Coordinator. A job made In heaven for those of us who enjoy copious amounts of organizing and reorganizing, working with a wonderful staff, in particular Ms. Ellie Nakano and Mr. Tomonorl Ida, and who

Continued on Page 3

Continued from Page 2

miss hearing Japanese and sipping green tea on a daily basis. I've learned a great deal more about the JET Programme having had this opportunity to see its workings from an administrative point of view, and have thoroughly enjoyed talking with most applicants about their concerns and questions about the Programme before and after their interview.

Thanks to Marisa Norona's legacy left In the form of previous years' work, and three dashing JET Alumni volunteers, Simon Hansed, Brook Jamison, and Wendy McAvoy, all ran very

smoothly during the 3 days of interviews, held at the Renaissance Hotel on February 17th, 18th, and 19th. JET Alumni members were also well

represented in each of the 5 interviewing teams.

Tanya Hill, Paul Donovan, Boleyn Relova, Marisa Norona, and John Kibblewhite took time out of their busy schedules to help ensure that the high quality of the JET Programme is maintained again this year through its participants. Other members of each interview team consisted of local university professors

concerted efforts this year and in the past. The number of total applicants across Canada was

down quite markedly from 1189 last year to 801 applicants for 1999-2000. Of those, roughly 794 were interviewed across Canada, 157 of whom

were interviewed in BC(7 for CIR and 150 ALT positions), which is only marginally down from last years numbers. Exact numbers chosen to

represent BC in this, the 11th year of the JET Programme, have yet to come from Tokyo, but I'll keep you posted. I wish them ail Ganbatte and look forward to helping them on their way at

this year's Preparation Seminar (contact Krista to volunteer). Coming full circle with JET,so

(Adele returnedfrom Shiga Prefecture in 1998. She is currently painting her house) Continued from Page 2 AGM and Shin - Enkai are welcome.

Yes, the evening was a success, but perhaps a little too much so. A small incident in the lobby

of Paul's condo(ah hem, no names mentioned), caused Paul's landlord to be less than pleased

1999 JET Orientation Seminar needs YOU:

with the evening. Anyone have a place in mind for our next event?

The weekend of May 29 and 30 We need speakers for a variety of topics

Lobby incidents aside, JETAABC was able to make this event pay for itself. This is good news as we try to make ourselves more self-sufficient.

The Consulate generously donated part of the

Your audience will be between 10 and 120

cost offood. Oh, and for the four people who

There are other volunteer positions available

didn't pay, you can make it up next time, ok?

In true Japanese style, we did have a ni-ji-kai.

There will be 2 or 3 meetings beforehand

As Events Coordinator, my first duty was to get

Free lunch and other benefits!

everyone over to the Side Door for further enjoyment of the evening. I left before plans for a san-ji-kai could be made, but maybe at our

Call Krista Watson @ 733-5790 or e-mail kristaw@sprint.ca

next event, we'll make It that far.

- Krista Watson

- Krista is the Events Coordinator for

We need you right away. Call now!

JETAABCjshe was an ALTin ibarakhken from 1995-97. She is looking for voiunteers forthe1999 JET Orientadon Seminar. See ad page 6.

A Reader's Story by. Sean Fowler(Osaka-fu, 93-96)

From the very beginning of my time in Japan, i, along with the majority of my peer group,found myself retreating to the safety and solace of English in the written word. The first book I picked up was James Clavelle's epic Shogun which my predecessor had left for me.

I subsequently devoured the novel like a sumo wrestler at the buffet table. I became immersed

in its characters, made all the more real as they were based on and surrounded by historical facts; a trait in a book that I find incredibly seductive. The drama surrounding the characters was addictive. I could not get enough of the historical commentary on the sociafization of the Japanese people. In many ways my daily experience within Japan seemed to reaffirm every characterization Clavelle drew.

For me it was grounding, as it provided me with the back story for the life I was now living.

About 800 pages into the book (Clavelle's novels generally run around 1100 pages) I was overwhelmed by an incredible feeling of regret. The story was nearing the end. These characters would pass from my life; essentially die. This finality and the accompanying fear drew closer with every turn of the page. So I stopped reading. I suspended the reality of the characters, I refused to finish the book. I had developed an emotional attachment to the novel. It had become part of my identity. Unlike my compartmentalized scholastic reading, this work had invaded my reality. This was mainly due to the circumstances of my life. Nearly 4 hours a day where I had little else to do but read. This

combined with very few other forms of information media, due to my limited language ability, created a lifestyle where some of my strongest emotional attachments were with the events in a book. I didn't want to read the end

perhaps the most important relationship in my life at that point. I also became obsessed with getting others to read the novel. I had to ensure the characters lived on, if not in my own mind, then in the imaginations of others. I convinced two of my friends to read it.

Marcus(an Oxford educated Brit.) had come across another of Clavelle's novels,

Taipan which he traded with me for my Shogun.

The style and genre of writing was rapidly becoming a favorite amongst my peer group.

During a journey to Malaysia and Singapore during Spring Holidays, Marcus, Todd(a jolly Irish Bostonian), and myself combed the second hand bookstores of Kuala Lumpur looking for cheap copies of books. I picked up all of Clavelle's work at that point. We spent the

James Clavelle - The Asian

Saga A.D.1600 A.D. 1841 A.D. 1860 A.D. 1945

Shogun Tai-pan Gaijin King Rat

A.D. 1983 A.D. 1979

Noblo House Whirlwind

subsequent days reading in the air conditioned comfort of the hostel or lying on the beach, venturing out in the evening buoyed by the firing of our synapses through the day. It was a fascinating experience as we all read or napped through the day. I became intrigued by the process my friends went through when they read. What were their experiences when covering the same material? We all read so many of the same books, at similar points in our lives, in a very limited time frame. How was what Marcus and Todd read different from what

of the novel because that would bring to an end Continued on Page 5

Continued from Page 4 1 experienced?

We read inteliectuai works to be sure, but we all

had our brain candy as we referred to it. For Todd (the burgeoning lawyer) it was the excitement of youth in John Grisham novels.

Todd was always fascinated by what it said about an author beneath his picture. He loved that beneath Grisham's picture it simply said; " A former attorney, John Grisham coaches Little League Baseball." He was also very into Anne Rice and her chronicles of the living dead and Vampires. Marcus, ever the Oxford graduate, resorted to the scientifically minded and overly pontific Michael Crichton when he "slummed it."

While I, along with my Glavelle infatuation found further respite in the geopolitical adventures of Tom Clancy ironically a more in depth version of Clive Cussler, my father's favorite.

I began to find myself extremely enamored with subject area. WhatClavelle had revealed to me in Shogun (pronounced Sho goon, as my Japanese hosts informed me)was only one perspective of this subject. Perhaps due to a lack of intellectual stimuli, the historian and scholar in me made a dramatic appearance.

I could not team enough about Japanese History, Culture, and Socialization. I had absolutely no interest In sitting down and studying the language, but everything else I could team was fascinating and necessary. It was also not limited to Japan, I began to read voraciously; Sociology, Philosophy, History, Shakespeare, everything. 1 wanted to know it all. As impossible and ambitious as it sounds now in my logical mind, I desired to know all that was knowable, or to put it another way, leam all that was leamable. I became lost in piles of books and realized I had moved beyond that initial fear of losing my connections to a novel.

So, one December evening I picked up and finished Shogun in one sitting. I had found enough other reading that I was confident that

completing the novel would not be the tragedy I had previously thought. Finishing the book

provided a sense of conclusion to my initial phase of culture shock in Japan. The confidence I had gained from my first few months, partially instilled from the initial reading of the novel, had allowed me to continue my literary journey. I began reading like I never had before in my life. I read at different levels. I would read deeply and slowly, writing personal explications of the material I was covering. I read quickly and casually, forgetting the novel as swiftly as the impetus came over me to pick It up.

I read Fiction, and non-Fiction; Poetry and Prose; Literature and Popular. For the purpose of this essay, I attempted to rememt>er even a portion of the material I covered in that three year period, but I was at a loss to name even 25 percent of the books.

To close I'd like to attempt to relate in a few words the excitement I felt when I teamed James

Clavelle had completed a sequel to Shogun and Taipan. Entitled GaZ-y/n (foreigner), it was the first time I anticipated the release of a novel as one looks fonvard to the upcoming release of a movie. I had completed Clavelle's Middle Eastem adventure. Whirlwind not long before,

and was distraught that my favorite author had no more for me to read. What was I to do? The

publication of Gahjin was a godsend. I think I read the hardcover(1200 page)version in about a month. Not long after I teamed James Clavelle had died. I was touched deeply.

Partially because there would be no more for me to read but also, he had become a part of me. Today, I'm glad. Though a great tragedy that he died, without anymore books for me to read. His collection of novels will forever be

associated with an incredible time in my life. I have never read another book in the same way I read Clavelle's novels, and I have never been as loyal to another author. And perhaps for an author that is the greatest denouement to his life.

- Sean Fowler,

(Sean is the newsletter editor for JETAABC and is desperate for any submissions)

HIKE REPORT

On Sunday, January 31,twenty-one JET alumni and Mokuyokai members and jftiends enjoyed our annual walk around Stanley Park. The first hike in January is always a great time to meet new people on an easy 10km stroll around the sea wall ofthe park that is in the heart ofthe city.

On Sunday, February 28, nine adventurers headed to Mt Seymour for a snowshoe tour. Our very knowledgeable guide gave us a plethora ofinformation about plant and animal life, avalanche safety, winter survival skills, and snow cave building. We enjoyed three hours ofgood weather(NO RAIN) and views.

Join us next time as we trek to Bumaby Lake on Sunday, March 28. We will meet at 9:00 AM at the parking lot of the YWCA on the comer of Fender and Burrard. We always welcome new members and friends. We usudly limit the hike to 20 people so RSVP early with TOMO at 983-2536.

Keep your calendar open for April 25 and the last Sunday of cveiy month. Look for details on e-mail, or call TOMO

AlumniDirectoryandJETStreams The new 1999 Alumni Directory from CLAIR is out and should be in your mailbox. This lists over 9000 alumni

from around the world. If you didn't get your copy of this directory then there's a good chance that you never notified CLAIR of your address. Notifying the Consulate here doesn't automatically notify CLAIR in Tokyo. Thq^ are two totally independent groups. To get yourself added or updated at CLAIR send email to:

<jet-aa@clair.or.jp> Be sure to provide all your current contact information and the position, location and years you were on JET. Also let them know If you want to receive the Directory and JET Streams(the Alumni newsletter published twice per year).

Ideas to Improve the JET Proaram(me) by. John Kibblewhite

The JET Program(me)is now in its thirteenth year of operation. It seems to be at a turning point. Canadian ^pHcations were again down this year. While there are many reasons for this, possibly including uncertainty about the Japanese economy and greater job prospects for university graduates in Canada, it does lead to some concem. All ofus have spent at least one year teaching English in Japanesejunior or

senior hi^ schools. We all have memories ofour e?q>erience that, on reflection, could make the program(me)better. If you could offer your advice on how to improve the JET Program(me)to CLAIR and the Ministry ofEducation, what would you say?

Please write to the newsletter with your suggestions or

e-mail me at jkibble@axionet.com. All suggestions will be compiled, edited and forwarded to the Japanese Consulate in Vancouver.

The 4th JETRO Business Japanese Profidency Test Offered worldwide on Saturday, June 5, 1999.

Due to a growing demand among foreigners studying Japanese, as well as Japanese companies, for a practical test of non-native speaker skills In using the Japanese language for business, JETRO developed a test called the JETRO Business Japanese Proficiency Test. The test is designed to objectively measure and evaluate the proficiency of non-Japanese nationals In a variety of realistic situations commonly encountered in business. In North America,the test this year will be held on Saturday, June 5 concurrently in Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Honolulu, Toronto and Vancouver The test Is supported by Japam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, as well as leading business and academic organizations. The Association of International Education, Japan (AIEJ)and the Japan Foundation, which together offer the Japanese National Language Proficiency Test, also support the test, along with the National Language Research Institute. The JETRO test Is the first test of business Japanese proficiency to be recognized by the government of Japan.

Official certification Is presented to those who pass the exam.

The exam consists of two stages;the first of which Is based on listening and reading comprehension. Only those who pass the highest level of this test(Level I) are eligible to advance to the oral communications segment to be given only in Tokyo, Japan later In 1999. The fee for the JETRO test Is $50.00 for Level I, and $35.00 for both Leve 11 and III. Examinees who wish to take more than one level

on the same day may apply to take Levels l&ll($70.00) or Levels ii&lll ($60.00), but notLeveis l&lll or Levels l,ll&lil.

If you wish to take the test in Vancouver, please contact JETRO Vanvouver TEL:(604)684-4174 A bilingual lix)oklet, the JETRO Business Japanese Proficiency Test Guide, includes additional information and sample test questions. For the booklet and test application information, please contact JETRO's websites at:

www.jetro.go.jp/top/lndex.html and www.jetro.org/j-test

ALUMNI UPDATE Congratulations to Dieter Forst and Junko Noma who were â&#x2013; married on Saturday, January 16th in Gloria Day Church In North Vancouver.... Lori TIefenbach Is currently doing the FITTskills Program, a hands-on international trade training program designed to educate individuals and corporations about entering foreign markets. She is

looking forward to retuming to Japan at the end of March for a visit to Mitsui's headquarters In Tokyo....Ruth Stec is

a program planner at Capilano College's Continuing Ed. Dept. She also works with Elder college, a volunteer based organization offering leaming opportunities for people 55 and over, teaching some of their computer courses and

She closed her eyes, And began to see A paved highway that she drove, which ended.

Suddenly.

In a grave! path.

And at that time, It hadn't seemed so strange.

Tiny, tidal pools, filled with things.

Jhk normally, she wouldn't eat.

A beach so long

liaising with the college for them. Her third area is

organizing short term ESL programs for the Quebecois

she had never walked to the end.

and Japanese groups.... Perren Stem is in Tokyo taking up

the language with a vengeance. He hasjoined the Tokyo Foreign Lawyers Association and is now sounding out the market for Foreign Associate Positions. For anyone out there wondering, there is a lot of opportunity In Tokyo for those who have fluency in Japanese....Simon Hansed is in the elementary education PDP program at UBC. He's scheduled to finish In August after completing a practicum in Surrey. Simon has also been seen volunteering at Japan Day and Consulate events.... Adele Pransky has done an excellent job as this year's JET Coordinator at

And on this beach,

the Consulate. She's now looking for teaching

She yelled, and screamed, and cried for a lost friendship.

And thought on a clear day she might see home.

The beach which spoke to her in thousands of tiny

opportunities in Vancouver. If you can help out with a lead

rumbles.

or any info, contact her at adelesky@hotmall.com To make a submission for the next Alumni Update, please

As pebble shifted against pebble.

contact Tanya Hill

Wave against wave.

at 736-7102 or hlllt@direct.ca by April 30th.

But mostly, the beach collected from the sea.

Things that were lost.

She asked the sea to find her a memory.

And it gave her a giant glass ball.

One day, She had walked to the edge Of this world.

And looked out at where the west sea mixed with the east.

And she could see the stones placed there by many hands helping the children to go home.

(Heather was an ALT in the backwoods of AomoriPrefecturefrom 1996-98, She is currently studying Law at UBC)

Unfortunately Glen Allen's Vancouver Island Report was not recieved in time for printing. We look forward to Glen's ramblings in the May Issue ofthe newsletter.

Steering Committee 1999 Contact Information

8

President - Paul Donovan

Events Calendar

Home:608-4345 Work:608-6330 Fax: 608-6331

Email: paufcl@ppw.net

"Everyone is welcome to attend all events of Past President - Stacey Rolofs Home Tel: 437-5859 Email: srolofs@intergate.bc.ca JETAABO and/or Mokuyokai regardless of membership status, except where indicated" Secretary - Elizabeth Marty Home Tel: 324-8662 AH Dates and Events are subjectto change without notice.

Please contact the organizer of each event to confirm your attendance.

WorkTel:925-3331 (Voice Mail #3456) Fax:324-8662 Emaii:eamarty@hotmail.com

Treasurer - Tanya Hill Home: 736-7102

Work:266-574l

March 4,1999(Thursday)- Monthly Steering Committee Meeting. Contact President for

Fax:266-5790 Email:hillt@direct.ca Newsletter - Sean Fowler Home: 734-3006 Email:rsfowler@hotmail.com

location. All Alumni are welcome to attend.

2-2596 Oak Street Vancouver, BO

Late March,1999(Sunday)- Monthly Hike.

Events - Krista Watson Home: 733-5790 Work: 736-5575 (message only) Fax: 736-5578 Email: knstaw@sprint.ca

Contact Tomo at 983-2536.

March 30,1999(Tuesday)- JET Orientation Seminar Planning Meeting: Contact Krista Watson (733-5790) for location. 7PM April 1,1999(Thursday)- Monthly Steering Committee Meeting. Contact President for location. All Alumni are welcome to attend.

April 10,1999(Saturday)- Vancouver Pub Night. The Side Door. 8 PM. April 17,1999(Saturday)- Dim Sum Lunch 11:30 AM. Contact Boleyn Relova.

April 17,1999(Saturday)- Folding and Licking Party for Cross-Canada newsletter.

Boleyn's house. 2:30 April 25,1999(Sunday)- Monthly Hike.

Contact Tomo @ 983-2538 or Liz Marty.

May 29,30,1999(Weekend)- JET Program Orientation Seminar. Volunteers needed.

Membership - Liz Stephen

V6H 2K1

Home: 738-3360

Work:684-5868x230 Fax:684-6939

Email: yaliz@uitranet.ca

ŠLarge - Kevin O'Donnell Home:602-I097 Work :668-6288 Fax:668-6488

Email: Kevin_0*donnell@r1chmond.scl38.tx:.ca

ŠLarge - Chris Macintosh Homel:269-2401

Work: 737-8221

Fax:737-8821

Email:chr1s_macintosh@l3C.sympatico.ca Consulate - Mr. Tomonori Ida Home Tel: 899-0591

Work Tel: 684-5868 x

Fax:684-6939

Email: tomonori@pcnetbc.ca

Island Representative - Glen Allen Home Tel: 250-477-9764

Work Tel: 250-477-9764

Fax: 250-477-9764

Email: cantec@jdmicro.com

Other Directors - Boleyn Relova Home Tel: 522-8761 Work Tel:522-8761

Fax:522-2937 Email:boleyn@vcn.bc.ca Jason Hicks Home Tel: 876-4339 Fax: 876-6235

Email: Garuso_cs@bc.sympatico.ca

Webmaster(assistant) - James Ingram Home Tel: 736-2474

Email:jamesJngram@lx;.5ympatico.ca

Contact Krista Watson.

This newsletter produced by:

INO LIGHT IN THE

Greetings to ail and I hope you have enjoyed the first issue of the new JETAABC newsletter. I am really looking forward to putting together an interesting and informative package in the coming year.

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Sean Fowler (Osaka-fu, 1993-96)and I am a transplanted Nova Scotian here in Vancouver. During my time In Japan I edited the monthly AJETOsaka newsletter(94-95) and was the Prefectual Representative (95-96). It's been my experience, that a newsletter is only as good

BASEMENT

PRODUCTIONS

as the contributions it receives, and JETAABC has a tradition of excellent and informative cx}ntributions that I am sure will continue

Next Deadline;

into this year. Though this publication has traditionally been 8 pages, I am willing and interested in perhaps expanding the length and nature of articles we print. However, this is completely dependent on contributions from our membership.

April 30,1999 rsfowler(ghotmall.com