Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of British Columbia
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Volume 6• Number 3
IN THIS ISSUE
A Month in the Life of a JET Coordinator.......................1 Editor’s Rant.....................2 SPEAKERS NEEDED!..... 2 Tatami Timeshare.............3 Web Site - Help!................3 The Island Report......... ...3 Japan Suitcase..................4 Webmasters Needed........4 Mentor Program ............... 4 Steering Committee.........5 Japanese Computing Seminar.............................5 News from Japan.............6 Events, Events, Events... 7 Alumni News....................7 Powell Street Festival......8 What is JETAABC?........ 8 Important Information......8
May 2000
www.jetaabc.bc.ca
A Month in the Life of a JET Coordinator
by Adele Pransky - JETAABC Director at Large - Programs To my delight and great fortune, I find myself in the envious position once again to assist in this year’s JET interview process as the Japanese Consulate’s JET Coordinator. A job made in heaven for those of us who enjoy copious amounts of organizing and reorganizing, and working with a wonderful staff, in particular Ms. Ellie Nakano and Mr. Kazufumi Ikeshita.
To see its workings from an administrative point of view brings it all full circle for me, and I have enjoyed talking with applicants about their concerns and questions about the Programme before and after their interviews. The three days of interviews this year went off with out a hitch at the Renaissance Hotel on February 16th, 17th, and 18th, due in no small part to the large number of JETAABC volunteers who took time out of their busy schedules. A large Thank MONTHLY STEERING You from the Consulate General of Japan goes out to Matthew Fedoruk and COMMITTEE MEETING Angela Tan who helped at the Reception Desk, and to the many JETAABC interviewers: Alida Abbott, Paul Donovan, Dieter Forst, Tanya Hill, Patricia Kho, June 13th @ 6:30PM 4 - 1839 W. 5th Avenue John Kibblewhite, Elizabeth Marty, Marisa Norona, Barbara Onstad, Catherine ALL JETAABC Members Price, and Chris Savva. Your time and efforts help to ensure that the quality of WELCOME! participants on the JET Programme is maintained, and I think we can all agree that this is a very worthwhile cause. Thanks to all for your concerted efforts this year and in the past.
Next Issue Deadline: Canada Day July 1st, 2000
To those of you who enjoy a healthy dose of statistics … The number of total applicants across Canada was up quite markedly from 800 last year to 1088 applicants for 2000-2001. Of those, roughly 950 were interviewed across Canada, 263 of whom were interviewed in BC (15 for CIR and 248 for ALT positions), which is up over 50% from last year’s numbers. 132 ALTs (66 Alternates) and 10 CIRs (1 Alternate) were chosen to represent BC in this, the 13th year of the JET Programme. I wish them all Ganbatte and look forward to helping them on their way at this year’s Preparation Seminar on June 3rd and 4th (contact Krista Watson to volunteer). With a larger group than Vancouver has ever seen, we need our JETAA members to help these new JETs prepare for their exciting adventure. Sharing your knowledge about life as a JET with those who are about to go on the Programme is one of the most rewarding ways to use your JET experience.