Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of British Columbia
Volume 6 • Number 4 www.jetaabc.bc.ca
➥ IN THIS ISSUE
July 2000
Itte Rasshai!!!
Let’s go.......to Japan!.........1 Editor’s Rant......................2 by Krista Watson Thoughts from a New JET 2 Tatami Timeshare.............3 Over 130 people will leave for new adventures on JET in July. Most of these Web Site - Help!................3 new people came to the June 3rd and 4th JET Preparation Seminar. This was the The Island Report.............3 fourth time JETAABC organized and staffed the seminar. We just seem to be Congratulations.................4 Mentor Program................4 getting better and better J. Cooking Class...................4 Powell Street Festival........5 The event took place over two days at Stop Giving Blood!............5 the UBC Student Union Building. The Alumni News... .................5 new JETs came on a very hot day News from Japan..............6 Events, Events, Events....7 dressed professionally and eager to Japan Suitcase................7 take in our stories and advice. After a Why English is a Stupid long day of talks, the new JETs were Language........................ 8 treated to sushi and beer at the recepWhat is JETAABC?......... 8 tion. Oh what fun it was to tell those Important Information......8
MONTHLY STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING August 15th @ 6:30PM 4 - 1839 W. 5th Avenue ALL JETAABC Members WELCOME!
same Japan stories and actually have people listen! On the second day, people listened to more talks, shared a bento lunch, and then got together with people from their regions. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and I can’t wait to be part of it all next year (although not the main part – so anyone want to be Events Coordinator next year?!?!?!) I want to say a sincere thank you to Sean and Jacqueline for putting in countless hours in the organization of the seminar. Tanya, Suzanne, Albert, and Adele also put in a lot of time as members of the Planning Committee. I appreciate all of your enthusiasm and sacrificed time.
www.jet.org
The event couldn’t have been carried off with out the support of the JET Alumni who, besides speaking, pitched in as furniture movers, directors of traffic and schmoozers. Thank you all so much. Since there were over 25 of you I won’t list the names here, but I thank you for your generosity and wit. Ali – you came out as the highest ranked speaker – great job!
Next Issue Deadline: September 1st, I’ve been part of the JET Preparation seminar for three years now, and I am 2000 always delighted at the way the Alumni pull together to make this a great event. I enjoy the new found camaraderie of the seminar followed by the June mixer. Thanks to all of you for making this such a pleasant time to be in JETAABC.
E d i t o r ’ s R a n t Thoughts from a New JET Summer at last. It’s a bit weird to think what I was doing at this time last year. Going to a million going away parties in Japan, receiving an obscene number of gifts, and feeling like I was about to close a big chapter of my life. It was really difficult to leave all the wonderful friends I had grown so close to in only two years. I remember feeling exhausted when I actually got on the plane to fly home, but also sad that I was leaving. I think I experienced more culture shock returning to Canada, then when I arrived in Japan. It’s amazing how one gets used to all the cultural mannerisms of Japan. They really become second nature. I remember thinking, ‘God, Canadian people are so rude, and the service here is terrible! Was it always this bad? What’s with all the attitude? Why can’t people here be more like the Japanese?!’ I’d have to say I envy all those new JETs taking off for their Japanese adventure in a couple weeks. I’d do it all over if I could. Alas, Canada is Canada once again and life moves on... Who knows when I’ll be back in the land of ‘mushi-atsui’ summers and three hour fireworks festivals! Until next time, I’ve got many memories to keep me going....
by Anitra Donald (neechiwa@hotmail.com) ESL director/teacher, Pacific Academy, Surrey, BC Soon to be in Annaka-shi, Gunma-ken, Japan
JET. This little three letter word now has the power to evoke so many thoughts and emotions in my life, whereas, a year ago, it was just another way to travel! The journey that I embarked on when I submitted that huge application packet is about to reach another stage - I have just over three weeks until I fly out to Tokyo. I realize that most of you readers have already been where I now stand, and so can probably identify with the host of varied feelings that run helter-skelter through my mind on a daily basis. However, as everyone in the programme is so fond of saying, ESID (every situation is different!). For me, the road to Tokyo has been a rather surreal one, and I must say that I am not jumping for joy at the thought of having to pack up my rather busy, fulfilling life I lead here in BC. However, I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Japan is where I'm meant to be this coming year (and perhaps years to come!), and am beginning to look forward to it with every passing day. When I first applied, despite the confidence of my professors, friends and family, I was not convinced I'd even get an interview. When I received the letter that I'd been chosen for an interview, even that didn't feel real. I went to the interview and when it was over, decided that I wouldn't be seeing Japan any time soon (I felt it'd gone that poorly!). Imagine my surprise when I received the letter informing me that I'd been chosen to go! I was totally amazed and in my heart and mind, still could not believe this. Since I'm not a 'fresh' graduate and have been working more than full time this entire past year, I think that has played a large part in my feeling of 'denial' about this whole JET adventure. Even now, my thoughts are occupied with the job I'm leaving behind and all the students who's lives I'll not have a chance to impact in the coming years. Am I happy and excited to be going? Yes, in some small part of me, deep down, I am. However, it is not without mixed feelings that I'll be leaving my life here in BC behind. I know that if/when I return, I'll be a much different person, having lived and experiHave a wonderful and safe summer enced a whole new set of situations. I'm grateful for this opportunity and hope that one day, I'll get the chance to share all the new everyone! JETs who'll be leaving to embark on their own JET adventure! Ogenki de, mata ne! Matt.
Tatami Time Share Tatami Time Share has arrived in Western Canada. Get yourself on the list and start making plans for the summer!! We’re still working on an easy on-line registration with utmost confidentiality. But for now, you can contact the TTS Coordinator at tatamitimeshare@jetaabc.bc.ca to receive a Registration Form so that we can start the process. The Coordinator will match up your request then will have the host contact you. After your visit, come back to the site (now under construction) and let us know how it worked out. For now, we are trying the TTS Exchange in Western Canada. Should this prove successful, it may be expand nationally. As we get a healthy database, we may be expanding it to the US. If all goes well, we can open this up to all JETAA worldwide. The Tatami Time Share Website now has a skeleton up at our www.jetaabc.bc.ca website. We need you to help it run successfully. 1. We need Tatami Time Share Hosts. Contact us at tatamitimeshare@jetaa.bc.ca to get on the list.
Island Report by Ali Abbott A very successful Island Mixer was held on June 23rd at the Yokohama Japanese Restaurant in Victoria. We had a pretty good turnout and we were even lucky to have the company of people from up the island. A good time was had by all and a special thanks goes out to our dear Tani-san who put on quite the Meal! DOMO! Special thanks also goes out to alumni members Paula Jamieson and Anita Girvan for their help organizing this event! We wish all the new JETS much luck and lots of FUN in their new adventure in Japan. As for other goings on the island. It is pretty quiet! Hopefully everyone is busy and having lots of FUN! I have moved once again, and will be back guiding in the mountains for most of the summer. My phone number has changed once again to (250) 390-3635 in good old Lantuzville BC for the time being. Come September, I will have a new home again. I hope everyone has a GREAT summer!! Cheers from the Island Chick!
2. We need a moderator to develop and upkeep the site. Minimum commitment is 6 months. Contact boleyn@vcn.bc.ca for more details.
Your Web Site Needs You!!! ONEGAI SHIMASU!!!
3. You need a place to stay while you visit another city? Contact tatamitimeshare@jetaabc.bc.ca to get a Host.
Our web site has been described as the 'Mercedes' amongst the JETAA chapter web sites. We love this honour and hope to see it improve to the Ferrari or even Rolls Royce of sites. To do this we need you.
The Tatami Time Share Exchange is a service to JETAA members ONLY. We are not responsible for the accuracy, validity or outcome of this exchange.
If you are Web Design/Graphic Design friendly please contact Paul Donovan <pauld@ppw.net> and let him know you’re interested. And if you are a writer with material for the site, well we want your assistance too. We want to make it possible to get our message out to more JET Alumni in BC and to those Alumni-in-training in Japan at this time getting ready to return here.
It is with great pleasure that we announce Boleyn Relova's recent appointment to Country Representative to JETAA International. She will be working with six Chapter Representatives to strengthen ties amongst JETAA members across the country. In July 2000, Boleyn will be participating in the JETAA North American Workshop. The workshop will provide a forum for all North American Chapters to maintain and strengthen their unique ties, discuss issues particular to North American members, and promote the enhanced vitality of JETAA. Already, JETAABC has spearheaded the Tatami Time Share Program which will give JET Alumni to visit each other in different cities. Should the Program fare successful, we should see it expand nationally, then continentally and eventually internationally. Check out our website at www.jetaabc.bc.ca or write to tatamitimeshare@jetaabc.bc.ca to get on the list. We will be putting in a bid to host the JETAA International Conference 2001. With Boleyn's seat in the JETAAi Committee, we are sure to get an elevated profile. If you have any programs or ideas in mind which will benefit JETAA members and enhance JETAABC, please feel free to contact Boleyn any time.
Yumm, Sushi!! JETAABC June Cooking Class The June Cooking Class was guided by our fearless and knowledgeable teacher Sachi Ngai. We managed not to burn down Boleyn’s house, and enjoyed making and eating California Rolls, Inari-zushi, and Miso Soup. We also learned how to make these funky origami chopstick holders ! Next class in the works, but no definite date set......
Japanese food yum! But natto is evil, ne. My haiku sucks bad. Matto no osusume wa..... Try Shiro Japanese Restaurant We were greeted by a warm ‘Irrashaimase!’ upon entering and the food was excellent. Just newly renovated. 3096 Cambie Street (14th ave.) phone 874-0027
Do you have any exciting news to share with JETAABC? Are you getting married? New job? Moving? Please let us know! Send an email to: angelkeik@hotmail.com and we'll announce it in the JETAABC newsletter!
Mentor Program for/by JETAABC We need you!! Yes, you!! Have you been back for a few months? Would you like to share with a new Returnee how you got your ‘perfect’ job or how you got into Education or how you got your out-of-BC Teacher’s Licence to work for you in BC??? Returnees will start coming back in July and they’ll have a lot of questions. The goal of the Mentor Program is to match up JET Alumni so that they can help one another. A website is under construction at this time but you can contact Boleyn at 522.8761 or mentor@jetaabc.bc.ca to get on the list of Mentors or Mentees. The following is a service to JETAABC members and JETAA members ONLY. We are not responsible for the outcome of this exchange. JETAABC Mentors are not licensed career counsellors.
WHAT! ANOTHER REQUEST!?! I’m interested in putting the newsletter on-line for those who wish not to receive a paper version via snail mail. If you would NOT like to receive a paper version in the future, e-mail me at: <mfedoruk@interchange.ubc.ca> and I will arrange it beginning with the September newsletter. Thanks!
POWELL STREET JAPANESE FESTIVAL August 5 and 6, 2000 The Powell Street Festival is a Japanese-Canadian festival held annually on Powell Street, thus the name. Last year was my first time participating in the festival and it was fantastic! It was held in a park and they had lots of booths selling Japanese food, art, and all sorts of things. They even had a sumo competition. I felt like I was back in Japan again while I sat there eating yakisoba and speaking Japanese to the person beside me. There were lots of people there (some in yukata!) and it was like a real matsuri. This year there have been some significant changes made to the festival. Everything will still be included but the main difference is that it will be held inside at the Japanese Language School due to budgetary constraints and lack of volunteers. The board recently got a grant to hire a consultant to do some long-term planning so in the future, it will hopefully be held in the park again. In the meantime, the organizers are taking advantage of being inside by sponsoring special evening concerts and activities. This festival is run almost completely by volunteers and is therefore only as strong as its volunteers. There is a lot of work to be done between now and August so if you would like to get involved, you can volunteer for a little or a lot. It's up to you. Please contact Ms. Miko Hoffman at the Powell Street Festival office at 739-9388 for information on what volunteer positions and/or duties are available. See you at the festival! Also, the Consulate will set up an information booth at the festival and we would like to have volunteers in our booth, too. You will chat with visitors and give information about the JET Program. If you are interested in volunteering at our booth, please contact Ellie Nakano at 604-684-5868 ext. 240; Fax: 604-684-6939; email: programs@consuljpnvan.com
Stop giving blood!! by Paul Donovan I believe I'm the king of volunteers. I have become known in some circles that if you ask me to do something the answer inevitably is yes, even before I discover if I can do it, or will get any compensation for it. I've got volunteering in the blood. But I also know that not everyone has this same drive and interest in volunteering. Hey, that's ok. If this whole world were to volunteer just imagine where we'd be! Why we'd have chaos. We'd have people helping old ladies cross the street and others just begging her to cross the street again just to be able to help. We'd have blood by the gallons in the blood bank. They'd be doing promotions to stop people coming in! The poor and handicapped would have the best round the clock care and shelters that would rival the Hilton Hotel. We'd see people passing others in the street and saying hello to everyone as they went. We'd see someone dropping a quarter in a parking meter when they see the meter maid coming and noticed the meter flashing. We'd see someone with a flat tire at the side of the road, and 10 cars stopped to help them change the tire and wave the traffic around them to keep them all safe. We'd find waiters and waitresses giving you royal service because of the huge monetary thanks you give them. We'd even see church ministers living like real people should because their church can now afford to pay him a proper salary, and there'd be so many of his congregation out there helping him out he'll have to create work, like spending more time visiting the sick, comforting the bereaved or spreading the Good Word. Can you just imagine the world where everyone promised to do just one thing voluntarily, out of the goodness of their heart, without even once asking what's in it for them, once a week? I can, and that's why I volunteer. What about you?
Alumni News
Marisa Norona (ALT) will be moving to England this summer. Over the past few years, Marisa has been involved in helping Ellie Nakano at the Consulate with coordinating the JET interviews. Gambattene! Genki Rowena Tung (ALT) will be teaching in China for a year. Rowena was one of our main speakers during the Preparation Seminar. We'll see you soon, Rowena! Mata ne...
Thank You to this month’s contributors! Ali Abbott Anitra Donald Paul Donovan Suzanne Doyle-Ingram Ellie Nakano Boleyn Relova Angela Tan Krista Watson Mainichi Shimbun Tokyo Q Magazine
News from Japan From the Tokyo Q Website The LDP lost 38 seats and Minshuto, the largest opposition party, picked up 32, this turn of fortune being particularly pronounced in the big cities. Thirty-five women won Diet seats, up from 23 in the last election, including Yuko Obuchi, the 26year-old daughter of recently deceased former prime minister Obuchi. Most of the candidates Prime Minister Mori campaigned for lost and it was suggested that Mori might quietly retire after the Group of Eight summit at the end of this month. (There was a general feeling that the prime minister just might be able to get through the summit without a gaffe if he had a quick-witted translator.) A former LDP construction minister lost his Diet and several days later was arrested for taking 30 million yen in bribes. The nation's fertility rate hit a record low and divorces a record high. The number of unemployed inched down for the first time in 37 months and the number of young people settling happily for part-time jobs was reported to be triple that of 15 years ago. Applications to colleges were significantly down, with a quarter of Japan's institutions of higher learning being unable to fill their places. Police rounded up 1,040 foreigners for overstaying their visas, many of the men working as manual labourers and many of the women in cabarets. A new mosque, Japan's largest, opened in Shibuya. Starbucks, buoyed up by sales in its Japanese stores being twice those of its stores in the US, said it will expand to 500 stores in Japan over the next 3 years. A credit-rating agency dropped Japan's credit rating, possibly because the national debt is now 10 percent of GNP.
English for Kids Saturday, July 1, 2000 From the Mainichi Shimbun The progress report issued by the Education Ministry’s advisory panel on ways to improve the teaching of English in schools sends mixed signals and is fraught with problems. Perhaps the most confusing section concerns the teaching of English to elementary schoolchildren. The report notes that opinion is divided within the panel on this issue, yet claims to be unanimous in advocating the teaching of English conversation in a relaxed, enjoyable setting. One might interpret this to mean the panel is in favour of teaching English from the elementary-school level, but this is not stated clearly. A bigger problem is the suggestion that English be taught as part of an interdisciplinary general-studies program - three hours a week to be added for grades three and above. The report recommends that English conversation be taught to “promote international understanding,” one of four potential subjects for general studies. The interdisciplinary program is the centrepiece of new curriculum guidelines being drafted by the Education Ministry to foster resilient schoolchildren. Its significance lies in that each school will be left to decide how to use these few hours a week. The four subjects are offered as suggestions. The proposal that English conversation may be taught by all schools as part of this program is therefore not only incongruous with the guidelines but also runs counter to it. The introduction of English in elementary schools is not necessarily desirable from the point of promoting language education either. If English is to be taught properly, it will require more teachers, a larger budget and big investments in time. If the subject is introduced piecemeal without such steps, it will only exacerbate teachers’ already overstrained workload. There is no denying that English education here is full of problems. Too many people find themselves unable to speak the language adequately despite many years of study. The Japanese rank among the lowest in international comparisons of English aptitude. One culprit is the teaching of English as a subject for high school and college entrance exams. Many students study simply because English is a requirement for the written exams. This is a prescription for turning students off from the language. The onslaught of globalization and the information age, though, demands that students be equipped with the necessary skills to use this international language. A fundamental overhaul of English education is both inevitable and an urgent priority. How should the subject be taught at the secondary and higher levels? Present methods may need to be thoroughly revamped. Such reforms should be implemented in collaboration with efforts to revise the entrance exam system. When the topic has been reviewed from a broad perspective, answers to how early English education should start and how often the subject should be taught will fall into place. Specialists can then work out the details. There were expectations that the panel would come up with a tentative blueprint as a basis for further discussion. But its latest report fails to do this. It must present a clear direction for reform, not an ambiguous, self-contradicting summarization of the pros and cons. Teaching English is an issue that goes to the heart of the education system, and we hope the panel will reach a clear conclusion by its final report.
Events, Events, Events Monthly Mokuyokai Hike Destination TBA. Meet at the YWCA on Burrard St. near Dunsmuir. Sunday, July 23rd and August 26th. $3 for members, $4 for nonmembers. Please let me know if you are coming and if you will be driving. If you have any suggestions for future hikes, please let me know. Cheers, Raymond the Hike Guy Raymond Nakamura 208-3020 Quebec St. Mokuyokai and JET members at the hike in June to Brandy Wine Falls.
Monthly Steering Committee Meeting - August 15, 2000 6:30pm at Liz Stephen’s Residence. #4 - 1839 W 5th Avenue
Powell Street Festival - August 5th & 6th (Saturday & Sunday) Powell Street Park in East Vancouver Everyone Contact: Miko 604-739-9388 See page 5 for details! Possible PUB Night as well.......TBA
Nikkei Japanese Cultural Centre Grand Opening September TBA - Burnaby, B.C. Welcome Back Barbecue - September 23rd, 2000 Open to all JET Alumni, family, friends and especially newly returned JET Alumni from Japan Contact: Krista, kwatson@sfu.ca Details to follow in September Newsletter
Re-Entry & Career Seminar - Early November All Alumni, friends and especially newly returned Alumni from Japan welcome Contact: Krista, kwatson@sfu.ca
Always check out the JETAABC WEBSITE at www.jetaabc.bc.ca for the updated schedule of upcoming events! Get information at info@jetaabc.bc.ca
NEED TO GET RID OF SOME OF YOUR JAPANESE STUFF? So you've been back from Japan for a while now and you still have a lot of cute, little Japanese items, which you couldn't bear to part with or couldn't give away as "omiyage" to your friends. They're lying around your place, cluttering up your place and basically collecting dust. Well...here is the answer to your problem! You can donate these wonderful items to JETAABC to go into the "JAPAN SUITCASE". What is this, you ask? Well, the JAPAN SUITCASE is a new program which we hope to be starting soon. It is basically a suitcase full of Japanese items and information about Japan which could be used to educate children in elementary schools in the Lower Mainland.
English is a Stupid Language!
What is this organization called There is no egg in the eggplant, no ham in the hamburger and neither pine nor apple in the JETAABC? pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England, French fries were not invented in France. We sometimes take English for granted. But if we examine its paradoxes we find that Quicksand takes you down slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. If writers write, how come fingers don't fing. If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth? If the teacher taught why didn't the preacher praught. If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what the heck does a humanitarian eat!? Why do people recite at a play yet play at a recital? Park on driveways and drive on parkways? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language where a house can burn up as it burns down and in which you fill in a form by filling it out. And a bell is only heard once it goes! English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which of course isn't a race at all). That is why when the stars are out they are visible, but when the lights are out they are invisible. And why it is that when I wind up my watch it starts but when I wind up this story it ends?
2000 Steering Committee Contact Information President - Elizabeth Stephen Home: 738-3360 Work: 684-5868 ext.230 Fax: 684-6939 E-mail: yaliz@ultranet.ca Past President - Paul Donovan Home: 608-4345 Work: 608-6330 Fax: 608-6331 E-mail: pauld@ppw.net Secretary - Jacqueline Molinaro E-mail : jacquelinemolinaro@usa.net Treasurer - Helen Carmichael E-mail: hcarmich@yahoo.com Newsletter Editor - Matthew Fedoruk Box 174, 6335 Thunderbird Crescent, Vancouver, BC, V8S 2V5 Home: 228-2160 Work: 875-5555 ext.63227 E-mail: mfedoruk@interchange.ubc.ca Director at Large - Newsletter - Angela Tan E-mail: angelkeik@hotmail.com Programs and Events Director - Krista Watson E-mail: kwatson@sfu.ca Director at Large - Programs and Events - Adele Pransky E-mail: adelesky@hotmail.com Membership - Albert Ngai E-mail: albngai@home.com Island Representative - Alida Abbott E-mail: genkiali@yahoo.com Chapter and JETAA Canadian Representative - Boleyn Relova Home: 522-8761 Work: 522-8761 Fax: 522-2937 E-mail: boleyn@vcn.bc.ca Consulate General of Japan Contacts 900 - 1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 2K9 Tel: 684-5868 Fax: 684:6939 Mr. Kazufumi Ikeshita - telephone ext. 242 E-mail: ikeshita@intergate.bc.ca Mr. Hiro Kawaii - koho@consuljpnvan.com Ms. Ellie Nakano - telephone ext. 240 E-mail: programs@consuljpnvan.com
questions or comments? info@jetaabc.bc.ca
So, you’ve signed up for JETAABC, now what? Luckily, you’ve signed on with one of the most active and organized JET Alumni associations in Canada. This is a rough list of what we do: • Produce a newsletter every two months. • Sponsor a pub night each month. • Join the Mokuyokai on a hike each month. • Organize an orientation seminar for new JETs in May. • Organize a re-entry and career prep seminar in November. • Sponsor two roundtable discussions a year. • Hold major gatherings in September, January, and June. • Send a delegate to the JETAA international conference. • Help produce the Cross Canada newsletter once per year. • Keep a website up to date (for which we could use someone to help!!!!!!). We do a lot, but we can always stand to improve. What are your ideas? What else would you like to see JETAABC do? One thing I’d like to see is more contact with other alumni chapters. Does anyone have contacts they could use or ideas on how we can interact more? Let me know! Contact Krista at kwatson@sfu.ca
JETAABC CONTACT INFO: JETAABC Bentall Centre PO BOX 48121 Vancouver, BC V7X 1N8
WEB ADDRESS www.jetaabc.bc.ca Editor’s Telephone: (604) 228-2160