Post by I don't even know anymore. on Aug 29, 2016 15:28:03 GMT 9
I'm a 2nd year prefectural CIR, and I had hoped to stay for the full 5 years since I would end in 2020 with the Tokyo Olympics (which my prefecture is trying to get involved with, meaning if they succeed, I could do Olympic-related work, and would kick myself for leaving early).
I know the old saying that in your first year you are just learning the ropes and watching, and by your 2nd+ year, you will normally be allowed to start making your own programs and events. I was also told by my pred. (who really didn't do anything at all and was just coasting for 3 years) that as a prefectural CIR (and the only eigo-ken one), I will be able to do about whatever I want.
However, I'm very quickly becoming more and more jaded. Here's a quick rundown:
Within the casual JET sphere, I can basically do what I want. I started:
However, otherwise, I've been bombarded with nothing but "no"s or "sure we can do that! *commence silence and no follow-up no matter how much I ask*". For example, the past year, I have tried to get going:
As well as things that are in the process of going through, which my pred.'s pred. was able to do, and my pred. let die:
And this is getting to a breaking point. When I first arrived, my supervisor was so excited that I was wanting to start up projects, and said if there was any event I would like to do, just to let her know and we could work it in.
My mid-year meeting with my director and deputy director went about like this:
Dir.: "We are so excited that you're from XX State, and really hope you make some excellent projects! What can you do?"
Me: "Well I've been trying to set up a pen pal program, but since the BOE doesn't respond to me, I'm not sure if it will go through. Otherwise I'm at a total loss."
Dir.: "Oh well if it involves the BOE, that might be difficult. You should do something that doesn't require anyone outside. You should check to see what other CIRs are doing."
Me: "This is exactly what other CIRs are doing; this is exactly what one of OUR previous CIRs did. She left every document she ever sent out and all the receipts. I have everything."
Dir.: "...Oh."
Bottom line: I have no budget ("A cooking class would cost money." "Then we can charge everyone a bit so we can buy ingredients." *probably some teeth sucking happened next, idr*), and am discouraged from doing anything that would involve anyone besides me working on it. I thought this would change after my first year, but it's only getting worse. All of those 3 bullets right above I've been pushing/thinking of getting going for right about a year now.
My office environment is nice and hulemdoly, and I can use my free time to study or read news and things, which is nice that I essentially can get paid to learn. But as a very proactive person, I feel like I'm suffocating here now, and wonder how long I'll last just because I'm being so restricted while being encouraged to do things. There's nowhere to go here, and I feel like I'm doing nothing. I'm really afraid of getting so used to doing nothing that when any opportunity comes along to do something, I'll be too jaded to take advantage of it.
Does anyone have any advice for what they do to stay motivated, or have any ideas on projects that would seem feasible to do?
I know the old saying that in your first year you are just learning the ropes and watching, and by your 2nd+ year, you will normally be allowed to start making your own programs and events. I was also told by my pred. (who really didn't do anything at all and was just coasting for 3 years) that as a prefectural CIR (and the only eigo-ken one), I will be able to do about whatever I want.
However, I'm very quickly becoming more and more jaded. Here's a quick rundown:
Within the casual JET sphere, I can basically do what I want. I started:
- working on our ignored-for-3+-years JET website
- a monthly(-ish) newsletter
- monthly JET-centric volunteering for an animal shelter (but still which won't count as actual "work" although I do the contact during work hours often)
However, otherwise, I've been bombarded with nothing but "no"s or "sure we can do that! *commence silence and no follow-up no matter how much I ask*". For example, the past year, I have tried to get going:
- English classes at our international center (whom we work closely with). Turned down because it would interfere with other English classes they already hold...a whopping 0 regular classes.
- Cooking classes and American culture classes/events. Turned in a sheet saying what I could plan, and never heard about it again.
- A language exchange program with the international center. Turned down because the boss didn't feel like it.
As well as things that are in the process of going through, which my pred.'s pred. was able to do, and my pred. let die:
- Weekly bite-sized English lessons on our website (turned in 3 lessons so far. Sitting on my supervisor's desk, unmoving even when I ask how it's going.)
- Taking our JETs to a disaster prevention center as part of orientation (almost went through this year, but my supervisor forgot about it, so they said next year)
- A pen pal exchange with my sister-state home-state and our prefecture (on board State-side and waiting, and now being totally ignored by the utterly unreliable BOE)
And this is getting to a breaking point. When I first arrived, my supervisor was so excited that I was wanting to start up projects, and said if there was any event I would like to do, just to let her know and we could work it in.
My mid-year meeting with my director and deputy director went about like this:
Dir.: "We are so excited that you're from XX State, and really hope you make some excellent projects! What can you do?"
Me: "Well I've been trying to set up a pen pal program, but since the BOE doesn't respond to me, I'm not sure if it will go through. Otherwise I'm at a total loss."
Dir.: "Oh well if it involves the BOE, that might be difficult. You should do something that doesn't require anyone outside. You should check to see what other CIRs are doing."
Me: "This is exactly what other CIRs are doing; this is exactly what one of OUR previous CIRs did. She left every document she ever sent out and all the receipts. I have everything."
Dir.: "...Oh."
Bottom line: I have no budget ("A cooking class would cost money." "Then we can charge everyone a bit so we can buy ingredients." *probably some teeth sucking happened next, idr*), and am discouraged from doing anything that would involve anyone besides me working on it. I thought this would change after my first year, but it's only getting worse. All of those 3 bullets right above I've been pushing/thinking of getting going for right about a year now.
My office environment is nice and hulemdoly, and I can use my free time to study or read news and things, which is nice that I essentially can get paid to learn. But as a very proactive person, I feel like I'm suffocating here now, and wonder how long I'll last just because I'm being so restricted while being encouraged to do things. There's nowhere to go here, and I feel like I'm doing nothing. I'm really afraid of getting so used to doing nothing that when any opportunity comes along to do something, I'll be too jaded to take advantage of it.
Does anyone have any advice for what they do to stay motivated, or have any ideas on projects that would seem feasible to do?
