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Post by hohoEMIsen on Apr 9, 2018 14:56:15 GMT 9
Hi to current and past CIRs as well as new ones! I am going to be an incoming CIR myself, and I guess I just wanted to vent about just how isolating it feels to be in this boat as compared to everyone else in JET. I'm super thankful that this forum even exists, because it's getting very tiring for every single JET guide and communication hub on the internet to just be "your position is officially known as an ALT  " "tips for overcoming culture shock" "basic Japanese aisatsu", etc etc. I want to join in discussions with people and be excited about things together, but it's difficult when it's pretty different experiences lined up for us and we folk don't seem to get addressed at all. I want a sense of community but I always seem to feel like I'm not really at the party whenever I want to chime in about anything. Anyone else feeling/felt this way? Other than this forum, there are also a number of CIR blogs out there if you are interested in doing a little bit of reading/research. It's not really a community, but I'm sure the blog owners will respond if you post a couple of comments here and there. Here are a few of them if you haven't seen them already. kumanokazoku.wordpress.com/niigataej.wordpress.com/gaiyaba.wordpress.com/kasamacir.wordpress.com/blog.nagano-ken.jp/cir/williampmorgan.wordpress.com/tabunkakyoto.wordpress.com/kagoshimakato.blogspot.sg/ |
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Post by nikinee on Apr 9, 2018 15:19:08 GMT 9
I'm 90% sure the top one is by Dee lmao |
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Post by hohoEMIsen on Apr 9, 2018 15:21:41 GMT 9
I'm 90% sure the top one is by Dee lmao |
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Post by Dee on Apr 9, 2018 15:35:02 GMT 9
LMAO. Yes, the top one is mine  I don't mind being outed |
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Post by hohoEMIsen on Apr 9, 2018 15:51:35 GMT 9
I would love to reveal my blog. Except that I don't want to be found out by my own prefecture...
(I know that I told some of you tho)
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Post by Dee on Apr 10, 2018 14:38:46 GMT 9
My visitor numbers jumped after this was posted  |
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Post by nagasakicir on Apr 10, 2018 15:23:24 GMT 9
I didn't realize that people might think of my blog as one useful for incoming CIRs. I'm pleasantly surprised. Maybe I should write more about my job haha.
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uncororo
Straight outta Narita
1st year in High Knowledge
Posts: 1
CIR Experience: 1st year
Location: High Knowledge
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Post by uncororo on May 1, 2018 13:33:28 GMT 9
Oh hello another DC person! TIL there is more than one ex-CIR in DC besides me (I only know one with a Japanese first name, whom I assume you met) A lot of ex-CIRs I know stayed in Japan, and I will also be moving back there this summer two years after leaving JET, so there are def many routes! One of the people I am referring to does have a Japanese first name  Small world for us DC folk, then! Most neurotic city of people I've ever met, maybe that's why there's not so many serving as CIRs? (jkjk) I'd honestly like to go to grad school after JET, but I haven't made my mind about where yet. I stayed at Waseda for a year, I'm thinking of considering their grad program as well. This is my first ever post on here despite having made an account many months ago.  Buuut hello fellow DC CIRs; both incoming and former!!! I am a first year CIR, but I will be leaving JET in August and staying in Japan! Best of luck to you, jellyana! |
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Post by Tis the Season-jay on May 20, 2022 10:54:13 GMT 9
My guess is that CLAIR/whoever comes up with all these things (like the After JET support stuff) assumes that ALTs will need more help than CIRs, since the latter are already used to working in office settings/using formal Japanese every day. Perhaps they think CIRs already have enough resources, Japanese ability, and connections to be able to find their own opportunities?
Not saying I agree with JET making everything ALT oriented, just wondering if that might be a potential reason why
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Post by korokke on May 20, 2022 11:15:32 GMT 9
I understand that reasoning but, at least in my experience, this usually comes up with JET guides made by other JETs. Like when I was coming to my placement, the Living Guide that the Regional Advisors submittted was literally "[Region Name] Guide for ALTs."
With CLAI.R they at least have a CIR-specific handbook and resouces like the "Japanese for CIRs" (which I should probably use more).
And overall, it's probably also a numbers thing, cause I'm the only CIR in this region and I think most ALTs in general just don't know of or have contact with CIRs, so easily forgotten. And when looking for information about JET, whether it's the application/interview process or actual life on JET, most of what is there is from the ALT perspective, cause they're 90% of the program.
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Post by al(l)i(want for)c(hristm)a(s)t on May 20, 2022 16:30:42 GMT 9
we have a welcome packet for incoming JETs in the prefecture that i'm involved w bc i'm the PA, and only one letter (out of 20) is addressed specifically for CIRs, written by my senpai. i mostly left it as is bc it was well-written (and he mentioned reading the ALT-muke advice anyway bc some japan living stuff will apply to CIRs), but did try my best to put in more of my own experience as a CIR for the newcomers
we may be the small 10% but we still matter!
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" "tips for overcoming culture shock" "basic Japanese aisatsu", etc etc. 
I don't mind being outed
Small world for us DC folk, then! Most neurotic city of people I've ever met, maybe that's why there's not so many serving as CIRs? (jkjk)
