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Post by michiru on Jun 27, 2019 21:50:55 GMT 9
On a similar note, should we have received contracts/info packages from our CO by now, or at least soon?
I also haven't really had contact with my CO... I was able to track down my predecessor through the internet and they gave me my supervisor's email, so I was able to ask them a pressing visa question, but it seems like they haven't been given the ok to officially talk to me yet. Hopefully soon, though, right? It is coming up on a month before departure.
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Post by Sparkles on Jun 28, 2019 9:39:22 GMT 9
I hope you all get contacted soon!!! It's super nerve-wracking not to hear much/anything....
I think most people have usually gotten contact right now, but contact in July is not exactly uncommon either from what I've heard before. I think there's no harm in sending a short email, especially if you say something like you're emailing because you want to be prepared to do a good job starting day 1 and having XYZ information will help you do that (esp if you already have your CO's contact info). I think there's probably a limit of what the JET people at the consulates/embassies can do besides pass on your message to C.LAIR which can presumably pass it on to your CO, but sadly neither of those entities can make your CO contact you.
I think the most likely explanation for an average placement is simply bureaucratic red tape; they may have written draft upon draft of their welcome email to you (not to mention your contract) already, but each draft has to go through about 10 people who all make changes and then you have to get approval for all the changes etc etc so it ends up taking 3 weeks to write a 10-line email. (...I've seen it happen. Welcome to the wonderful world of GYOUSEI!)
Another possible explanation is that if you are your CO's first or second CIR, or their first CIR after a long gap, or if the person in charge of CIRs has only been in their position since April (a very likely scenario, tbh), they're just not used to the swing of things yet (and therefore the red tape is taking even LONGER) and it probably hasn't occurred to them that no contact = a lot of anxiety on their new CIR's part.
COs are also sometimes very busy in June, especially if they're in GIKAI (prefectural assembly) season or also coordinating new JET ALT arrivals on the prefectural level. (Quick note on the GIKAI season: my placement at a kenchou ALWAYS had the GIKAI season in June to early July, meaning members of my office were expected to immediately drop what they were doing and go answer questions from the GIKAI members about anything under their purview. Sometimes they were given a heads-up and could prepare, but those preparations also took time. tl;dr they were extremely busy and kinda nervous for at least half of June because they could be interrupted by potentially irate GIKAI members at any time.) Back to JET coordination: municipal ALTs and CIRs get assigned to a specific village/town/city, so they know exactly where they're going -- as a random example, they'd get a placement email saying "Wakkanai-shi in Hokkaido" rather than just "Hokkaido." Prefectural ALTs and CIRs are assigned to the prefecture as a whole, which for ALTs usually means placement at senior public high schools because they're almost always managed at the prefectural level, and for CIRs usually means placement at the kenchou or the prefecture's international association. So if the prefecture gets a batch of 25 new ALTs, THEY/the prefecture are the ones responsible for assigning those 25 ALTs to their specific towns/senior high schools within the prefecture (not C.LAIR) in addition to contacting their new prefectural CIR(s). At that point, especially if the office that handles the ALTs and your/the CIR's office is the same, they probably prioritize the ALT side because they figure they can contact you, a CIR who speaks Japanese/maybe has prior experience in Japan, later because you'll need less time to figure things out.
tl;dr your new office is probably v busy and doesn't realize how much little/no contact is not helpful for their new CIR's peace of mind; hang in there and you will probably get contact in July! (You can also email them if you want.)
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Post by Dee on Jun 28, 2019 13:37:36 GMT 9
If you're coming into the 道庁, they are probably pretty busy at the moment. Hokkaido is getting a new PA and there's a large number of new JETs coming in as well. Hope you hear from your CO soon tho. Maybe give it until July? I see! Though I still don't really know where I'm gonna be placed, which is the most frustrating thing... I was thinking of emailing the UK JET office if I haven't heard anything by the end of next week. They'll probably just tell me it's too early to worry about it  , but no harm in emailing I guess! I agree, maybe wait until next week then shoot an email to your consulate/JET office. Definitely no harm in that! |
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Occultkitty
Straight outta Narita
Posts: 7 
CIR Experience: 2nd year
Location: Hokkaido
Gender (Pronouns): meh. whatever
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Post by Occultkitty on Jul 3, 2019 1:53:09 GMT 9
I finally got an email from Hokkaido after emailing the UK JET office; I get the impression that they didn't realize I was waiting to hear from them...
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Post by 𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒽𝒾𝓂𝑒 on Jul 3, 2019 9:48:01 GMT 9
I finally got an email from Hokkaido after emailing the UK JET office; I get the impression that they didn't realize I was waiting to hear from them... Glad you finally got an email! That's awkward about the UK JET office though >,< |
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Post by Dee on Jul 3, 2019 13:29:16 GMT 9
I finally got an email from Hokkaido after emailing the UK JET office; I get the impression that they didn't realize I was waiting to hear from them... Did you find out where you're going in Hokkaido yet? |
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Post by Honey on Jul 3, 2019 14:52:45 GMT 9
Oh, yeah, btw, is anyone here going to be in Group B? If you are, I'll be at your senpai panel. YOLOSIK Same question for group A. Because if you are, I will be at your senpai panel. New CIRs either get Honey or Ham, but not both. |
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Post by thelatter on Jul 3, 2019 14:57:44 GMT 9
Oh, yeah, btw, is anyone here going to be in Group B? If you are, I'll be at your senpai panel. YOLOSIK Same question for group A. Because if you are, I will be at your senpai panel. New CIRs either get Honey or Ham, but not both.I'm doing a presentation on event planning for Group B. I'd much rather have been part of the panel  |
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Post by Honey on Jul 3, 2019 15:00:22 GMT 9
Same question for group A. Because if you are, I will be at your senpai panel. New CIRs either get Honey or Ham, but not both.I'm doing a presentation on event planning for Group B. I'd much rather have been part of the panel Maybe they switched us around? They initially asked me to do event planning and when I told them what kind of event we planned here, they said it would be way too unrealistic to present that and they'll put me in the panel discussion instead +( |
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Post by thelatter on Jul 3, 2019 15:03:02 GMT 9
I'm doing a presentation on event planning for Group B. I'd much rather have been part of the panel Maybe they switched us around? They initially asked me to do event planning and when I told them what kind of event we planned here, they said it would be way too unrealistic to present that and they'll put me in the panel discussion instead +( *Shrugzies*
I haven't "planned" an event in over a year, but I accepted it anyway 
Edit: I meant group A!
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Occultkitty
Straight outta Narita
Posts: 7
CIR Experience: 2nd year
Location: Hokkaido
Gender (Pronouns): meh. whatever
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Post by Occultkitty on Jul 3, 2019 16:22:05 GMT 9
I finally got an email from Hokkaido after emailing the UK JET office; I get the impression that they didn't realize I was waiting to hear from them... Did you find out where you're going in Hokkaido yet? I seem to be getting emails from the 観光局 in Sapporo, so I just kind of assumed there? They didn't tell me though, so I'm not sure. |
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Post by wapiko on Jul 4, 2019 10:52:01 GMT 9
New CIRs either get Honey or Ham, but not both. My cdg at this |
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Post by Leilo on Jul 4, 2019 12:52:00 GMT 9
Maybe they switched us around? They initially asked me to do event planning and when I told them what kind of event we planned here, they said it would be way too unrealistic to present that and they'll put me in the panel discussion instead +( *Shrugzies*
I haven't "planned" an event in over a year, but I accepted it anyway
Edit: I meant group A!
hue if I was a new cir reading this... I'd probably be thinking during your presentation, 'pshhhh they said they hadn't planned an event for a year on the forums though!" (Maybe that in itself is educational about how CIR senpais don't know what they're doing at times though, right?) |
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Post by Honey on Jul 30, 2019 9:29:55 GMT 9
thelatterToday is the big day! Also does anyone have lunch recommendations around shinjuku station?
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Post by Sparkles on Jul 30, 2019 9:44:49 GMT 9
thelatter Today is the big day! Also does anyone have lunch recommendations around shinjuku station? Turkish Restaurant Cankaya! (it's also near the Keio Plaza)
(note: not in Eng or Jpn but has pics)
(link to Japanese page)
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Post by Honey on Jul 30, 2019 13:11:18 GMT 9
thelatter Today is the big day! Also does anyone have lunch recommendations around shinjuku station? Turkish Restaurant Cankaya! (it's also near the Keio Plaza)
(note: not in Eng or Jpn but has pics)
(link to Japanese page)
I’m there right now and thank you so much. It’s delicious. |
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Post by wapiko on Jul 30, 2019 16:16:30 GMT 9
I’m so excited for everyone in group A right now!!! You’re almost done with orientation and about to go to your placements!!!
Enjoy your last night in Tokyo and don’t worry about your big day Wednesday - they’ll love you!
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Post by thelatter on Jul 31, 2019 9:19:40 GMT 9
thelatter Today is the big day! Also does anyone have lunch recommendations around shinjuku station? How did your time go?
I felt like I said the same shit over and over again. I hope some people got something out of it hue
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Post by Aya Raincoat on Jul 31, 2019 14:51:33 GMT 9
Just came back from picking up our shiny new ALTs Tokyo Orientation! It's so hot and I'm so tired... I hope everything will be fine T^T I saw Honey, but not thelatter? Hope your trips back went well! Who is going next week? |
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Post by thelatter on Jul 31, 2019 15:07:56 GMT 9
Just came back from picking up our shiny new ALTs Tokyo Orientation! It's so hot and I'm so tired... I hope everything will be fine T^T I saw Honey , but not thelatter ? Hope your trips back went well! Who is going next week? My presentation was at 1:15 so I did it and left. I didn't want to stay in Tokyo longer than I needed to hue |
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Post by Aya Raincoat on Jul 31, 2019 15:52:40 GMT 9
Just came back from picking up our shiny new ALTs Tokyo Orientation! It's so hot and I'm so tired... I hope everything will be fine T^T I saw Honey , but not thelatter ? Hope your trips back went well! Who is going next week? My presentation was at 1:15 so I did it and left. I didn't want to stay in Tokyo longer than I needed to hue Hahahaha, I see! Shinjuku is especially a nightmare... that station is terrible, worse than Tokyo, even... |
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Post by thelatter on Jul 31, 2019 15:56:01 GMT 9
My presentation was at 1:15 so I did it and left. I didn't want to stay in Tokyo longer than I needed to hue Hahahaha, I see! Shinjuku is especially a nightmare... that station is terrible, worse than Tokyo, even... Navigating the station wasn't too bad! As long as you have an app to tell you what lines to ride hue
But exploring Tokyo in that weather? Bigly no.
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Post by Aya Raincoat on Jul 31, 2019 15:58:14 GMT 9
Hahahaha, I see! Shinjuku is especially a nightmare... that station is terrible, worse than Tokyo, even... Navigating the station wasn't too bad! As long as you have an app to tell you what lines to ride hue
But exploring Tokyo in that weather? Bigly no.
Oh yes, the weather... So hot... Makes me wish TUYU had never ended T^T I did really want to go see the Takeshi Obata exhibition though, so I'll still end up doing some tourism next week! |
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Post by Honey on Aug 1, 2019 9:36:05 GMT 9
thelatter Today is the big day! Also does anyone have lunch recommendations around shinjuku station? How did your time go?
I felt like I said the same shit over and over again. I hope some people got something out of it hue
Mine went okay. I was super nervous but I drank a bunch of water and avoided a tragedy. Oats curry! |
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Post by thelatter on Aug 1, 2019 9:42:02 GMT 9
How did your time go?
I felt like I said the same shit over and over again. I hope some people got something out of it hue
Mine went okay. I was super nervous but I drank a bunch of water and avoided a tragedy. Oats curry! I don't know about you, but I was way more nervous before my presentation than while doing it. I just let the words flow, accuracy be damned.
You were a panelist right? That's what I wanted to do...hue
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Post by Honey on Aug 1, 2019 10:16:44 GMT 9
Yeah the panel was fun. And same, once I started talking things got a lot easier. I did mess up a few points though. I forgot to say what JET year I was during my self introduction...
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Post by Ham on Aug 7, 2019 14:23:57 GMT 9
Did the senpai panel yesterday, and I just made it back to the office.
Was pretty nervous and stuttery at first, but I got (a little) better.
Also got a few reactions out of the poor half-dying new arrivals, and surprisingly a couple people actually wanted to ask me questions afterwards!
I hope my rambling was of some use to someone!
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Post by Aya Raincoat on Aug 7, 2019 14:56:23 GMT 9
Way to go!
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Post by 𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒽𝒾𝓂𝑒 on Aug 7, 2019 15:51:10 GMT 9
OTSUKARE to you and everyone else who presented at orientation~~
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Post by michiru on Aug 9, 2019 21:00:38 GMT 9
Newbie here, and I really liked the panel! (We really were pretty dead by then, though, hue). As a small town CIR myself, it was also nice to hear from someone in place similar size-wise to what I would be working with.
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, but no harm in emailing I guess! 
