Welcome 2015 CIRs!

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DRAGON AND THE MOUNTAINS AND THE GIANT EYE?!?!

Or are you the folk-comedy band type?

get over to the hajimemashite thread and tell us about yourself so we can start shaming you

Hello kiwi, it is nice to meet you.

I am sorry about Shacho, the cabin fever can get to us sometimes.

Whereabouts in New Zealand are you from? We have quite a few NZ folks up here in Niigata.

Does anybody know what the case is for the FBI Criminal background Check? It says that the results are due by the 5th of June but that the processing time is 16 weeks?? I definitely remember reading that we weren't supposed to submit the check application until after we got notified of selection so i'm really confused. also stressing pretty hard. anyone able to weigh in on this?

Thanks for the response dude! Relaxed a little bit

Hi, I just posted on the はじめまして page and now wanted to consult you for something.

I am shortlisted for CIR and still have not responded on my participation....
I'm happy that I made it, but I'm major 悩むing because (1) I'm wondering if CIR will be a worthwhile experience for me, (2)I want to do it but my family (mom & sister) is not totally for it.

I've been thinking very hard (maybe too hard) and confusing myself on whether or not to participate in the Program.
So I thought why not consult the CIR pros for input?

I finished my bachelor's in 2013 and got my first job at Japan Information & Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan in DC.
Come July 2015, it will be my second year working there.
I want to get master's in the field of program management, but have not enrolled in anything because I want to be sure that's what I want to do and avoid wasting money.

So here's my dilemma....

• I lived in Japan and attended public schools when I was little, so I speak the language well and have had the immersing experience.
  (So the family's argument is "you've already lived in Japan. Why go back and waste your time?")
• My job at JICC deals with helping coordinating events and setting up exhibits, and I love it! But after working there almost 2 years, there's not much room for me to grow . \
• When started working at JICC, I promised myself I'll move on to another job after 2 years. I browsed for other jobs only in the DC area, but nothing rang a bell, which made me want to participate in the JET program even more. But maybe there are job options in the US, that is in similar nature to CIR?

You can tell that I care too much about what my family thinks..
I know ultimately, the decision is up to me, but I also want to make sure that I assess the whole situation.

Wow, that was long! I appreciate your input and advice

What are your goals and expectations for your (potential) time as a CIR? What do you want to accomplish in the next couple years, and will being a CIR help you do that?

As for options in the U.S. that are CIR-like, I can't think of anything beyond things like working at the JICC or at other Japanese-related organizations in the country....

Cons of becoming a CIR that I can see from your description:
- leaving a stable job that you like (but that you may want to leave anyway because of your own goals?)
- potentially getting a placement that has little to do with what you want (a teaching- or translation-heavy position, rather than one focused more on event planning and organization)
- job searching/apartment hunting in the U.S. and grad school apps would probably be more hassle to complete from Japan
- lack of family support (that's tough, especially when you're close with your family and usually get support from them)

Pros (for you):
- new experiences -- working at a Japanese government office is extremely different from going to public schools here. Different vocabulary, different environment, different procedures, different place in society, etc. I'd say there's still lots to learn, even within the language fluency aspect.
- you only commit to one year at a time, so you can leave after a year or two to pursue graduate school or other job options
- gives you time to consider what you really want (though you could also do this at your current job)
- you could get a placement that has a lot of event planning and other things you want to do, or you could discover something else you'd like to do while here
- you'd still be getting paid, and it's a decent salary! Definitely enough to start setting money aside for your future plans (ie grad school). Then again, I have no idea how much your current job pays, so you could take a pay cut for all I know/this could be a con.

It's a big decision, so I understand the 悩み. I've had a really positive experience as a CIR, but one of the major cons of going for CIR (as opposed to ALT) is that you have NO IDEA what you'll be doing until you get your placement. I was lucky in that I got a placement that is a really good fit for me, but this definitely isn't the case for everyone.

It's a one-year gamble, in the end. But if you decide that being a CIR isn't for you, you're only obligated to stay for a year, so if you want to go for it and think it would help you with your goals, I think it's probably worth it to take the chance.

Edit: what snell said is good. Read what snell said. (I type too much/too slowly. ;-

Has anyone on the waiting list from the UK been contacted about a position in Aomori City?
You may well be my successor if that's the case! Feel free to get in touch because as someone very close to being off the programme, I am under no obligation to protect its perverted rules!