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[the year 20XX]

Well, I know they try to place married JETs together, but I don't know what they do about non-JET spouses. I never looked into that part much.

 

[100Bullets]

Best of luck on your trip. Friend of mine left in March and he seems to be having a good time. I was thinking of trying it myself but I have a few obstacles to overcome.

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

It's the whole "stuck in the boondocks" thing I'm a bit worried about though, sure Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto are expensive cities but there's so much to see and do there. I think it'd suck if you went over there and got stuck in Hokkaido. Have fun nevertheless.

One of my friends is in that situation . He's been in JET for at least a year now in Hokkaido.

 

[Brofist]

It's the whole "stuck in the boondocks" thing I'm a bit worried about though, sure Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto are expensive cities but there's so much to see and do there. I think it'd suck if you went over there and got stuck in Hokkaido. Have fun nevertheless.

I agree, I don't like Japan enough to live in the boonies. I mean it's a nice place and all, but not *that* nice. The couple years I've already spent there have been in the city. The only reason I'm gonna go back again this Oct to live for a while again is cause I got a place waiting for me in the heart of Umeda in Osaka, I'll take the 1kyu JLPT by next year, and after that get a real job that isn't teaching English.

 

[Comfort_Eagle]

Very cool, I hope you enjoy it! I really want to go to Japan. Actually, i would settle for just about anywhere out of the US right now. It would really be nice to experience a different culture.

 

[Synth_floyd]

I did a study abroad in Japan this past semester and I'm probably going to live there for a year or two after I graduate. The advantages of doing the JET program are you get paid well and you get to work in high schools (really genki high school students are a lot of fun to hang around). The downside is that I've heard stories of JETs who go to their high school and the administration doesn't really give them much to do or tell them about events (I heard a story where one JET's school went on a field trip and they didn't tell him so he arrived at school one day and no one was there) plus they will usually put you in the middle of nowhere.

You can also work for a bunch of corporations (NOVA, Geos, Aeon, ECC, etc.) where you do a bunch of easy "teach" English gigs. The advantage of this is you have a lot more freedom (you can quit your job, you will usually work in a city, be around other foreigners, you don't have to deal with being an unofficial emissary of your home country, etc.) but usually the work gets really old really quick, sometimes the companies can put a lot of pressure on you, you have to live in the company apartments sometimes, etc.

More people have been satisfied with the JET from what I've heard but it depends on what you want. I personally was probably going to go the corporation route just cause I want to live in either Osaka or Tokyo.

 

[MrSingh]

Hokkaido's awesome! Cool summers, awesome ski/snowboard during winter. AND DELICIOUS FOOD! (especially the seafood!) I wish I could take a year off and live in Hokkaido.

 

[Bebpo]

I did a study abroad in Japan this past semester and I'm probably going to live there for a year or two after I graduate. The advantages of doing the JET program are you get paid well and you get to work in high schools (really genki high school students are a lot of fun to hang around).

Personally I'd say these days more people end up at jr. high school and elementary schools as they're trying to push English into elementary schools to get students familiar with English from an early age. I do both with about 80% at jr. high and 20% at elementary. JHS is pretty nice, kids are genki and the teachers are friendly. Elementary school has nice kids but it's also really tough work. You're thrown into a room of 10 year olds who don't know anything English other than "hello" and told to teach them something in 50mins, then repeat that 5 more days for the day. At first you can do easy things like counting and animal names and stuff but after the 10th visit it gets really tough to figure out new things for their age level and it really does suck being completely on your own as there are no actual "English" teachers at elementary school so you can't get any help. Still fun, but unlike the comfy HS/JHS jobs you actually work for your money.

 

[nitewulf]

congrats lyte. this must be a dream come true for you, as you seem to be so much into the japanese culture and gaming.
and i've been to atlanta...so i understand how it might feel to get stuck in a small city like that. the change of scenery should be really great for you.
well, good luck.

 

[Triumph]

Congrats man. If you want to grab a drink before you leave, let me know. It is, after all, what I do.

 

[Lyte Edge]

Well, I finally got my placement today: Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture. Sounds like a really nice place, and hey, it's not Aomori, so I'm really happy right now. Anyone know anything about it?

Also thanks to anyone that replied earlier that I missed.

 

[rareside]

Congrats on the JET acceptance! It's good to know that I wasn't the only last minute call up. What kind of school will you be in? I was chosen for a Senior High School in Fukuoka-ken (Kitakyushuu City).

I'll probably meet you at the Tokyo Orientation, assuming you're going to be in the late orientation (August 16-18th or something?).

 

[Lyte Edge]

Congrats on the JET acceptance! It's good to know that I wasn't the only last minute call up. What kind of school will you be in? I was chosen for a Senior High School in Fukuoka-ken (Kitakyushuu City).

Actually I don't know yet. ^_^; I've been at work most of the day and they called my house to tell me my placement...I just got the message from my parents. I'd try to call the consulate but it's been non-stop morons in here. There's a guy here now that will not leave. I'm so psyched that tomorrow is my last day working at this shithole game store.

I'll probably meet you at the Tokyo Orientation, assuming you're going to be in the late orientation (August 16-18th or something?).

Hey, yeah! I didn't know anyone else from GAF was going onto JET this year! I'll be there at the late orientation as well...let's meet up!

 

[Bebpo]

Well, I finally got my placement today: Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture. Sounds like a really nice place, and hey, it's not Aomori, so I'm really happy right now. Anyone know anything about it?

Also thanks to anyone that replied earlier that I missed.

Seems like a nice location, congrats You're not too far from Kyoto/Osaka/Nagoya/Tokyo so weekend travels should be possible. I'm guessing you've already googled around and found this but if not here's the prefectures website:

http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/index_e.htm