New Hyogo JETs
From HyogoAJET
This page was created as a brief introduction for new JETs who are placed in Hyogo-ken. If your placement says Hyogo or a city/town inside of Hyogo then this page is for you. We hope that you will find it useful and we look forward to seeing you in Japan!
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[edit] Where will I be placed in Hyogo?
The Hyogo Board of Education ('BOE') and the various Hyogo Municipal BOEs are responsible for issuing placement details to all incoming Hyogo JETs. Please note that the Hyogo Board of Education especially tends to release this information only a short time before Hyogo JETs arrive in Japan. However, you may be contacted with your placement details earlier that this by your predecessor. While we can't tell you either where you will be going or when you will receive your placement details, rest assured that you will most likely find out your specific placement in enough time to allow for adequate preparation.
Also, please keep in mind that Hyogo is one of the larger prefectures in Japan with a very diverse geography. As a result, you may be very close or very far away from the major metropolitan areas in (i.e. Kobe) and near Hyogo (i.e. Osaka).
[edit] Will I be at a Senior High School or Junior High School?
While we can't answer that question directly, if your employer (the one your contract is with) is the Hyogo Board of Education (BOE) then most likely you are a Senior High School JET. Junior High School/Elementary School JETs will generally work for the local Municipal BOE in the particular town/city they are placed in. Please note that some JETs are not informed of which type of school they will be working for until they arrive in Japan.
[edit] What can I do to prepare?
- Sign up for the mailing list and forum. This will allow you to ask questions and possibly even find your predecessor.
- Read the Hyogo Living Guide in it's entirety. There is a lot of information there, but it is all highly relevant to your life in Japan, so don't skip anything. Pay particular attention to the articles for New JETs
- Take it easy. There is a lot of stuff for new JETs to digest, and it just takes time to settle in and get accustomed to your new life/work, so don't worry too much. Your predecessor and the other JETs who live near you will be your best points of contact to help you with the transition.
- Pack light. Generally, most of what you need can be acquired here. Just bring your suit, work clothes, omiyage, and whatever other absolute essentials you may need.
[edit] What should I do after I arrive?
- See the living guide for an article concerning the First Few Days.
- You are likely to be somewhat detached from everyone else (particularly if you live in a rural area) until you get Internet access and a mobile phone (and a car, if you live in the countryside). All of these require your alien registration card so just make sure that gets taken care of as soon as possible.
[edit] I have a question, where do I ask it?
Depends on the question, but the mailing list is a great place to start. Keep in mind, we don't have any information about placement location or schools. That information will come from your employer. Sometimes it takes a while to hear specific information so you just have to be patient.
