Your Friendly Neighborhood AJET: February 2014

To stay, or not to stay? That was the question we recently asked ourselves. By now your papers are signed and handed in. For JETs choosing to re-contract, I offer my congratulations! I hope the incoming year will offer more unforgettable experiences.

For JETs choosing to make the next big (and scary) step, CLAIR is hosting the 2014 After JET Conference from February 20 to 21 in Yokohama City. JET alumni, employers, and consultants are scheduled to attend. At last year’s conference, workshops discussed topics such as transferrable skill sets, NGO/NPO, résumés, and cross-cultural consulting. This list is by no means exhaustive, and you can expect similar workshops this year.

Regardless of your final decision, you still need to brave the cold winter. Luckily, the Prefectural Representatives at Hyogo AJET have you in mind when planning our events for February and March. We’re kicking off the month with the third Book Club meeting held on February 2, where we will be reading Ruth Ozeki’s A Tale for the Time Being. If you miss it, no worries, Cherie will put the next title online, and you’ll have another great read as you curl up under the kotatsu.

In the meantime, look forward to the skiing and snowboarding trip up in Northern Hyogo on March 1. We’ll be hitting the slopes at Hachikogen and Hachikita. All levels, from beginner to advanced, will find something just right. Are you a first timer and want some guidance? There’s a school! Have you been doing this for ten years and want to challenge yourself? There are moguls and rails!

Once five o’clock strikes, the last of the lifts close, and your body tells you that you can’t possibly do any more; we will relax at the local onsen and gather for a home cooked sukiyaki meal at the lodge afterwards. The deadline to RSVP has passed but if you’d still like a spot, contact Patricia Jordan directly. I hope to see you there!

Whitney Litz