So I turned in my visa application yesterday. Funny story actually. I turned it in along with a couple other things, my FBI background check and a copy of an IRS form. Apparently, the other two forms needed to go to another person. So, they were given back to me and the woman directed to another window. This really nice Japanese guy came up and was very talkative and took my forms and let me know that he would get them to the JET coordinator. Apparently, he was the coordinator until 2003. Well I handed him the forms and he gave me a parking validation and I left. I am pulling out of the parking deck when he comes running up to my car. I totally forgot that I needed to turn in two copies of my visa application and passport photo. Luckily, I had made a second copy for my own records and passport photos always come in pairs. And when I had left, I looked at the official checklist and sure enough it said that I need two copies. I can't believe I forgot that. And I can't believe that the guy came out to catch me. That was totally cool of him.
Well, anyway, I am pretty much set for Japan. I just turned in that stuff and I sent a reply to the travel agency and so that's pretty much it. I'll be leaving in about 6 weeks. And the more I look at where I'll be working and living, I realize that I have a very good placement. It's going to be great! Woohoo!!!
Showing posts with label placement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label placement. Show all posts
June 20, 2007
June 17, 2007
Information Packet from Mitoyo!!!
I'm soooo excited now. I just got the info pack from the school board this morning. I actually yelled out loud when I realized what it was. It has a letter from the superintendent, a handbook, a general description, a sample contract, a map of the city, and some city information.
I'm about to start going through it. I'll let you know specifics and interesting points once I've gone through it all.
WOOT!
I'm about to start going through it. I'll let you know specifics and interesting points once I've gone through it all.
WOOT!
May 22, 2007
Kagawa-ken Mitoyo-shi
Well I am finding out more about my new location. Checking out maps and websites online and consulting with other JETs via an online group.
The '-ken' means prefecture and '-shi' means city. Now apparently, it's not really a city. It's more a conglomeration of several towns (according to wiki and a guy who is living there currently working for the same program.) It's considered mostly country, inaka in Japanese. The name of the island is Shikoku and is the smallest of the four main islands. (On the map, click on the city of Takamatsu, which is located just above where it says Japan real big, to zoom in and center on it, then click on Takamatsu again to zoom even closer, and then look to the western coast of Kagawa. You will see Takase, Mino, or Nio, which are towns in Mitoyo City where I will be located.) It is directly south of the main island, Honshu. Kagawa is the prefecture on the northeast side of the island facing the inland sea. From what I've read, the weather is pleasant and comparable to that of the Mediterranean. I was told it can get very hot, and it might snow twice in the winter. There are lots of natural areas and mountains will surround me on the island. You can see the city/nature ratio better on this satellite map. Just zoom in and check it out. Apparently, this prefecture is the birthplace of the founder of Japanese Buddhism, so there are quite a few religious monuments and shrines. My friend Alana who is also going on JET mentioned an 88 shrine tour that sounds interesting.
As I said, the 'city' is called Mitoyo. I was able to find the city website which of course is in Japanese. I don't know Japanese, yet. So I am unable to read it. But I managed to surf around and find some really cool pictures of the area (click the links on the page for more pics). I'll definitely be near the coast. (I mean, I know most of Japan is on the coast, but I will be right beside it.) It was just neat getting to see some of the pictures of the city. I think it will be cool to go there and see some of them for myself. One of the pages on the site actually has links to all the schools's websites with pictures. Maybe I'll take bets on which one you think I'll be in.
I'm starting to get more excited about this whole undertaking. It's going to be an adventure, that's for sure.
The '-ken' means prefecture and '-shi' means city. Now apparently, it's not really a city. It's more a conglomeration of several towns (according to wiki and a guy who is living there currently working for the same program.) It's considered mostly country, inaka in Japanese. The name of the island is Shikoku and is the smallest of the four main islands. (On the map, click on the city of Takamatsu, which is located just above where it says Japan real big, to zoom in and center on it, then click on Takamatsu again to zoom even closer, and then look to the western coast of Kagawa. You will see Takase, Mino, or Nio, which are towns in Mitoyo City where I will be located.) It is directly south of the main island, Honshu. Kagawa is the prefecture on the northeast side of the island facing the inland sea. From what I've read, the weather is pleasant and comparable to that of the Mediterranean. I was told it can get very hot, and it might snow twice in the winter. There are lots of natural areas and mountains will surround me on the island. You can see the city/nature ratio better on this satellite map. Just zoom in and check it out. Apparently, this prefecture is the birthplace of the founder of Japanese Buddhism, so there are quite a few religious monuments and shrines. My friend Alana who is also going on JET mentioned an 88 shrine tour that sounds interesting.
As I said, the 'city' is called Mitoyo. I was able to find the city website which of course is in Japanese. I don't know Japanese, yet. So I am unable to read it. But I managed to surf around and find some really cool pictures of the area (click the links on the page for more pics). I'll definitely be near the coast. (I mean, I know most of Japan is on the coast, but I will be right beside it.) It was just neat getting to see some of the pictures of the city. I think it will be cool to go there and see some of them for myself. One of the pages on the site actually has links to all the schools's websites with pictures. Maybe I'll take bets on which one you think I'll be in.
I'm starting to get more excited about this whole undertaking. It's going to be an adventure, that's for sure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
