Spring edition

Jet Journeys
JAPAN EXCHANGE & TEACHING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEW SLETTER SPRING 2010
Welcome to the Spring 2010 edition of JET Journeys!
It’s only a few weeks to the end of another year, but the Sydney JETAA team has made sure those weeks are packed
full of great events for both newly returned JETs and seasoned veterans. The big one, of course, is our legendary
Christmas party, an unparalleled extravaganza of good times and great company. But there’s also our annual hanami
coming up soon, and the chance to try the art of origami at our workshop session in just a few days – so RSVP today
and come join us!
Meanwhile, we’ve got the latest updates from JETAA international, and a look back at what we’ve been up to in
Sydney over the last few months. With the latest wave of JET alumni just back from Japan, it was great to see so
many new faces at our careers evening last month and we hope to see you again at other events in future! We also
encourage you to get involved in JETAA yourself; we’re here to provide support for all former JETS so do let us know
if you have any ideas or would like to be a part of the committee.
And remember, it’s easy to keep in touch with Sydney JETAA – just hop on our Facebook group or take a look at the
website, www.sydneyjetaa.org. Until next year, enjoy the festive season!
Petroc Wilton, Editor
Contents
Coming Soon.......................................................................................................................Page 2
An origami workshop, Sydney-style hanami, and that Christmas party – it’s all here
News........................................................................................................................................Page 4
Learn the latest from JETAA international after the annual meeting, held this year in the UK
JETAA Events Scrapbook..............................................................................................Page 5
The many sides of JETAA, from careers guidance to Hawaiian bowling (grass skirts mandatory)
Taste of Japan.....................................................................................................................Page 6
Break out the shochu for a brace of festive cocktails!
Jet Journeys Spring 2010
Coming Soon
Learn when (and how) to fold ’em at the Origami Workshop
Experience an art form developed over four hundred years –
and try it for yourself! The Origami People group has grown
famous through their TV, radio and magazine appearances and
now they’re coming to Sydney to teach JETAA members the
basics: square, bird, fish, w-boat, and more. Priced at just $15,
the workshop also promises to be the perfect antidote to the
pre-Christmas rush, helping participants relax through the
meditational powers of origami.
The date: Saturday 6th November, 2010
The time: 11am – 1pm
The place: CLAIR Office, Level 41 Gateway Building,
1 Macquarie Place, Circular Quay (view map).
RSVP via Facebook here or email sydney.events@jetalumni.org
Hanami: purple not pink, but the sake tastes just as good
Join us for a chilled-out afternoon of eating, drinking and
poetry under the beautiful blossoms. There’ll be yakisoba,
sake and the epic yet refined showdown that is the annual
Sydney JETAA haiku contest – and just to give it an
Australian twist we’ll be taking it easy under the purple glory
of the flowering jacarandas.
The date: Sunday 14th November, 2010
The time: 11am – 2pm
The place: Hogben Park, Rockdale (view map).
RSVP via Facebook here or email sydney.events@jetalumni.org
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Jet Journeys Spring 2010
The legendary Christmas Party – now with a touch of yukata style
Almost certainly the single most awesome thing about the end of the
year, the JETAA Christmas Party is an epic highlight of Sydney’s social
calendar that needs no introduction. Suffice it to say, if you only make it
to one more event this year, make it this one!
For 2010 we’ll be introducing a touch of class to the proceedings, with a
special natsu matsuri theme – yes, it’s time to break
out the yukata! The whole thing kicks off with a brief
workshop on how to wear a yukata and obi, then it’s
time to get the party started. And as always, we’ll be
conducting a charity raffle with a huge selection of
fabulous prizes to give away.
The date: Saturday 27th November, 2010
The time: 6pm – 11pm
The place: Oaks Hotel, Military Road, Neutral Bay
(view map).
RSVP via Facebook here or email sydney.events@jetalumni.org
Sun, sea, and sizzling meat: yakiniku BBQ at the beach
Looking ahead to the New Year, and what better way
to kick off our calendar of events in 2011 than with a
delicious feast of grilled meat on one of Sydney’s
beautiful beaches? Come help us start next year in
style! Keep an eye on the website
(www.sydneyjetaa.org) for details.
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The date: Sunday 30 January, 2011
The time: 11am – 2pm
The place: TBC
Come and be heard at the 2011 Sydney JETAA AGM
Our Annual General Meeting is your chance
to let us know exactly what you want from
Sydney JETAA in the coming year. But that’s
not all – all committee positions will be open
for election, and we always welcome new
members! Dinner and drinks to follow.
Details on our website www.sydneyjetaa.org
The date: Friday 4 February, 2011
The time: TBC
The place: TBC
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Jet Journeys Spring 2010
News
JETAA International Positions Itself for the Future
Delegates from over 15 countries attended the 2010 JETAA
International Conference in Edinburgh, UK from October 1-3. There,
they tackled the challenges facing their chapters’ leadership, including
how to improve JETAA’s communications and technology footprint to
more effectively engage the Association’s 50,000+ members and how
best to add new chapters to support that membership.
Perhaps the biggest challenge was that posed by the current economic situation in Japan; delegates to
this year’s meeting were informed that the 2010 JETAA International Meeting in Edinburgh would be
the last face-to-face meeting in the near future, given the withdrawal of funding for JETAA
International.
The event has been the only opportunity for chapter leaders to influence and improve best practices
for chapters worldwide, and JETAA is proud of the unprecedented growth and impact achieved as a
direct result of having annual face-to-face meetings. However, this year’s delegates recognised that
significant changes to long-term operations would need to be made to serve the best interests of
members and ensure long-term success in light of the funding cuts.
New ideas and proposals put forward by delegates (and now being finalised) included:
THE STRUCTURE OF JETAA INTERNATIONAL
 Executive Officer positions will continue to be organized according to the specific needs of our
memberships, such as communication, IT, and Outreach
 JETAA International Executive Committee will be more regionally focused with representatives
from each region reporting to the JETAA International Executive Officers
 Community outreach will be a prime directive for JETAA International to increase the
awareness of the Association and the JET Programme around the world
THE FUTURE OF JETAA INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS
 Face-to-face meetings will continue to be the highest priority
 Virtual regional and specifically-themed meetings will be introduced
 Meetings will be quarterly in terms of regional, executive, and committee that are coordinated
to happen with an organized timeframe with standardized reporting
Delegates also suggested a number of improvements to the JET Programme itself in order to ensure its
longevity and long-term success. These included:
• Consider stakeholders and their needs, and take appropriate steps to fulfil them. For example, JTEs
want satisfaction in the classroom, while local authorities would like a consistent quality of JET
candidates, and tax payers would be keen to see value for money.
• Create a proprietary teaching method (for all JETs to step into any classroom anywhere in Japan) or
adapted TOEFL course, with the application process contingent on the applicant passing the course.
• Conduct surveys through contracting organizations to see what they like in a perfect candidate, and
incorporate the feedback into the interview process.
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Jet Journeys Spring 2010
JETAA Events Scrapbook
October: careers and networking evening
The annual JETAA Careers and Networking Evening was held On Friday 22 October at
the Japan Foundation. This year we welcomed back eight people from Japan who had
just finished JET, plus other former JETs who had recently relocated to Sydney. It was a
great chance to meet members of the Japanese community in Sydney and JETAA
senpai, and share information about maintaining a connection to Japan while settling
back into life in Sydney. We got some invaluable advice about transferable skills and
selling ourselves and our JET experience to potential employers. And we gained an
overview of some of the many language resources and cultural events the Japan
Foundation provides to help us keep in touch with Japan and keep up the nihongo.
August: shabu-shabu and karaoke night
Juju’s Japanese Izakaya at Kings Cross was the venue for a combo
made in heaven – delicious shabu-shabu, followed by the
delectable karaoke stylings of a dedicated team of sing stars. The
sake and beer flowed freely, the food was cooked to perfection in
the bubbling broth, and by the time the singers took to the stage,
another Sydney JETAA legend was already in the making...
July: Winter Hawaiian bowling showdown
The Sydney JETAA Hawaiian themed bowling championship
provided some much needed summer fun on a cold winter's
night. The $20 bargain included shoe hire, two games, VB,
chips and plenty of entertainment.
The four teams were eager to impress and numerous strikes
and spares made it a close race. The participants showed off
their various techniques including the fast paced spin,
between the legs backwards hop and shot put inspired
throws. Many of these were impressive to behold, but
unfortunately resulted in gutter balls.
The winning team certainly earned their bars of Lindt Gold
chocolate, but the lowest scorers didn't go home empty handed – they were rewarded with top of the
range wooden spoons. Thanks to all who attended, it was a great night. Stay tuned for the details of
next year’s rematch!
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Jet Journeys Spring 2010
Taste of Japan
JETAA brings you two festive shochu cocktails to help usher in the Christmas season. Recipes from EatJapan’s Gaijin Gourmet.
Sazanami
 5 ice cubes
 Juice of one lemon
 ½ teaspoon of syrup (or white sugar)
 The white of one egg
 Three measures of shochu
 A lemon wedge
 Some grated lemon rind
Put the ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and pout the lemon juice, syrup, egg white and shochu
over them. Shake till frost forms then serve with a lemon wedge in the glass and the rind
sprinkled on the top.
Winter Martini: Yuki Gesho



2.5 measures of shochu
1 measure of dry vermouth
A twist of lemon
Stir gently, strain into a chilled glass and add a twist of
lemon or an olive if desired
Kanpai!
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