Your First Month: Part One, What to Expect in Tokyo
(Note: This article contains information specific to JETs who arrived in 2005, so some details will be different for your arrival.)
You’ll have already received some general information on the Tokyo Orientation in the welcome information from your DRs. Here is my take based on this year’s schedule and my experience last year.
One of the first things you’ll notice as you place your first few steps on Japanese soil is the summer humidity. Although average temperatures in Tokyo are only between 28-30 degrees Celcius, the humidity peaks at 90 percent — just what you need as you emerge groggy, hot and sweaty from your long journey. To make matters worse, it’s a bit of a marathon between the arrivals gate and the air conditioned bus waiting to transport you to the hotel. The good news, however, is that 50 JET orientation assistants will have invaded the airport and will be positioned on every corner to keep you on track and herd you through it all, without you having to think. Please be aware that the one piece of luggage rule is strictly enforced, so you will have to send any other pieces on before being allowed to board the coach.
You’ll be staying at either the Keio Plaza or The Hilton in Tokyo’s lively, bright, neon Shinjuku district. Depending on what time you arrive and how tired you feel, try to be brave and leave the cool air conditioning of your hotel to explore! If you are completely burnt out and just need to hit the sack, then the good news is that the orientation does not start until 10 a.m. on Monday (25 July/1 August.).
The orientation will commence with an hour long prefectural meeting, which will probably include a few announcements but is predominately an opportunity for you to chat and get to know the other new Saga JETs. This will be followed by an hour of welcome addresses and introductions by various dignitaries.
In the afternoon, CIRs and ALTs will attend separate meetings with general information about life and work in Japan (speeches, videos, etc.). You’ll also get to add to what will by now be a mounting pile of books, pamphlets and leaflets at the AJET bazaar. There might be a few decent freebies on offer, such as free trial phonecards and English newspapers, so it is defintely worth checking out. When you sign up for AJET you’ll be given the opportunity to buy the latest version of an ALT teaching resource book called Team Talk Pizza. If you are considering buying it, it is worth checking with your predecessor before you come if there is already a copy of this publication in your apartment or at your school and what edition it is.
The first day concludes with a welcome reception between 6:30 and 8 p.m., which last year was comprised of free booze and a buffet. It is a great time to mingle! There are approximately 1,400 people at the A and 1,100 people at the B orientation, so it can be a little overwhelming, but it is a good opportunity to make new friends who you can visit or who can visit you. No doubt they’ll be a group of Saga ALTs hitting the town afterwards, so if you have snoozed through most of the days proceedings, you’ll be raring to go!
Tuesday morning will be comprised of a number of teaching workshops and a question and answer session. General workshops will take place in the afternoon, of which you can pick four to attend. These seminars/workshops can be useful, but it is understood that you will be jet lagged, and so they are not too strenuous. The topics include: adult conversation classes, behind the scenes at a Japanese school, community involvement and making friends in Japan, driving in Japan, elementary school visits, first year prefectural advisors, forum des JETs Francophones, German JETs forum, independent Japanese study, Japanese etiquette for beginners, life as a female JET, life as a JET, thriving as a rural JET, your first month and life as a JET with a family. In addition there will be other workshops run by AJET.
The program coordinators from Saga will be around on Tuesday afternoon to welcome you and make some general announcements. Most countries, excluding perhaps the USA due to capacity constraints, will invite their new JETs to attend a welcome reception at their embassies on Tuesday night. This was one of my personal highlights last year, and although it may involve a taxi/subway journey, you’ll no doubt be rewarded with free beer, food and entertainment when you arrive.
After forcing your luggage back into your case and discarding the majority of the leaflets and handouts which you have accumulated, you’ll begin to realize just how short your sleep will be before the extraordinarily early flight back to Saga on Wednesday morning.
Welcome to Japan!