As a JET leaving from Toronto, I have an almost absurd number of pre-departure orientations. Some of the orientations include Japanese language lessons and TESOL instruction. Overall, I really appreciated the effort the consulate put into preparing the new JETs. However, due to my location and the fact that I work and have a family, I could only manage to make it to 2 out of 3 days of the big orientation, PDOT (Pre Departure Orientation Toronto). There is also a mandatory farewell orientation on July 31st, which is when we get our passports returned (we turned them in at PDOT for visa purposes).
PDOT is a 3-day orientation over June 21, 22, and 23. The first two days are mainly about being a JET and the last day is more of a fun time to learn about Japanese culture. The whole thing is a great collaboration between the consulate, JETAA, JAVA, and the JCCC. There are even snacks provided, and although we were told to bring a lunch, I found that for the cheap JET, the snacks are sufficient.
Here is the schedule for Saturday June 21, 2014:
8:45 – 9:30 Registration
We all filed in and picked up our name tags. There were also bags with the GIH, insurance policy, OHIP letter, yakkan shoumei letter, and Japanese for JETs book, which was for people who didn't pick it up at the general information session held in May.
9:30 – 9:40 Welcome Speech & Opening Remarks
Marcia from the consulate just spoke a bit about the day and what to expect.
9:40 -9:50 “What is JETAA and What Do We Do? Let’s Keep in Touch!”
Basically just advertising for JETAA, but it was all about the sorts of events and activities they hold in Toronto.
9:50 – 10:10 Icebreaker: Airplane Game
We had to write 3 things about ourselves on a piece of paper and make it into a paper airplane. We all threw the planes at once and had to pick up the one which landed closest to us. Then, using the 3 things written down, we had to find the person who wrote it. I didn't find my person!
10:10 – 10:20 Morning Break
10:20 – 11:00 Office Relationships
A general rundown of office hierarchy in Japanese BOEs and schools. Also a discussion on how to make the most of your relationships with coworkers.
11:40 – 12:20 Life Outside the Classroom – A Successful First Year
A presentation on how to get involved in your community outside of school, with the main message of saying yes to everything.
12:20 – 13:30 Lunch Break with JETAA Special Interest Groups
We had the chance to eat lunch in special interest groups, so I ate with the group for bringing family on JET. Other groups included Asian JETs, vegetarians, travelers, JETs leaving family behind, LGBTQ, etc. That's me sitting second from the left in the photo below!
13:30 – 14:00 Letter to My Future Self
We did an activity where we wrote a letter to our future self. JETAA collected the letters and will send them to us when we’re in Japan.
14:00 – 14:40 Representing Canada (Ideas for Your Self-Intro Class)
A presentation on how to represent Canada and what sorts of things we can use to portray ourselves and our country, including omiyage.
14:40 – 15:20 Food
Mostly about living in Japan with food allergies/intolerances, but also a chance to showcase Japanese food, especially weird things.
15:20 – 16:00 Money Matters
All about how to budget money in Japan, plus things about ATMs, salary, and taxes.
16:00 – 16:20 Icebreaker: “What Are You Doing?”
We played an icebreaker where we stood in a circle and acted out what another person said they were doing (ex. jumping, dancing, waving, etc.)
16:20 – 16:40 Afternoon Break
16:40 – 17:20 Teaching
This was divided into JHS & Elementary, SHS, and “I don't know!” I was in the JHS and elementary groups, but it mostly focused on elementary. We learned a bit about what to expect from students and played some games that work well with the students.
17:20 – 17:30 Closing Remarks
Afterwards, there was a pub night at a nearby pub, but I didn't go because I had a raging headache. Plus I felt like I had enough awkward socializing for the day. I also felt a bit awkward being married and having a kid, so it made it a bit more difficult to relate to other people. That said, if you’re not introverted like I am and don’t have a killer headache, I would recommend the pub night. I have no idea what they did, but I kind of regretted not going.
Schedule for Sunday June 22, 2014:
9:30 - 10:00 Registration
Just a time to get settled, pick up our name tags again, and eat snacks.
10:00 - 10:30 Social Etiquette Skit with JAVA
This skit and the skit below were put on by JAVA and focused on portraying Japanese culture and social etiquette, especially for teachers. This included things like honorifics, bowing, removing shoes, riding the train, enkai, and table manners.
10:30 - 11:00 Cross-Cultural Boot Camp with JAVA
11:00 – 11:20 Morning Break
11:20 – 12:00 Wellness Coping and Culture Shock
A presentation on how to deal with culture shock. We talked about the different symptoms and then talked in small groups about ways we could prevent and cope.
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch with Regional Groups
I ate with the Chugoku regional group, which was a bit sad because there were only 3 of us going and we were each in our own prefecture, but it was still interesting to hear from the 2 JETAA members who had returned from there.
13:10 – 13:15 Icebreaker: Radio Taiso
Fairly self-explanatory. We did radio taiso, the exercises every student in Japan knows and did at school. Very awkward with such cramped space and people wearing skirts and heels.
13:20 – 14:20 Living as a Male/Female
We broke into 2 groups and discussed a variety of topics. We touched on things like clothing, shoes, birth control, long-distance relationships, personal safety, etc.
14:20 – 14:30 Afternoon Break
14:30 – 15:15 Travelling While Working on JET/First Time Teaching/Rural JET Experience
In the afternoon we had 3 seminar time slots and 3 seminars going on at the same time. So for the first slot, I chose travelling while working on JET. It was pretty interesting and there was some good info on places to book flights and hotels.
15:20 – 16:25 Travelling While Working on JET/First Time Teaching/Transportation and Car Ownership
For the second slot I went to first time teaching. The focus was on classroom management and how to communicate with different types of learners. Also, how to work within a Japanese classroom.
16:30 – 17:15 Rural JET Experience/First Time Teaching/Transportation and Car Ownership
For the last slot I went to rural JET experience. It was okay, but I felt like it was a bit just stating the obvious, for example, in the country you are farther away from other JETs but can make meaningful relationships with Japanese locals. My favourite part was hearing about how rural JETs did get involved in their local communities.
17:20 – 17:55 JETAA Presentation
The JETAA members presented a slideshow with photos of their most memorable time in Japan and told their stories to us.
17:55 – 18:00 Closing Remarks
18:00 – 18:30 Take Down and Group Cleaning (Souji)
We had to clean up the space, which basically meant stacking chairs, since it was fairly clean already.
Although I didn't attend Monday's orientation, for interest, here is the schedule for Monday, June 23, 2014:
9:45 – 10:00 Registration
10:00 – 10:15 Opening Remarks
10:15 – 11:45 Morning Presentation/Kimono, Tea Ceremony
11:45 – 12:30 Iaido, Bon Odori
12:30 – 13:20 Lunch
13:20 – 14:50 Afternoon Presentation/Hands-on Japanese Calligraphy Workshop
Overall, I enjoyed the orientation weekend more than I thought I would. At first I was really put off about forced interaction with people I probably wouldn't see after Tokyo Orientation. In reality, it was nice to talk with people who are in the same situation. The volunteer alumni were super friendly and helpful too, which was awesome. However, I feel I would have gotten a lot more out of the orientation if there had been more people going to my prefecture or even region. I do wish I had been able to go to the Monday orientation, but alas, I had to work.
