Stay ConnectedFeaturing the lives, stories and careers from the global JET Programme alumni community. And usually, our stories begin with “This one time in Japan…” – our best, our silliest and our fondest.
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Tourism is one of those careers that is a good fit for JETs - after all, we are passionate advocates for our second homes in Japan, and have explored every nook and cranny, probably more so than locals who have lived there all their lives. Continuing with the theme of ex-JETs who now work in the Japanese public sector, we'll be speaking to our guest, Andy Coombs, who currently works for the Fukushima City Tourism and Convention Association. He'll talk about what's involved, the challenges, his ambitions for Fukushima tourism, the benefits of selectively and softly applying the gaijin-smash approach, and of course, since we're both ex-JETs from Fukushima, we'll be shamelesly flying the flag and showing much rabu-rabu (love) for the best little prefecture in Japan. A mild language advisory warning since we (ok me) will be swearing just a teeny-tiny bit. Andy manages the following official Fukushima Tourism social media channels: - Fukushima Tourism on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Fukushima.Guide/ - Fukushima Tourism on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fukushima.guide/ - Fukushima Tourism site - https://fukushima-guide.jp/ We mentioned several places of interest on the podcast: - Aizuwakamatsu, the samurai city: http://samurai-city.jp/en/ - Lake Inawashiro: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1743/ - Goshikunuma (Five Coloured Lakes): https://www.tohokukanko.jp/en/attractions/detail_1287.html - Soma Nomaoi (Samurai Festival): https://www.kyuhoshi.com/soma-nomaoi/ - Iizaka Kenka Matsuri (Fighting Festival): https://voyapon.com/fukushima-iizaka-kenka-matsuri/ - Yanaizu Hadaka Mairi (Naked Temple Visit): https://rediscoverfukushima.com/2018/01/10/yanaizu-naked-man-festival/ - Iwaki: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7775.html For the translating accreditation and other associations mentioned in this podcast: - JAT (Japan Association of Translators): https://jat.org/ - NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters - Australia only): https://www.naati.com.au/ - Fukushima International Association: http://www.worldvillage.org/english/ Music for this episode: "Coming Home" (from Step by Step) by Stefano Vita is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License, and available on freemusicarchive.org
What's it like working in the Japanese public sector? We'll spend several episodes talking to guests who work in different government and non-profit organisations. Our guest Rafael Villadiego worked for several years at the Consulate of Japan in Sydney, and gives us a look at working at a diplomatic office, learning on the job, how to "read the air", and the importance of counting steps. Music for this episode: "Working for the County" (from the Good Graces album) by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License, and available on freemusicarchive.org https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/Good_Graces/Derek_Clegg_-_Good_Graces_-_07_Working_For_The_County_1900
Hello everyone! It's been a while. A short update about our podcast.
The closest description that one can use for what our guest does for a living, would be "life coach", though Andy Chaleff would agree that it's usually hard to quantify. In this episode, we talk about his philosophy, his very eventful life, from JET, to high flying corporate executive, to penniless boarder in a leaky attic, to where he is now. Andy can be reached by: - The Last Letter (http://www.thelastletter.com/): Andy's website, which contains his tour dates and book, which is coming out in September. - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andychaleff Music for this episode: "Chunga Lunga (Overcome Your Fear)" by BROWS is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License http://freemusicarchive.org/music/BROWS/Under_The_Black_Flag_1654/14_BROWS_-_Chunga_Lunga_Overcome_Your_Fear_1819
Our second of our 2 part episode and this time around we get down to talking about life after JET. It can feel like a step "backwards" in some sense, going from having your own apartment and independence, to going home and starting over again. But it's not all bad, really we promise. FOOTNOTES: - Rebecca Chen on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-c-9b594254/ - Interfaith Rise: http://www.interfaithrise.org/ Australia on humanitarian issues: - Australian Department of Home Affairs: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/60refugee - Discussion on facts behind the numbers (Dec 2017): http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-21/fact-check-george-brandis-refugees-per-capita/9241276 - UNHCR Population statistics: http://popstats.unhcr.org/en/overview#_ga=2.40345569.2113324426.1513120832-389102545.1511316219 Music for this episode: "For The People" by The Dogon Lights is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Dogon_Lights/Ride_It/06_For_The_People
What started out as a conversation about documentary film making quickly moved into discussion on refugee and asylum seeker issues in America, particularly with the current administration. While job searching after coming home from JET (and therefore having plenty of free time), our guest, Rebecca Chen, decided to embark on a documentary film making project - it's early days yet, but we shall be checking back to see how she goes! FOOTNOTES: - Rebecca Chen on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-c-9b594254/ - Interfaith Rise: http://www.interfaithrise.org/ Australia on humanitarian issues: - Australian Department of Home Affairs: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/60refugee - Discussion on facts behind the numbers (Dec 2017): http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-21/fact-check-george-brandis-refugees-per-capita/9241276 - UNHCR Population statistics: http://popstats.unhcr.org/en/overview#_ga=2.40345569.2113324426.1513120832-389102545.1511316219 Music for this episode: "For The People" by The Dogon Lights is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Dogon_Lights/Ride_It/06_For_The_People
Despite the economy, state of the world, etc, it's never been easier to pursue your dream job, even if it means creating your own unique job title and career. Being an entrepreneur however can be a challenge. I talk to our guest, Raelene Morey about this, the importance of standing up for yourself and how every situation is different when figuring out... life. Because of the lack of mentors in this industry, Raelene is willing to have a brief chat with people seeking advice - so be nice and courteous, and don't make her (and us) regret it. Her contact through her LinkedIn below. Also, very very mild language warning, just in case. FOOTNOTES: - Check out Raelene's company, Words by Birds: https://wordsbybirds.com/ - Raelene is on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raelenemorey/ Podcasts that Raelene recommends: - How I Built This: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this - Don't Keep Your Day Job: https://www.cathyheller.com/podcast/ - Pursuit With Purpose: https://www.melyssagriffin.com/topics/podcast/ Finally, the JET Programme: https://jetprogramme.com Music for this episode: "Stream of Consciousness" by Strong Suit is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Strong_Suit/Simulation/11_Strong_Suit_-_Stream_of_Consciousness)
In this episode I return to the discussion of teaching as a career, this time with a trainee teacher, and another who is a tutor at university. We talk about the differences between pupils in Japan and in Australia, the satisfaction of teaching and why all those class games are more useful than you might think. In the Australian state of New South Wales at least, all trainee teachers are required to pass a literacy and numeracy test before they are allowed to run classes, called LANTITE (Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students): https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/prepare Music: "Everything I ever learnt" by Mr. & Mrs. Smith is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Mr__Mrs_Smith/September/Mr__Mrs_Smith_-_September_-_03_Everything_I_ever_learnt)
We've talked a lot about turning hobbies into a career, and my guest Julius Pang (ALT 2004-2007 Kitakyushu) not only became a professional photographer, he combined it with his love of Japan and started a photography tour business (Incredible Photo Tours). We talk about the work, photographing Mt Fuji (i.e. much harder than you'd expect) and wrangling old people. - Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julius-pang-165baba/ - Portfolio and Tours: http://juliuspang.com/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliuspang/ Julius was also a presenter at the After JET Conference: http://jetprogramme.org/en/after-con/ To start his business, Julius joined the New Enterprise Initiative Scheme (NEIS), for Australian job seekers who are interested in running a new small business: https://www.employment.gov.au/self-employment-new-enterprise-incentive-scheme-neis Music for this episode: Photograph by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/End_It_For_Now/Derek_Clegg_-_End_It_For_Now_-_04_Photograph
Do you have the write stuff (I had this pun, I needed to use it)? A passion for writing, reporting on social issues and events (and yoga) led our next guest, Shannon Lough, around the world and into a career as a journalist. One time she interviewed an ex-astronaut (true story). - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonlough/ - Portfolio: http://portfolio.shannonlough.com/ - Website: http://shannonlough.com/ - Black Press: http://www.blackpress.ca/ Music credits: The Daily News by Electric Mirrors is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/). Based on a work at http://blocsonic.com/releases/bsog0058
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