Attendees at the 2011 Conference for Returning JETs (Photo credit: Dan Moeller) 

NOTE: The reference numbers following each paragraph refer to footnotes at the end of the article.

by Dan Moeller

For some of us, we’re currently packing up (mentally) and getting ready to be shipped back into the oh-so-inviting economy of our home countries. I’m sure the recent Returner’s Conference in Yokohama loomed in a lot of returning JETs’ minds as a great opportunity. The problem is that attendance was limited to 500 participants and not everyone had the time and money to attend. For me, the round-trip shink fare and hotel were enough to cause me to get all my meals at a nearby konbini. It’s a shame attendance to this conference is such a burden; it was a three day professional bonanza chocked full of important career tips, interview and resume help, as well as all-around guidance. It’s a great thing I have an outlet like the Wide Island View to let everyone in on ten golden nuggets I garnered from the event. Drum roll please…

10. Microsoft Word – Take Word off your resume. Knowing Word these days is like knowing how to breathe! No one is impressed by simple word processing skills anymore and, in fact, such skills are generally expected. What is important? Skills that are directly applicable to the position you’re applying for. If you’re shooting for that Times journalist position that opened up, it would be relevant to mention you know your way around Adobe Premier and most video cameras, and that photography has been your hobby for the past ten years (assuming that you do really know these skills).  (ref. 6)

9. Required Experience – Don’t vote yourself out of a job because you don’t meet the “2+ years experience” requirement. The position description includes all the desired traits of an ideal candidate. People are hired that don’t meet all of the requirements. The question now becomes why are you qualified. Explain what sets you apart from the next applicant in your cover letter/email. Surely, your JET experience counts for something more than “experience teaching large groups of uninterested and/or shy students whose progress left something to be desired.” Hint: I’m not going to work this one out for you.  (ref. 4)

8. Japan Stories – “Oh no! Here comes another one of [insert name here]’s Japan stories!” If you haven’t heard this yet, you will. It’s very alienating going back to your home country with a brain bursting full of years of experience in Japan with no one to really listen or understand the comments and stories you want to share. You can suppress the stories and general Japan reflection in a way that silences it forever. Or, you can find outlets – local AJET groups, travelers of the world, friends with experience abroad, etc – to cultivate your Japan memories into something I like to call “growth.” Inevitably, you will meet people with mindsets not yet exposed to some of the enlightenment that we have unconsciously accumulated over the years. These different mindsets may vary from odd biases to stark racism. The solution is to breathe, take your time, and answer thoughtfully.  (ref. 5)

7. Volunteer – It’s a giver’s game. The time you put in on, for example, the board of the local AJET team will surely be noticed and rewarded in some sort of holy/karma/pay-it-forward occurrence. Really. This could mean just getting your name out there, paired with a little “I give my time to the community” line on your resume. This could also mean bumping into your future reference for landing your dream job at the embassy. Also, the experience can be priceless, and is most always transferable.  (ref. 1,4)

6. LinkedIn – Get a free account. The effort put into building a profile is quite minimal compared to the exposure, references, networking, etc.  You profile is a virtual business card and can be linked anywhere (even your resume and email signatures). Also, considering your future employers will be perusing your page be sure to include any of your (professional) websites and/or websites you have contributed to. LinkedIn is also a great resource to ask for an informational interview from an employee of a company you’ve had in mind. This is as simple as a 15 minute chat over a cup of coffee (which you sprung for, of course) while you barrage this person with all of the questions you have about this company. This person may like you enough to run your resume to his boss. Wait, did you forget your resume?  (ref. 1,4,6)

5. Internet Dirt – 45% of employers use social media sites to research job candidates. 35% of those employers found reason not to hire said candidates. Don’t be a part of this statistic. Do an extensive Google, Yahoo, and/or Bing search for your name in all its forms. Clean up your Internet dirt before you begin your job search. It would be a shame to be wholly qualified for a position and then not get it because of those pictures of you and your drunken buddies throwing slabs of meat at the beer pong losers in the frat house basement (although there was a perfectly reasonable explanation, I just…can’t…remember…it). Don’t think that something of yours can’t be found online. It would also be advantageous to begin monitoring your comments and tweets.  (ref. 1)

4. Flat Lining Resumes – How can you shock them back to life? The first method is qualitative. Google “resume action verbs” and you’ll find a plethora of websites listing these strong words, search-able by category. You will find words to help you say exactly what you mean, but in a gripping tone. The second method is quantitative. Which is better: “Started English club and pen pal system” or “Founded weekly English club involving 25 students and 10 teachers; initiated 50 student pen pal exchange program with three schools in Mexico”? Surely you were much more interested in the latter description. Finally, be sure to list anything that you have done or achieved as the “first, youngest, only, or best” to do so.  (ref. 2,3)

3. PAR – It is a good idea to already have thought about your answers before being questioned at an interview. Hop on Youtube and catch up on some of the numerous interview question videos available. Of course, practicing these questions implies that you know and can reference your resume with ease. The PAR (Problem, Action, Result) comes in handy when the interviewer hits you with a tell-me-about-a-time-you-encountered-a-tough-problem question. This is the time to wax about your problem solving history. “I was having trouble with the TPS cover sheets so I invented an email system that bypassed it. All eight of my bosses commended me on my good work and I was elected employee of the month.” You should have three to five of these experiences memorized to some extent (although I’m having trouble rounding up three from the dusty corners of my brain).  Ganbatte! (ref. 2)

2. Your References – When you hear “your references” I’m sure you have two or three candidates in mind. Stay in touch with them! You should communicate with them more than just the email asking them for the reference letter. Maybe you haven’t talked to them in years. Find out what recent papers they wrote. Are you sure they remember you? Shoot them an email catching them up on your current life. Ask about theirs. Tell them why you loved their lecture on “The Mating Habits of Earthworms.” The point is: a busy professor will not drop what they’re doing to help a student they can’t remember. If you’re looking to beg a Japanese colleague whose English is not perfect (or not present at all) it seems the best way is to write it for them and let them review it and sign it. (ref. 1,3)

1. Walk Me through Your Resume – This is a very common line used by interviewers. They are testing if you know your facts and if you can really sell yourself with a good attitude. Although you should give them an ascending chronological account of your education and experience, don’t just spout out what they can read from the document in front of them. Bring life to your resume. You should make it seem as if every action was a choice you wanted to make (rather than a friend’s suggestion that seemed slightly better than your current job at the time). I chose “A education” and learned “B skill,” then I chose “C job” and gained “D experience,” etc. Every action should shoot right into the next step up until now, in which this position/grad program is the next logical step. (It is the next logical step, right?)  (ref. 2,3)

I hope you give these suggestions some thought and put some to use. My information comes from these conference presenters (please peruse their helpful sites!):

1. Ryan Hart – Kibble & Prentice Sales and Communication Services Coordinator

2. Vince Ricci– VincePrep Founder and Owner

3. Leah Gowron– Monterey Institute of International Studies Director, Alumni Relations and Annual Fund

4. Jim Weisser – PBXL Inc Co-founder and CEO

5. Adam Komisarof– Associate Professor at Reitaku University (thoughtfully, slowly)

6. Justin McCurry – Guardian Correspondent

By Matt Nelson

Disclaimer: This article was written by a contributor and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Wide Island View, its staff. or the JET community at large.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

(e.g. MEXT, local and prefectural boards of education, PTAs, parents, students, and teachers)

Recently, many boards of education have dropped JET Programme ALTs in favor of private company ALTs in order to save on the higher costs associated with JET. This is arguably reasonable, although rumors of mismanagement (reminiscent of the eikaiwa scandals) and general questions of reliability, quality, and consistency have made this a hazy issue. There has also been recent talk of stopping the MEXT and CLAIR-sponsored JET Programme all together to cut costs and save some yen. School districts far and wide are having similar problems of lower enrollment and higher costs.

Admittedly, JET ALTs earn more on average than non-JET ALTs, and administrative costs associated with procurement and training has put a burden on MEXT. But let’s assume The JET Programme is a good thing and, if possible, should be kept, and that potential better ways to cut costs before cutting JET should be examined.

Here are ten options that could be implemented in both the short and long term to save money. They are in no particular order and may have small or large dents on budgets.

Class organization (less types of classes, less books, less tests)

5 different English classes = AT LEAST 5 textbooks = more money.

Overabundance of unused equipment/facilities

Also a no-brainer. Schools buy stuff, either by request or due to pressure from higher-ups, and have no need for it or often don’t know how to use it. Most schools have thousands of dollars worth of equipment sitting in a box in a cabinet somewhere, unused for years and collecting dust, and yet they request more every year. Some areas are trying to bring in new technology, which is good, but they are training teachers how to use them.

Paper use

No-brainer. Computers seem vastly underused for communication and everyone is “handout crazy.”  The waste in Japanese society and schools can be appalling. Sure, there’s recycling, but you don’t need to recycle things you don’t need in the first place. I keep a box for handouts I never need or are duplicates/triplicates/quadruplicates, etc. It’s full.

Working hours

Less time at work = less energy costs, and less stressed workers = less health costs and less time needed off work. By the way, why do we go to school when students aren’t there and teachers just sleep? Many direct-hire or third-party ALTs do not have to go to work during times without students, just like other non-regular teachers.

Team teaching

ALTs & JTEs don’t need to be in the same class to coordinate teaching. In fact, they shouldn’t be. It’s inefficient and sometimes BAD for students. Allow ALTs (with training/certification) to solo teach classes in conjunction with JTE-only classes. This system is used in private high schools, universities, eikaiwa, and some other countries’ foreign language programs. Maybe it could work here, too?

The transfer system

Save on administrative costs and on time by transferring teachers less often (as was done in the past) and coordinate better with regards to the location of schools and teachers’ homes. This is especially important for BOEs that compensate teachers for their travel expenses to/from work and that need to provide housing for teachers that live too far away to commute everyday.

Fewer schools/unused facilities

There are way too many schools half-used. I know people don’t want to close schools, but workers and students will go somewhere else. Adapt, consolidate, and get stronger education because of it.

Inefficiency of work

This is related to topics 1-7 above, but more specifically, schools need to be willing to do what they do better, quicker, easier, and more reliably. Specialists should be hired and teachers should teach. Instead of 7 teachers doing student counseling in addition to their other work with not enough time, hire a specialist that is trained in that field and let the teachers teach. Efficiency will increase, stress will decrease, and the more help each staff member will be able to give to students. The teacher-student ratio in public upper-secondary schools (2004) is about 13 to 1. Yet, classes are often 30-40 students because teachers are too busy doing other work to teach more class periods. This may mean less staff in the long run, but why have several part-time teachers when one full-time teacher can do the job?

Building inefficiency

Thin, single-paned windows, concrete structures without insulation, and inefficient use of a/c and heating throw money away (literally right out the windows.) For example, I wrote this article in a small office of six teachers without a/c while the large auditorium-style classroom next to this room had a/c running for two students.

Spend less money on the JET Programme

Some features of the program have been cut over the years because of the outlandish costs involved (like the legendary, country-wide mid-year conference, all expenses paid!) You don’t need to impress the fresh college graduate with a fancy orientation and nice hotel, especially if he/she is only staying for one year and will hear much of the same information at his/her prefectural or city orientation (where they probably retain more of the information anyway.) Pay a first year ALT less and increase it every year they are here to reward better teachers and commitment.

I think most of these suggestions could be implemented easily, although Japan’s famous bureaucracy does tend to creep forward rather slowly, if not actually backwards. I have heard all of these suggestions echoed by Japanese people as well, so they are not simply some strange ramblings from an outsider’s point of view. It also doesn’t take an MBA in logistics and business management to figure these things out. Maybe what the Japanese educational community needs is to hire a company to downsize it, like Bert and Bert from “Office Space.”

What do you think?

Beautiful Phuket

Story and Photos By Laura Rog

It’s not hard to see why Thailand is a common vacation destination for many JETs. With friendly people, incredibly cheap travel costs, and deliciously spicy food, it’s a great place to spend an extended national holiday week. Phuket in particular provides an oasis from the heat and humidity in Thailand and is a welcome destination after exploring the steamy streets of Bangkok or Chiang Mai. My friends and I visited the island for five days over Golden Week this year and loved every minute of it. For those considering going, here are my Top Ten tips on traveling to Phuket.

1.) Don’t worry so much about reserving domestic plane tickets in advance.

An island located off the southwestern end of Thailand, Phuket is easily accessible by plane from either Bangkok or Chiang Mai. We only booked round trip travel from Osaka to Bangkok and then reserved our inter-country flights the day we wanted to change regions – a surprisingly easy and cheap option. We ended up paying about 5,400 baht, roughly 15,000 yen, for the flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket. A little pricier than we had planned – and we’re pretty sure we were swindled a bit by the hotel staff in Chiang Mai who made our reservations for us – but still a deal in the grand scheme of traveling between the northern and southernmost ends of the country. You can arrange flights through many hotels, go to travel agencies that are everywhere in the major cities, or even just show up to the airport as there is likely to be an open flight within a few hours.

2.) Check out Kata Beach!

There are dozens of areas to stay in Phuket depending upon your preferences – we opted for Kata Beach because it features beautiful beaches and resorts but is out of the thick of the 24-hour excitement of the entertainment area. Kata is a slightly expensive taxi ride away from the larger shopping areas, but also has its own small strip of shopping areas and restaurants to keep you busy and well fed with plenty of Thai and Western options. Additionally, it features resorts large and small with a lot of beachfront property.

Kata Beach

3.) Do your homework before booking a hotel.

If you think you have found a hotel you like in Phuket, go to at least two or three travel websites and read the comments for the place left by previous travelers (agoda.com and tripadvisor.com are two that I found most helpful). Also consider what you really want out of the vacation and the level of comfort you are expecting – you can find a lot of great places within just about any budget, but what you pay often reflects the types of service you will receive (Internet, beach front location, quality of air conditioning, bugs in the room, etc.).

4.) Check what facilities are available where you want to stay.

Our hotel was right on the beach and had two pools, and while the pool chairs were free and open for use, you had to pay an independent vendor if you wanted a chair and umbrella down on the beach. (Lying on a towel was free, though!) Additionally, the hotel charged for Internet, about 100 baht (280 yen) for a half hour, a real downside in a country where Internet is plentiful and free in many cafes. All in all, though, not big sacrifices to make for a cheap and gorgeous room with access to two pools and a beach!

5.) Take a peek at the travel agency brochures.

I will be honest; I didn’t explore many of the activities around the area because I loved just relaxing at the pool and beach all day. We did look over brochures at a couple travel agencies on the shopping strip, though, and there are plenty of activities to choose from. From island tours to paragliding to SCUBA diving, you won’t be disappointed if you are looking for adventure. You can book these day trips at many of the numerous travel agencies all over the island, and hotels tend to also have deals through specific companies.

6.) Go snorkeling!

The one thing that did pull us away from the beach for a day was snorkeling on Phi Phi Island, which I highly recommend. The island was featured in the movie “The Beach” and in one of the James Bond movies, and is simply stunning. We paid 3,000 baht (about 8,500 yen) for our day trip, which included lunch, and it was the best money I spent during our 10 days in Thailand. You are picked up and dropped off at your hotel, stop by a couple islands for beach time during the day, and of course are taken to various coral reefs for snorkeling. Diving into the ocean is amazing – crystal clear water and a huge number of colorful fish surround you, making for an unforgettable experience.

7.) If you’ve ever wanted to learn to SCUBA dive, do it!

For those of you who are more adventurous and want to swim below the surface, Phuket offers world class SCUBA diving. There are plenty of places to get SCUBA certified in Phuket, and it’s much cheaper than doing it in Japan.

Phi Phi

8.) Buy your souvenirs before getting to Phuket.

We noticed almost immediately that Phuket is not like Chiang Mai when it comes to bargaining for goods. The initial quotes were much higher than the vendors in the north, and the sellers were much less willing to drop prices to make a sale. (And they wouldn’t come after you with a rock bottom price if you walked away!) If you are looking for souvenirs and will be in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, it is probably better to get them in those cities if possible. The goods available between cities were basically the same, but the prices were close to double in Phuket.

9.) Resist aggressive sales tactics.

One thing to be aware of is the pushy nature of salespeople in Phuket and Thailand in general. For example, our taxi driver from the airport to Kata Beach had to stop by his agency to “sign some papers” before he could finish the trip – i.e. he walked into the office and a travel agent came out to ask if we had booked our adventures on the island.  Additionally, people would sometimes come up to us on the beach with traditional crafts, snacks, and a variety of goods for sale. The people were generally polite, but often did not take no for an answer right away. It wasn’t constant or something to worry about, but it’s good to be prepared for it. Be firm when saying no and go back to reading or shopping. With overly persistent travel agents I found the best route was to just say we had everything booked already through our hotel.

10.) Don’t feel obligated to tip.

Finally, tipping. This really only comes up with those from North America and our home culture guilt for not doing it! Tipping is optional in Thailand – a few restaurants will add a tip to the bill automatically, but most don’t. We sometimes tipped and sometimes didn’t, and when we did it was usually when someone at a hotel went above and beyond for us, or a driver that took us a long distance (more than 30 minutes).  But if you feel the need to tip, please do. Workers everywhere in Thailand are earning incredibly low wages, so even a small tip makes a big difference.

I highly recommend a visit to Thailand while on JET, and especially encourage including Phuket in your travels. If you take the time to look around you can find some incredible deals and fantastic adventures… or relaxing getaways, if that is more your style.

Just look at everything you could be doing with your time. Look at it! (Photo by Dan Moeller)

By Dan Moeller

Do you often find yourself sitting bored at your desk, avoiding any number of important things? Jikan mottainai? The following 10 activities include ways to stay on schedule, better oneself, and break up the humdrum hours spent “organizing your desk.” If you’re not being productive, then you are wasting your time. We all have scattered free periods and sometimes free days. You should always have activities on hand to keep yourself busy and productive. Here are some simple ways to do so. Feel free to suggest something not mentioned here! Caution: productivity may cause urges to recontract.

1.) Write something.

It’s probably a lot easier than you think. You could write an article for the Wide Island View, or there are plenty of other writing opportunities, as well. Write a column about your experiences in Japan for your hometown newspaper. For that matter, you could even try to write something for your Japanese school or town’s newspaper or website and (find someone to) translate it. Start a blog. I’m sure there’s a topic out there you know a lot about that would interest other people. Write some poetry. Start writing a book. It’d be a shame to pick up so much Japanese and then learn a few years down the road that your English has become rusty.

2.) Actually use the Jet Diary.

I know. Crazy, right? But I always have my diary with me to mark down important events. Also, every day I write important things I have done… so my planner becomes more of a history. It’s great when I want to look back to see when I paid my bills or even to catalogue what I’ve been doing with my free time elsewhere. Have I been exercising enough? Too much? Have I been reading too many leisure books? I haven’t eaten vegetables for a week?! One thing that helps is to underline one thing important to you that reoccurs. For me, I strike a bold line under all the books I read. Then in the back, I make a list of all the books I read during the year. I think I recorded around 22 last year, but more reading was my goal. I also write down all the movies I watch. There is plenty of room for notes as well as various time saving conversions.

3.) Got a problem? Tackle it.

You can snag a self-help book, read the chapters and underline passages. It does help. If you’re a bit savvier, then just help yourself. Do research! Figure out what you will do after JET. It’s never a bad time to update your résumé. Figure out a list of areas where you might want to travel next. (Having Internet access helps here.) If you have no immediate problems, bang out a list of “What I Am Grateful For” – it will make you appreciate life a lot more. Also, it will put things in perspective when you feel like crying over that one teacher who offers a bright and cheery “onegaishimaaasu” five minutes before class while handing you a lesson plan template with all of the fill-in portions blank except for the “game” section, which says “game”. It could be a lot worse.

4.) Read about culture.

I was lucky enough to have a shelf of culture books from my predecessors. If you don’t have access to books on culture, there are plenty of Internet resources where you can learn more about Japanese culture. For starters, there is Japan Zone and Culture At Work with articles and resources you can get lost in. CiNii has a bunch of professional cultural studies (search for the PDF links). Also in the realm of academia, head to anthropologi.info and search for “Japan”. You can pick which aspect of culture you want to read about. It definitely parallels language study and gives insights you might not find anywhere else. Also, since this activity relates to Japanese culture, I mentally file it under “work-related” and feel good doing it in the workplace. And if a colleague leans over, it can be a great conversation starter. You can practice a little Japanese and clarify points from the book. A lot can also be learned from JET publications in other prefectures, such as the Hyogo Times and The Black Taxi.

5.) Nihongo no Benkyou!

For kana and kanji practice, if you have Internet access you can hop on Readthekanji.com, which can help you prepare for the JLPT. Otherwise, swing by your local Hyaku En shop and after gazing into the Country Mama Cookie section, pick up a few kanji workbooks. You could even snag some Japanese from the Internet, double space the text, print and try to write each sentence. If you’re learning kana, draw out a grid for the two syllabary alphabets. Across the top write A, Ka, Sa, etc., and down the side write A to O. Copy it and BAM!, you made your own progress exam that you can grade yourself! For general study, though I know CLAIR books can be a pain and sometimes inconsistent, it’s really simple to knock out a four-page lesson each day at work and then do the audio at home. Once you finish a book, go back through the glossary and write down the words you don’t recognize or know well enough. Glance over the paper every few days and you’ll surprise yourself when you actually start using the vocab. USING THE VOCAB… get it? Try striking up a conversation with a random person everyday.

6.) Break up the monotony.

Don’t burn yourself out on one thing. Get up. Walk around. Join a gym class. Try to keep time in music class…“What measure are we on, again?” Teachers and students enjoy your presence. You may want to ask permission beforehand or just pull the gaijin card. If everyone is in class, shoot some hoops by yourself. Take some artsy pictures of your school and frame a collection for your principal. Depending on your workplace, you may or may not be able to do certain things. On my B.O.E. days, I’m given free reign, so to speak. I sometimes bring a “leisure” book. That being said, my leisure reading doesn’t include Harry Potter, the Twilight series and Seventeen Magazine. Try to challenge yourself with classics like “The Jungle”, “Catcher in the Rye”, and even “Moby Dick”. Besides, I save Seventeen for bedtime reading. ::giggle::  If you’re not so keen on blowing money on overpriced English books, you can peruse the free reads on Google Books or Gutenberg, and there are also a million interesting and informative websites and blogs out there. A few of my favorites are The Paris Review, the heat of it all and aurgasm.

7.) Prepare lesson plans and classroom materials.

For example, I printed out pictures of faces for L and R and then made a bunch of paper-sized ‘L’ and ‘R’ flash cards: brain, crown, frog, etc. Simple and effective. Also, every week I search the Internet for eikaiwa ideas. You don’t have to teach English; teach computer usage, math terms, lyrics to your favorite song, English sayings, road signs, slang…you name it. You could copy pages from workbooks you might have, or there is an endless supply of worksheets online. Some sites I find particularly helpful are TheTeachersCorner.net, which lets you build your own worksheets from their materials, and the TESL Journal, which has a wealth of articles, lessons, games, etc. Anyone can hit the print button, but have you thought about how will you incorporate these materials into a fluid lesson plan? Also, don’t forget about the slew of team-teaching books we got from the various acronymed associations of Japan. They actually help. Or did you burn them to keep warm this winter? If so, peep the PDFs. Don’t be afraid to go above and beyond the call of duty. Create an English bulletin board. Link your students to other students or friends in your hometown and start a pen pal exchange. Help a teacher grade some homework or tests. You might actually get Valentine’s Day candy next year.

8.) Learn everyone’s names.

It’s never too late! Map out a floor plan of the office and write teachers’ names on desks. Make it a point of learning one name a week and using it. Or if you have time, quiz yourself on the seating chart. If you’re reluctant and as horrible at names as I am, just do it to see the shock on the teachers’ faces whose names you haven’t used for the last seven months.

9.) Exercise your eyes.

As silly as it sounds, your eyes are muscles the same as your biceps and your glutes. If you sit on your butt all day watching anime, you might notice pains in your neck and back and maybe a decrease in general muscle tone, well, everywhere. The same goes for your eyes. If you stare at the computer screen or the pages of a book for a good part of your day, you may be straining your eyes or letting some parts of your eyes grow weak. Check out the wikiHow. I suggest doing these exercises in an empty office; otherwise be prepared to get some strange looks.

10.) Ask yourself “Where’s the money?”

You just got paid but those last three enkai put you in a slump. You hadn’t realized it yet, but you bought and ate 23 of those peanut cream snack packs this month alone. Save your receipts and plug them into an Excel file for “2010 Finances”. Excel is not so complicated and it will do all the addition for you. Put the months down one side and the categories across the top. Besides the obvious expenses like cell phone, gas and groceries, it’s helpful to track specifics like travel, fun, even drinking or something you worry about. You may want to factor in remittances and money in the bank separately at the bottom to see the “whole picture”. You can also track your income and expenses by specific days, but for me a simple glance in the bank book suffices. Let’s face it, we are grownups and this is what grownups do.

Use your discretion as to when and where these activities are most appropriate or possible. One example is that you may want to get your daily intake of online tools when Internet access is available and save bookwork for when it’s not. Also, you might not want to read the The Cove script in your B.O.E. … or maybe you might.

These activities are all very simple and not exactly a burden of space. If you do all 10, you’ll be carrying around your diary, two smallish books, a notebook, your CLAIR Book, a lesson plan folder, some paper or printouts and maybe a camera. This amounts to about 5 or 6 pounds at most and ensures you will always have something productive to do. Remember, you can stow things in each of your school desks.

Milford Sound, one of New Zealand’s most famous tourist destinations.

By Joshua Zimmerman

When it comes to out of the way places, nowhere is so far away from everything else as New Zealand. Which is all the more reason to travel there. Vast stretches of natural beauty, friendly people, and a relaxing atmosphere make it an ideal place to spend a winter vacation away from Japan. I took a trip to New Zealand last winter and had an amazing time.

And so I present to you a Top 10 list of reasons to visit New Zealand.

10.) Jump from the the Sky Tower.

The largest free-standing tower in the southern hemisphere sits in Auckland. For a small fee, you can take a ride to the top for a fabulous view of the Auckland harbor. For another small fee, you can walk around the outside of the tower and get an even better view of the city. For a bit more money still, you can take the fast way down by jumping off it and getting a very quick view of the city as it passes you by.

9.) Swim in the Bay of Islands.

Located to the north of New Zealand is the popular Bay of Island. The name kind of gives away the most popular attraction. Spend your days swimming, kayaking, or taking a cruise from one of the many boat companies in operation. If you’re lucky you’ll see pods of dolphins, and if you’re even more lucky still you might be able to swim with them.

8.) Witness Cape Regina.

The northernmost tip of New Zealand is a sight to see. It’s the meeting of two oceans that makes for one non-stop show. Plus the nearby attraction of the 90 Mile Beach will give you plenty to do for an afternoon.

7.) Hug a giant tree.

Not just any tree, a giant 3,000-year-old Kauri tree. New Zealand was once covered with these giants until recently, but thanks to a massive conservation effort some big ones still remain. Walking through a forest of these giants will transport you back in time.

6.) Experience extreme sports.

New Zealand is the original home of modern extreme sports. Besides being the inventors of the bungee jump, the locals also love their white water rafting and kayaking. Even if you’re not an expert, you can take part in guided white water sports. Just be prepared to get a nose full of water.

5.) Watch a whale.

Whale watching can be done in many places around New Zealand. Even in the Auckland Harbor. Killer whales, dolphins, and porpoise whales can be seen year round in New Zealand.  But for a real treat check out the massive sperm whales around the South Island city of Kaikoura. It’s the biggest animal you’ll ever see.

4.) Swim underwater.

New Zealand has some world-class diving. Though the seas are quite cold, they hold thousands of amazing types of fish and plant life. Besides seeing fish, you can also see a wide range of ship wrecks scattered around New Zealand. But for a very eerie thrill, try diving in Milford Sound on the South Island. This fjord features a strange environment where the top layer of the water is fresh and the bottom layers are salty, making for a unique marine environment found nowhere else on earth.

3.) Zip down a mountain.

Skiing is big business in New Zealand thanks to its subtropical climate and number of mountains. Plus, if you’re a skiing junkie you’ll be happy to know that while you may be suffering from Japan’s horrible humidity, the summer months are prime skiing season in New Zealand – a nice break from the Japanese summer.

2.) Drink a whole lot of wine.

If you planned a whole trip just touring wine country in New Zealand, you wouldn’t even touch 10 percent of the vineyards. Starting with just one vineyard in 1851, New Zealand is now home to over 650 spread across the entire country. Rent a car and spend the day driving to various vineyards, most of which offer free taste testing. What better way to relieve stress and see the country?

1.) Relax in a hot spring.

Much like Japan, New Zealand has a large number of volcanic regions. And just like Japan, its people use the natural hot springs around the country to relax. From the weird Hot Water Beach in the North to the Hamner Springs in the South, when in New Zealand you’re never too far away from a body of hot water.

Though, from personal experience, I can tell you that the real joy of New Zealand is combining as many of these things as possible. Nothing beats a day of skiing like relaxing in a hot spring while drinking wine.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Winter is settling in and by now chances are you’re spending a good bit of your day shivering. Though it never really gets super cold outside in Hiroshima, the problem is that the indoors never really get very warm, either. So this month I’d like to share some of my suggestions for keeping warm at school and home.

1. Layers, Layers, Layers!

This may go without saying, but take sweaters, cardigans, or a small blanket (better yet, an electric blanket) to work with you. Leave them there if you are able to. The layers of clothing really help because the office can be a lot colder on some days than others depending on the weather.

2. Stash a secret heater.

If you’re lucky enough to spend most of your time at one school, hide a small space heater under your desk out of sight. They are secret because many schools have a no space heater policy, but they don’t always enforce it. Having a secret space heater is definitely going to be a school-by-school situation.

3. Heat the space you are in.

This is the Japanese mindset on heating in a nutshell. At home or school, the room you are not in is going to be cold. Some people during their first winter try to heat their entire house or apartment. Attempting this will only end in defeat, however. Either your heating equipment won’t be up to the task, or you will achieve it with whopper bills at the end of the month.

4. Get up close and personal with your kotatsu.

That little Japanese table with the heat source on the underside will be your savior and your destroyer. Under the blankets of the kotatsu, sipping your favorite hot drink (I recommend hot buttered rum), you will find that warm nirvana that eludes you at school. Be warned, though, that its warm embrace will crush your will to do anything productive. Throw in item number 5 and you will never leave home again.

5. Nabe, baby!

This hot pot is great during the cold months. Fire up the burner and invite a few of your friends to bring an ingredient to cook. Throw whatever you think would taste good together into the pot. Combine this with the aforementioned kotatsu and a movie rented from the local rental shop you have a wonderfully warm evening to share with friends.

6. Get even more intimate with the kotatsu.

Here’s a tip stolen right from the Facebook page of the brilliant Jonathan Bridger. While you are getting ready in the morning, toss your undies under the kotatsu. When you put them on, they will caress all the right parts in a gentle warm hug.

7. Load up on those handy hand warmers.

Called hokkairo in Japanese, you’ll see your students, your co-workers, and even your cantankerous kouchou-sensei carrying around these little bags of chemical heat. Carry them in your pocket to warm the hands or buy the kind that adhere to your clothes to keep important body parts warm and ready. Some of these can get quite hot, though, so use with caution.

8. Take a long, hot soak.

Hit the local onsen by yourself, with a friend, or a stranger. Soaking up the heat from these pools of water can really drive the chill from your bones. If the onsen isn’t your cup of tea, a good alternative is visiting your local drug store or Tokyu Hands to pick up one of those wild packets of bath salts, which will give you a good excuse to soak in the tub in the comfort of your own home. The “Tyrant Habanero” bath salts turn the bath water bright orange and there are others that turn it bright red, all the better to pretend you’re soaking in volcanic hot springs, I suppose.

Tyrant Habanero bath salts

9. Don’t waste that warm bath water.

Get a yutampo (hot water bottle) and fill it with some of that hot bath water. Stick it under the covers at the foot of your bed to keep your toes warm at night.

10. Forget fashion.

Buy some baba shirts or ojii pants (baba being a derogatory term for old ladies and ojii referring to old men). These are thin, tight thermal undergarments that older folks wear to keep warm through the winter. You can get them pretty cheap at UniQlo, and while they look like something your grandparents might don, young people wear them now too (they just might be too cool to admit it).

These are just 10 suggestions I hope you find helpful, though there are doubtless many other clever ways to make winter in Japan a little more bearable. If you have some of your own secrets to keeping toasty, please share in the comments!

Pansea Beach, Phuket Island, Thailand. (Photo by John Phillips)

By Joe Meadows

1. Plan ahead.

This cannot be stressed enough. Pretty much everyone in the entire country goes on vacation at the same time during winter vacation, Golden Week, and Obon. If you don’t plan at least three months ahead of time it becomes more expensive and more difficult to do whatever trip you want to do. You should also plan far in advance if you want to attend a famous festival, such as the Sapporo Snow Festival in February, because hotels can fill up fast.

2. Get your re-entry permit.

This is essential if you want to come back into Japan after your trip. If you do not have a re-entry permit, you are surrendering your visa (the thing that allows you to work and live in Japan) when you leave. Now, if you leave without getting the re-entry permit you could get back into Japan on a 30-day tourist visa. You can’t legally work on a tourist visa, though, and you would have to reapply for an instructor visa. How this affects your salary is up to your contracting organization, but they would be within their rights not to pay you for the time you are without the proper visa.

3. Let people know where you will be.

It may seem like a pain or like you are being babied by your contracting organization, but you really should leave accurate contact information with your school. It’s not that they really want to keep tabs on you, but there are times when they will genuinely need to contact you in case of an emergency (such as the case of the 2004 tsunami).

4. Rent a car.

If you are planning to travel domestically in the more rural parts of the country, then having a rental car (if you don’t have your own car) can really make traveling around Shikoku a whole lot easier. You can get around using public transit, but this results in a lot of early nights and long waits. If you got an International Driver’s License before coming to Japan, remember that it will expire after one year, so plan accordingly if there are trips you want to take around Japan that will require a car.

5. Make copies of important documents.

Western travel documents can be quite the prize in some countries. If yours come up missing, having a copy of your passport can make getting replacement documents much easier, which leads into the next tip.

6. Know where your embassies are.

If you are traveling outside of Japan (heck, inside Japan too), know where your embassy is just in case of an emergency. If your country doesn’t have an embassy in the country where you’re traveling, then find out which country’s embassy assists on behalf of your country’s interests.

7. Take care of your money.

Try leaving the bulk of your money in a hotel safe whenever possible. In some countries 10-man is several years worth of wages. If you can, try to pay for some of the big-ticket items before you go, such as hotels, transportation and any classes or tours you plan to take.

8. Protect your health.

Last year I made it through our entire trip to Thailand without ever suffering the dreaded Bangkok Belly. My wife, on the other hand, spent a good bit of the time sick. If travelers are advised not to drink the water in the country you are visiting, be cautious about eating or drinking anything that might have water added. This could be anything from salad greens washed in the local water to orange juice that’s been watered down, so be careful. Having a few medical phrases handy for when things really go south can be life saving. Also try to take steps to prevent getting sick in the first place. If you are going to a country with known infectious diseases, then you can usually get a few shots before you leave to help fight them off. You should do this about a month before hand as some of the shots can have side effects.

9. Eat local.

I can’t recommend this enough. Sometimes the local dishes may seem a little weird, but hey, they can’t be as bad that regurgitated snot mess they call natto here.

10. Keep the seasons in mind.

Southeast Asia is great place to be during winter vacation, but on average it rains 25 out of the 31 days in May due to monsoons. Beijing is lovely in the spring but quite cold during the New Year. For all those from the northern hemisphere, remember that August is a winter month in Australia and New Zealand. If you want to visit a place, a quick Internet search for that location’s weather patterns can save you some big headaches in the long run.

View of the sunrise from the top of Mt. Fuji. (Photo by Jonathan Fisher)

By Jonathan Fisher

It’s been almost a year since I climbed to the summit of Mt. Fuji (富士山), an unforgettable journey I made alongside my fellow Hiroshima JETs in early September.

To those JETs considering the climb this year, I’d like to offer a little background on the significance of the mountain, as well as some friendly advice about the climb, should you decide to take the challenge (and I hope you do!).

Climbing Mt. Fuji the traditional way involves hiking through the night in order to witness the famous sunrise at the top. Sound insane? Yeah, just a bit. Yet each year a couple hundred thousand climbers scale the mountain’s rocky paths in the dark, all eager to say they’ve conquered the mountain that occupies such a special place in the hearts of Japanese people.

At 3,776 meters above sea level, not only is Mt. Fuji Japan’s tallest mountain, it is also an active volcano that last erupted about 300 years ago. Fuji-san, as the Japanese call it, is one of Japan’s three sacred peaks, and as such the mountain appears prominently in Japanese culture and literature, often serving as the focus of traditional artwork from poetry to wood block prints. Even today, Mt. Fuji is a symbol of Japan’s cultural and political prowess, its name and characteristic shape adorning everything from the luxury automobile logo for Nissan’s Infiniti brand to Japan’s largest pop music festival, Fuji Rock. Perhaps it goes without saying that conquering Fuji will earn you instant respect from all your Japanese co-workers and friends.

Even more than that, though, climbing Fuji is the perfect way to bond with your fellow JETs. It was during this trip—my first such outing as a new ALT—that I saw for the first time the incredible community of gaikokujin (foreigners), of which I had just become a part. One of the best parts about the Hiroshima AJET Fuji Climb was the journey itself to the mountain. AJET charters a bus for the 10-hour trip, and while riding the bus is a bit uncomfortable, by the time you reach the mountain you’re sure to have made some new friends.

Mt. Fuji and the skyscrapers of Shinjuku. (Photo by Morio.)

Having survived the trip in one piece last year, here are my top 10 tips on how to make climbing Mt. Fuji a positive experience.

1.) First, lay off the booze!

Avoid heavy alcohol consumption for about 24 hours before the ascent. No one on the bus wants to sit next to the hungover guy. Save the booze for celebrating on the return trip—or if you’re feeling extra genki, haul a few brews up to the summit to crack open when you greet the sun. They’ll certainly stay cold enough in your bag, and I guarantee that they will be some of the best-tasting beers of your life.

2.) Dress appropriately.

Summer is climbing season because it’s the only time the mountain loses its snow-covered cap, but it’s still pretty chilly and windy at the top. Do not be that loony guy who wears shorts, or you will be sorry. As you go up, the temperatures go down, so pack layers of clothing that you can put on as it gets colder. It’s tempting to think you’ll just put on all the clothes at the beginning of the climb so you won’t have to carry them all, but that’s a mistake, too. Sweating under six layers at the start will only make your lower layers damp, which will make it hard for you to keep warm as temperatures decrease. It would be a good idea to bring a full change of warm, dry layers to put on after you reach the top of the mountain (as well as a change of clothes for the bus ride home, after you’ve bathed — but you can leave those on the bus). Likewise, it would be smart to bring a rain suit. Violent storms sometimes crop up unexpectedly on Mt. Fuji. An umbrella won’t cut it, and it would really ruin your day to spend hours soaking wet in cold temperatures.

3.) Wear a comfortable, sturdy pair of shoes.

Remember, you’re going to be hiking for several hours on steep terrain that is rocky or full of volcanic ash. Hiking boots with ankle support are advisable.

4.) Stow your stuff in a comfortable bag.

You’re going to be carrying it for a long time. If you’ve got a hiker’s pack designed to transfer a lot of the weight off your back and onto your hips, that would work well. Be careful about what you choose to pack. Climbing Fuji is hard enough without carrying a ton of extra weight.

5.) Bring a headlamp.

It’s dark…very dark. And you’ll want your hands free to help pull yourself up over the rocky trail at points. How did I make it up Mt. Fuji in the dark without a flashlight? Only my trail buddies, Luc and Jason, know the answer to that question.

6.) Consider packing a couple ski poles.

They may not be so useful on the ascent, but that extra pair of legs would’ve worked wonders for me on the long slide back down the mountain. Note: there was no snow, only loose gravel. Everywhere.

7). Pack plenty of water, or resign yourself to paying way too much for it.

Stuff gets expensive at the little rest stops near the top. There also isn’t anywhere to purchase water going back down the mountain, so ration your supply to make sure you have enough to drink on the descent.

8). Bring a lightweight emergency blanket or sleeping bag.

Chances are you’ll spend more than an hour at the summit waiting for the sun to rise. Some JETs bonded enough during the bus ride and ascent that the ensuing snuggle fest during those final chilly minutes before sunrise was no problem. For others, however, a little bit of synthetic insulation from the wind and frosty ground would have been like a gift from Amaterasu, the sun goddess, herself!

9.) Pace yourself.

A relatively physically fit (sober) person who keeps to a moderate pace should have no trouble reaching the summit in six hours of hiking from the fifth station parking lot. But keep in mind it’s not a race to the top. Climbing too quickly can lead to altitude sickness, not to mention that reaching the peak early will only mean a long wait for sunrise in freezing conditions. The change in altitude can be uncomfortable for some people, and everyone will be winded from such a steep ascent and dodging the huge packs of retiree tourists, anyway. But if you pace yourself, stopping to catch your breath when you need to, you’re sure to make it to the top for that beautiful view and famous sunrise.

10.) Pay close attention to the path back down.

It’s when you’re making the return trip on those steep trails you just climbed the night before that exhaustion really begins to set in. Your knees want to give way and it’s tough to keep the volcanic gravel out of your shoes. You’ve likely only slept a couple of hours out of the last 24 and you’re distracted by the gorgeous panorama and the slightly lower concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere. But don’t take a wrong turn! The paths all look the same, and they are only marked in Japanese. Luckily AJET leader/organizer Callum Watson came to the rescue last year with some much-needed direction at the crucial juncture, and everyone ended up back at the bus. But it would have been very easy for someone to make a mistake, end up at the bottom on the wrong side of the mountain, and miss the bus back to Hiroshima. Don’t let it happen to you.

Though it is by no means a typical hiking experience, climbing Mt. Fuji is the chance of a lifetime, definitely an AJET outing not to be missed. Making it to the top guarantees a deep sense of accomplishment, bragging rights, and most of all, incredible memories of good times bonding with fellow JETs.

Photo by Jalalspages

Originally published Aug. 23, 2009.

Editor’s Note: This Top 10 list debuts a new recurring feature in the Wide Island View. At least once a month, you can count on a new helpful or humorous Top Ten list relating to Japan. If you have an idea for a list or would like to submit your own, please write to the editor at wideislandview (at) gmail (dot) com.

By Joe Meadows

Hiroshima can be a hellishly hot and sweaty place in summer. You know it’s bad when you can feel the sweat trickling down your back just standing there. If you’re looking for relief, here are are my Top Ten ways to beat the heat.

1. Walk in the shade.

This may seem obvious but if you come from the Midwestern United States like I do, then you know that the temperature is controlled by the wind there. In Hiroshima, the sun definitely rules the roost. You’ll notice that the Japanese hide in the shadow of buildings when waiting to cross the street. Heck, I’ve seen them hiding in the shadow of telephone poles.

2. Take a bag, not a pack.

If you can get by without taking a backpack, I highly recommend it. This will help prevent the embarrassment of a huge obnoxious sweat stain on your back due to the lack of air.

3. Keep a change of clothes at work.

I walk about 40 minutes to work each day and in this heat I arrive soaked in sweat. As some long-timers will tell you, there really isn’t any way to avoid this sometimes. That is why I keep a week’s worth of clothes at my school. I arrive in a T-shirt and gym shorts, cool off and then change. Usually you can get the school to give you a locker if you ask for it.

4. Use an umbrella or parasol.

I know it is distinctly unmanly but since I don’t like hats this is about the best way to keep the sun off my delicate lily white skin.

5. Carry a towel.

Just as the Hitchhiker’s guide recommends, carry a towel with you all the time. It can be small, just make sure it is absorbent because you will be sweating a lot. I don’t recommend a handkerchief unless you get the thicker Japanese kind as these just become a sodden mess after a few minutes.

6. Get a fan.

In Japan, you will often find yourself in stuffy, tiny rooms with no fan or air conditioning. For these instances the folding fan is a wonder. The 100 yen shop has a wide selection. Don’t go for the tiny electric hand-helds as they don’t have the power to really move the air.

7. Get another fan.

If, like me, you aren’t in the main teachers’ room, then you probably don’t have air conditioning. In that case, a small electrical fan perched on your desk can do wonders to keep you from sweating all over those tests you are grading.

8. Use ice gel packs.

Called horeizai (the same name as the ice packs you use to keep your food cool in your lunchbox), these come in two forms. The first time is a glove that holds the icy gel against your wrists. (Your wrists have blood vessels close to the surface so cooling there helps cool your blood and then your body, similar to the way an elephant’s ears work. Look it up!) The other type is a sticky pad made to go under your arms on the sides of your torso. These are used by business men that have to wear a suit jacket to stay cool. Both types stay cool for around an hour.

9. Use alcohol sweat wipes.

These are little packets of wipes with alcohol on them. The Japanese call them ‘Wet Tissue’ but they are nice for removing the ‘sticky’ feeling from sweat drying on your body. Since it is alcohol it can sting, but I find it rather refreshing.

10. Get bamboo shades for the windows of your abode.

They are a bit harder to find now, but you can find these all over the place around the end of May or beginning of June. The bamboo shades are usually hung up outside and they do a great job of blocking out the sun but letting the wind come through. Even with the windows closed, they help keep the apartment cooler while you are away at work.

I’ll leave you with one last tip that won’t keep you any cooler, but will help your clothes last longer. In Japan they sell a little absorbent pad that sticks to the armpit of your shirts called asekyuushuu paddo (sweat sucking pad). I often see them at my local Fuji Grand. These can really be helpful for protecting your shirts from getting the dreaded pit stains and make them last a little longer.