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Culture shock, perhaps not particularly shockingly, is something more than likely to affect anyone moving abroad. It really should not come as too much of a shock. Perhaps cultural overload is a better description. In some cases, cultural fatigue also seems appropriate.

The JET Programme prepares us for this in a number of ways, including the staging system, and it is said system that this article seeks to question. Here in Tokushima, this categorization process has entered the daily lexicon of many first year JETs. “Nani-nani is Stage two-ing, we should probably give them a hand” or “Eugh, she’s still so Stage 1. It’s nearly Christmas for Heaven’s sake”.

For those who don’t remember, the JET Programme defines the stages thusly:

Stage 1: Initial Euphoria. I’m sure we all did this. Reference the times you said “OH MY GOD! They have X,Y,Z here” or screamed “Kawaii” at something.

Stage 2: Irritation and Hostility (Culture Shock). “JET participants often feel homesick and have negative attitudes towards the host culture”. Again, something many can empathise with.

Stage 3: Gradual Adjustment. “Participants start to adjust and the culture seems more familiar”

Stage 4: Adaptation and Biculturalism. “Participants are completely adjusted to the host culture and may even experience reverse culture shock upon returning…home”

Of these, Stage 3 is the one which really wrangles. Using gradual adjustment as a stage seems to suggest that it’s something JETs only experience after going through Stages 1 and 2.

Surely however, Stage 1 and 2 are Stage 3? In what way can a JET adjust without seeing both sides of their new host culture? In order to adjust we must first experience all we can, and then get over any hostility we have towards parts of a culture which we feel are alien.

It seems almost tautological, or in the very least conflicting, to offer “Gradual Adjustment” as a subheading under the umbrella of “Cultural Shock”. Living through cultural shock is by its very definition gradual adjustment.

The other key problem with this system is its rigidity. By segregating cultural adaptation into four stages, the JET Programme system seems to limit the way in which it expects us to individually experience cultural change. What is clearly intended as a helpful guide can at times seem like more of a hindrance. As ALTs, many of us will have had days where, upon coming home, we curl up, go to bed and nap to forget the time the 3rd year terror asked us if we played sex or a lesson unravelled before our very eyes. “What am I doing here?” we ask, how on Earth does one “play sex?”

On a similar note, there are days when we bound through our front doors (taking care, of course, to remove our shoes), whip up some tasty soba and nibble on Matcha flavoured Pocky in the interim until, dreaming only of cherry blossoms and Anpanman, we drift into a blissful slumber. Japan is wonderful, and if I could marry Mt. Fuji and elope with it to Okinawa on the Shinkansen, then I swear on Ichiiro’s life I’d do it tonight.

These are, of course, exaggerated extremes. But it is these extremes that the Staging system seems to try to pigeonhole us into. Sometimes, we simply come home and feel as if another day at the Board of Education has been completed. The trouble is that these days are not separated by months, or even weeks. Monday, Tuesday; Happy Days. Wednesday, Thursday; Scouring the internet for cheap flights home.

JET’s staging system seems to limit participants to being in only 1 category at a time, progressing slowly up the scale (a step by step process), when in reality many of us find ourselves somewhere between all four simultaneously. Cultural adjustment is a fluid process, not something to be pigeonholed. A more fluid approach would be infinitely more applicable.

Of course we can discard this advice, as we can with any advice that seems irrelevant to us. But to hear it at orientation, when the majority of JETs are so susceptible, can leave an impression. As a result of this, it is perhaps something that the JET Programme may wish to take into account when lecturing next year’s intake of JETs. Rather than simply stating what we’ll be feeling (we know that, after all, we’re feeling it) perhaps some of the reasons could be paired with suggestions as well. Ultimately we all know as individuals what makes us happy, but when you’re at your lowest ebb, sometimes all you really want is a nudge in the right direction.

It would be a fool who expects to move abroad without some culture shock. Furthermore, in comparison with anecdotal evidence from other, similar, schemes across Asia, the JET Programme does at least warn us, but a rigid stage hierarchy is both inaccurate and disconcerting. Particularly when the likelihood remains that we’ll find ourselves perpetually between all 4 stages. Preparation for cultural shock is vital, but a staging system is not the way to go about it.

We JETs are a lucky bunch.  We are well-paid.  For many of us, our rent is paid for or subsidized by our contracting organizations.  ALTs get to teach adorable children all the time.  CIRs get to be involved with the community and in improving and maintaining international relations.  We’re given several paid days off each year.  In other words, we have an amazing job!  I think I reflect the feelings of many of us when I say I’m always looking for ways to give back to the Japanese community which has given me so much.  Here in Tokushima, we’ve found a great way to do just that every year.

It was my great pleasure to be the lead coordinator for this year’s Child Welfare Center (CWC) Christmas visits in Tokushima prefecture.   A CWC is a home for kids who, for whatever reason, cannot be at their own home for some length of time, whether it be for a few hours a day, for days at a time, or simply all the time.  Every year Tokushima JETs (as well as other volunteers) donate their time and money to give something back to our community by volunteering at these homes.  We visit six CWC homes all around the prefecture in early December and spend two hours with the kids there.  We play games and chat.  At the end of the visit, Santa comes to give each kid a present.  Each home has between around 15 and 70 kids.  This year, we bought gifts for 235 kids.  Each gift is around 1,000 yen, meaning we raised about 235,000 yen for gifts this year.  It’s an absolute delight for everyone involved.  The kids are always excited to have us visit and spend time with them and, of course, to receive their presents.  We’re always happy and excited to be making a difference.  And the kids are great!  Who WOULDN’T want to spend time with them?

I’m very proud of all the Tokushima JETs who volunteered their time, energy, and money to making these visits an amazing success.  I’m especially proud of the 5 individual JETs who went the extra mile and volunteered to coordinate the visits of individual homes and of the 5 JETs who volunteered to coordinate gifts for each home.  I’d also like to express my great appreciation and gratitude for the Tokushima chapter of Smile Kids Japan, which was founded this year by Tokushima ALTs, for coordinating the visit for the 6^th home.  As much energy as I put into these visits, they put in far, far more.  I simply could not have done this without all of them.

I encourage everyone in every prefecture to try to give back to their communities in whatever way possible.  Volunteering at homes for disadvantaged kids is just one way (which I highly recommend).  But there are so many other opportunities out there for those who will take them.  For our part, we in Tokushima are hoping to expand the efforts of Smile Kids Japan in our prefecture and visit more CWC homes, more often.  We also produce and perform an annual musical play at no charge to the audience.  The play is in simple English with some Japanese as well.  It is met with great enthusiasm each year by the Japanese community.  So give back to your community anyway you can.  Whether it’s helping those who need it or just bringing smiles to people’s faces.  Our communities have given each of us so much.  The best way to say thank you is to give something back.

In 2006 seven Towns on the west side of Kagawa Prefecture combined to make “Mitoyo City.” It took several years, but an International Exchange Association was born out of that merger and since that time, the Mitoyo City International Exchange Association has worked tirelessly to create a wide variety of events and activities to promote International Exchange in rural western Kagawa. The thing that I find unique about our little exchange association is how diverse we strive to make our events. It’s not just about Japanese people interacting with Canadians and Americans; it’s about Italians chatting with Koreans, Chinese teaching Indonesians how to make gyoza, Dutch sharing art with Bangladeshi, and Spaniards hiking up mountains with Brazilians.
Every year we have a wide variety of events: children’s parties, cooking classes, language exchanges and picnics. But one of our most popular events is the Mitoyo City International Christmas Party. In 2009, we held our first Christmas Party along-side about 80 guests from seven or eight countries. But this past Holiday Season we partied next to 150 guests from over ten countries!
Our Program is designed to be diverse and entertaining for people of all ages and nationalities. We start off with an international food buffet and speed greetings where you have to meet someone from at least three different countries than your own (name tags bearing everyone’s country of origin make this a pretty fun and easy activity).

Next, we teach about “the reason for the season” with a home-made video of the Nativity Story featuring the staff from the International Exchange Office and resident ALT’s. Aside from being an embarrassing blight on my Facebook page, this video is as informational as it is funny and now features subtitles in our local dialect of Japanese, Sanuki-ben. Next, we really get the party started with a live band and dancing. This is followed by a presentation of Japanese culture. This year we featured a Yosokoi dance troupe who taught us to dance like Salmon (I can still hear the leader shouting, ue shita ue shita shita ue shita ue ue shita!). There’s a more mellow music set as we cool down, followed by the much anticipated raffle for the presents under the Christmas tree. When all the presents have been handed out, we make groups and have the “International Christmas Quiz.” This is always everyone’s favorite part of the Party. It’s a quiz of 15 questions about how Christmas is celebrated by different cultures around the world. Every team has members from different countries, so together they try to figure out whether or not banana trees are used as Christmas trees in parts of Africa, or if Santa’s coat is really blue instead of red in Russia. To top off the party, we do a sing-along of Jingle Bells. The catch is that we sing it in four different languages, and the last go-around has everyone singing it in their own language no matter what it may be! A group photo wraps up the Party and by the end of the night, everyone’s mouths are tired from singing and smiling and mothers carry their already-sleeping children out over their shoulders.

It never ceases to amaze me how such a small collection of rural villages gests so excited about International experiences. The shy Japanese exterior quickly washes away to reveal genuine interest and curiosity in new customs and new ways of thinking. The result: a great time had by all!

I fully expect the event to reach 200 people next year and our international attendance to become even more diverse. Everyone is welcome, of course, so perhaps you’ll consider joining us next year, too!

There’s singing, dancing and acting aplenty, but this is no enkai or bunkasai; it’s not even an Elementary School lesson. This is the Tokushima AJET Musical, the jewel in the Tokushima AJET crown; three grueling months of rehearsal, 5 shows across the prefecture, blood, sweat, and the occasional tear.

This year’s production Beauty and the Beast, the 18th musical such adaptation, brings together a ragtag group of JETs, private ALTs and local friends. From the script to the choreography, via each individual stitch on every last costume, everything is organized by the Tokushima JET community. Now you may be wondering, how does one go about putting on such an event for their own community? Well, it all began a long time ago…

During the summer, when most of us are sat aimlessly in our respective Boards of Education, a large swathe of Tokushima JETs are hurriedly typing up proposals for possible scripts and submitting them to the local AJET committee to be voted upon. Typically, family friendly stories that are well-known by the Japanese audience are favored, with a well documented bias towards Disney classics.

Once selected, the writers get to work for a grueling two months (sometimes longer). Not only do they re-write the stories with simple English dialogue, but they also add Japanese narration and interesting Japanese twists. This year for example, Lumiere, the pretentious candelabra, becomes Hikaru, whilst Belle’s father does not go away to an inventor’s fair, but instead undertakes an ill-fated jaunt on Shikoku’s famous 88 Temple Pilgrimage.

Next, a director and assistant director must be selected. Once the script has been completed, the writers assemble with the AJET committee, director and assistant director for a “punch-up party”. Despite its title, the punch-up party is a good natured affair, where the parties involved ensure that the English is kept relatively simple, the Japanese is well polished, and the script is full to bursting with action and comedy. The final script is then posted online for eager eyes to take a look at.

A read-through of the script is held in late November, which doubles as an audition for anyone who wants to take part. After hearing everyone read (and sometimes sing), the director and assistant director cast the roles. As it transpires, it’s significantly more nerve-racking to sing solo without the jangly safety net provided by your local karaoke bar. With the roles cast, and the first step out of the way, it is up to everyone to start memorizing their lines.

Now the most exciting part: rehearsals. The cast and crew commit almost every weekend in January and February rehearsing scenes, making costumes, props and backdrops. As well as a way of getting a feel for the different venues performances will take place on, this is also a great opportunity to get to know people you may not have otherwise spent a lot of time with. Spending all those hours together, we discover hidden talents, common interests, and plenty of well buried stage ability.

While this is happening, the producer of the show is busy at work advertising with posters, radio shows, magazine ads and sometimes TV spots. Local sponsors are also sought, with many coming back year-on-year to help out.

In bringing together such a wide variety of people, Tokushima AJET reaches out to the local community, bringing together individuals who may not otherwise have met. This year Christmas saw our first musical related wedding; a ninja from last year’s adaptation of Treasure Island, and one of our many valued stage-hands tying the knot over the summer. It’s a tale as old as time.

If it sounds like hard work to put on a musical, well, that’s because it is. The end result though, more than justifies the effort. The show has become incredibly important to the Tokushima community, with audiences increasing every year since its inception. The chance to experience theatre and song put on by native speakers, no matter how tuneless or wooden, has become a highlight of the bleak winter months in rural Tokushima. A JET’s stay may only be temporary, but in Tokushima, we’ve become a truly valued part of the community. An achievement in which the musical has played no small part.

Enter stage right, cultural exchange.

Saga Charity Christmas is run completely by volunteers, so that all proceeds can be donated to charity. There is a board of directors for the party who decide the direction and content of the party, but we need many many volunteers to assist us both in the preparation stages and on the night – for example cooking and serving food, working behind the bar, running games and attractions such as face painting, ring toss and being Santa! All live performers on the night also kindly donate their time and energy to the party.

ANYONE can join the Charity Christmas Party! There is something for everyone at the party, so it is a great opportunity for families to come together and enjoy the Christmas spirit with other Japanese people and foreigners alike. Each year we expect about 500 guests at the party, usually people from in and around the Saga area, but tickets are limited, so don’t miss out! This year we have also decided to specially invite some disadvantaged students from a school in Fukuoka prefecture (for free) so that they too may have the opportunity to experience a fun and exciting Christmas Party.

In addition to the party being run completely by volunteers, we also ask many businesses and community places to support us by displaying our posters or handing out promotional flyers, and we ask for a lot of donations for the party. Almost everything we supply at the party is all donated by very generous people around the Saga area. This year, we hope that we can get as many donations as possible, so that we can limit our costs and donate as much money as possible to the orphanage.

We are still looking for more donations at this stage, including food ingredients, food serving platters/trays, drinks, game/lottery prizes (adults and children), small presents for children, and materials to make decorations.

If you know anyone who might be able to help with collecting or providing donations, would like to volunteer your time for the party, want to buy a ticket, or just want some more information (in English or Japanese), please contact info@sagaccp.com

We need as much help as we can get to make this year’s the best Charity Christmas Party yet!! Please come along and help us in whatever way you can!

Event details are as follows:
December 17th from 6-9pm
Saga Bunkakaikan (Culture Events Hall) in Saga city http://g.co/maps/fcqek
Tickets for the party are 2,000yen in advance, or 2,500yen on the door; 500yen for elementary school students.

Special thanks must go to Koichi and Mairi Araki for continuing to promote and support this valuable community event over the course of many years.

Read below for full details (via Miyagi AJET):

To all Miyagi/Sendai JETs:

Employed directly through Boards of Education and embedded in communities, we JETs have a lot of potential to do great things here in Japan. Many of us invest our personal time, and sometimes our own money, to craft interactive lessons that engage students, to motivate students and spark their interest in English and foreign cultures, to produce quality events educating the people in our communities about our home countries, and more. As the AJET branch for Miyagi and Sendai, MAJET is here to support you in your activities as a JET, and to this end, we would like to announce the “Miyagi-Sendai JET Micro-Grant Program.”

Attached please find a detailed description of the program, outlining it’s goals and how to apply. To put it simply, as Miyagi starts to take it’s formative steps towards recovery from the March 11th disaster, the purpose of this program is to empower JETs with financial support in their efforts to fulfill the goals of the JET Programme in and outside of school.

All too often JETs have great ideas to create language/culture boards at their school, to put on fun events for eikaiwa groups, to put on culture days at the local community center, but find themselves encumbered for lack of even a minimal working budget. There’s only so much that can come out of our own pockets, which is where this program comes in. Whatever idea you may have for doing something that you feel helps meet the goals of the JET Programme (internationalization, cultural interaction, language education, etc.), we want you to tell us about it. If your idea does indeed further the cause of JET, we’ll provide you with money to make it a reality! Initially we have set the range of possible grants to between 2,000 and 10,000 yen, but if you have a particularly good idea, let us know and we will consider going beyond this range.

If you are interested in applying for a grant, please fill out an application here:
https://docs.google.com/a/ajet.net/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDNPaFdVSFUxUDBzb1pZcGttZEdoSHc6MQ

Even if you are currently engaged in an activity that you already pay for out of pocket, let us know and we may be able to provide you with funding to take this activity to the next level. Please keep in mind that once funds run out, this program will be discontinued, so if you have an idea for things you want to do next spring/summer, let us know sooner rather than later.

In announcing this program, we would like to give special thanks to the family of Taylor Anderson, an Ishinomaki JET who was sadly loston March 11th. During what was undoubtedly a trying time for the Andersons, they decided to honor Taylor’s memory as best they could in supporting the recovery of the community in which Taylor lived, and which she loved. Knowing Taylor’s activities as a JET, the Andersons recognize the importance of the JET Programme towards internationalization and language education at the grassroots/community level in Japan, and see the potential for the JETs of Miyagi and Sendai to be active parts of recovery. It is a result of the Andersons commitment to helping Ishinomaki and Miyagi that the idea for this program was formed, and it is from donations raised by the Anderson’s that the seed money for this program will come.

If you have any questions about this program, or if you would like to brainstorm with us and discuss in more detail the possibility of receiving a grant, please contact us at miyagi@ajet.net

Wishing you the best,

The MAJET Team
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Miyagi Association of JET 2011-12
www.ajetmiyagi.net

Claudine Bennent (President)
Cameron Peek (President)
Brian Garvey (Vice-President)
Marissa Godwin (Treasurer)
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Read on for official Micro Grant Program guidelines:

Miyagi/Sendai JET Micro Grant Program

Background: The Great East Japan Earthquake was an unprecedented disaster from which it will take the Japanese people decades to fully recover. Among the many victims of this disaster was JET Programme participant Taylor Anderson. Taylor’s tragic death shook the JET community and the lives of the many people she had come to know in Ishinomaki. However, not wanting to let the bond between Taylor and Ishinomaki fade away, Taylor’s family have taken it upon themselves to directly assist with Ishinomaki’s recovery in a variety of ways, including raising funds for the benefit of the community. Since beginning this fundraising, Andy Anderson, Taylor’s father, has consistently looked for new, creative ways to make significant differences at the grassroots level. Andy contacted the Miyagi Association of JET (MAJET) to discuss how JET participants could assist in this recovery effort, and how they could be empowered to do so. Through this discussion, MAJET and Andy Anderson have established the “Miyagi-Sendai JET Micro Grant Program” (details below).

I. Goals
To honor the memory of Taylor Anderson
To provide financial support to enhance the projects/activities of Miyagi/Sendai JET program participants.
To support foreign language education in the schools in which JET participants are employed as well as the communities in which they live.
To support activities aimed at enriching the awareness and understanding of foreign cultures whether these activities occur in the classroom or in JET participants’ communities.
II. Description of the Grant
The grant is established for use by members of the Miyagi/Sendai JET Programme.
The term of the grant is from November 1, 2011 until July 31, 2012 or until grant money expires, whichever comes first. At the end of this period, if any funds remain, one of two courses of action will be considered.
1) The current MAJET team will discuss with the succeeding MAJET team and with Andy Anderson the possibility of continuing the Micro Grant Program for another year.

2) For whatever reason, should it be determined that the Micro Grant Program will not be continued for another year, the remaining funds will be donated to the Miyagi Prefecture account created for the benefit of 3.11 disaster victims, or alternatively a similar account for the benefit of disaster victims as agreed upon by the current MAJET team and Andy Anderson.

The awards will be determined by each project proposal on its own merit as it relates to the above mentioned goals.
Proposals may be submitted by an individual or a team of JETs.
Funds awarded will range from \2,000 to \10,000. In cases in which the proposed project is found to have particularly high merit, a grant exceeding the amount of \10,000 may be considered in consultation with the MAJET team and Andy Anderson.
Proposed projects and activities may include, but are not limited to the following suggestions:
1) Creating or expanding English language curricula for use in the classroom

2) Purchasing equipment and supplies to enrich culturally related activities inside and outside the classroom (ex. International days at schools, culturally related festivals in the community.)

3) Community service (ex. transportation fees to organize a trip to volunteer in affected areas, rental fees for facilities to hold events etc.)

III. Grant Awarding Process
The participating JET completes and submits to the MAJET team a Grant Application Form via Google documents.
The MAJET team, in conjunction with Mr. Anderson, discusses each application and evaluates it with one of the following outcomes:
1) Approved: the proposed project fulfills the above stipulated goals.

2) Considered: the proposed project has merit but requires clarification or revision.

3) Denied: the proposed project does not fulfill the above stipulated goals.

Each participant will receive an email, designating that an award has been approved, considered or denied.
Funds will be paid within 30 days of approval.
Within 30 days of project or activity completion, the JET will submit a report to MAJET detailing the project/activity and its expenses. In the event in which a JET incurs an unforeseen cost, reimbursement of these costs are subject to approval by MAJET and Mr. Anderson. In certain cases, such unforeseen costs will not be compensated or may only be partially compensated.
Any unused funds will be re-submitted to the grant account via post office transfer or to a MAJET representative in cash, to then be added to the grant account.

Shikoku is comprised of four beautiful prefectures, Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi and Tokushima. Shikoku is home of the famous 88th temple of pilgrimage, a vibrant community spirit and its natural scenic beauty.

The Shikoku Field Day is the main Block Eight event of the year. The event is open to the entire block and beyond for the purpose of coming together and having lots of fun while forming and maintaining friendships. The event is also supported by all the prefectures on Shikoku.

The Field Day is a one-day (overnight optional) gathering of Shikoku-ites and their friends to play games more focused on fun than competition. The games followed by a barbecue will take place at Shikoku Saburo no Sato, in Mima City, Tokushima Prefecture, on the afternoon of Saturday, November 26th afterward; attendees can stay the night in a tent or a cottage and participate in the evening’s ongoing revelries, or head back home.

The event will give you the opportunity to relive some of your childhood memories. Remember when there was a time in our childhood when we didn’t play for results, there was no tournament bracket, no championship round, no record-keeping and sometimes there weren’t even any points. You just showed up, played hard, had lots of fun and went home.

Many of the day’s games are taken from the New Games Movement of the 1970s. No prior knowledge of the rules is required to participate. Exciting games may include; capture the flag, catch the dragon’s tail, bola, slaughter, caterpillar and rock-paper-scissors. In keeping with the spirit of the event, teams will be randomly determined on the day and distinguished by bandanas (provided), which will have the side effect of making participants look totally great. Awards will be given, but not all of them will be for winning. Some awards will have inherently magical properties.

Shikoku Field Day promises to be an exciting and unpredictable day to remember! Eat, drink, play, and be merry. Looking forward to a fun filled day!