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The Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program
invites young college and university graduates
from overseas to participate in international
exchange and foreign language education throughout
Japan. Begun in 1987 with fewer than 500
participants, the JET Program has grown
tremendously. Today, the program is one of Japan's
largest cultural exchange programs. In 2002, over
6,000 participants are taking part in the program
from 39 different countries. Nearly half of these
participants are from the United States.
On July 27th, 134 participants of the program from the
consulate's jurisdiction departed for Japan. They
will be assigned throughout Japan. Some will work
in the city, others will work on small islands or
on the country side.
A day before the departure the Consulate General of Japan
organized a Pre-Departure Orientation and Farewell
reception for the new JET participants. All JET
participants attended the orientation. The travel
agency began by giving a detailed explanation of
the formalities of traveling abroad. Afterwards,
Consul Kasahara announced a few general warning;
including how strict the Japanese are about
drunken driving and the use of illegal drugs.
Next, there was a farewell reception at 6 o'clock at
Ambassador Nishida's residence. About 80 JETs
attended, along with people from the JET Alumni
Association (JETAA), the staff of the Council of
Local Authorities for International Relations
(CLAIR) and various specialists who
 cooperated
to make this year's JET selection process
successful. The reception began with
congratulatory remarks from Ambassador Nishida,
followed by a "thank you" response from Mr. Jason
Kei, a representative of the new JET participants.
The JETs then had the opportunity to ask questions
and get information about their specific
destinations and assignments in Japan with members
of JETAA, consulate staff and other specialists.
Although the JETs seemed nervous about leaving,
they were all very excited about living and
working in Japan.
The JET participants' departure on Saturday, July 27th went
very smoothly. Everyone involved with the JET
program genuinely hopes that the JET participants
will have a wonderful experience in Japan. |
