Australian JETs 2012

[Shem]

Fantastic news to hear that you were able to be upgraded as a CIR, given how competitive those roles seem to be!

I saw a few of your Youtube videos so it was a bit sad when I thought you weren't being upgraded.

Congratulations!

[Caiterpillar]

Am I too late to join the thread party? I've been telling myself so long that I probably wouldn't get into JET that I only just realized that you know, it might be appropriate now to use the forums I'm going to Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. The location thread tells me a bunch of Melbournians are going there too?

Shout out to any Canberrans! Doublesupercool, are you from ANU? I'm just going to go ahead and assume I know you personally somehow, or at the least share a close friend with you, since.... Canberra

Waiting on packages and reading up on the forums. Suddenly excited now I'm reading about everything

[lj66]

Can anyone recommend some good omiyage to bring with us? I was thinking tim tams but realised how hot it will be when we get there. And I can't really think of anything really Australian other than those little koala keychains etc you can buy at cheap souvenier shops. What (Australia-specific) worked well and didn't work so well?

[Shem]

Apparently Tim-Tams are fine, but you should keep them with you through TO so they aren't exposed to too much heat. Since you'll be going from a temperature regulated plane, to a bus, to the Keio, then by bus/ train/ plane to your prefecture if they are with you they shouldn't melt too much.

I think that's my plan for office omiyage (plus a few extra things for "special" people and some prizes for students). As is often recommended individually wrapped omiyage is best, so I'd spend a little bit extra to get the boxes of larger Tim-Tams that come individually wrapped (my Coles has them but your mileage may vary).

For bigger omiyage I'm thinking of some kind of Australian alcohol. Maybe a mid-range wine or two, some leatherwood honey (I'm originally from Tasmania) and maybe a couple of more souvenir-y type things (not sure exactly, yet). I'll probably bring about 5-ish larger gifts (ranging from about $10-50) for people like my supervisor/ tantousha, principal, etc? Not too worried about it though I'll plan a little more when I hear from my pred. Many older JETs say omiyage is more about bringing presents when you return from holidays so it isn't a big deal even if you arrive with nothing. As always though it's always a nice gesture to bring gifts, in any culture I think!

[lj66]

Apparently Tim-Tams are fine, but you should keep them with you through TO so they aren't exposed to too much heat. Since you'll be going from a temperature regulated plane, to a bus, to the Keio, then by bus/ train/ plane to your prefecture if they are with you they shouldn't melt too much.

I think that's my plan for office omiyage (plus a few extra things for "special" people and some prizes for students). As is often recommended individually wrapped omiyage is best, so I'd spend a little bit extra to get the boxes of larger Tim-Tams that come individually wrapped (my Coles has them but your mileage may vary).

For bigger omiyage I'm thinking of some kind of Australian alcohol. Maybe a mid-range wine or two, some leatherwood honey (I'm originally from Tasmania) and maybe a couple of more souvenir-y type things (not sure exactly, yet). I'll probably bring about 5-ish larger gifts (ranging from about $10-50) for people like my supervisor/ tantousha, principal, etc? Not too worried about it though I'll plan a little more when I hear from my pred. Many older JETs say omiyage is more about bringing presents when you return from holidays so it isn't a big deal even if you arrive with nothing. As always though it's always a nice gesture to bring gifts, in any culture I think!

Good idea with the individually wrapped tim tams! Might just borrow that idea for myself Yeah I think I'll really just have to wait til I hear from my pred for numbers. Also with the alcohol, I'm pretty sure you aren't legally allowed to bring any large amounts on international flights unless you buy it once you go through international customs. The whole liquids thing I think. Could be wrong though! (The last time I travelled internationally, the couple in front of me had to go and get someone to mind their bottle of very expensive scotch for them since they couldn't bring it through customs. This was at Gold Coast airport departing for Osaka.)

[Caiterpillar]

Any kind of Australian food goes down well! I've brought Peckton's fruit jellies as omiyage in the past and they were received well. I was also thinking of bringing some of the Australian Green tea my current company stocks. And yeah, koala keychains....
Kind of stuck otherwise. Better start amassing random Australiana?

[Shem]

Also with the alcohol, I'm pretty sure you aren't legally allowed to bring any large amounts on international flights unless you buy it once you go through international customs.

Good point, would be far cheaper to buy it duty free, anyway!

[s4078131]

hmm... Tim tams are always a good idea.... however, they do sell them in Japan. When i was in Ishinomaki, which is in Miyagi ken, but a fair bit outta Sendai... the international food store there sold BUCKET loads of them...

[EricaHartmann]

Tim tams exist here. Most don't know about it however and if you're in the country they shouldn't know. I brought a kilo of nougat, threw that around and it went down well. Also you can easily buy cheap Australian wine right here. They also won't care if it is actually Australian or whatever. It's a gift, as long as it isn't amazingly terrible they will appreciate it regardless.

Wait until you hear from your pred before you do anything. They can tell you if it is expected (aka if they did it) and for whom. Your supervisor, vice principal and principal should be your first priority if you plan to do so.

[Kain of the Wired]

I brought tiny jars of leatherwood honey. People were very excited to get them and had never heard of it.

Tim Tams you can get for a few hundred yen a packet here at various places. That being said, people will get excited just because it actually came all the way from Australia. A Japanese friend of mine went to Italy recently for a holiday and brought me back a bag of spaghetti as omiyage. You can get spaghetti everywhere here for almost nothing but it came all the way from Italy so I guess it was kinda special...

[Patryn]

hahaha. so true!

My friend told me that Australian honey is really popular here and I think people seemed to like it. Also, that nougat is a good idea if you have enouh space! 1kg really doesn't last long but will be more than enough for most offices. But so tasty!

[lj66]

Thanks for all of the omiyage suggestions! I did think it would be best to wait to speak to my pred, but definitely wanted to get some ideas first

[Luthien]

TBH, rather than bringing tim tams I would bring caramello koalas. They work out cheaper if you buy a big fun size bag, and hey... koalas. Also, individually wrapped lollies fun size bags would be good - minties, fantales, eucalyptus drops that kind of thing would be interesting and different. And a single lolly (or two or three depending on budget/size) is fine, especially if you are in a big school...
And damn it now I really want a mintie.

[ozgal]

Thanks Luthien, those suggestions are really helpful. Eucalyptus drops seem so obvious, now you've pointed them out!

[paulluap]

I brought some eucalyptus drops with me after I went back home for a holiday, gave some out to some teachers and one turned around and said that she didn't like it because she felt like a koala eating it. Haha

Others loved it.

Perhaps bring a couple of packets of Arnotts Assorted. In my experience, when something doesn't have individual packages, the tea lady gives you a selection and then places your selection on a tissue/serviette. So no worries about individual servings.