Boston Shortlists & Alternates 2012

[mobiuschic42]

Hi! I know there aren't many of us on the forum, but I've noticed (and contributed to) various Boston-specific convos on multiple other threads, so I thought it was time we got our own little thread.
I'm assuming we'll hear more from Susan Gill once she gets all our paperwork processed. Right now, I'm wondering if people who started out on the shortlist got more/different paperwork than those of us (myself included) who were upgraded?
All I've gotten so far is info about health certificates, IRS forms, and FBI checks. Has anyone else gotten anything more?

[jou_chan]

Hello hello again!

I do believe that we have all the same paper work - I know I got my call Tuesday around 2pm and then got the paper work later that night. It was all the IRS stuff - then about 2 seconds later she sent me another email saying - sorry - you've done all that, just kidding!

The only big questions I have right now about mandatory things are:

1. Medical form - I've done mine, had it sent in, but I got my TB test done around the end of November '11. I sent Susan an email asking if it would be ok and she said so long as it's after Dec 2nd - it's good. Obviously it wasn't; but I never got a response back when I gave her the date...

2. International Drivers Permit...my current US license expires on my birthday next year (June 5th) and obviously - I won't be here - you have to live in the country for at least 3 months to make it valid - should I just wait on it all - or should I renew and then go for my IDP??

3. What's everyone else talking about orientation? I wish we had a better timeline...it would make me less twitchy and nervous XD

^_^ still excited though!!!!!!!

[Queequeg]

Some days I think Boston must have been a tiny consulate. A tiny consulate with few internet goers...

I got my Tuesday, and no email or word since. Prompted me to listen to the voice mail once or twice just in case I made the whole thing up, hah. But otherwise it sounds like we three got all the same stuff. (i have everything in except 6602 now)

[mobiuschic42]

Hello hello again!

I do believe that we have all the same paper work - I know I got my call Tuesday around 2pm and then got the paper work later that night. It was all the IRS stuff - then about 2 seconds later she sent me another email saying - sorry - you've done all that, just kidding!

The only big questions I have right now about mandatory things are:

1. Medical form - I've done mine, had it sent in, but I got my TB test done around the end of November '11. I sent Susan an email asking if it would be ok and she said so long as it's after Dec 2nd - it's good. Obviously it wasn't; but I never got a response back when I gave her the date...

2. International Drivers Permit...my current US license expires on my birthday next year (June 5th) and obviously - I won't be here - you have to live in the country for at least 3 months to make it valid - should I just wait on it all - or should I renew and then go for my IDP??

3. What's everyone else talking about orientation? I wish we had a better timeline...it would make me less twitchy and nervous XD

^_^ still excited though!!!!!!!

1. I also did my health certificate in November, but then I had to do it again when I was made an alternate. I sent it after sending in my reply form, but before I got upgraded, and it may have been lost. In any case, I sent in a copy with my IRS form, so hopefully I'll be ok. I think, though, that you'll need to do it again. On the form, it says your TB test has to be less than 3 months old. Obviously, December 2 is outside of that realm, too, but I think I would at least schedule an appointment if I were you.

2. I replied to your thread about IDP (which I'm sure you've seen!) - long story short, I would say go ahead and get it renewed now, and get an attested copy of your driving record. If you have an MA license, you can use the link I gave in the other thread. Otherwise, you can probably find info on your state's DMV website. I also recently remembered something about some prefecture wanting further proof that you were actually in the US for 3 months before coming to Japan to get a Japanese license, so you might bring a copy of a gas bill or something. That might be hard to get a year down the road from a foreign country. Hopefully, most prefectures won't be so demanding!

3. For reals!! It looks like some consulates have already gotten info about their pre-departure orientations, let alone the Tokyo Orientation. I'm so jealous! One of the tax FAQs we got (by the way, did you guys get like 3 different email attachments that were all various combinations of the same IRS info? ) linked to the General Information Handbook, which I've been reading over to try and assuage some of my lack-of-information angst. It's here: http://www.jetprogramme.org/e/current/pubs/gih.html

Is anyone else actually in the Boston area? I know Queequeg is in CT, and I have a vague recollection that jou_chan said she was in middle/western MA - though I could be hallucinating that. I live in Waltham and work in Charlestown, so I'm pretty much actually in Boston.

[jou_chan]

Ugh - my doctor is terrible at scheduling...I'll have to bombard my Aunt (who works in the office there) to get me in for that ASAP.

Yes! I did see your post on the IDP and I'm taking action

That info will be really helpful too - I'm still a little fuzzy from the overload of congratulations from friends and family and all the stuff happening at once...just sucks that we lost a month's time...but oh well - WE'RE GOING TO JAPAN!!!!!!!!!!

I dunno if you two are on Facebook (I know it seems silly to ask - since most are) but you're more than welcome to add me on there - my full name is Staci Graves and we've got a facebook group on there too - not sure if either of you are on there - but all are welcome!!!

And yes - I'm in central Mass - Worcester area to be exact. I have a good friend in Waltham too!

[mobiuschic42]

I dunno if you two are on Facebook (I know it seems silly to ask - since most are) but you're more than welcome to add me on there - my full name is Staci Graves and we've got a facebook group on there too - not sure if either of you are on there - but all are welcome!!!

And yes - I'm in central Mass - Worcester area to be exact. I have a good friend in Waltham too!

Great! I friended you - I'm Sarah House - networks Northeastern University and Partners Healthcare.

[Queequeg]

That's kind of hilarious, I was almost up in Waltham this weekend, some friends of mine are vending at a steampunk show there.

[jou_chan]

Super awesome!

I've got to start going through all my stuff >_<

[LiJiawei]

Since someone actually made a thread and we're such a small , I guess it's finally time to come out of hiding. I will probably meet you all on the flight there anyway.

I am a Boston shortlister and as far as it seems, you all have the same paperwork and information that I do, so no need to worry about being out of the loop or anything.

As for myself, I am from the greater Boston area (as in within a couple minutes commuting distance by T) and I work/volunteer in Charlestown and in Chinatown as a tutor and teaching assistant for ESL and math. I graduated last year and kind of just started teaching as something to do while job searching, but I've found that I really do enjoy it and I look forward to more teaching on the JET program.

The cool part about living and working in Boston is that the consulate is that the consulate is a short walk away from downtown or a few minutes on the subway. I went to drop off my paperwork in person a few weeks ago and I asked her about our flight information. Specifically, I wanted to know if they were gonna send us on the new direct flight from Logan to Narita by Japan Airlines. At least in my living memory, the route will be the first non-stop flight to Asia from Boston, the first Asian airline to fly into Boston, and most importantly, the first airline route with the new Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" in the US. Our coordinator told me that because the consulate wants to see the service do well and continue, they will try to get us to fly that route. So I'm looking forward to riding that with you all.

Also, for those who actually in the Boston area, I hope you attended the first Haru Matsuri in Copley Square two weeks ago. I was thinking about posting about it before then, but I still felt like lurking. Even though they ran out of food and it was really crowded, I thought it was a lot of fun and hope they continue even though I won't be able to go it next year.

[mobiuschic42]

Since someone actually made a thread and we're such a small , I guess it's finally time to come out of hiding. I will probably meet you all on the flight there anyway.

I am a Boston shortlister and as far as it seems, you all have the same paperwork and information that I do, so no need to worry about being out of the loop or anything.

As for myself, I am from the greater Boston area (as in within a couple minutes commuting distance by T) and I work/volunteer in Charlestown and in Chinatown as a tutor and teaching assistant for ESL and math. I graduated last year and kind of just started teaching as something to do while job searching, but I've found that I really do enjoy it and I look forward to more teaching on the JET program.

The cool part about living and working in Boston is that the consulate is that the consulate is a short walk away from downtown or a few minutes on the subway. I went to drop off my paperwork in person a few weeks ago and I asked her about our flight information. Specifically, I wanted to know if they were gonna send us on the new direct flight from Logan to Narita by Japan Airlines. At least in my living memory, the route will be the first non-stop flight to Asia from Boston, the first Asian airline to fly into Boston, and most importantly, the first airline route with the new Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" in the US. Our coordinator told me that because the consulate wants to see the service do well and continue, they will try to get us to fly that route. So I'm looking forward to riding that with you all.

Also, for those who actually in the Boston area, I hope you attended the first Haru Matsuri in Copley Square two weeks ago. I was thinking about posting about it before then, but I still felt like lurking. Even though they ran out of food and it was really crowded, I thought it was a lot of fun and hope they continue even though I won't be able to go it next year.

Dang, I missed Haru Matsuri - I was visiting my new nephew in Atlanta. It sounds like it was fun!
I also hope we get to take the new Japan Airlines direct flight - that would be sooo nice. When I went to Japan for study abroad, we had to go through Detroit. Though, it was nice to stretch my legs a bit before the long flight over the Pacific.

Teaching in Chinatown - do you by any chance volunteer at BCNC (Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center)? I volunteered there for a bit, but then they couldn't find a student whose schedule matched up with mine, and now I'm going to Japan so they can't give me another one - oh well.

Also, I'm glad we've got all the same paperwork - hopefully we'll get more info soon!

[mobiuschic42]

That's kind of hilarious, I was almost up in Waltham this weekend, some friends of mine are vending at a steampunk show there.

Haha...unfortunately, my boyfriend and I tend to poke a bit of fun at the steampunk crowd - mostly because we can't get anywhere this weekend. I hope your friends are having fun, though!

[LiJiawei]

Teaching in Chinatown - do you by any chance volunteer at BCNC (Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center)? I volunteered there for a bit, but then they couldn't find a student whose schedule matched up with mine, and now I'm going to Japan so they can't give me another one - oh well.

In fact, yes, I do volunteer and work part-time for BCNC. I started volunteering as an after school tutor for the Youth Center last September with zero experience teaching or working with kids at all, but it's because of them that I was able learn to interact with students and teach. Eventually, I was hired as a part-time tutor/teachers' assistant for Chinese immigrant students at Charlestown High School (I speak two dialects of Chinese in addition to Japanese) where I got more experience in actually teaching, managing a classrom, and working with students who don't speak English as a first language. Even though I majored in Asian Studies, studied Japanese, and studied abroad in Japan during college, I don't think I would have been as strong a candidate for JET if BCNC didn't give me the opportunity to get experience teaching and working with kids.

Now I'm curious, which department/program were you volunteering with? It almost sounds like you were doing the college mentoring program, but I'm not exactly sure.

[mobiuschic42]

In fact, yes, I do volunteer and work part-time for BCNC. I started volunteering as an after school tutor for the Youth Center last September with zero experience teaching or working with kids at all, but it's because of them that I was able learn to interact with students and teach. Eventually, I was hired as a part-time tutor/teachers' assistant for Chinese immigrant students at Charlestown High School (I speak two dialects of Chinese in addition to Japanese) where I got more experience in actually teaching, managing a classrom, and working with students who don't speak English as a first language. Even though I majored in Asian Studies, studied Japanese, and studied abroad in Japan during college, I don't think I would have been as strong a candidate for JET if BCNC didn't give me the opportunity to get experience teaching and working with kids.

Now I'm curious, which department/program were you volunteering with? It almost sounds like you were doing the college mentoring program, but I'm not exactly sure.

Cool! BCNC is great.
I was doing the Adult ESL tutoring program - I was trained by Anna Fan last August. I think speaking Chinese probably makes it a lot easier to volunteer there. There are only so many high-level students that they can give non-Chinese-speaking volunteers to tutor, unfortunately. My student actually "leveled out" of BCNC's classes, which is why she didn't need my tutoring anymore. I went to the Volunteer Appreciation dinner in December and won tickets to the Rockettes - I felt kinda guilty since I haven't actually gotten to do much volunteering yet. :/

[jou_chan]

Since someone actually made a thread and we're such a small , I guess it's finally time to come out of hiding. I will probably meet you all on the flight there anyway.

I am a Boston shortlister and as far as it seems, you all have the same paperwork and information that I do, so no need to worry about being out of the loop or anything.

As for myself, I am from the greater Boston area (as in within a couple minutes commuting distance by T) and I work/volunteer in Charlestown and in Chinatown as a tutor and teaching assistant for ESL and math. I graduated last year and kind of just started teaching as something to do while job searching, but I've found that I really do enjoy it and I look forward to more teaching on the JET program.

The cool part about living and working in Boston is that the consulate is that the consulate is a short walk away from downtown or a few minutes on the subway. I went to drop off my paperwork in person a few weeks ago and I asked her about our flight information. Specifically, I wanted to know if they were gonna send us on the new direct flight from Logan to Narita by Japan Airlines. At least in my living memory, the route will be the first non-stop flight to Asia from Boston, the first Asian airline to fly into Boston, and most importantly, the first airline route with the new Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" in the US. Our coordinator told me that because the consulate wants to see the service do well and continue, they will try to get us to fly that route. So I'm looking forward to riding that with you all.

Also, for those who actually in the Boston area, I hope you attended the first Haru Matsuri in Copley Square two weeks ago. I was thinking about posting about it before then, but I still felt like lurking. Even though they ran out of food and it was really crowded, I thought it was a lot of fun and hope they continue even though I won't be able to go it next year.

Welcome welcome!!!

[LiJiawei]

Thanks for the welcome!

@Sarah - That's cool that you were involved with the Adult Education program! I have two friends from college working in that department and I know most of the people. Anna Fan actually left BCNC not long ago and moved on to another job, but I still think they're looking for tutors. I actually did a little bit of temporary citizenship tutoring for them recently. I was also at the volunteer appreciation dinner as well! I thought it was a lot of fun and enjoyed the half an hour open bar.

I was wondering what the Boston peeps got for their placements? I found out I got Kikai-cho, Kagoshima-ken, a remote tropical island in the East China Sea! Do any of you folks know how to prepare for living on an island because I certainly don't.