Australian JET hopefuls thread

[Je-rome]

Am away on holidays in NSW, was hoping to receive news before I left last Saturday...but didn't!

Got a phone call from my sister back in Melbourne last night...and SHORTLISTED!!!

I started shaking with excitement. Cannot wait to meet all y'all fellow Melbourians and Australians!

[Rayne]

Yep, I was a lurker! I am shortlisted from Brisbane, Australia and am really excited! A little nervous to find out where I'm going - the waiting is the worst hey! My husband is coming with me, but will be flying over in August so I can get things set up...
I can't wait for the Tokyo orientation so I can meet you all!

[WhiteBear]

Yep, I was a lurker! I am shortlisted from Brisbane, Australia and am really excited! A little nervous to find out where I'm going - the waiting is the worst hey! My husband is coming with me, but will be flying over in August so I can get things set up...
I can't wait for the Tokyo orientation so I can meet you all!

I just booked a flight for my partner on the 24th of July so hopefully we can go to the airport together!

Super excited about going!!

[JamesLouise]

Heya Aussies. Im Emma from Melbourne!

I got my acceptance letter yesterday and have since been running around trying to get all the medical and police check stuff done.
Easter keeps disrupting all my plans. I dont think its going to be possible for most of us to get our forms back by the 29th Apr, which is next friday, when most stuff is shut till wednesday. But I suppose we're all in the same boat.

I hope to see a few of you at the airport in July!!!

[andrewf]

I just booked a flight for my partner on the 24th of July so hopefully we can go to the airport together!

Super excited about going!!

Hooray! My partner was just shortlisted, so I'm trying to find information about flights and seeing if we can go up together as well! I don't hugely fancy the idea of trying to navigate the rail/bus systems on my own with no guide or japanese language skills! :-/

- A.

[WhiteBear]

I just booked a flight for my partner on the 24th of July so hopefully we can go to the airport together!

Super excited about going!!

Hooray! My partner was just shortlisted, so I'm trying to find information about flights and seeing if we can go up together as well! I don't hugely fancy the idea of trying to navigate the rail/bus systems on my own with no guide or japanese language skills! :-/

- A.

Check out the General Information Handbook, it has stuff about the flights and partners coming. They recommend that partners don't come to Tokyo Orientation as it is very busy and packed.
It isn't too hard to travel with no Japanese skills. I've done it a few times and there are lots of signs in English, plus many places will have multiple-language guides/maps.

[andrewf]

Yup - found it. Thanks for the hint!

Was interesting that whilst it doesn't recommend bringing a partner, it also offers contingencies for partners / children to come along anyway, i.e. transport from the airport, Welcome reception, and transport to the CO location. That kind of support would be infinitely more useful than having to work it out myself whilst jetlagged and lugging two suitcases along with me!

Plus it sounds like the JET community is definitely going to be my way of finding support in Japan, even if it's as a non-JET dependent, so it'd be best to get my networking on ASAP once I'm in-country. Orientation functions would be perfect for that.

- A.

[farnorth]

hello all...just wondering if many Kiwis have received news? I interviewed in Auckland but have been out of town the first week of the school holidays. I presume we will be notified by post....hearing through email sounds kind of yuck!

[WhiteBear]

Yup - found it. Thanks for the hint!

Was interesting that whilst it doesn't recommend bringing a partner, it also offers contingencies for partners / children to come along anyway, i.e. transport from the airport, Welcome reception, and transport to the CO location. That kind of support would be infinitely more useful than having to work it out myself whilst jetlagged and lugging two suitcases along with me!

Plus it sounds like the JET community is definitely going to be my way of finding support in Japan, even if it's as a non-JET dependent, so it'd be best to get my networking on ASAP once I'm in-country. Orientation functions would be perfect for that.

That's a really good point. And as you said, they have contingency for partner's to come, so people must do it.

Heya Aussies. Im Emma from Melbourne!

I got my acceptance letter yesterday and have since been running around trying to get all the medical and police check stuff done.
Easter keeps disrupting all my plans. I dont think its going to be possible for most of us to get our forms back by the 29th Apr, which is next friday, when most stuff is shut till wednesday. But I suppose we're all in the same boat.

I hope to see a few of you at the airport in July!!!

Haha, yer, I didn't quite expect the medicals to have to be done so quickly. I hope urinanalysis and the xray don't take more than a day (>.<)

[dcmon]

Haha, yer, I didn't quite expect the medicals to have to be done so quickly. I hope urinanalysis and the xray don't take more than a day (>.<)

I managed to get my urinalysis and chest x-ray done the same day thanks to my amazing doctor/receptionist after I told them I needed it done by next week. I was at the doctor within an hour and a half of opening my letter and reading the date (panicking) and went from the doctor straight to the x-ray place. Had the completed form back by 5:30. But I think I was just lucky. Good luck!!

[DjinnWired]

Yup - found it. Thanks for the hint!

Was interesting that whilst it doesn't recommend bringing a partner, it also offers contingencies for partners / children to come along anyway, i.e. transport from the airport, Welcome reception, and transport to the CO location. That kind of support would be infinitely more useful than having to work it out myself whilst jetlagged and lugging two suitcases along with me!

Plus it sounds like the JET community is definitely going to be my way of finding support in Japan, even if it's as a non-JET dependent, so it'd be best to get my networking on ASAP once I'm in-country. Orientation functions would be perfect for that.

- A.

I brought a dependent spouse to TO, but you should check the handbook again- I was specifically told that he could not attend any orientation anythings. Our COs pay for everything at orientation. He took the airport shuttles with the JETs, which we paid for separately, but that was all. Embassy night is different of course, but I really strongly advise you not to try and sneak into any official orientation events. Plus many of the people you meet at TO will not be anywhere near for the rest of your time in Japan. Spouses can get a discount at the Keio Plaza but it is still expensive and you wont share a room with your partner unless they give up the room the CO has paid for. My husband stayed in a much cheaper nearby business hotel and did his own thing in the day, and we just met up for dinner in the evenings. It's only a couple of days.

[andrewf]

Yup - found it. Thanks for the hint!

Was interesting that whilst it doesn't recommend bringing a partner, it also offers contingencies for partners / children to come along anyway, i.e. transport from the airport, Welcome reception, and transport to the CO location. That kind of support would be infinitely more useful than having to work it out myself whilst jetlagged and lugging two suitcases along with me!

Plus it sounds like the JET community is definitely going to be my way of finding support in Japan, even if it's as a non-JET dependent, so it'd be best to get my networking on ASAP once I'm in-country. Orientation functions would be perfect for that.

- A.

I brought a dependent spouse to TO, but you should check the handbook again- I was specifically told that he could not attend any orientation anythings. Our COs pay for everything at orientation. He took the airport shuttles with the JETs, which we paid for separately, but that was all. Embassy night is different of course, but I really strongly advise you not to try and sneak into any official orientation events. Plus many of the people you meet at TO will not be anywhere near for the rest of your time in Japan. Spouses can get a discount at the Keio Plaza but it is still expensive and you wont share a room with your partner unless they give up the room the CO has paid for. My husband stayed in a much cheaper nearby business hotel and did his own thing in the day, and we just met up for dinner in the evenings. It's only a couple of days.

Yup, yup - understand all that. I guess we'll talk to our CO first once we know where we'll be placed and see what they prefer - apparently some CO's prefer that couples come together, just to help along the settling-in process.

- A.

[WhiteBear]

Hope everyone's enjoying their nice long holiday!

Kinda wishing I had done my medical check before >.<
Didn't realise we would have less than 72 hours/3 business days to submit it after receiving the letter.
I hope the doctor can do it super quickly!!

[Legolas]

Congrats to all the Aussies who got shorlisted I cant beleive the due date is 29 April for Melbourne people! I dont have even have my letter yet! Does anyone know if there are extensions and that the actual letter has to get to the consulate by the 29 April?

[WhiteBear]

Congrats to all the Aussies who got shorlisted I cant beleive the due date is 29 April for Melbourne people! I dont have even have my letter yet! Does anyone know if there are extensions and that the actual letter has to get to the consulate by the 29 April?

You'd have to talk to Melissa on a case-by-case basis for extensions. Don't assume that because person X got an extension, that you can get one automatically without talking to her.
And I think it has to be with them by the 29th, as the letter says:

"Please note that if the REPLY FORM is not submitted by the deadline, it may be considered without warning that you have turned down your candidacy for the 2011 JET Program"

So talk to Melissa before the 29th if you can't get it in by then.