New Zealand Participants

[rothko]

I was placed on the reserve list, but received a call earlier saying that I was now on the shortlist. Best Friday the thirteenth ever.

[bananallanah]

I was placed on the reserve list, but received a call earlier saying that I was now on the shortlist. Best Friday the thirteenth ever.

Hell yes! Congrats!!! That was quick! I guess it was pretty considerate for whoever turned down their spot to do it so quickly.

[Flea]

I was placed on the reserve list, but received a call earlier saying that I was now on the shortlist. Best Friday the thirteenth ever.

Congratulations!! It's great that you got bumped up so early.

Sweet, well if anyone wants to make one I'll join
I got all the documents in the email they sent out on Wednesday (telling us we were shortlisted, alternate etc) maybe Auckland was a bit different than Welly though?

I don't speak much Japanese, I learnt for 3yrs in high school and went over for 2 weeks on a school exchange in 2004 (Tokyo and then Kumagaya, our sister city, for a homestay) but I guess now I should be frantically relearning the kana alphabets! what about you/everyone else?

Yea. . . I didn't read my e-mail properly, I think once the word shortlist was read, nothing else actually registered.
Got my forms in the post today. Just need to go get some passport photos taken and they're done.

I never learned Japanese other than 3 months compulsory in 3rd form, went to Japan at the end of last year for 5 weeks traveling/snowboarding. I know both kana but can't write all of them, who needs to know how to write anyway!? But I will try learn some conversational Japanese by August. Only know random phrases at the moment :/

[bananallanah]

Yea. . . I didn't read my e-mail properly, I think once the word shortlist was read, nothing else actually registered.
Got my forms in the post today. Just need to go get some passport photos taken and they're done.

I never learned Japanese other than 3 months compulsory in 3rd form, went to Japan at the end of last year for 5 weeks traveling/snowboarding. I know both kana but can't write all of them, who needs to know how to write anyway!? But I will try learn some conversational Japanese by August. Only know random phrases at the moment :/

I did the same thing, read the first bit, was too excited and looked around the office- everyone was in meeting, lunch or away from desks. Had to go looking for people to tell hahaha. I got my forms today too, need to book the medical exam, I'm not sure about the lung xray bit, I suppose I specify when booking that I need a medical check for work and I need an lung xray and hopefully the person on the other end of the phone will help me out.

Oh cool, I have a workmate who went for 5weeks to ski/snowboard in Hokkaido a couple years ago, loved it, coming back in January (he reckons I need a northern placement so he gets free accomo). I definitely need to brush up on basic conversation things, it's been a wee while since I last practised (read: 7 years haha)

[Flea]

Yea. . . I didn't read my e-mail properly, I think once the word shortlist was read, nothing else actually registered.
Got my forms in the post today. Just need to go get some passport photos taken and they're done.

I never learned Japanese other than 3 months compulsory in 3rd form, went to Japan at the end of last year for 5 weeks traveling/snowboarding. I know both kana but can't write all of them, who needs to know how to write anyway!? But I will try learn some conversational Japanese by August. Only know random phrases at the moment :/

I did the same thing, read the first bit, was too excited and looked around the office- everyone was in meeting, lunch or away from desks. Had to go looking for people to tell hahaha. I got my forms today too, need to book the medical exam, I'm not sure about the lung xray bit, I suppose I specify when booking that I need a medical check for work and I need an lung xray and hopefully the person on the other end of the phone will help me out.

Oh cool, I have a workmate who went for 5weeks to ski/snowboard in Hokkaido a couple years ago, loved it, coming back in January (he reckons I need a northern placement so he gets free accomo). I definitely need to brush up on basic conversation things, it's been a wee while since I last practised (read: 7 years haha)

Haha, yea the chest x-ray was annoying. If you can get the chest x-ray done first I'd recommend that. Otherwise you'll have to make two trips to the doctors 'cause the doctor needs to sign off the x-ray. Unless the radiologist is willing to sign it off, which mine wasn't.

Yea I boarded in Hokkaido, it's pretty damn cool up there.
I requested Nagano Prefecture 1st then Hokkaido 2nd to be close to the mountains, but I'll be happy anywhere.

[bananallanah]

Haha, yea the chest x-ray was annoying. If you can get the chest x-ray done first I'd recommend that. Otherwise you'll have to make two trips to the doctors 'cause the doctor needs to sign off the x-ray. Unless the radiologist is willing to sign it off, which mine wasn't.

Yea I boarded in Hokkaido, it's pretty damn cool up there.
I requested Nagano Prefecture 1st then Hokkaido 2nd to be close to the mountains, but I'll be happy anywhere.

Oh good advice thanks, I will try book it asap.
Nice! I requested 1) Nagano 2) Yamagata and 3) Sapporo. No particular reason, I'll be happy anywhere I think.
I do know of another kiwi in Sapporo, she's a friend of a friend and is coming back this year after being there for 2 years. I hear they like kiwis up there and way down in Kyushu too. I think there's 8 or so ALTs in Kumamoto alone.

[nicole.ai]

Haha, yea the chest x-ray was annoying. If you can get the chest x-ray done first I'd recommend that. Otherwise you'll have to make two trips to the doctors 'cause the doctor needs to sign off the x-ray. Unless the radiologist is willing to sign it off, which mine wasn't.

Yea I boarded in Hokkaido, it's pretty damn cool up there.
I requested Nagano Prefecture 1st then Hokkaido 2nd to be close to the mountains, but I'll be happy anywhere.

Oh good advice thanks, I will try book it asap.
Nice! I requested 1) Nagano 2) Yamagata and 3) Sapporo. No particular reason, I'll be happy anywhere I think.
I do know of another kiwi in Sapporo, she's a friend of a friend and is coming back this year after being there for 2 years. I hear they like kiwis up there and way down in Kyushu too. I think there's 8 or so ALTs in Kumamoto alone.

Sorry to butt in to the convo, but is your Sapporo friend's name Scarlett by any chance?

[bananallanah]

Sorry to butt in to the convo, but is your Sapporo friend's name Scarlett by any chance?

All good, and yes it is (I don't know her but I know a friend of hers).

[nicole.ai]

Sorry to butt in to the convo, but is your Sapporo friend's name Scarlett by any chance?

All good, and yes it is (I don't know her but I know a friend of hers).

Ah. I met her when I was visiting another Sapporo JET. She was so much fun.

[bananallanah]

Ah. I met her when I was visiting another Sapporo JET. She was so much fun.

Oh man, the world is such a small place!!

[wanderlust]

Cool, I can make a Facebook group. What are your email addresses? I have to add people to make it official

PS. I have zero Japanese knowledge! Eek, better get onto that ASAP! Definitely want to learn as much as possible, I know from experience how much easier it is to adapt and make friends etc when you can speak the local language.

[wanderlust]

I'll be in Welly for graduation in May too, had to delay it because I was teaching English in Hungary last year. What are your backgrounds? Have you guys been studying or working (/both)?

[nicole.ai]

Ah. I met her when I was visiting another Sapporo JET. She was so much fun.

Oh man, the world is such a small place!!

lol, it is, isn't it. Crazy.

[bananallanah]

Have PM'd my email address, thanks!

I've heard learning both katakana and hiragana alphabets is really helpful and then obviously from there you can move onto conversational stuff (though you don't necessarily need to learn kana if you're learning from a podcast etc)

Wow cool that you were in Hungary! Very jealous. I work full time with kids, no doubt once I'm in the facebook group you guys will know the place/have been there before!

[Flea]

I'll be in Welly for graduation in May too, had to delay it because I was teaching English in Hungary last year. What are your backgrounds? Have you guys been studying or working (/both)?

What day/group are you for graduation? I'm on the 15th, first group Arch/Design.
I was just studying, I finished my degree at the end of last year, then dealt with my JET app, then took a trip to Japan.
Came back and have just been enjoying life
But going to hopefully find a temporary job 'till August in Chch.
edit: oh and I pmd my e-mail