Aspiring South African JETs 2012

[Cape2Tokyo]

I also thought that eFred was a guy! MY BAAAAAD

[eFred]

I chose Kyoto, (I only put down one choice because…. I’m cool like that). How did you guys make your choices btw? I just read MoG and decided Kyoto, very foolish and ignorant I know.

@C2T: Facebook, ah, uhmm, I don’t even use my real name for that… and ya, we do have a mutual friend Shane Kaylor? I’ll add you and Yumz (and HS??) Current name (it changes): Catching Bukowski so be warned.

I just told Yumz, it’s better to freak out with others rather than freaking out alone.

UCT actually has the Genshiken society which gives Japanese lessons. (Even though I’ve already graduated they kindly let me sign up for some lessons)
About my name: It’s an experiment during first year (a very successful one).

You were Tanja Bosch’s TA??? Pah. She’s like this super active chica. Waay cool.

[eFred]

I seem to recall reading that South Africans are most commonly placed in Fukushima. But don't take my word for it, I might just have a brain that is defective. Uuum. I believe Hiroshima is quite popular and Kyushu in general seems to contain a lot of Saffers. Honestly, though, I would be lying if I claimed that any of this is more than a figment of my imagination.

Oh, and yes, I would love to lecture animation one day. Admittedly I would love to have a little more studio experience, but I really do love sharing knowledge - pretentious as it may sound.

Ah. Well, Fukushima is near (?) to Niigata (the poet Taigu Ryokan's birthplace) so that's cool and Kyushu is warmer right? As long as it's too bush that's fine. (If I get in) and they place me in Hokkaido it'll be a little of a eek. But it'll be okay I guess.

Not pretentious at all. I'd love to share my excitement about poetry with people (which is why I'm applying for my MFA in Creative Writing later) because laughing manically in my room is creeping even me out a little.

[Cape2Tokyo]

I would love to be placed in Kyoto. It seems like such a stunning historical city! I even mentioned the Kyoto Protocol in my statement of purpose. Studied that in Environmental Law last year!

I am a HUGE lover of the outdoors and would really like to try my hand out at snowboarding, hence the request for Hokkaido. I know that anywhere above the Tokyo line offers great snowboarding areas, but Sapporo, Hokkaido really appealed to me. I don't mind the cold at all!

eFred, you're right. Kyushu is in the far south and pretty sub-tropical. In fact, humid as hell I believe. I grew up in Durban and cannot stand that type of weather, so if I get accepted - I'll be holding my thumbs for a northerly placement

I don't think we should panic about being placed in Fukushima prefecture. I was chatting to HS the other day about this. The whole prefecture is not off-limits and at least it is quite a central placement. On the Shinkansen train line and close to all those fantastic cities in Honshu.

I don't care what my apartment is like. As long as it is clean and has internet access, then I'll be cool!

If I'm rejected this year (praying that will not be the case) I'll be applying again in November FOR SURE!!!

[hatefulsandwich]

I will accept a Fukushima placement fo sho', no problem. It's a little earthquakier than I'd like and in that dreaded Northern Area of Snow Doom, but I'm not turning down an opportunity to work in Japan.

I adore the Kansai region but I find it quite unlikely that I'll be placed there. I can dream, of course. I do like the idea of Kyushu. I know it can be hot and humid as hell and that can be unpleasant in its own right, but I'm a Summer-baby. Winter actually depresses me. This year Johannesburg has been but hot as hell and more humid than I've ever known it to be. I still prefer that to the cold.

Fukui sounds awesome, I must admit. Apart from the snow, that is. I read that book For Fukui's Sake and it seemed like a downright cool place.

I dunno, there are so many awesome places in Japan - both rural and urban - it would be an adventure either way.

[E-and-T]

Um... I know this is a bit of a delayed response, but I liked the question, so here's the answer:

Our first 3 choices for placement are:
1. Nagano Prefecture (because it's central, surrounded by mountains, seems to be mostly rural and fairly close to very urban prefectures)
2. Gifu Prefecture (ditto)
3. Kobe City (because a former JET said that there are quite a few South Africans there, and apparently it's just an all round rocking place to be.)

Despite having a preference for rural, we're currently living in the Cape Town CBD, and feel confident that we would slot into city life, well probably even more easily than a rural placement.

Good luck for those still to undergo interviews. Ours is in just over a week! The suspense! The excitement! The drama! Join us next week for the thrilling conclusion to this mini-series.

[eFred]

Good luck for those still to undergo interviews. Ours is in just over a week! The suspense! The excitement! The drama! Join us next week for the thrilling conclusion to this mini-series.

I wanted to have a clever response to this but ...gah ... lol

Yep. Got like a week and 5 days of agonizing waiting. It's the dread after the interview that will really kill meh I think.

[hatefulsandwich]

My placement choices were:
Kyoto prefecture
Kobe city
Hiroshima prefecture

And my reasons? Innumerable and probably downright silly! So you shall not know, but you may judge me for not pulling out the I Love Inaka, No Really! card.

[minikiki]

I'll get my SO to register here, so she can post her story too.

So I'm byproduct's SO, Kiki. I'm 24, from Cape Town, and just finished up my degree in Architecture. I must admit that Japanese culture and especially their architecture fascinates me! I'm super nervous for the interview, but I'm sure it can't be as bad as we all think (surely not?!) haha. I've been checking out tofugu.com for some fun Japanese news and interesting stories - worth checking out if you don't know the site

Good luck to everyone next week!

[eFred]

I've been checking out tofugu.com for some fun Japanese news and interesting stories - worth checking out if you don't know the site

Good luck to everyone next week!

Hey, welcome (gosh, I was dying to say that again) First time that I heard of the site, checked it out and it's awesome. Thanks

[BradaPeace]

Hi Guys
I'm new to the forum its good to know I'm not the only one freaking out about the interview and the test. I'm from Cape Town and have my interview on Day 2. Who else has their interview on this day. Also is there any body who opted for early departure? I would definately like to meet some fellow peeps that might depart with me when we are successful. For early departure a request was made for police clearance and a health certificate how successful were the rest of u in obtaining these documents? Does anyone know when the deadline for these documents are as I am still awaiting the arrival of my clearance certifcate. I look forward to hearing from you guys shortly.

Regards

FiFi

Hey FiFi, BradaPeace here, welcome. I've also opted for an April departure. I've submitted my police clearance as well as health certificate (i had to do an X-ray also) together with my application package last year. It took me 15 working days to get my police clearance.Oh, by the way, i'm from Pretoria, so i didnt have to worry about posting things all over the country. I'm suprise that only a few people chose an early departure. I noticed the day i got interviewd (8th Feb), i only met one applicant who has chosen an early departure. As for the rest, it was July.

[BradaPeace]

Ei, HatefulSandwitch, big up to yourself for creating this thread, i see it has grown with a lot of masses chiping in. I've been a stranger lately, but ya, i'm back. I think an into would be appropriate:

I'm 27, first time applicant. From Pretoria. I studied Fine Arts, majored in Painting and i've been working as a Makeup artist since 2007 (well, i did a short makeup course while finishing my degree), hence i've been doing makeup for the past 5 years. I also chose an April departure, so hey Yumz27 & FiFi, i gotch ya.

My prefectural choices are as follows:

1.HOKKAIDO - I chose it because of the heavy snowfalls in winter. I've never experienced snow so i thought it would be cool (excuse the pun) to experience that. I've also seen the visuals of snow festivals that are held every year in Feb at Sapporo, AMAZING.

2. TOYAMA - I have no specific reason for this one except the snow falls. I think with this one, it was a matter of "mini-mini-mano" kinda game

3. FUKIOKA - hehehehe.....forgive me guys for my lame reasons for this one, here goes: Apparently you can get Big Juicy Steaks in fukioka for an amazing price ( considering that foreign meat cost an arm and a leg in Japan), blame me for being South African, i hou baie van my vleis. Oh, another reason is that they have nice bulks of real CHEESE, yes people, CHEESE and the fact that you can take a ferry to travel to South Korea, now that's a sell out.

anyway, it's good to hear from other 2012 applicants arounf Mzansi.
Good luck to everyone who haven't done their interviews yet.
ONELOVE

[BradaPeace]

I'll have to agree with you Hatefulsandwitch (geez, it's a mission to type your name ), the feeling i had after the interview was OK, but when i think about it later on, it was rather confusing and i end up having mixed feelings about it. Most of the things that i had prepared for were not asked. My interview only lasted for 20min ( i don't know what to read of that). I was hoping that i would ask a couple of questions after but i was never given the opportunity to do so. Later on, i regretted, thinking that i should have raised a question or two, even though i was never given the platform to do so, i'm not sure if that was gonna be polite or totally unacceptable.

I must say, a lot of questions were about what i wrote on my application, and the obvious ones, i.e WHY JAPAN. I must say, i found it hard to hear what the Japanese gentleman was asking.
But overrall, the interview was okay and the panel were friendly - i was hoping to experience the "BAD COP" that the US applicants are always talking about, but none of happened. Not even the mock lesson - I think we South Africans are still on a smooth ride compare to the "interview horrific stories" we hear on these forums.

As for that specific one guy who wore a golf t-shit shirt, jean and tekkies, he really threw me off. I asked him several times if he was also here for the interview cos i was not expecting to see anyone dressed sooo casual like he did. But hey, JET is versatile, people from all walks of life get through, first impression or not.

[hatefulsandwich]

I'll have to agree with you Hatefulsandwitch.

You slipped up there . Hey, you can call me HS, it's what all the cool kids are doing here.

Mm. There isn't a heck of a lot to talk about now, is there? What are you people getting up to while you wait to hear interview results/ wait to have your interviews? Anyone doing much Japanese learning? I'm lazing along with it. One part of me knows that I'm going to kick myself for not being more studious during this period if I get in. Another part of me feels like it'll have a tantrum if I learn a whole lot and don't get accepted. It's all good learning Japanese when you can put it into practise, otherwise it just fades away.

Otherwise I'm tinkering about with technology to pass time. Got to love custom ROMs for Android phones.

*crickets*

[Yumz27]

Hey guys and gals, @BPeace and Fifi yay for selecting April departure too I think it'll just be torture to have to wait until July all this waiting is getting on my nerves! And I'm with you on the cheese and snow is it weird that I didn't list any preferences? I just couldn't decide I felt like every place I read about had something different and interesting to offer. I'm pretty chilled about where I should be placed.

@HS yeah there's not too much to talk about right now my interview is almost a week away and I can't wait to have it over with! This whole process has started to creep into my dreams!

@Fifi, I actually received my PCC yday so happy about that! Still have2get my health certificate though will do it soon after the interview.

During the day I'm so caught up at work that I don't think about this too much but it's always at the back of my mind. And once I'm home it's all I think about but trying to go on with life as usual.

Thanks for the goodluck wishes.