canadiansensei wrote:CalgaryPC wrote:Just to clarify, now that I've gone and brought all the Albertans down:
Probably won't be many promotions -within- the Calgary consulate (i.e. to replace people from the same consulate). Those make up most of the early promotions.
The later promotions become increasingly -between- consulates, so there are still lots of opportunities to be promoted to a position vacated by someone from Vancouver/Austin/Sydney/etc. Those just tend to come later.
No need to give up hope.
Your words of encouragement are most appreciated !!!!
One question, if we originally indicated on our application that we either do not feel comfortable diving in Japan or do not have a drivers license, will it significantly affect our ranking on the alternate list? I found Japan’s public transit to be most accommodating in the past. Since I already have my license, I am willing to drive in Japan if it will heavily impact my chances of being upgraded. Please fill me in 
It won’t affect your ranking on the alternates list per se. However, if the contracting organization specifically requests someone able to drive, then the next person on the list willing & able to drive may ‘jump the line’.
Public transit in Japan is generally excellent, I agree. However, if you are out in the countryside (as I was), there may only be one bus every couple of hours, and there are still areas that don’t have bus transportation that stops anywhere near the schools. Just because the school is happy to let their students bike for an hour in the rain to get to school that doesn’t mean they want their ALT to do that. Also, if you have to go around to different schools during the day, the bus schedule may be too inconvenient (especially if you’re dragging around all your props, games, etc. for class). So in some situations you do need a car. Obviously this is much less of an issue the more urban the placement.
canadiansensei wrote:[
Despite being in this “gloomy-alternate-limbo mode” There are chances for us to be upgraded. We ought to try to be optimistic about our chances of going to Japan or just being content with our present situations and planning other adventures if JET doesn’t fall through. Keeping extremely busy whether it be working, studying, volunteering, exercising etc… it’s really given me a rational outlook with this whole situation. 
It’s always good to keep things in perspective. JET is a wonderful experience, but it isn’t the be-all and end-all of life, or even life in Japan. The first time I applied for JET, I had to withdraw part way into the application (issues with my university, not with JET), and I was incredibly frustrated having to sit around for another year because of red tape. When I did get onto JET the next year though, the town I was placed in was perfect, and I wouldn’t have been placed there if I had been accepted the first year I applied.
(I’m sure I’d have enjoyed any placement, but having worked as an ALT in other parts of Japan since then, I can honestly say there are many, many placements I would not have enjoyed
as much).
It’s all in how you look at it. Maybe the perfect place for you just isn’t ready quite yet.
I'm glad to be out of the JET limbo. Good luck to everyone!
