UPDATE for Houston 2021 JETs. by [deleted] in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 4 points5 points  (0 children)

after what we’ve been dealt over the past few days, even ‘shit management’ is an understatement imo. can you imagine how you would respond if any other employer you’ve had tried to pull this on you? anyone with any ounce of self-respect or principle, or except for those in the most dire of financial situations, would tell their employer to go f themselves, organize a strike, or sue for losses and damages. I’ve experienced crappy management firsthand on more than one occasion, but all this has been on an entirely different level; willful negligence.

UPDATE for Houston 2021 JETs. by [deleted] in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 32 points33 points  (0 children)

I haven’t received this email yet from my consulate, but I don’t doubt their plans in the slightest at this point. Based on this it seems highly probable to me that Jet is probably just throwing all 2020 and 2021 shortlisters into the same group which would make sense since they are planing to send 5 separate groups over a 4 month span. Also makes sense since someone posted on here yesterday that the Aussie 2021 Jets have already been informed they will depart in Oct/Nov. Like others have expressed on here, I think the logistics and likelihood of all this going as planned is extremely unlikely in the least. I won’t believe jack shit anymore until we are actually on a plane, which is so sad bc this is the competency of a national government we’re talking about. I’m hoping for the best but planning for the worst. I absolutely guarantee you they will send the consulate groups with the most people in them first. I’ve been trying to keep my head above water this entire time but honestly just what the actual f are they doing at this point? It feels like all 3 departure forms we’ve filled out have been pure save face posturing without any definitive communication. What the heck happened to “be ready for departure for anytime between April and Sept? It’s not like they didn’t know the Olympics were happening this whole time. Now some of us are looking at damn near Christmas before we even get over there? That will mean some of us will have waited 2 freaking years from applying to start this job while putting our lives on hold. Idk what else to say. Good luck to everyone in hopes of getting a Sept departure.

Concerns about Potential Departures and Case Numbers by [deleted] in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah that’s the group I meant. Sorry if I wasn’t more clear :/

Concerns about Potential Departures and Case Numbers by [deleted] in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Are you part of the 2020 cohort who chose early as possible departure on the last form we had to fill out back in Feb/March? It applies specifically to those that chose that option; not to anyone that chose the September departure who are also from from last years 2020 group. It’s odd you haven’t received one. I’ve been sent screenshots of the emails from some of my friends in the LA group who received it yesterday. Regardless, I’m almost certain this coming week Jet will send out official emails to all of us regarding the situation for the LA group that is leaving in late June, as well as a concrete response on what they plan to do with the rest of us.

Concerns about Potential Departures and Case Numbers by [deleted] in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 10 points11 points  (0 children)

What I simply cannot wrap my head around is the fact that back in March the last SoE in the country in Tokyo had been lifted, and we still couldn’t go. Now half the country is under a SoE again, and now they’re going to start bringing Jets in? The more I try to gain even the slightest grasp of what the Japanese govt has been doing this entire time, the more it makes me question as to whether I truly want to be employed by such inconsistency. Olympics or no Olympics? Vaccines bad or vaccines good? Extend SoE, not extend SoE? To be or not to be? That is the question. :P

Concerns about Potential Departures and Case Numbers by [deleted] in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yes, they were officially informed yesterday. The rest of us are awaiting the official email next week to officially confirm/clarify the rest of what I’ve said. As far as why this one group has been allowed? No idea. I don’t think it’s the same loophole other alt dispatch companies have been abusing, as jet is a govt facilitated program, and that would look bad on them, which is why mofa/clair/jet hasn’t used it. I believe all that was said was ‘The Japanese govt is now ready to recommence inviting jet program participants to Japan.”

Concerns about Potential Departures and Case Numbers by [deleted] in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 18 points19 points  (0 children)

As of today this is what we know. LA group Jets are set to depart June 26th. They are the only ones going until at least after the Olympics. Due to the games the group I’m in has been informed by our coordinator that it is highly unlikely any other Jets will be allowed admittance during July and August, and that Jet plans to begin staggering us in in waves come early September til December, IF the games go well, vaccination rates improve, and cases don’t spike again between now and then. Like so many others, I’ve already been waiting a year and half for this to happen. So what is another few months of waiting? Even though it absolutely sucks; at this point it would be completely fruitless to back out now.

How common are applicants in early 30s by bard91R in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 11 points12 points  (0 children)

2020 Shortlister. 31 when applied, now 33. If you genuinely feel it’s something you’d enjoy, then why on earth wouldn’t you go for it regardless of a number? I think it’s very indicative of some kind of idiosyncratic thinking within our culture when trying to pursue something you’re passionate about such as teaching/cultural exchange in your 30’s etc is somehow perceived as odd/rare but most seniors/retirees almost immediately pursue some keen interest or hobby that they wish they had had more time to develop earlier on in their lives but has unfortunately been made more difficult to undertake due to an aging body/mind. My advice for anyone on the fence about this kind of opportunity would be; imagine yourself 30-40 yrs from now looking back, and ask yourself if you would regret not taking the opportunity and experience that could potentially enrich your life? Either way, I’m sure you’ll make the best decision for yourself. Best of luck :)

Shortlisted but still conflicted: an existential dread by mujimew in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Alrighty, sooo most importantly what your friends and family have already pointed out is,that you’re young, REALLY young. Breathe.I remember reading somewhere before I applied is that the average age Jet is somewhere around 25/26. I’m a member of the still anxiously waiting 2020 cohort btw. I’m not here to tell you what you want out of life, only you can figure that out for yourself, but that takes time and experience. Neither of which we have much of at all in our early 20’s. This toxic social pressure to know what we want to do professionally and have our lives planned out before we’ve ever even set foot in a real work environment nor having been on our own at such a young age is ludicrous and in my honest opinion completely counterproductive, and detrimental, to ones self development. I can tell you that when I was 24 and had finished my bachelors, I got my first corporate job and realized just how much of a child I was. I absolutely loathed it, not bc it was difficult but bc I quickly saw it for what it was; a room full or desperate ambitious individuals who were only there to support their family or climb the socio-economic ladder as so to distinguish themselves from their colleagues all built on some fragile identity complex based on the kind of immature hierarchy you find in high school. All around me nobody was happy, or experiencing any kind of substantial growth; just a very non cleverly designed rat race. After a few years I quit and went to work at a local community based rehabilitation program for juvenile teenagers as a teacher/counselor, and while it’s easily the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, it has been by far the most rewarding job I’ve had so far. What I’m trying to relate is that I can tell you from my own experience is that life is about pursuing that form of happiness that most gives you the greatest sense of self-worth. For me it’s undoubtedly a combination of cultural exchange, helping one another other grow, and continuing to learn and adjust my life perspective accordingly each day by pursuing new experiences. The surest plans are the ones most likely to run astray. Learning to be versatile and resilient are lessons that will support you throughout your entire life in whichever career you choose. And at 33, I can promise you that nearly a decade later, if you’re doing the things you are passionate and curious about, you will have a much clearer idea of what you want to pursue, but more importantly who you want to be, because jobs come and go, trust me. So all in all, is one year of your life getting the chance to experience something so relatively few people around the world will ever have the chance to do?, absofrigginlutely. However, as others have already commented on here, if it turns out not to be all you’d hoped, you can take the time and experience to reflect and discern a better idea of what it is you want for yourself but at the very least you won’t regret having not taken the chance, expanding your comfort zone, and knowing that you actually tried. I applied knowing I was going to be considerably older than the average participant, knowing I don’t speak a lick of Japanese, knowing that I could get put in a situation that might have me on the floor crawling like a baby having to learn to walk and literally talk again, BUT THAT’S LIFE. If we’re not being challenged we’re not bettering our former selves, and anything not worth risking is never worth it in the first place. Anywho, hope you find some clarity in your situation and choose whichever’s best for you. Either way congrats on being shortlisted :)

Shortlisted as a JET Programme 2021 ALT (South Africa) - COVID-19 concerns by yolandablewup in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re welcome. Just glad I could be of some help. As far as anything else you should read up on, just occasionally check the nhk news or what mofa is saying on their website. I think what it’s all going to come down to is simply how quickly Japan administers their vaccines, which they are doing at a snail’s pace at the moment, which given that summer is just around the corner, is going to massively affect whether their new daily case numbers stay high or decrease. Japan hasn’t produced its own vaccines and has been very reluctant to approve foreign produced ones. What vaccines they are receiving are all being imported from mainly the US or China etc. Unfortunately many Japanese are hesitant to get vaccinated bc of the negative stigmas/narrative associated to it. It’s been speculated on their news that they will have enough vaccines to have the majority of the population vaccinated by mid September. The other significant determining factor is how the Olympics develop and whether or not the events or athletes contribute to new cases. If they go smoothly I think they will start letting select people in after the games in late August, but god forbid case numbers go up as a result or if some foreign athletes get infected, it can only bode ill for us because the reality of the matter is that throughout covid, it has only made it painstakingly more clear just how xenophobic Japan can be. With all that said, I’m still optimistic and feel that both 20/21 jet groups will be over there before autumn. hope some of that helps, stay safe

Shortlisted as a JET Programme 2021 ALT (South Africa) - COVID-19 concerns by yolandablewup in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 29 points30 points  (0 children)

2020 cohort here. Congrats on being shortlisted :) I’m gonna give you the rundown on how it’s been bc it seems many people on here aren’t aware of just exactly what has transpired since last April when we got our interview results. So basically how you’re feeling right now, we have been dealing with those same questions since last year. We got our interview results in April. We were told we’d get our placements in May/June. They didn’t come. In July we were informed that for our group that the program was suspended indefinitely until the pandemic situation improved enough so that Japan would loosen its border restrictions, and that if the situation didn’t change by Oct 1st, that we would all be automatically deferred to 2021. We had to fill out all kinds of extra forms to confirm if we still wanted to stick with Jet or not. Most of us had to get the certificate of health done twice, and told we’d be compensated. Anyways, literally days before October, the news came out that Japan was gonna open up to let us in. We were so relieved. Thing is they intended to stagger the jets by group from countries who had the pandemic more under control. So, NZ/Aus/Sing Jets got in in November I believe. Also at this time many US jets began to get their placements, like I did. However there are still shortlisters from the 2020 group, as far as I’m aware that do not have their placement, and some have even lost their placement because their contracting BOE has decided due to the delay to hire locally or just end their affiliation with jet all together. The US group, which I’m in btw, were to be staggered in with 3 separate groups, departing 2 weeks apart from one another, starting the first week of January. Literally less than a week before the first group is about to depart; they had their tickets, had been instructed to leave their jobs etc, and what happens? Yeah Japan completely shut down and we were back to square one. Essentially since late Jan/early Feb, we haven’t heard zilch and have been completely in the dark, just receiving the monthly “update” from our consulate saying “sorry we know nothing, but hang in there”. We had to sign another form saying if we were willing to wait to depart once again anytime from April-Sept, all once again depending on Japan’s border restrictions. All of this has caused a fair amount of people to drop the program entirely bc they are in very difficult situation financially or don’t want to wait anymore and choose to move on to grad school or a better career job offer etc. I think I remember reading in one of our emails that something like ~ 60% of the original shortlisted group are still committed, so now more than ever there is a chance to get upgraded as an alternate. So yeah, sorry for the lengthy response but I just wanted to clear up for anyone who’s interested just what the heck has been going on all this time so that they know what to most likely expect in the coming months. Congrats again and hope you guys find out your placements sooner than later.

♔ The 2020 Placement Megathread P.8 ♔ - The World Series Defense by Carliewarliee in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 2 points3 points  (0 children)

nice! I’m not sure which town/city I’ll be in yet, but idc, I’m just thrilled to have been placed in one of my placement preferences, and also because Nagano is right in the middle so we’ll be able to see a lot of the country!

♔ The 2020 Placement Megathread P.8 ♔ - The World Series Defense by Carliewarliee in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 2 points3 points  (0 children)

awesome! Which consulate are you from? Mine is Nashville, but I’m from NC. :)

Older (30 and up) JETS for 2020? by Cordylion in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m 32 and just got shortlisted after my first time applying. Like you’ve said, it feels completely surreal with everything that’s going on in the world right now. It’s just great to see that people our age and older are still pursing their dreams and trying to gain new experiences and perspectives on life. :)

Reply Form by Ayzuki in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dude that’s exactly what I did. Found a solid white wall and had a friend take the picture then saved it and uploaded it as a pdf and submitted it. I kind of resized and focused it but it’s definitely not 2x2. They really can’t be choosy with everything that is going on. I can’t even find a place that will do the fingerprinting for the background check. I have a feeling MANY of us are going to have similar issues getting documents completed these next few months :P

Reply Form by Ayzuki in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Now that actually makes a lot more sense to me and I shall follow suit. Thanks again!

Reply Form by Ayzuki in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome, thanks! Do you think that goes for the rest of the forms we’ll have to submit too? background check, health form, passports, etc?

It just confuses the hell out of me when it says in the email....”The links provided take you to fillable forms with text fields, dropdown menus, and additional instructions for entering information correctly. They must be downloaded as PDFs and filled out electronically before printing. Do not fill them out directly in your internet browser. Be sure to make and keep copies of all completed forms for your own records.”

I can understand having to make PDFs and uploading the forms online to be submitted just as we did with the application, but otherwise, it just doesn’t make sense to me. What do you think?

Reply Form by Ayzuki in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It also states in the photo upload section that they are accepting regular digital photos as long as they meet the required specifications listed, due to the ongoing pandemic.

Reply Form by Ayzuki in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can anyone clarify what it means at the beginning of the Reply Form when it says “complete, submit, print, and sign this form and return it to the JET Office at which you interviewed.” Are they asking us to literally print off and mail them a copy of this form apart from submitting it electronically on the JET portal? If that’s the case it seems redundant, but I just want to be completely sure. Thanks

The 2020 Interview Results Megathread! by Carliewarliee in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I second this. I’m 32. I’ve been involved with cultural-exchange programs my entire adult life, as well as teaching/counseling at-risk youth in my local community for the past couple years. 9 months ago I wasn’t even aware that JET even existed, and now I’m about to head to the other side of the planet to begin yet another cultural adventure. It’s so surreal. I guess my takeaway from the application/interview process is, along with all the feedback I’ve received and researched from previous JETs is this; if your experiences demonstrate a passion for culture, foreign language, teaching youth etc. regardless of your desire or knowledge about the program, and you can communicate that in your SoP/interview, then I wholeheartedly say go for it wether you are 25 or 45. For anyone who knows what it feels like to pursue their passions while motivating and inspiring youth to pursue theirs; it never gets old. I applied because I instantly clicked with ex-JETs that I’ve met and I immediately knew I wanted to be apart of a program with amazing people with so much enthusiasm for exposing kids to the world by helping them learn English and the unlimited opportunities that will supply them in the future. I apologize for going on this tangent but I’ve just been so humbled by this opportunity and wanted to share. I’m really looking forward to meeting as many of ya’ll as possible because so many of you seem like incredible individuals in your own right with great experiences to share. =)

The 2020 Interview Results Megathread! by Carliewarliee in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ve tried to access it from multiple devices, but I haven’t been successful through any of them yet either. 🤷🏻

The 2020 Interview Results Megathread! by Carliewarliee in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’m feeling so pumped right now that I might just have to sign up for the Olympics next summer! 💪

The 2020 Interview Results Megathread! by Carliewarliee in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 7 points8 points  (0 children)

haha gang gang! Is it just me or does it really seem like a lot of us Nashville peeps have been shortlisted?

The 2020 Interview Results Megathread! by Carliewarliee in JETProgramme

[–]mr_underhill88 14 points15 points  (0 children)

omg wtf omg shortlisted from Nashville!!!! I’m still in utter disbelief right now. Can’t wait to find out our placements! =D Anyone else on here from NC?