Shameless Self Promotion

I have to warn you, I feel a little gloating coming on. So those of you sensitive types who just can’t handle a little gratuitous back patting had best stop here.

I currently work for the JET program as an assistant language teacher. The application process is just as long and drawn out as a position for the Peace Corps, but instead of being deposited deep in an undeveloped country to teach basic hygiene and aquaculture while riding a dirt bike through the bush, fighting off wild baboons all the way, the majority of us work as human tape recorders in rather mundane semi-suburban location through Japan. Some of us are not even allowed to drive ourselves to and from our work place, let alone whiz along narrow roads on a motorcycle while fighting ninja monkeys. Needless to say, for many, the realities of the job are a bit of a let down after the months of hoop jumping and nail biting anticipation.

Despite the less then arduous work load, or perhaps due to it, many JETs invent opportunities to showcase their talents, network, and pad their resumes. We call it grass roots internationalization, but really, we just feel underutilized or unfulfilled by our job. There are local English language magazines, fundraisers, official and non-official JET organizations, all sorts of busy work to keep ourselves feeling important. Most of these are accomplished though volunteer work and a pinch of groveling for favors. But the official one, the “Big Show”, is paid for out of the organization’s government funding. The Big Show also takes place in the major urban epicenter of Japan, and given our mundane suburban-rural placements, most of use are frothing at the mouth at the opportunity to really tie one on in a city that promises all the neon you can handle.

As such, a large percentage of JETs apply every year to help out. Who wouldn’t want a free trip to Tokyo for the small price of wearing an ugly T-shirt while directing shell shocked newbs through the airport and onto the bus to the hotel? Now some of those helping with the Big Show are asked to present. A bit of a pain, considering the additional work, but you do get a second free trip to Tokyo for preshow planning, and a shiny thing to put on your resume, so it’s not really a detractor. All applicants have to submit two proposals for presentations, even if they’re really only in it for the ugly T-shirt and free trip to Tokyo. My particular prefecture is quite competitive as they insist on only sending our two PAs and two helpers to retrieve and deliver our fresh teachers. One of these positions goes to our trilingual CIR with an actual job. He always goes because really, who can compete with a photogenic boy from the Northern Europe who speaks at least three languages fluently and has had air time on NHK? All the rest of the prefecture’s applicants are competing for the one remaining position. I’m pretty sure such a competitive position can only be selected by some sort of Mad Max style death match that takes place in a pit of mukades.

So here’s where the shameless bragging comes in. Despite getting my application in “late”, and despite being a Jr. High ALT (which have zero street cred in my prefecture), and despite only being on my first year of the program, I got picked to present at this year’s big show in Tokyo.

Gloat, gloat, gloat.

Now it will come with some hardships, like being away from these two cuties, but I’m pretty excited about having a concrete accomplishment to show for my time here. Well, something other than what went down at Bob Log’s Tokyo show in 2006.

Let’s just hope the additional work doesn’t do me in.