I Think I'm Turning Japanese
 
So that last post was a bit of a Debbie Downer. But there are pros and cons to everything, and on the upside, I may still be going to Japan, I may still have more time for summer in California, and I may possibly be able to meet my new nephew or niece in October. The downside is the waiting... Oh, the waiting! I normally have a lot of patience, but when it is waiting for the unknown to happen, that tends to make me a bit more antsy.

Yesterday I officially turned in my reply form to the JET office saying that "Hell yes, I'm still very much interested in going to Japan, thank-you-very-much." I still have to get my FBI criminal background check, but then I'll be through. The steps and the paperwork involved just to "maybe" go to Japan is exhausting!

I received my language CDs and dictionary from Amazon and should be on my way to learning some fundamental Japanese soon.

 
Dear Ms.Reyes,

This letter is to inform you that you have been selected as an ALTERNATE ALT short-list candidate for this year's JET Program.
    
You will be informed as to whether a candidacy on the short-list has become available any time between now and the second week of December. Upon receiving confirmation, if you, at that stage, still wish to participate in the Program, placement will proceed. After a Contracting Organization has been selected, you will be informed of the name of the prefecture or designated city to which you are assigned. Every effort will be made to satisfy your posting preferences, but please understand that this will not always be possible.

You will be receiving a packet of documents from our office sent to your Current Address. Please let us know as soon as possible if you do not receive the packet by Thursday, April 15th, 2010, these documents will also be sent as attachments in a separate email. After reading the NOTES form enclosed with the packet, you are requested to confirm your willingness (or unwillingness) to serve as an alternate participant by returning the REPLY FORM to our office no later than FRIDAY, APRIL 30th, 2010. Should you be accepted, you will also be required to send a CERTIFICATE OF HEALTH to our office, as well. If you decide to decline your alternate status please notify our office as soon as possible by phone or email. This is necessary if/when our office conducts upgrades for alternate short-list candidates waiting to be upgraded.

In addition to the Reply Form, you must also immediately begin the process to obtain your Identification Record (criminal history) from the FBI. Detailed information on this procedure will be included with your packet; make sure you read everything carefully and follow the instructions. You are responsible for submitting your request and paying the $18 processing fee. It takes several months to complete the process, so it is imperative that you start immediately. If you are accepted, you must also submit a criminal history record from any other country you have lived in for a year or more during the last five years.

If you already have a valid US passport, please include a COPY of its first page (photo page) with your reply form. If you are not yet in possession of a passport, please apply for one immediately and send our office a copy of its first page as soon as possible. However, you should not yet apply for a Japanese visa. Detailed instructions and official documents necessary for obtaining the correct visa will be forthcoming. Please note that you do not need to send us your actual passport at this time. In addition, if you do not have a U.S. driver's license and intend to drive a car in Japan, please obtain a license here in the US at least three months before leaving for Japan.  

Thank you again for your continuing interest in our program, and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Peter Weber, our JET Program Coordinator, by phone at (415) 356-2462 or by e-mail at [email protected]. We look forward to receiving your reply.

Sincerely,

Yuko Eto
Advisor for Educational Affairs
Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco