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In The Summer Issue

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PACIFIC BRIDGE       Summer 2014

Bon Dori Lanterns

In This Issue

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From the Editor's Desk

Linda Valente (Iwate 2000-03)


Whether you’re a recent returnee from Japan, or have been back for many years, I doubt there’s an aspect of life in Japan that has left a more indelible mark on your memory than summer.  Natsu. The word itself evokes a variety of festive recollections for me:  being wrapped in yukata by my host mom and whisked off to the ohanabi taikai on the river, sweating profusely while learning our town’s signature dance for the summer festival, memorizing the term mushiatsui and using it a lot! The images float to mind readily: cold ramune, kakigori, steamy takoyaki washed down with beer, colorful uchiwa (they’re not just fashionable!), the deliciously smoky scent of street food, and the pleasant cooling song of a thousand furin jingling in the breeze at the local train station. I could go on and on.

Summer was the season we landed in Japan, most of us for the very first time, many of us without any comprehension of the difference between hanami and hanabi. It was a time of firsts for us and it’s about to be a time of discovery for our 2014 outbound JETs who will be on their way to Tokyo this weekend.  I would like to take this opportunity to wish our new JETs a happy and heartfelt itterasshai , while we grant a warm okaerinasai to those returning home from Japan.

 

To all of you and your families: Enjoy the summer! It’s matsuri season here too, and I hope you have a chance to attend at least one of the fabulous Japanese festivals in our region. It’s a great way to keep memories of our JET experience fresh in our minds and to share them with family and friends.

 
 

Update From the Consulate

Xander Peterson (Miyazaki 2009-12)


 
68 outbound JETs attended this year's Alumni-Led Orientation, held at Hotel Nikko in downtown San Francisco late June. 12 alumni led workshops covered topics such as team-teaching, Male JET and Female JET issues, Japanese etiquette, and Dealing with Culture Shock and Homesickness. A panel of alumni spoke openly about their experiences on JET, both positive and challenging, to give the outbound participants a better sense of what life on JET will truly be like. After the all-day orientation, outbound JETs mingled with JETAANC alumni at a post-orientation mixer.
At the Alumni-Led Orientation we asked new JETs departing from San Francisco to tell us about their new adventure. What are they excited for? What has them a little nervous? Here's what they had to say before leaving for Japan.
                                                                                                                                                           Video by Michelle Lynn Dinh
Interviews with 2014 Outbound JETs - WATCH THE VIDEO

JET Alumni Spotlight

Richard Markley - Kagoshima, 1969-70

When I was in Japan, I ended up staying six more years in Kagoshima after my Fulbright (JET predecessor program) and returned to the United States in 1976, eventually getting an M.A. and a Ph.D. in East Asian Languages, specializing in Japanese, from the University of Hawaii at Manoa & UC Berkeley, respectively. I taught Japanese at the college level for about ten years but eventually became a freelance translator of Japanese documents, which I still am today, although I'm currently semi-retired.
From Left: Richard Markley at home in Fresno | With his wife, Yasuko Nakamura of Kagoshima at their wedding; Kirishima Jingu, Kagoshima Prefecture, 1970. Photos courtesy of Richard Markley.
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Katie Walker - Nara, 2009-11

After developing a passionate interest in food, cooking, and agriculture during my time in Japan, I am currently pursing a Master's degree in Food Studies at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In my time here, I've been able to tie in my experiences in Japan by researching umeboshi production, learning to grow shiitake mushrooms, and brewing sake in fermentation class.

In the future, I hope to continue to work in the area of food and agriculture, incorporating my experiences with Japanese food and agriculture.


Photo taken at Eden Hall Campus, Chatham University, 2013; courtesy of Kathryn Walker.
 

Plan Your Social Calendar

The Guest Cat

Upcoming Events


July 31, 8am to August 2nd, 8pm  Sister Cities International 58th Annual Conference | San Jose. Full Conference information available at Sister Cities Conference.
August 1  JET Pre-Departure Orientation | 1pm - 7pm | Hotel Nikko, San Francisco.
August 1  San Jose Downtown Walking Tour | 5:00pm | San Pedro Square Market Bar.
August 2 - 3  Nihonmachi Street Fair, Japan Town San Francisco | VOLUNTEERS needed for Sunday, August 3 from 1-6pm. Please contact Jackie Funasaki.
August 3 (Monthly)  Kabuki on Film: San Mateo Kabuki Club | 1:30pm - 3:30pm. Monthly event: 1st Sunday of every month.
August 6  August Book Club -- "The Guest Cat" by Takashi Hiraide | 6pm - 8pm | Tataki Canyon restaurant, San Francisco | Details & Registration.
August 9 - 10  Japan-America ​Student ​Conference ​(JASC) 80th Anniversary Weekend | San Francisco | Details & Registration.
August 22 - 24 Japan Expo 2014, San Mateo, Event Center - Look for JETAANC volunteer opportunities!
August / September  Watch for news about the JETAANC Summer Picnic to be held on a Saturday in late August/early September.
September 24  September Book Club -- "Shogun" by James Clavell | Tataki Canyon restaurant, Glen Park | Details & Registration.
October 1  Career and Networking Forum | 4:30pm - 8pm | University of San Francisco Center for Asia Pacific Studies, San Francisco | Free to attendees; fee for hosting a table. | Details & Registration
Monthly  Silicon Valley Networking Nomikai | 3rd Wednesday of every month | 5:30pm - 7:30pm | Indo Restaurant & Lounge, Palo Alto. Details & Registration.
Various  Japan Center San Francisco Events: Coming up: Anime in August; Sumo in October. More Information


Visit the JETAANC Event Calendar for more details.





 


Kabuki on Film - San Mateo Kabuki Club

Omatsuri Near You

Japanese-City.com is a fantastic source of information about Japan-related events. The posters below represent just a few of the upcoming festivals in our region.
THIS WEEKEND! Looking for something to do at the last minute? How about the 41st Annual Nihonmachi Street Fair? New to the Street Fair this year will be a basketball tournament and Sounds of Thunder Car Show, in addition to food booths and trucks, beer garden, 2 outdoor stages, children's world, doggie world, artisans...

VOLUNTEERS needed for Sunday, August 3 from 1-6pm; email Jackie Funasaki. More details on Facebook.
 

JETAANC Career and Networking Forum October 1st


The JET Alumni Association of Northern California and the University of San Francisco Center for the Pacific Rim will host a joint Career and Networking Forum on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM.

JET Alumni and MAPS graduates are invited to attend the event, network with their peers and meet organizations looking for employees, interns and volunteers.

Organizations looking to hire dynamic college graduates with international experience are invited to host a table.

Please visit Eventbrite for more details and registration information.

JET in the News

Obama & Abe Mention JET in Joint Statement

Long-time friend of JET, Yuuki Shinomiya of International Student Conferences, Inc., shared this Joint Statement from President Obama and Prime Minister Abe with us. In the Annex of the Statement, JET got a nice "shout out" along with Japan-America Student Conference (JASC), underlining the continued importance of each program to nurturing beneficial relations between our countries. Read the full text HERE.
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Spreading JETAANC's fame far and wide: JETAANC featured in CLAIR Forum    

Mark Frey (Kumamoto, 2002-06)


Our very own JETAANC President, Mark Frey, contributed this article to the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). It was the very first article in a new series CLAIR is sponsoring, introducing JETAA chapters around the world. When asked about his experience writing the article, Mark shared:                          
 
To be honest, writing the article was a bit nerve-wracking after CLAIR told me it was going to be sent to almost every town in every prefecture of Japan, as well as Japanese embassies and consulates around the world. I really wanted to do justice to the many great facets of our chapter. But mostly I was proud to spread the word about all of the cool and exciting things our chapter is doing!

Read the full article, courtesy of JETWit HERE

How can you as a JET alumni get involved and help keep the cool and exciting things happening? Contact JETAANC to get involved!
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Keep up with CLAIR!

CLAIR supports JETAA; they are one of our main sponsors! Sign up for the CLAIR newsletter to stay informed about their activities.   SUBSCRIBE NOW

JETAANC Scholarship Recipient, Grant Tominaga, Honored at JETAANC Scholarship Dinner


San Francisco, CA – The Japan Exchange & Teaching Program Alumni Association of Northern California (JETAANC) held its Annual Scholarship award dinner on Thursday, May 8th, at Nombe, the Mission District’s version of a traditional Japanese izakaya. Read more...

Were You a JET Way Back When?

Sharleen Estampador Hughson is seeking JETs from the earliest days of the program.


On behalf of Rose Tanasugarn, JETAA Western Japan Vice President:
Sharleen Estampador Hughson is doing her PhD at the University of Sheffield. She needs to do research to support her thesis, namely "how JET Programme participants produce soft power for Japan through their everyday experience, and through the reflection of their memories. Soft power is about getting others to follow your ideas or policies through attraction instead of through force such as with a military."

If you have some time to do a Skype or Facebook interview, please contact Sharleen at jpp12es@sheffield.ac.uk or wushunushar@gmail.com.

She is currently in Japan through 15 August, but she is looking for anyone who was a JET participant during its earliest stages and/or during the
Monbusho English Fellow (MEF) program.

Please help if you can, or spread the word to JETs fitting the description.

Thanks so much!

Rose Tanasugarn
JETAA Western Japan Vice President
Shimane ALT 1990-1993, 2003-2006

Tohoku Still Needs Our Help


JETAANC has a couple Tohoku assistance projects we are looking for volunteers to help coordinate. Contact us on Facebook or by email if you'd like to find out more about how you might be able to help meet the continuing need in the Tohoku region.

Washoku Corner:
Cool & Easy Summer Dish


Hiyayakko / Japanese Cold Tofu


It doesn't get any easier than this!

1 block of firm or silken tofu
2-3 t soy sauce
Sprinkle with toppings of your choice (chopped scallion, grated ginger, sesame seeds, shiso, seaweed, etc.)

Drain the water from the tofu. Cut the block in half (and into ½-inch cubes if preferred). Put each serving in a small bowl and drizzle with 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons of soy sauce. Add toppings of your choice. Serve immediately.

Makes 2 servings

Recipe courtesy of The Kitchn.com

JAPAN IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Feeling nostalgic about Japan? Luckily, we live in a place where there are Japanese things all around us! Whether it’s Japanese social groups, gardens, stores, restaurants, or hot springs, there are lots of ways to get your Japanese “fix” right in your own neighborhood. To get a feel for what’s out there, click HERE.

Tea Garden GG Park

Happy Summer from JETAANC!

 
Keep in Touch! Email comments and submissions to the editor HERE.
JETAANC Newsletter | Summer 2014
Copyright © 2014 JETAANC, All rights reserved.


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