Job Discussion Forums

[Laura C]

Oops, king KAIKIPI. Sorry.

Also wanted to add thanks for expressing your disagreement in such a positive way. Polite and mannerly, without name-calling. How nice to see.

L

[Glenski]

Laura C,

I wrote what I did because your statement as written did not make sense. To me, that means it was both silly and inaccurate. I can now understand what you meant to say. However, I will still contend that if someone is taking medication, it may not be working properly in the first place, and that was what I tried to convey. So, if thirstie is on meds that need adjustment, it is pretty careless and risky to come to a foreign land and expect to get that adjustment as well as in her own country, for all of the reasons I have stated previously. I did not mean for you to take my statements personally.

You tried to compare yourself and your depression with thirstie's condition. Yes, you qualified the statement by saying everyone is different, but it is exactly that statement that makes the whole message inappropriate. Why even bother, I thought, to say that your situation was improved when thirstie's is totally different? So, perhaps, in that sense, maybe you are disqualified from posting such a message. I can't and won't say you are not allowed to post here, but because of the complete difference in situations between you and thirstie, it just doesn't make sense to try giving advice.

Spidey,
Yup, thirstie came to get advice from his/her peers on how to answer the JET question. However, you were not doing that. You started giving advice on what sort of medical treatment to get.

[Laura C]

Glenski,

The point I was making was that thirstie, or anyone else, shouldn't feel that they can't come to Japan just because they are on medication for depression. I didn't try and compare my situation with thirstie's -- I clearly stated that everyone is different, so I couldn't say that what worked for me will work for her. I would never presume to say that two cases of depression are the same and that what works for one person will work for another -- that is why I was careful to qualify my comment. I was pointing out a different view from some other posters -- they were advising thirstie that it might be better not to think about coming to Japan, I said that being on medication did not have to necessarily mean she shouldn't.

I agree that a difference in the situations means that giving advice can be unproductive, but i was not trying to give advice, I was sharing an experience as an alternative view to the ones already expressed, i.e., it is difficult to relocate another country if you are depressed. Please don't tell me I am not qualified to comment on a thread.

L

[spidey]

Glenski,

I know better than do start an online debate with you. Again however, I think you need to read my previous post once or twice more. There was no specific medical advice given. Frankly, I'm surprised that you thought there was. I was simply pointing out other possibilities that people didn't seem to be acknowledging.

Simply speaking from experience,

S

[thirstie]

People sure do get heated around here.

I originally didn't want to add too much personal information, cause well, it's personal.

But FYI, I'm currently teaching in Australia and both my co-workers and students would say that I'm a great teacher with a ton of energy and enthusiasm. Yup, like I'm sure we all do, I have grumpy, sleepy, less than enthused days but I still manage to walk into my staffroom and classroom, early every morning, with a chirpy hello for all my co-workers and students.

I've also taught in Thailand, Bali and Korea before. I'm not going into this blind. I'm not, as one pos[t]er suggested, naive.

I've been living with, and managing, depression most of my adult life, and after a crap year, decided to try meds, which i've been avoiding for years, to straighten myself out and get back on track.

That is, I have a pretty good idea of how to look after myself.

I hope to get off meds again and once again manage my D with more "alternative remedies" like eating well, exercising, yoga, art, and natural therapies.

There are a host of reasons why people have D, why some people cope and others don't so well, but prejudice doesn't help. It just tends to foster a general lack of understanding about D.

Thanks to everyone for an interesting debate.

[Glenski]

Thirstie,

I would really like to know your doctor's feelings on this. Show him what I wrote initially.

[spidey]

Uh-oh!
((((Spider-sense tingling))))

Swelled head about to EXPLODE!!

Take cover!!

[thirstie]

Glenski,

My doctor is a her. She is really supportive and thinks I'm doing great. We're monitoring my medication really closely and I'm taking time to check out its effects.

If, come February and an interview, I don't think I'm a good candidate for JET, I will bow out and leave a position for someone else more capable at that point in time.

However, recently teaching full time has made me much healthier, and just as good at my job as anyone. I'm fully committed to all my kids, and always have been. They come first.

[Glenski]

thirstie,

I'm glad your doctor thinks you're doing great, but that's not what I was asking for.

(Spidey, cut the cartoon chatter and lower your shields.)

I was asking what your doctor would have to say about you moving thousands of miles away to an isolated Japanese town in the country where the conditions were such that you had little if any contact with other English speaking foreigners, none with your doctor except by phone or email, and pressure of a new job.

I'm also happy to know that your FT career is helping you to make progress on the big D. However, FT in your home country is far from what it is here.

I'm just as dedicated to my kids and to providing quality education.

[king kakipi]

[dtomchek]

Konnichiwa:

Maybe the best thing to do in this case is just avoid the question unless specifically asked. On the app, you can request a larger town of 20,000 plus where there will most likely be 2-3 other ALTs or even a large city you can virtually live in an ALT ghetto. The culture shock might be a little cushioned in those circumstances and you would have a better support network available if needed.

I am currently assigned to a small town (rather isolated) and, while it works for me, I would not recommend it for everyone and especially not someone with a history of the Big D. Only you and, to a lesser extent, your doc can know for sure but that would be my best advice...

Stay Genki in the mean time

[spidey]

Glenski,

Aye, Captain!

[campestre]

just go It will cure your depression this country is great mate!!!
personally I have matured and grown as a person. My Junior High School is great!!

[cosmicdreamer]

Anyone else here from UK / Any ppl here from UK done JET? Replying to the first post, in a remarkably similar situation to thirstie.

I am solidly committed to applying to JET: Ive been to Japan twice before for a period of a few months and absolutely loved my time there, have been learning Japanese pretty solidly for almost two years now.

Pretty much sure ive got a good chance of acceptance except that im also freaked out by the depression question. I was on anti-Ds for three months this year (also due to break up with girlfriend), have been off since July.

Only a few days left until JET application deadline and unsure whether to declare the depression on form. Am 100% sure that I would be very happy in Japan, if anything happier than staying in UK. As some people said, its probably the case ill be auto-rejected if I declare

All the replies recomending to lie are good except the risk of being discovered. On the FAQ on the website it says:

"Please be aware that successful applicants are required to submit a Certificate of Health Form completed and signed by your GP in the April. If any discrepancies do occur between this form and your self-assessment medical form it will jeaopardise your position on JET and your placement will be terminated."

Wondering how the hell I could get around this...is it possible to "fake" the certificate somehow? Could anyone from UK who has done JET shed some light on the certificate process?

Thanks,

Chris

[Glenski]

Sigh.

Why do people insist on trying to find ways around a system?

Fake health certificates. Fake college degrees. Etc.