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ro-fro
Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 3
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:10 am Post subject: JET interview & cohabitation |
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I've got an interview for JET in February. Does anyone know of any websites giving hints about types of questions that are typically asked? Any other tips to offer?
Also, (if I get accepted) my boyfriend is planning on going to Japan after I've been there for about 5 months at which point we're planning on living together. How does JET usually respond to that? Will they necessarily find out? When should I mention it?
thanks!!  |
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Glenski

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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JimDunlop2

Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:13 am Post subject: Re: JET interview & cohabitation |
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ro-fro wrote: |
Also, (if I get accepted) my boyfriend is planning on going to Japan after I've been there for about 5 months at which point we're planning on living together. How does JET usually respond to that? Will they necessarily find out? When should I mention it?
thanks!!  |
JET doesn't. You work for your contracting organization. If they are unhappy with it (and they may very well be, since more than half of the placements are in rural settings) then you may not be allowed to live together. And yes, they can normally get away with telling you you aren't allowed to live together.
Will they find out? hmmm...one foreign person in a town of a few thousand. Then suddenly there is a second one who goes in and out of your apartment every day. Yep! the town will know. If you are in a small town pretty much everybody will know pretty much everything about you.
Also think about how supra-crappy it would be for your boyfriend if he is living in rural Japan (does he speak Japanese?) with no job.
My advice is to go into it thinking that there is a possibility that your boyfriend may join you later on, but if you say anything in the interview that might lead them to even suspect you would turn down any placement- even one on a small island with no plumbing and the toilet consists of a hole in the ground with a metal cover and a rubber glove to put on for when you move the metal cover- you will automatically be turned down by JET.
BTW
If you dont already know, www.bigdaikon.com is the unofficial JET discussion page and has a forum specifically for incoming and potential JETS. |
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ChotoHen
Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 41
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:51 am Post subject: Re: JET interview & cohabitation |
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ro-fro wrote: |
I've got an interview for JET in February. Does anyone know of any websites giving hints about types of questions that are typically asked? Any other tips to offer?
Also, (if I get accepted) my boyfriend is planning on going to Japan after I've been there for about 5 months at which point we're planning on living together. How does JET usually respond to that? Will they necessarily find out? When should I mention it?
thanks!!  |
When did you find out? Call or letter? |
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Nagoyaguy
Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, doing the shack up here can be a pain. As someone else said, your CO (COntracting Organization) may or may not approve. Seeing as they probably sponsor your accommodation and may pay some of the rent too, they have the right to ultimately decide who lives there.
You could always move out of their place and into your own, but that can be pretty expensive. In that case, you may also have trouble finding a place to live as private apartment companies generally require a guarantor (generally Japanese and your boss is best) to sign the lease. Places also often limit the number of people who can live there, and if another person moves in the rent increases.
Plus, there is the image problem to consider. Again depending on where you are in Japan, there may be a stigma attached to cohabiting. As a teacher, you may be held out as a kind of moral role model for the kids, believe it or not. Schools may not be too impressed with your actions in that light. |
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