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MattElz
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 92
Location: New York, NY, USA
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 Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 11:47 pm Post subject: Fact or Fiction?: JET |
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I recently heard a story about a JET who did not show up for several days. And since JETs and Japanese school staff are so separate, no one noticed. Then, the JET showed up: dead.
Is this an urban myth or is it true? |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:08 am Post subject: Re: Fact or Fiction?: JET |
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| MattElz wrote: |
I recently heard a story about a JET who did not show up for several days. And since JETs and Japanese school staff are so separate, no one noticed. Then, the JET showed up: dead.
Is this an urban myth or is it true? |
No idea, could happen. One of my friends had an asthma attack and when no one could reach him for three days found his body lying in his apartment entrance. He had been there three days before someone found him.
Most neighbors in japan do not concern themselves with what goes on next door (unless the place starts to smell) and you wont really get school staff dropping by your house in case you are sick. They may call your house but if no one shows up they may send someone around to check on you. The only way they would find out probably is if they got a call from the police that they had found a foreigner's corpse somewhere.
PS according to David McConnell's book on the JET program there have been at least 4 or 5 suicides by JETs while on the JET program. |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:30 am Post subject: Re: Fact or Fiction?: JET |
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| PAULH wrote: |
| PS according to David McConnell's book on the JET program there have been at least 4 or 5 suicides by JETs while on the JET program. |
I've heard that there are actually at least a couple of suicides by JETs every year. We were told by the embassy people before we left, in order to convince people to make use of the help line in Japan if we needed to. There is a reason why the health form before you leave includes asking about mental health. It can be hard living in a rural area of a foreign country where you don't speak the language and may not understand the culture. Any "small" mental illness can be severely aggravated in a high stress environment.
OP- I haven't heard your story either. But it could definately happen. Every situation Is Different (ESID) is the mantra of the JET programme. My BoE looks after me. They bring me to the doctor when I'm sick. We just amalgamated so the BoE does less now that I'm part of a big city instead of a single foreign person in a small rural town.
Not all JETS and Japanese school staff are all that seperate. Some are, though.
My BoE would get a call if I just didn't show up to work one day, and my supervisor would call me on my cell phone. If I was dead I guess I wouldn't answer it though. |
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Lynn
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 696
Location: in between
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 6:59 am Post subject: |
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| Case by case. When I was on the JET Program, someone would definetly come to my apartment if I didn't show up for work or answer my phone. I also lived in a small town in Shikoku, pop 40,000 or so. |
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Celeste
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 814
Location: Fukuoka City, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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| FICTION. I have been on the JET programme for 3 years, and in that time we have been alerted of the deaths of 2 of our alumnus. One died of leukemia, and one died of a drunken accident. If we do not show up for work, someone checks on us. If we are arrested or hospitalised, our workplace (listed on our alien registration card) is contacted. |
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happyhiker
Joined: 22 May 2005
Posts: 7
Location: vancouver
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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When I was in Korea things seemed to go the opposite way. Even when I called in sick, my bosses were at my door an hour later demanding that I open up so they could see if I was sick.
If I was ever late, which I never was, I have a feeling they would have been there 10 minutes after my class started!
Maybe no one noticing for a day or two isn't such a bad thing...it cuts down on the harrassed feeling. |
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dodgee
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 47
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| Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 6:39 am Post subject: |
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It depends on the situation you are in. If you are busy at your job(like me) they would know at 8.15 if you are away. if you have a slack schedule or many visits they would not necessarily have a clue.
As a sideline I heard a story from a reputable source that a Jet topped herself in Northern Honshu at the start of this academic year. Sure we read about the two tragic deaths of alumni in Jet newsletter but i don't think clair/ajet would want to publicise a suicide as such. |
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stillnosheep
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 2068
Location: eslcafe
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:06 am Post subject: |
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Definite Fact.
Here there are many JETs turning up dead, especially on a monday morning after a hard weekend on the Shochu. |
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