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Welcome to The Site, and Welcome New Kobe JETs

| Who is This Page For? | Kobe JETs, Get Ready! | Forums | Tokyo Orientation Advice |
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Who is This Page For?

Kobe JETs

This page aimes to help the JET participants of Kobe City. The language on the page is largely geared towards them. For current JETs it is a wealth of information on various issues about living in Japan, and how to live here easily. Likewise, incoming JETs should find answers to a lot of the questions they have about living in Kobe, and Japan in general.

Hyogo JETs

Although Kobe City is in Hyogo Prefecture, Hyogo JETs and Kobe JETs are not the same. To make it more complicated, some Hyogo JETs live in Kobe city. Hyogo JETs are certainly welcome to check this page out. There is a lot of useful stuff here for them as well. Many Hyogo JETs come out to Kobe on the weekend to meet with friends.

Anyone else

For anyone else, JETs from other parts of Japan or people just curious about Japan & Kobe, there is likely something here of value as well. The Maps section is good for people interesting in visiting Kobe.

Let us Know...

...what you think of the site. Constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. Please email either the Kobe City PA or the Webmaster with comments:

Kobe City PA:
Webmaster:

New Kobe JETs, Get Ready!

Congratulations on being placed in Kobe city. Some of the great perks to being a Kobe JET are:

• We have clean, spacious, and well-maintained apartments.
• Simultaneously near the mountains and ocean.
• Kobe is famous for its bar & dining scene.
• Osaka and Kyoto are right next door.

Forums

Come and sign up for the Kobe JET forums. The current JETs are just as interested in the New JETs as the new JETs are in coming to Kobe. Introduce yourself and feel free to ask questions!

Tokyo Orientation Advice

Although it's exciting getting to Tokyo (especially if it's your first time to Japan, or abroad at all) the orientation can be exhausting. Some advice for Tokyo Orientation is:

Don't worry if you miss any of seminars you want to see. A lot of what is covered at Tokyo orientation is covered again in the Kobe orientation.
• It will be VERY hot and muggy outside the hotel. Japanese summers are brutal.
• The elevators are always JAMMED during orientation. It's easier to catch an elevator going up and ride it back down.
• You will ask and be asked the same questions a thousand times; Where are you from, Where are you going, etc. It's all part of the ritual; you will be with nearly 1,000 other people who just arrived in Japan and pretty much, no one knows anyone else.

Getting to Kobe

After Tokyo orientation you will come to Kobe by bullet train. It's even paid for! When you arrive you'll have a meeting at the Kobe Education Center (KEC) and meet the Japanese teacher who will be responsible for you at the first school you work at. Your JTE will then escort you to your new home and have your utilities turned on for you. Finally you will be on your own time...

That is, until the current JETs knock on your door to invite you to the welcome party.

Kobe Orientation

Orientation starts the day after you arrive in Kobe.

Day 1

A tour of where you live: Gakuentoshi, Hanayama, or Port Island. This day is important because you will be applying for your Alien Registration Cards which are necessary to open your bank accounts.

Day 2

The day everyone is shown around Sannomiya and goes back to the KEC to fill out their forms for their bank accounts. There is also a Japanese language evaluation test.

Additional Orientation includes:

• Shadow Day; When you go with a current JET to their school to get a crash course in working at a Japanese school.
• Two days at the KEC with speeches and advice given by current JETs. Very similar to Tokyo Orientation.
• Summer School; A two day event with all the Kobe JETs and junior high school students from around Kobe city.

Tired Yet?

You will undoubtedly be tired of all this fun-filled orienteering. It is tiring but try and stick with it. We all had to do it when we first came and we know how you feel.

A New Kind of English

When you first get to Kobe you'll notice the current JETs use a lot of Japanese words in their speech when it relates to being on the job. Words like 'conbini' (conveinence store), 'keitai' (cell phone, mobile), and 'kyoto-sensei' (vice principal) will become part of your daily speech in no time.

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