JET Pre-Departure Orientation and Sendoff Reception
This year, 58 new JET Program participants departed for Japan from Seattle.
(54 Assistant Language Teachers and 4 Coordinators for International Relations)
At Pre-Departure Orientation, held at the Consul General’s Official Residence on July 21, new JETs prepared for their time in Japan with a Japanese lesson, as well as lectures on English language education in Japan. At the Sendoff Reception immediately following, educators, community members, business representatives and members of the Pacific Northwest JET Alumni Association gathered at the Official Residence to wish the new JETs well on their journeys.
Opening the Sendoff Reception, Consul General Yamada greeted the attendees. “To everyone who has supported the JET Program, I express my heartfelt gratitude. New JETs, I am sure that you may feel nervous today, but I would like to reassure you that Japan is a safe nation of kind people. I think you will all have wonderful experiences. I wish you the best of luck.”
Ms. Muniba Mushtaq gave a speech as a representative of the 2017 JET Program participants. “Growing up in Pakistan, I developed an interest in learning Japanese language,” she recalled. After moving to the United States at 16, she went to the University of Washington and began to study Japanese language and culture. “I am nervous to live apart from my family in a new culture, but for me and my fellow JETs, I know that this will be one of the best learning experiences of a lifetime. I see this as an opportunity to be a part of a cultural bridge, especially as a Pakistani-American… I am excited to immerse myself in Japanese language and culture, and in return, share the American values of openness, generosity and acceptance of diversity.”
President of the Pacific Northwest JET Alumni Association, Ms. Zung Do, encouraged the new JETs in her speech. “To make the most of your JET experience, I hope you will challenge yourselves to experience new things, but also remember to reach out for support when you need it.”
The final message of the evening was from The Honorable Karen Fraser, former Washington State Senator. She expressed her wish that all of the new JET Program participants will work to forge stronger bonds of friendship between the United States and Japan.
