JETAA Chapter Events - August 2021
**Page will be updated as new events are created**
We welcome corrections or omissions! Email us at contact@usjetaa.org!
Links to events in private/closed Facebook groups may not be available unless you are in the group.
WEEKLY/MONTHLY VIRTUAL EVENTSJETAANY Nihongo Dake Conversation HourDate: Monday, August 2 (August 9, 23, 30 - tentative)Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. EDTDetails: Join us virtually Mondays on Zoom to keep your Japanese language skills sharp. This chat is for Japanese speakers at the intermediate level or higher. Come join in on the fun! There’s no fee to participate.Let others know you are going on Facebook: Event Page (August 2)RSVP & Questions: contact Ashley via emailFor upcoming events check out the JETAANY Facebook Events Page.JETAA Southern California: Water Cooler - Every Tuesday at 12:00 PM PST via Zoom (passcode: 018586)WFH blues got you down? Not being productive anyway? Just need a place to eat lunch? Take a break at the JETAASC Water Cooler!This is a casual drop-in type hang out where you can say hi, stick around for some lunchtime conversation, or just tune in to some ambient social interaction we've all been missing away from the office. Bring your favorite drink or a full meal, pop in for a few minutes or an hour. We're continuing to make this a weekly event to start your week off right.JETAA Great Lakes Netflix Watch Party - Every Wednesday at 6:00 PM PST. Join Facebook group for details.Every Wednesday at 8 we'll be hosting a watch party! See the posts for specific details on what is currently being viewed, and how to join. We hope to see you there! We will still use teleparty due to size limitations on Hulu's watch party service. Please remember that the teleparty app will need to be installed into your browser ahead of time and can be found at netflixparty.com ! In addition, you will need an account with Hulu to be able to join. The first watch party link will be posted at 8 and the video will begin playing at 8:30. We will watch four episodes per week so if you miss this week, you can always watch them in your own time before next week! Register by EmailJETAA Radio Taiso - Every Friday morning at 8:30 AM PT/11:30 AM ET
NEW Registration linkhttps://tinyurl.com/y55o4rzl
Fill out this quick Zoom registration once to get access to Radio Taiso that will work for every week you are able to join. Join your fellow JET alumni for Radio Taiso every Friday morning! It’s a 3-6 min stretch followed by a quick social check-in if you have time to chat. Join the virtual stretch via zoom:11:30am EDT (New York); 10:30am CDT (Kansas City); 9:30am MDT (Denver), 8:30am PST (Los Angeles)
JETAA Washington DC Japanese Script Reading Club - Every Sunday at 2:00PM to 3:00PM ET. Sign up formJoin your fellow Japanese language learners and read through a Japanese short play script! The first read-through is for language study, the second read-through is for putting emotion into your Japanese. There will be three language levels available (easy, medium, hard), and a native-speaking Japanese Pronunciation Coach in every zoom breakout room. Email jetambassador@jetaadc.org with any questions. To sign up : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScl3pMd4reYVdHdyo_iqkjKubOKrL2m_ejc_KEKJFjBl1lzMg/viewform
August 1 JETAA Pittsburgh Picnic in the ParkMore details at https://www.facebook.com/events/530357101334641/
After one of the longest years, ever, we hope to see you at the Picnic in the Park! Join us for a pot-luck style picnic in one of the Pittsburgh Parks.
This event will take place outside, weather permitting, so those who join can feel comfortable with a socially distanced good time!
The picnic will be pot-luck Japan style, so please bring a dish to share. We will provide dishware and utensils
August 2 at 6:30 pm - 8 pm CST JETAA Chicago August Open Board MeetingAt our August meeting, we will be discussing plans for future events and other opportunities in the virtual space! Interested in taking part in the conversation? Join us for our August Open Board Meeting!PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING IS ONLINE ONLY!Monday, August 2nd, 20216:30 pm - 8 pm CSTOnline - In the Comfort of Your Own HomeRSVP FOR THE AUGUST OPEN BOARD MEETINGWhat is an Open Board Meeting?Previously known as Monthly Member Meetings, Open Board Meetings are where we get together to discuss events from the past month, any upcoming events in the near future, and news relevant to JETAA.Meetings are also a chance for non-board members to share ideas, get involved in JETAA Chicago activities, and make connections in the alumni community.Who can attend?Meetings are open to all members of JETAA Chicago! For RSVPs, in the interest of including those that do not use Facebook and other social media platforms, a Guestlist event will be made for each open board meeting. All alumni interested in attending are required to RSVP through that event. Facebook event pages will still be posted to promote the monthly open board meeting in the JETAA Chicago Facebook group, and questions can still be e-mailed to info@jetaachicago.com.When are they?Open Board Meetings are held on the first Monday of every month unless it falls on a holiday. A full schedule for the year will be posted on our website.What if I can’t make it in person?For those unable to attend in person (EVERYONE FOR NOW!), but still interested in being involved in the discussion, simply register through Guestlist. There are conference details to dial in and they will be shared with you automatically once you have RSVP'd. Otherwise, email info@jetaachicago.com and we can work on another way to make sure you can participate!Note that there are still positions open on the JETAA Chicago Board:Junior Treasurer
August 4 at 7 PM ET - JETAANY Book Club: Before the Coffee Gets ColdWednesday, August 4Time: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.Details: In August, we'll discuss Before the Coffee Gets Cold. Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s beautiful, moving story explores the age-old question: what would you change if you could travel back in time? (Just be sure you return to the present before your cup of coffee gets cold.)Register for the Zoom link: Zoom Registration.Let others know you are going on Facebook: Event page.Questions: Contact Christy via email.
August 6 at 7 PM ET - JETAA Southeast: How to Succeed at Virtual InterviewsRegister in advance: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckce2pqj4iEtSih-OLTWK8byaFmasw20BXJoin career counselor Emily Frank of Denver Career Catalyst for a session on how to succeed at virtual interviews.
August 7 from 11 AM - 3 PM PT - 2021 PNWJETAA Summer PicnicAnd Undokai!As things progress towards "normalcy", PNWJETAA is cautiously optimistic about getting back to one of our all-time favorite events: the Summer Picnic and Undokai. Please keep an eye out on our NEW Facebook page and for further Newsletter updates for more details.Event: Summer Picnic & UndokaiDate: August 7 @ 11am-3pmLocation: Luther Burbank ParkSuggestions for undokai games and volunteers to help are welcome. Please email: officers@pnwjetaa.org.
August 10 at 7 PM ET/ 6 PM CT USJETAA Japanese Reading GroupThe goal of the USJETAA Japanese Reading Group is to help advanced beginner and intermediate-level students improve their reading skills. Each month we will look at a short reading from Aozora Bunko, a repository of public domain literature. Participants should attempt to do the reading on their own and come to the meeting with any questions. We will spend the meeting each month reading the assignment sentence by sentence to understand how the Japanese is working. This event will be on the second Tuesday each month, from 7:00-8:30 pm Eastern Time and is facilitated by Daniel Morales of How to Japanese. Sessions are not recorded.August 10, from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Eastern TimeRSVP via Facebook or join by Zoom LinkPlease note, we are now requiring registration for this event!For the August meeting, we will be finishing up the second half of the essay 承認欲求が強かった私に天才ダンサーが教えてくれた生き方 (The way of life that a talented dancer taught me and my need for recognition). It's a personal essay by a woman named Aoi, writing about how she learned to live from a very talented hip-hop dancer she met.
August 13 at 7-8:30 PM, CST JETAA Chicago's '21 Survival Series, Health & Wellness, for outgoing 20-21' JETsSIGN UP HEREJoin us on Friday, August 13th from 7-8:30 PM, CST, for the third event of JETAA Chicago's '21 Survival Series, Health & Wellness, for outgoing 20-21' JETs! Living in a foreign country can be difficult, especially when navigating areas of health and wellness, such as mental and physical health! Join us in discussing how to maintain one's health and wellness while abroad with JET Alumni who have been in your shoes!Also, JETAA Chicago is in need of JET alumni mentors to help educate and onboard the next generation of outgoing JETs! Interested? Fill out the Alumni Mentor In-take Form!*Note: All alumni who register must fill out the 2021 Alumni In-take Form.Being located in the Chicagoland area is not required to be a mentor. Any of our alumni in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana are welcome and wanted!
August 13 from 7:00-10:00 p.m. EST - JETAA Great Lakes Cooking & CocktailsOnline EventRegister: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cooking-cocktails-tickets-166235371471(Dorayaki prep from 7 p.m. and drink prep starts at 8 p.m.)We’re back with another edition of Cooking & Cocktails to spice up your Friday night.This time it’s an easy Japanese treat you can keep simple or spruce up they way you like, it’s dorayaki! After we’ve finished making our sweet treats, we’ll move over to our mixology course and learn how to make a French 75 (a non-alcoholic version will also be featured!).Register via Eventbrite to receive the recipes before the event.FOJ (Friends of JETs) are welcome to attend!
August 13 from 7-9 PM ET - New Jersey Alumni ReunionFriday, August 13Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.Location: Izakaya Kumade (412 Bergen Blvd, Palisades Park, NJ 07650)Details: Catch up with your fellow alumni after this long quarantine over some delicious Japanese cuisine! Alumni and Friends of JET are invited to come together at Izakaya Kumade in Palisades Park, NJ to reconnect with old friends and make new ones! Note: Izakaya Kumade offers outdoor seating.Cost: JETAANY will cover appetizers for the table, but please bring sufficient funds for your main course and beverages.RSVP: Please RSVP on Google Forms by Tuesday, August 10 and check for updates on the Facebook event page.Questions: Contact Alexis via email
August 14, 6:00 - 8:00 PM HST - JETAA Hawaii New JET Etiquette Workshop** $10 rebate + postage for all new JETS and JET alumni who RSVP! **Register HereEtiquette is everything in Japan, especially when you are drinking with your bosses and co-workers! JETAA Hawaii invites you to bring your dinner and a drink to our Virtual Zoom Enkai (office party) and learn how to bond with your fellow co-workers for a harmonious work environment.To make this event more realistic in the time of COVID-19, JETAA Hawaii is offering a $10 rebate for anyone ordering takeout food from a Japanese restaurant for dinner! (NOT for alcohol) We will pay both the $10 rebate and any postage used to mail us the receipt. A list of approved Japanese restaurants will be emailed to you after you RSVP. If there is a Japanese restaurant in your area that is not on our list, you can suggest it in the Google Form below. Pending approval from the JETAA Board, you may be able to get the $10 rebate for the suggested restaurant.Restaurant List here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uehMHXeo4Z1aAnj126MsIpAWcYqPbvBnqZXkBAmv0Do/edit?usp=sharingThis event is mainly to benefit the 2021 and 2020 New JETs, but we also need alumni to come and provide feedback about their personal experiences as well! JETAA Board members will present on the dos and don'ts of etiquette and open it up to a Q&A.Deadline to RSVP: Friday, August 13, 11:59PM HSTZoom Meeting ID & Passcode will be sent out at least 1 hour before the event.
August 15 at 2 PM - JETAARM Book Club - There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura
Join us for the August Book Club meeting in Ranch Park, Westminster. We will discuss There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura.
This is the first time Kikuko Tsumura-winner of Japan's most prestigious literary award-has been translated into English. There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job is as witty as it is unsettling-a jolting look at the maladies of late capitalist life through the unique and fascinating lens of modern Japanese culture.
August 15 at 6 pm CST/7 pm EST: JETAA Chicago - Indiana Subchapter: Exploring Cultural Differences Through Wrestling
REGISTER HEREHave you ever wanted to learn more about professional wrestling? Better yet, do you want to hear about what the wrestling scene is like in Japan? Here's your chance! Join JETAA Chicago and the Indiana Subchapter on Sunday, August 15th at 6 pm CST/7 pm EST for our event: Exploring Cultural Differences Through Wrestling!Tamaya Greenlee, Indiana JET alumni and up and coming wrestling announcer, and Roni 'Big Bang' Nicole, international pro wrestler who formerly wrestled in Japan, will give Zoom presentations and an interactive Q&A session revolving around their personal experiences with wrestling culture in Japan as a fan and as a professional. They will cover topics ranging from differences between the wrestling culture in Japan and the U.S., common misconceptions about pro wrestling, and the implications of being a mixed-race foreign woman wrestling in Japan. Don't miss this unique experience!
August 15 - JETAA Rocky Mountain Book Club
August 17 at 6:30 PM CT - JETAA Heartland Member MeetingFacebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/509086973502814Join us for an online Zoom Meeting! Agenda will be posted within the week prior to the meeting
August 17 at 6:30 PM CT - JETAA Heartland Member MeetingFacebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/509086973502814Join us for an online Zoom Meeting! Agenda will be posted within the week prior to the meeting
August 17 at 7 PM CT - JETAA Chicago - Japanese Language Series - Pecha Kucha Night 2!REGISTER FOR PECHA KUCHA NIGHTJoin us for another evening of Japanese language fun and conversation!JETAA Chicago is pleased to announce our second Japanese Language Night Pecha Kucha event on Tuesday, August 17th, 7-8 pm CST! These events are intended to bring together JETAA members and supporters who want to stay engaged with Japanese language learning and use. We welcome everyone to join in on the fun and practice their language skills. Breakout rooms will be opened to make space for small group discussions for different levels of comfort/proficiency. Unsure of your proficiency level? That’s okay! All levels of experience with Japanese are welcome!Click the button below for full event details and to sign up via Guestlist.Questions? Contact our Networking Coordinator, Rurik Tywoniw, at networking@jetaachicago.com
August 18 at 5:30 PM - dusk: JETAANY Craft Event at Bryant ParkFacebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1249736302148531We are excited to host our first in-person craft & picnic night in NYC next week, Wednesday 8/18 starting at 5:30 till dusk (show up any time). Christy Jones will be showing us how to make chirimen bead earrings(photo below). We know many of you don't live close enough to attend in-person, but there are options to have the supplies picked up at another time or pay for shipping. If you can't make this event we are planning to do this monthly with various crafts. If you have a suggestion or want to teach everyone something I would love to hear from you!DetailsDate: Wednesday 8/18Time: 5:30pm till dusk (show up any time for this casual event)Location: Bryant Park (42nd street between 5th and 6th ave. We will find a spot in the shade. Call/text Monica to find the group.Craft Night is back - shut down your computers and join us in the park! While you are welcome to bring your own projects, we have prepared a cute and easy chirimen bead earring project. Make some for yourself or as a gift!We will save a spot on the grass to picnic and provide a few small tables to work on our crafts. Please bring your own bento/picnic dinner and join us for an evening of crafting and catching up en plein air.Cost: If you choose to make earrings, there will be a $5/pair materials fee, with each additional pair for $3 (cash or Venmo at the event). If you are not able to join us, we can still make you earrings in your preferred style for $5/pair (pick-up or mailing to be settled later).
August 19 - JETAANY Cooking Stream - Dashi Part 1: Gyuudon and Miso SoupThursday, August 19Time: 7:00 p.m.EDTDetails: In this cooking stream, viewers will learn how to make two different kinds of dashi. They will also learn how to make gyudon and miso soup with that dashi!Let others know you are going on Facebook: Event page. We will be streaming via Facebook Live.Questions: Contact Samantha via email.
August 21 at 1 PM ET - New England JETAA Bontanic Garden
Come join us for a in person meet up at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA about 10 miles northeast of Worcester. Tower Hill is a 171-acre botanical garden with formal gardens and trails for hiking. Afterwards, we will have an nijikai at Welly's outdoor patio in nearby Hudson, MA.
Tickets for Tower Hill must be purchased in advance. You can purchase them here: https://www.towerhillbg.org/planyourvisit/
Tower Hill General Admission Rates:
Members: FREE (must reserve ticket)Adults: $16Seniors (65+): $11Youth (6-18): $6Children 5 and under: Free (must reserve ticket)Dogs: $7
Please RSVP using this Google Form if you plan to attend: https://forms.gle/9UGgFMJVG9mcXLMo9
Tower Hill Visitor Safety Guidelines:
We encourage visitors to follow the July 30, 2021 updated Mask Advisory and expect that unvaccinated visitors and those at increased risk from COVID-19 will wear a mask while indoors. For more information about masks, visit the Mass.gov Mask Requirements webpage.
Please do not attend in-person events if you or your contacts are feeling unwell and/or experiencing Covid or Covid-like symptoms.
August 21 from 7-9:30 PM CT - JETAA Heartland 2021 Virtual Q&A Session for Outgoing JETsWhen: August 21st at 7:00pm to 9:30pm CDTThe session will take place on Saturday, August 21st at 7pm to 9:30pm CDT via Zoom. The format will be a panel-style Q&A where new JETs submit/ask questions and JET Alums and current JETs (yes, we’ll have a few current JETs helping out! ) answer with their own experiences/advice.Can't wait to see everyone there! If you have questions, email: hjetaa.vicepresident@gmail.comBlair LacyVice-President of Heartland JETAAZoom Details for August 21sthttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/86225015129?pwd=VU5XanppWEhYdm05Rm5iWDhmV21vUT09Meeting ID: 862 2501 5129Passcode: 234407
August 21 at 7:30 - 9 PM PT - JETAA Southern California & Arizona - Pandemic Scavenger HuntJoin us for another virtual Game Night on August 21st at 7:30pm! We will be having a scavenger hunt where participants look for items that remind us of living through quarantine.To register for the event, please click here.
August 22 at 2pm - 3pm HST / 5pm - 6pm PT / 7pm - 8pm CT - August Book Club MeetingBook: Farewell to ManzanarBy: Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston Register HereDate: Sunday, August 22thTime: 2pm - 3pm HST / 5pm - 6pm PT / 7pm - 8pm CTLocation: Zoom (link will be emailed the day before the event)RSVP by: Friday, August 20th
August 22 at 2pm - 3pm HST / 5pm - 6pm PT / 7pm - 8pm CT - August Book Club MeetingBook: Farewell to ManzanarBy: Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston Register HereDate: Sunday, August 22thTime: 2pm - 3pm HST / 5pm - 6pm PT / 7pm - 8pm CTLocation: Zoom (link will be emailed the day before the event)RSVP by: Friday, August 20th
Next month: Farming the Home Place by Valerie Matsumoto
August 27 from 7-9 PM ET - JETAA Great Lakes Monthly Game NightOnline EventRegister: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/august-game-night-tickets-166235832851It’s our monthly game night, and we’ll be playing Among Us and Gartic Phone. Grab your phones and friends and join us on Discord as we sus out suspicious suspects and doodle dubious descriptions! The fun begins at 7:00 PM EST, and we will be using Discord for voice chatting.
August 28 at 11 AM - 1 PM MT - JETAA Rocky Mountain The next meeting will be held on Saturday, August 28, at Stella's (1476 S. Pearl St. Denver, CO 80210) from 11:00am - 1:00pm.Stay tuned for more details on Facebook.
August 28 at 7 PM - JETAA Minnesota Nebuta Festival
The final Stage in the JETAAMN Nebuta event! At 7pm JETAAMN is hosting a zoom meeting to talk about the history of Nebuta and let everyone show off their lanterns! If anyone is interested in joining here is the Facebook event and we will post the Zoom link tomorrow! https://fb.me/e/2JnG9eYKO
August 29th at 4 PM CT - JETAA Chicago: No Pianos, Pets or Foreigners - Book Discussion with Author Joe Palermo!In partnership with JETAAUSA working to connect our community across generations through their JET Generations initiative, JETAA Chicago is hosting a discussion of No Pianos, Pets or Foreigners!: My Life in Japan in the 80s'with author and Monbusho English Fellow (Gunma, 82-83) Joe Palermo!The Monbusho English Fellows Program (MEF) is the precursor to the modern day JET program, and No Pianos, Pets or Foreigners chronicles Joe Palermo's experience in Japan as a MEF in the 80s.Join your fellow alumni, friends of JET and the author(!) on Sunday, August 29th at 4 pm CST for a discussion of No Pianos, Pets or Foreigners, using the experiences of one alumni in the 80s as a lens to reflect on our own understanding of Japan. Come ready to ask questions, share stories, and most importantly, learn about the similarities and differences that tie us together across our individual experiences!Be sure to pick up a copy of the book and join us for an illuminating discussion in a virtual space via Zoom! This event is open to JET alumni and friends of JET. Registrations are limited, so grab a spot while you can!
August 31 at 6:30 PM CT - JETAA Texoma, JETAANY, & JETAA Mid-South Mothra Story Hour
Summer MOTHRA: "Matsuri"Tuesday, August 31Time: 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EDTDetails: We're back with JETAA Texoma and JETAA Mid-South for another JETAA Mothra Storyteller hour open to all JETS and Friends of JET! Join us as we swap stories and amazing memories from our time on the JET Program. Whether it's been a year, a decade, or longer since you've been to Japan, come relive those only-in-Japan moments with your JETAA friends! This will be an informal event with different speakers sharing short, 5-min stories of their most memorable experiences on JET.EVENT DETAILS: This event is casual - hop on and hop off whenever you want We are seeking at least 6 speakers to share their stories. We currently plan to have 6, 5-minute stories, separated by 10 minutes for "intermission" and casual conversation. This is subject to modification depending on the number of speaker volunteers we receive. Bring your favorite beverage - we'll have a casual Kampai at 8:00 (but you can drink before 8:00!)THEME DETAILS: Our theme for this summer storytelling event is... Matsuri! Maybe your JET-town roped you into an odd, unexpected, or dangerous festival. Maybe you stumbled across a celebration while wandering around and got pulled into the spirit of it all. Or, maybe you just threw a little matsuri in your heart when you finally understood what the sweet little obaasan outside the supermarket was trying to tell you. Whatever it is, we want to hear your "matsuri" themed stories!We'll relive the moments that made us laugh, cry, cringe, and form a very special bond with our home-away-from-home.RSVP: Register via Zoom.Let others know you are going on Facebook: Event page.Questions: Contact Ryan via email.
