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Happy fall, OkiJETs!

As we venture into the fall and winter seasons, remember that these are the seasons for giving. And what better thing to give than help to other OkiJETs?

This post is a reminder that your help in improving the OkiJET website is greatly appreciated. If you notice articles that are out of date, please let the webmasters know at Webmaster.OkiJET@gmail.com. Additionally, if you have ideas for updates or future articles (and can assist in the writing process), the webmasters are happy to work with you.

めんそーれ! Welcome to all the incoming Okinawa JETs of 2023! We’re looking forward to meeting you next month and we hope you’re excited for your new life here in Okinawa. We realize that many of you may be feeling overwhelmed with preparations, so we encourage you to check out the different pages on this website to help you settle in and put your mind at ease. You can find general information about life in Okinawa and the islands themselves as well as information regarding working as an ALT.

We are very happy that many of you have already introduced yourselves in the LINE groups, Discord channel, and the Facebook page. If you have not had the chance to do so, please check out these groups as they are a great place to ask current JETs any questions you might have about both work and home life in Okinawa.

Additionally, please check out the OkiJET welcome videos that each block has put together for your arrival.

We are very excited to meet you. See you soon!

Ken JET Interviews are taking place on Monday, October 16th for Ken JETs on Ishigaki and Miyako and Wednesday, October 18th and Thursday, October 19th for mainland and Kume Ken JETs. The revised interview schedule has already been sent out to your schools and is also attached here for your reference Ken JET Interview Schedule 2017

The Ishigaki interviews will take place at Yaeyama Senior High School in the small Meeting Room (八重山高等学校) and Miyako interviews will take place Miyako Senior High School in Meeting Room #1 (宮古高等学校 第1会議室).

Wednesday and Thursday’s interviews will be taking place at the Prefectural Office on the 13th Floor in Meeting Room #3 (県庁13階　第3会議室). You can park downstairs, best near the west (西) elevator hall, and get it validated by us. Please make sure you park directly beneath the Kencho and not in one of the other underground lots. Otherwise you will have to pay for parking yourself.

Finding your way to the Prefectural Office

Typhoon Chaba (台風第18号 taifuu dai jyuu hachi gou) is currently approaching Okinawa from the southeast. Technically it’s still a “tropical depression” but forecasters seems sure it will turn into a typhoon by this weekend. It is expected to pass over Okinawa bringing rain and strong winds around Monday, October 3rd.

Please take all precautions to secure your own safety. Secure or clear your balcony of any loose items or objects that may be blown away by the storm. If you have an outdoor washing machine, find a way to firmly tape/hold the lid down.

Be sure to check in with your coordinators for typhoon procedures regarding school and keep an eye on the news. 1st year JETs, page 25 of your OkiJET Welcome Handbook has more information on how to prepare for a typhoon for your reference.

You can keep track of developments at:

http://www.stripes.com/blogs/pacific-storm-tracker/tropical-depression-21w-chaba-6-1.431235
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/typh5.html
https://english.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/wp201621.html
http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/warnings/wp2116.gif

Stay safe everyone!