necessary guidelines for their living

in Japan.

I am aware of some of the chal-

lenges you are facing in keeping the

Alumni going, and I hope you will

overcome these with your zeal and

my Embassy is committed to sup-

port your effort in this regard. The

Embassy is considering providing

another short term Japanese Lan-

guage Lecture Programme for you,

the members of JJETAA. It will

assist you in maintaining and

strengthening your language skills. I

hope the programme will encourage

more former JETs to maintain their

interests in Japan, and thereby assist

the JJETAA to increase its member-

ship.

I wish the Alumni a success in every

activity especially International

Meeting of JJETAA in Jamaica later

in the year as you continue to build

strong ties between Jamaica in Ja-

pan.

Thank you.

Allow me to take this opportunity

to commend the members of the

Jamaica JET Alumni Association

(JJETAA) for the significant role

you are playing in the promotion

of Japan and its rich culture in

Jamaica.

I am indeed pleased to see that

you are fostering good relations

with the Embassy and the Japa-

nese community. Since the estab-

lishment of the Alumni, you have

been working assiduously to build

mutual understanding between

Japan and Jamaica through a

number of cultural activities. Last

year, for instance, you have taken

the initiative to go into primary

schools such as the Hope Valley

Experimental School and share

the Japanese experience with the

children who are now studying

about Japan as part of their cur-

riculum. Another highlight of the

year was Japanese language

course where you could cherish

fond memories and be motivated

to continue to learn Japanese dur-

ing three months.

I would like to thank also you for

your assistance in the prepara-

tion and selection process of the

Japan Exchange and Teaching

Programme (JET). To date, 138

Jamaicans have benefited from

the programme. Currently there

are 46 JETs working alongside

their Japanese counterparts as

Assistant Language Teachers

(ALTs) as well as being grass

root ambassadors for Jamaica.

Through your help, you have

furnished these ALTs with the

His Excellency

Masahiro Obata

From the Ambassador INS IDE TH IS

I S SUE :

From the Ambassador

1

JET Selection 2009 1

The President’s Two Cents

2

Giving Back Through School Visits

2

Ikebana Classes in Jamaica

2

A Chat with Madoka 3

JJETAA Executive 2008-9

3

Post-Japan...my Ja-maica Experience

3

Jamaican in Japan 4

Who is Mihoko? 4

Why Join JJETAA? 4

Japanese Language Classes

4

Making Sushi Rice 4

JJETAA NEWS M A R C H 2 0 0 9 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 3

NEW MEMBERS

Grace Williams

Dawn Gregory

Stacy-Ann

Robinson

Carey Reid

Cameille Bartley

Tanya McIntosh

Dahlia Thompson

Audley Green

The selection process for the Japan Exchange Teacher’s Programme began on January 13, 2009 with the

first round - the application reviews. Teams comprising of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs & Foreign Trade (Jamaica), the Ministry of Finance and the Public as well as representatives from

the Ministry of Education examined the more than 130 applications. By the end of the week, 56 persons

were selected for the second round - the interviews. The interviews were held February 10-13, 2009. After

another round of selection, the shortlisted applications will be sent to Tokyo. The successful applicants

will be informed of their status by the end of March and are scheduled to leave Jamaica by the end of July

2009.

JET Selection 2009

Jamaica JET Alumni Association . P.O. Box 5447 . Kingston 6 . Jamaica Email:jamaicajetalumni@gmail.com . Website: www.jamaicajetalumni.org

Giving Back Through School Visits

The President’s Two Cents... Ladies and gentlemen of

JJETAA, 2008/9 has been fan-

tastic!

It has been a year of changes

and improvements. We have

striven to be "likkle but talla-

wah" and again we have made

it happen. We have grown in

numbers. We have made new

friends. We have ‘speakey

spokey’ in Japanese. And we

have been granted the opportu-

nity to host the international

meeting later on this year. La-

dies and gentlemen of the

JJETAA family, hats off! ku-

dos! congratulations! We have

made it happen again. I look for-

ward to enjoying even more next

year.

Here are some pictures from some

events in which we participated:

Yuko, Karen and Sheril at the Calendar

Sale & Exhibition at

Sovereign on January 10, 2009

Celebrating the Emperor’s Birthday at

Talk of the Town on December 10, 2008

Mr Yoshimoto and Kevin Meeks share a

light moment at Bou nen kai , December

17, 2008

is our way of sharing the conver-

gence of cultures between Jamaica

and Japan. Japan is one of the

countries that students sitting the

One of the exciting things about

being a member of the JJETAA

is the opportunity to visit various

schools throughout Jamaica. In

November 2008, the Alumni

shared with

students and

teachers at

the Hope

Valley Ex-

per imenta l

School in St

Andrew. It

Grade Six Achievement Test

(GSAT) in March 2009 will

study.

Therefore, the Alumni, members

from JICA, Embassy of Japan

and Tomoko Uemura sharing

with teacher and students will

add value to the education sys-

tem. The day was well spent and

I encourage others to participate

in this ventures in the years to

come.

Eager

students of Hope

Valley

Experimental

School

In 1970, the Ikebana International St. Andrew Chapter (156) was formed.

This Chapter is the umbrella organization for four schools of Ikebana in Ja-

maica: Ichiyo, Ohara, Sogetsu and Ikenobo. The Chapter seeks to promote

“friendship through flowers”. In fulfillment of this objective the Chapter

offers classes in the various schools and hosts ikebana exhibitions and flower

seeking “adventures”. Classes in the Sogetsu school are currently offered on

Wednesdays 9am - 6pm at the Hotel Four Seasons.

Please feel free to contact: Mrs Pearl Wright - 926-5430, Mrs. Monteith -

927-4553, or Mrs Joy Jones - 944-2929 for classes.

Ikebana Classes in Jamaica

UPCOMING DATES

& EVENTS

August 15 - AGM

October 2-4 - Inter-national Meeting

P A G E 2

Do you know why the Japanese dislike 4 and 9? Do you know why the Japanese dislike 4 and 9? Do you know why the Japanese dislike 4 and 9? Do you know why the Japanese dislike 4 and 9? Because the Japanese word for 4 (shi) is associated with death while 9 (ku) is associated with agony or torture

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 3

Stacy-ann Robinson

Treasurer

Returned to Jamaica in 2006 after spending 2 years in Sendai City

in Sendai. Currently works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a

Foreign Service Officer responsible for issues relating to the envi-

ronment and sustainable development.

Sheril Morgan

Secretary

Returned to Jamaica in 2006 after spending 3 years in Yonago-shi,

Tottori-ken. Currently works at the International Seabed Author-

ity.

Kay Dunkley

President

Returned to Jamaica in 2003 after spending 3 years in Toyonaka

City, Osaka, Japan. Currently works at the VTDI/HEART as a

full-time teacher of Languages.

Shawn Aarons

Vice President

Returned to Jamaica in 2002 after spending 2 years in Kochi

City in Kochi. Currently working at Dunoon Technical High

School as Vice Principal.

Madoka Shimote

In the last newsletter you were introduced to Madoka, who holds several job titles including Coordina-

tor for the JET Programme. When we introduced you to Madoka she was fresh from Japan. Now that

she is a well-seasoned habitant of the “land of wood and water,” let’s learn some more about her.

1. What do you like most about living in Jamaica? Listening to 99.1 FM radio station; I can hear a

wide variety of popular music

2. What are your favorite Jamaican foods? ackee and guinep

3. What is your favorite Jamaican place? I have two favorites - Negril and Mandeville

4. What is your favorite sport? I love cricket; my team is the West Indies

5. What is your motto in life? My motto is “Be different.” I find my life more interesting living by this

motto.

A Chat with Madoka

Being back home during the first few days of late July felt

good. ‘Twas so unexpectedly wonderful to be greeted at the

airport by a warm “welcome home” from officers of the Jamai-

can Immigration and Customs Departments. The Customs

Officer was especially helpful. While completing a particular

form for me - that I may have needed to qualify for any neces-

sary exemptions as ‘Returning Resident’ - she advised that this

was the form that would be needed in the event that the pre-

departure boxes I had shipped from Japan required customs

inspection. Her pleasant, professional manner made me feel

happy to be home.

So it all started out on the ‘right footing’. Retrospectively, my

first few weeks back were like a vacation. It felt a lot like the

Post Japan...my Jamaican Experience by Grace Williams

the previous two summers when I had been home on holiday.

Alas, this time around, there was no returning to Japan…no look-

ing forward to going back ‘home’. Strange. This was/is home.

Yet, this time was different from previous years. During the previ-

ous two visits, when things occurred that I didn’t like, I would take

refuge in the thought that I’d be leaving within another few days.

With that comfort, I could take things in stride, nullifying, or at

least significantly reducing, my annoyance at whatever irked me.

This time however, there was no such recourse; no such avenue of

escape. This time, confrontation of the issues was necessary and

meant finding ways to cope with the things that riled me most

about home… (to see the ful l ar t icle visi t

www.jamaicajetalumni.org).

JJETAA Executive 2008-9

roots. We are a people of rhythm and col-

our and our vibrancy is expressed in our

language, music and also in our food.

As a Jamaican in Japan, we’re called

upon to rise to the occasion. Our job is

not only about teaching English but it is

about representing our country, our tradi-

tions our heritage of being black, being

from a small island in the Caribbean,

being part of a minority group on the JET

Programme, being West Indians and be-

ing different from the accepted cultures of

what it means to be Western. In my ex-

perience, I have found that teaching peo-

ple about my

culture and country’s history has gone a

long way in helping them to understand

who I am and also it has helped them to

appreciate and become tolerant of another

culture that is not Japanese or Ameri-

can… (too see the full article visit

www.jamaicajetalumni.com)

Why Join JJETAA?

∗ You will have the opportunity to travel interna-tionally to represent the association.

∗ You get the chance to represent and promote the JET Programme at events and even the chance to interview potential JETS!

∗ You have unique experiences as a JET participant. JJETAA activities give you the opportunity to speak with others who can relate to these experi-ences.

Remember that although all participants of JJETAA are alumni members, you are free to choose the degree to which you would like to become involved.

Japanese Language Classes

Are you interested in continuing your Japanese lan-

guage education? Was “study more Japanese” a New

Year’s resolution? Maybe we can help.

Once again, JJETAA has organized Japanese classes for its members and their families, starting in October. If you are interested, please write to jamaicajeta-lumni@gmail.com

Making Sushi Rice

Thanks to all who have supported JJETAA over the years.Thanks to all who have supported JJETAA over the years.Thanks to all who have supported JJETAA over the years.Thanks to all who have supported JJETAA over the years.

P A G E 4

As the name indi-

cates, this Japanese

habitant of our tropi-

cal isle is married! –

and to a Jamaican!

Mopolin, as she is

affectionately called

by her close friends

in Japan, works at Cocoro International, the

Japanese restaurant at the Mayfair Hotel. Let’s

get to know more about her.

1. How long have you been living in Jamaica? 5

years. However, my first visit was in 2000.

2. What do you like most about living in Ja-

maica? the nature and the breeze, the fruit trees

and the palm tree, which is my favorite. I am

from Okayama and there are no palm trees there.

3. What is your favorite Jamaican place? I love

to visit the countryside and in particular, I love

Port Antonio, Negril and Blue Mountain.

4. What are your favorite Jamaican foods? I love

to eat stew beef, breadfruit (boiled and roasted)

and fried bammy.

5. What do you do in your free time? I enjoy

going to the movies, shopping and the beach.

Ingredients 3 cups Japanese rice (can be purchased from the Chinese supermarket named “Fresh Approach” on Constant Spring Road) 3 1/4 cups water 1/3 cup rice vinegar (you can use what-ever other type of vinegar that you have at home) 3 tbsp granulated sugar 1 tsp salt

Preparation After washing and soaking the rice, cook and let it steam. Prepare sushi vinegar (sushi-zu) by mixing rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a sauce pan. Put the pan on low heat and heat until the sugar dis-solves. Cool the vinegar mixture. Spread the hot steamed rice into a large plate or a large bowl. Please use a non-metallic bowl to prevent any interaction with vinegar. Sprinkle the vinegar mixture over the rice and fold the rice quickly using a large spoon. Be careful not to smash the rice. To cool and remove the moisture of the rice, use a hand fan as you mix sushi rice. This will ensure that the rice is soaked in vinegar and it gives the sushi rice a shiny look. Makes 4-6 servings.

Jamaican in Japan by 8adine Williams

Being a Jamaican in Japan means that

I’m giving people a slice of Jamaica

every time I come in contact with

them. I’m shedding new light on their

whole understanding of Jamaica and

the Jamaican culture. Some people

here didn’t even know where on the

map to find Jamaica so I have also

been educating them about the Carib-

bean and the West Indies and show-

ing them that we have a rich heritage

8adine Thompson with two of her students

at Oshima High School

mixed with African, Europeans and Asian

roots. We are a people of rhythm and col-

our and our vibrancy is expressed in our

language, music and also in our food.

As Jamaicans in Japan, we’re called upon

to rise to the occasion. Our job is not only

about teaching English but it is about rep-

resenting our country, our traditions our

heritage of being black, being from a small

island in the Caribbean, being part of a

minority group on the JET Programme,

being West Indians and being different

from the accepted cultures of what it

means to be Western. In my experience, I

have found that teaching people about my

culture and country’s history has gone a

long way in helping them to understand

who I am and also it has helped them to

appreciate and become tolerant of another

culture that is not Japanese or American…

(too see the full article visit

www.jamaicajetalumni.com)

Who is Mihoko Sone-Sinclair?