The 2020 Survival Series is going strong! We are currently halfway through our planned schedule, and it has been a whirlwind!
Our first event was the Outgoing JET Meet & Greet, held on June 20th. It was exciting to see the faces of our future Alumni and get to know them! It was also a great opportunity for the Outgoing JETs to get to know their fellow cohorts. During the event, our Alumni Mentors led small group discussions based on the OJ’s most pressing questions about life in Japan.
Next was the Outgoing JET Happy Hour! Alumni from three different decades and from all over the Midwest joined the newest members of our community for a night of casual conversation and engaging ice breaker activities. One of the highlights was a revealing AND educational discussion of nomikai and enkai culture in Japan - topics many alumni are . . . acutely familiar with.
Most recently, we held the Road Less Traveled: Alumni Stories event on July 11th. This was JETAA Chicago’s first storytelling event. We envisioned this as a gathering to celebrate all of the memorable moments that can occur when we step outside our comfort zone and embrace other cultures. The stories were a mix of informative and heartwarming; a solid representation of the wide variety of things we can experience as JETs. If you were unable to attend the event, you can listen to the stories on our Youtube channel.
We know there is a lot of uncertainty revolving around JET this year. Much more than usual. So JETAA Chicago has been eager to provide as much support as we can to our Outgoing JETs, whether it be information or just someone to talk to. With the move to online events, we’ve been able to reach much more of our Outgoing JET community than before. If you’re an Outgoing JET and have not yet been able to attend an event, don’t fret! There’s still more to come ;)
A Diversity of Experiences Panel
Sunday, July 26
3:00-5:00pm CST
The Event FKA "Mitsuwa Marketsweep"
Saturday, August 8
2:00-4:00pm CST
Still More Diverse Experiences Panel Discussion
Sunday, August 30
6:00-8:00pm CST
We are also working on adding additional events beyond August. Please keep an eye out for future announcements!
As a reminder, these events are for Outgoing JETs and designated Alumni Mentors ONLY. If you are a JETAA Chicago member and would like to participate in these events as a mentor, please fill in the form below and we will connect you with our Outreach Coordinator, Dylan.