FRESH OFF THE PLANE

Step off the plane and welcome to a hot humid July in Japan. There will be many smiling JET volunteers in matching t-shirts directing you to your bus.
Before boarding, you will get into a line up where you will say goodbye to all, but one piece, of your luggage. Remember to have enough clothes
(formal and casual) to last FIVE DAYS. You will not see the rest of your luggage until a few days later when you arrive in Gifu. Then board your
bus and about one hour later, depending on traffic, you will arrive at your hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

TOKYO ORIENTATION

The Tokyo orientation is one of the most upscale events that you will be part of as a JET. In these few days, you will hear speeches from many official
people, stay at a classy 5 star hotel, and meet hundreds of other JETs from all over the world. There will be many meetings and workshops, as well as
current JETs, to help answer all of your questions. Just try to relax and enjoy your time here. You will have one or two roommates during your stay. In
the evenings, you will have some free time to explore Tokyo's nightlife and get acquainted with Japan outside of the meeting rooms.

On the first day of Tokyo orientation, you should meet 2 JETs from Gifu who will be your Orientation Assistants.  Please feel free to ask them any questions and they will be more than happy to help. Also, get them to plan a “Gifu Night Out” to spend some time with your ken-mates!
 

　
TAKE IT WITH YOU

While you are here, take down the names and numbers of those who will be living near you as well as any other interesting people you want to keep in
contact with. You will receive a National JET directory, but it will take awhile and you may want to visit before then.

You will be given many handbooks and handouts that may seem overwhelming and/or redundant at first, but often there is very useful information in
them that may not seem so important until later on. Keep this material and it can also provide for some good reading for your time in the office during
the summer break in August.

GOING TO GIFU

After your fun-filled days in Tokyo, you will take the Shinkansen with about 80 other new Gifu JETs to Hashima. It takes about 2 hours. Wear clothes
that look professional, feel comfortable, and travel well because you will be meeting someone from your school or board office soon after you get off
the train. It will most likely be your supervisor and they will take you to your new town. This can be anywhere from five minutes to five hours drive away, so be prepared for more travel. Some people will be taken directly to their new apartments. You may also be taken to your office to meet your fellow
teachers, principals, mayors, etc. Remember you only have one chance to make a first impressio...make it a good one!

THE MONTH OF AUGUST

It may seem a little lonely at first, driving away from all your new found friends with only your supervisor to guide you into the unknown, but there will be
a buddy system in place to help you cope with your first few days in Gifu. AJET is organizing some casual get-togethers too. The annual fireworks
contest along the Nagara River is a definite must see and many fun activities are in the planning stages as you read this. In addition to these casual
events, you will see everyone again and get to meet the people from the other orientation at the Hashima Conference from August 12th to 13th.