So, what's the deal with pre-departure orientation?

[TomOmnomnom]

Apparently, London pre-departure orientation is 10th-11th July this year. But as far as I know, that's all the info we've been sent regarding the matter. I'd like to get organised and buy my train tickets and sort out accommodation in advance as I live quite far from London. Could anyone please tell me where the orientation is held (does JET rent a venue to house all ALTs for the seminars -or is it held in the embassy itself?) and whether they put us up for accommodation, as it is a two day thing. I read somewhere that seminars were scheduled 10:00-19:00 in a previous year! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Shincantsen]

It's likely the embassy hasn't finalized the location yet. Is this an optional orientation? If so, they probably won't provide accommodation. It's probably best to call or email the embassy to see if they have more up-to-date info.

[ChristinaKeke]

It's mandatory (I think). I'm curious too so please let me know what they say if you do call them! Travelling from up north to London isn't cheap!

[yingyangryder]

Accommodation is provided. You will likely be staying at a university campus (I forgot the name) near Mile End station in London. If you have to travel far and will be staying in a hotel the night BEFORE pre departure begins, you will have to sort that out on your own. Last year, I came the night before and stayed in the university campus (but had to pay for the first night). Hope this helps.

From what I remember last year, the first day ran from around 9am - 5pm then we were free to do as we please.
The second day was just Japanese classes, this finished around 4:30, you could go home but the majority of JETs went to the Embassy reception. I went to the Embassy reception but managed to get the very last train home (I lived around 2 hours from London).

[Jiggit]

Oh god pre-departure orientation. I'd forgotten about that, what a joke.

[mrcharisma]

Oh god pre-departure orientation. I'd forgotten about that, what a joke.

It was shite except from the shindig at the Japanese embassy. Looking back the lectures were among the most laughable I've encountered on JET, which is saying something.

The introduction to Japanese was ok.

[Jiggit]

I can't remember any of it tbh. The introduction to Japanese... I guess they were just making sure everyone could say "my name is Mr. Smith I come from America" and count to ten before coming over here but I'd hope that people would be at least smart enough to go and learn that on their own.

[coop52]

Don't they send the beginner Japanese book to you before you come anymore? I remember getting a book with a CD about a month before departure that had hiragana/katakana and some basic survival Japanese.

[Antonath]

They do, but the UK does (or did) some language lessons at pre-departure as well. It almost as if they think people should learn some Japanese before moving to Japan...

[word]

It's mandatory, but you can get out of it if you have a good excuse. I did, so I didn't attend mine.

[par92186]

It's mandatory, but you can get out of it if you have a good excuse. I did, so I didn't attend mine.

Oh, thank god.

[word]

Email your coordinator ASAP; let 'em know what's going on. They'll encourage you to attend anyway, but they (if they're anything like mine) should be understanding and will make sure you know all you need to know.

[par92186]

good advice word. I'm not trying to cop out of the predeparture OT, but I live in Korea and applied to Guam, so just to attend a 1-2 days OT that costs $500-800 just to fly to...is hopefully enough to get me out of having to do this. Hopefully most of the major details can be sent through email.

[Ini]

i went to mine, it wasnt that bad. some boring meetings, quick japanese lesson then got drunk the first night. second day some more japanese lessons, a decent reception at the embassy then into the pub to get drunk.

[jacklostinred]

Mine was basically a breakdown of your first 3 days, giving us luggage tags, a JET sticker, and airport meeting information which took maybe 2 hours tops. Then we bused to the Consulate diplomat's house and had lunch, a toast, a few speeches and mingled for a couple hours. Finished by 3 and I was off to do as I pleased.

[Ini]

technically the 2004 london pre departure orientation was the first ITIL-orama. the fancy new forum was the talk of the town.

[jacklostinred]

Edit: I forgot I wasn't in the lounge.

[Gizmotech]

If you're not in country near your application point you generally don't need to come. Hell, in Canada I remember one of our applicants was about a 12 hour drive (no train, no plane) to the embassy, and the first time I met her was at the mandatory day before orientation. We had a whole bunch of orientations before that and even the "mandatory" one before that wasn't mandatory given her distant and expenses.

I doubt AVN had to leave the country for orientation.

[par92186]

If you're not in country near your application point you generally don't need to come.

Thanks for the heads up Gizmo! What a relief.

[Gizmotech]

Thanks for the heads up Gizmo! What a relief.

But like other's have said, obviously contact your consulate/embassy and inform them of the situation.