[Hatredcopter]

This is my first post since starting JET about one month ago. They placed me in Iwate prefecture, where things are totally different compared to when I lived in Nagoya. I know about three foreigners here (in the city I live in), and I assume that the total number of foreigners doesn't delve very far into the double digits. Despite all that, I've been enjoying things here. The people are extraordinarily friendly, and I've been able to reach out and interact with the locals much more easily than I have been in the past. Would I like to live here for the rest of my life? Most definitely not -- but for right now, working here is like a year-long holiday (although I can't say I'm looking forward to the infamous Tohoku winters).

As for being accepted, it's not hard to be accepted to an ALT position. All you need is a bachelor's degree and a good attitude. I was hired as a CIR, however, and that requires Japanese fluency equivalent to about JLPT level 2. After going through the application process and talking with other applicants, there certainly are people who don't get accepted, even if they hold the right qualifications.