Enjoy.  It is truly a masterpeice of flawless filmmaking and majestic rhyming.

Japantics:  The most inconsistent podcast of all time.

B & I start off by talking a bit, per usual, about what's been going since our distant last update.  Get chatty about our own vacations.

(12:45)  We got a voicemail.  Unbelievable!! Peter in Atlanta asks about our status for the next year:  whether I would be recontracting and staying in Japan or heading home.  (As of now I have signed the paper.)  We talk a bit about our personal goals/ plans for the future.

The rest of the time B and I just catch up with each other and shoot the sh1t.

Thanks for takin' the time to listen guys.  You are all awesome.

Send me an email christownsend@japantics.com  call the voicemail 1-214-613-8020

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I'm a little bit weird in that I like to take the occasional solo trip to a new place and do some explorin'.  I find its a nice opportunity to see what I want to see, shoot some video, and see if I can survive using my Japanese.

This time around I head to Kyoto.  Known as Japan's most historic city, it was pretty interesting exploring a city that blends such deep history with modern style.  So cres.

Thanks for watchin'.  I should have some Japantics: UK Edition videos from my winter vacation trip soon(ish)!

Another new episode of Japantics Live for all you goobers out there!

We'll be back another short hiatus during winter break because I will be in the UK and B will be doing whatever it is he does.  See you guys next year!  Thanks for listenin'.  

Remember if you'd like your voice heard on Japantics Live, all you have to do is call 1-214-613-8020 and leave a voicemail.  Or send an email to christownsend@japantics.com.

Time stampage!

(0:40)  MURDER IN TOKUSHIMA & buds catchin' up.

(12:00)  How can you keep from pissing people off when you first come here as a noob goober?  Some tips and advice on how to ease into the workplace and be crescent fresh.

(18:00)  Should you bring a cellphone here or just purchase one when you get here?

(21:55)  Justin's planning an epic trip Japan & he wants to know our HOT SPOTS.  Transportation methods, including the more rural parts of Japan.

(27:35)  We elaborate on our student trips here to Japan and give some advice about studying abroad/programs to pursue to get here.

Thanks for listening guys.  I love you all.  Enjoy your holidays and Happy New Year.

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Hello internet friends!  We're back & ready for action.  Fugg yea dudes!!

It's been at least a fortnight since I'd last seen my old buddy B and so we start off catchin' up on what's been happenin'.  We talk some smack, spout some garbage about gamin', & B tells us of his new non-JET teaching position.

(7:30)  B's new job

(19:55)  Pre-qualifications for JET.  What are they?  We also weigh-in on the people we would like to see come here.  Non-goobers preferably.

(22:55)  New Patrick is back, and he has a few questions for us.  He first wants to know how he's gonna go about raising his child using both Japanese and English.  Will he attempt to raise him bilingual?  Then, Patrick asks about why I would only stay 2-3 years when the opportunity to stay 5 years is out there.  Finally, he'd like to know a little bit about the possibility of getting a job in Japan in a music-related field. 

We finish with a few current events and Japantics updates.

Send some emails to christownsend@japantics.com

Be crescent fresh and leave a voicemail for us at 1-214-613-8020

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In this episode, we have two very special guests.  They are Tokushima Prefecture's CIRs.  Coordinator for International Relations (or CIR) is another position within the JET program that is very different from the Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) position.  

Today, our guests introduce themselves and speak about becoming a CIR.

(3:30)  Our two guests give us their Jikoshokais.

(8:25)  One of our CIRs talks about his experience as a German, and the relevance of Japan/ the JET program there.  He talks about how many German participants there are in the JET program & the status of Japanese studies in his home country.

(11:28)  Our American CIR talks a bit about her application and interview process.  She mentions that, in general, the application process is the same for both CIRs and ALTs, but the interview goes a bit different.  Then our German CIR jumps in and talks a bit about his experience.

(18:00)  Next, we have the CIRs speak some about their daily routines and responsibilities.  Their responsibilities are in many ways the same, but they also have some very unique duties.  

(28:00)  Our CIRs are also PAs.  What's a PA???? and what the fudge do they do?

Our CIRs conclude with their overall thoughts on the process and their early assessment of their new positions.

Special thanks to Sarah and Kim for being on the show!

As always thanks for listening, and if you have questions send them to christownsend@japantics.com

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A few weeks ago, the guys and I decided to take on Mt. Fuji.  It proved to be quite the daunting task.  Patrick decided we needed to do the Gotemba trail aka the TRAIL OF DOOM.  It took us about 10 hours of climbing to make it to the summit.  Luckily we managed to make it (barely) before the sunrise.  We witnessed the majestic sunrise, enjoyed some of the scenery, and started our decent.  Four hours later, the deed was done.. and I was struggling to stay alive.  It goes without saying that I have a newfound respect for Sam and Frodo.

Thanks for taking the time to watch and if you wanna say hey shoot me an email at christownsend@japantics.com