Welcome!
Welcome to the Minnesota JET Alumni Association Web Site! The JET Alumni Association of Minnesota serves individuals who have participated on The Japanese Exchange & Teaching Program (JET) and are currently living in Minnesota. The goal of this site is to keep you informed of activities, restaurants, groups and places of interest now that you have a little Japanese in your heart!
Recent Activities
New JET Q & A
About 15 New Jets headed off for Japan and 8 JET Alumni got together at Hopkins Public Library for some good advice on Saturday, June 21st. This seminar was the first of it's kind in Minnesota
and allowed the new JETs to get some good advice, receive the Unoffical Predeparture Guide and ask the questions on thier mind. It was also a fun time for the JET Alumni to talk about thier experience
while on the JET Program. True to JET Alumni history - the JET alumni had LOTS to say and the meeting went longer than expected. Eveyone enjoyed a nice Boston Garden lunch, thanks to the Japanese Consulate in Chicago.
Special thanks to Matt & Nichola Schoenfelder and Alexei Eiskoff for coordinating this event and a big THANK YOU to the JET Alumni that made this event possible!
Our Mission Statement
The Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of Minnesota (JETAA-MN) maintains three primary goals as its mission:
- To serve as a support network for returning and past participants in the JET Program by providing a social and informative resource foundation that may facilitate the participants re-integration into Minnesota and allow all past participants to share the skills and knowledge they acquired while on the program.
- To continue the JET Program's mission of promoting the exchange of Japanese culture by functioning as an organization that enhances the opportunities available in the Twin Cities and the greater Minnesota area for Japanese cultural exchange.
- To function as a resource center for Japanese organizations and networking opportunities in Minnesota.
As we work towards achieving these goals we will represent JETAA in a professional and responsible manner; we will learn from our differences in other's perspectives; we will act in ways that foster respect and dignity for all persons; and we wills strive for excellence in our efforts.
JETAA Minnesota History
JETAA of Minnesota was founded several years ago to provide a resource for those recent returnees of the JET Program to readjust back to life here in the United States. It was hoped that though shared experiences in working and living in Japan, we could provide a support network for those retunrees who had recently come home. JETAA-MN has always been interested in promoting the JET Prgoram, promoting the ideals of internationalization in our respective communities, and trying to establish communal ties with other Japan-oriented organizations as well as those with greater international awareness themes.
Through social events, sponsored communiity activities and other activities it is hoped that the JETAA-MN can provide its members with a solid organization committed to the ideals of internationalization, that human beings are larger than the governments they reside in and that peace through understanding is a desirable goal for our organization and our members.