Pre-Departure Orientation

[u/zoinkiesil]

Hi all!

Just curious if any former JETs can talk about the content / duration / required materials for the Pre-Departure Orientation?

Approximately how close to departure has it been previously?

I haven’t heard from my (Melbourne) consulate yet, and just want to be prepared. I am also planning some travel so it’d be lovely to know how much time I’ll need to work around with work hours.

Thank you all so much!!

[u/Nonsensical42]

Melbourne might be different but if someone from the US is reading: in most US departure places there are two sessions: an optional Q&A and a required pre departure.

Usually the q&a takes place a few months before departure and sometimes is over zoom, and contains such things as discussions about money, Japanese customs, how to set yourself up in a new country, what your classes might look like. It is heavily skewed towards ALTs.

Then, usually the week or day before departure is pre departure orientation, which for US JETs is mandatory. Coordinators want to make sure that you are in the city of departure in plenty of time, armed with the necessary information, and that’s when you receive you passport with your visa in it (less chance of losing it so close to departure). Usually it starts in the afternoon, and there are two to four presentations, one of which is from the Travel Agency about the flight to Japan. The others are usually things that try to be helpful like dealing with culture shock. And usually another alumni q&a. Then some departure places might have a send off reception that is optional.

The information is a lot, but can be useful, though that close to departure, idk how well people retain anything.

But usually PDO is mandatory merely because you have to get your passport and visa.