JET worries, and a new camera
Yeah, I don't know what's up with me either. I'm working on things, and not working on things, and studying Japanese, and posting resources so other people can study Japanese in new and fun ways, and waiting to hear back from the JET Programme. Mostly just waiting to hear back from the Jet Programme.
Since my interview, the Japan consulate in Detroit (where I interviewed) has called me twice with questions from Japan regarding my placement. The first time was a lot of questions to clarify my disability and what sort of buildings I could live/work well in, and how I should get to work. The second call was today, and they repeated the question from my interview about what I have to bring to the table as a JET. This made me unhappy. Did my answer just not get passed on to Japan, or did I not ever give a good enough answer? I have concrete examples to support my answer, but I forgot to bring them up *again* today because I was so surprised that the question was repeated and I felt like that was the weakest point of my interview. But then I was asked about my Japanese ability, and I finally got to demonstrate my Japanese comprehension, so that was kinda good.
I think they are seriously considering me, but I also think it's all or nothing. I'm either short-listed or declined. The stress of this morning's phone call got to me and I posted about it on a JET-related but unofficial forum. Not sure whether I should have done that or not, but several people posted and reassured me with stories about mobility-impaired JETs they know, and comments that they must be carefully considering me like I think they are, and that they think I'm probably in.
%*&$%$dasfkjghaseglkjh(T$TO*$%$*^&$(*&^(*&^!?!?!?!?!!!
That email needs to get here so I can get on with my life.
In a side ramble, I'm excited about my new camera.
The circa 1970 Yashica Electro 35 GS rangefinder camera I ordered off Ebay arrived today, and it seems to be in excellent condition except for the shutter being kinda slow when I turn the camera upside down. But I may be able to revive it by using it a lot, and it doesn't seem to have the worse problems of lens separation or fungus that can happen to old cameras. The lens looks great, so very clear. And I'm amazed that the winder still makes a nice loud pop when I wind it and the battery test light lights up the frame counter properly. It came with a leather case and the leather part of the camera body isn't too rotten, the leather has no holes in it, and it's just in great condition for $30 which is $10 less than I expected to pay for the thing. It was listed incorrectly as an SLR when it's actually a leaf shutter rangefinder, and it has less collector value for being a GS and not a GT. So booyah, I gambled and won, I think. Bloody good camera. It's lighter than my Nikon SLR, works better in lower light, and maybe I can get around using a tripod when I'm out and about. Supposedly, when shots blur with this camera they blur more smoothly and evenly. I gotta take some pictures today and find out.
Since my interview, the Japan consulate in Detroit (where I interviewed) has called me twice with questions from Japan regarding my placement. The first time was a lot of questions to clarify my disability and what sort of buildings I could live/work well in, and how I should get to work. The second call was today, and they repeated the question from my interview about what I have to bring to the table as a JET. This made me unhappy. Did my answer just not get passed on to Japan, or did I not ever give a good enough answer? I have concrete examples to support my answer, but I forgot to bring them up *again* today because I was so surprised that the question was repeated and I felt like that was the weakest point of my interview. But then I was asked about my Japanese ability, and I finally got to demonstrate my Japanese comprehension, so that was kinda good.
I think they are seriously considering me, but I also think it's all or nothing. I'm either short-listed or declined. The stress of this morning's phone call got to me and I posted about it on a JET-related but unofficial forum. Not sure whether I should have done that or not, but several people posted and reassured me with stories about mobility-impaired JETs they know, and comments that they must be carefully considering me like I think they are, and that they think I'm probably in.
%*&$%$dasfkjghaseglkjh(T$TO*$%$*^&$(*&^(*&^!?!?!?!?!!!
That email needs to get here so I can get on with my life.
In a side ramble, I'm excited about my new camera.
The circa 1970 Yashica Electro 35 GS rangefinder camera I ordered off Ebay arrived today, and it seems to be in excellent condition except for the shutter being kinda slow when I turn the camera upside down. But I may be able to revive it by using it a lot, and it doesn't seem to have the worse problems of lens separation or fungus that can happen to old cameras. The lens looks great, so very clear. And I'm amazed that the winder still makes a nice loud pop when I wind it and the battery test light lights up the frame counter properly. It came with a leather case and the leather part of the camera body isn't too rotten, the leather has no holes in it, and it's just in great condition for $30 which is $10 less than I expected to pay for the thing. It was listed incorrectly as an SLR when it's actually a leaf shutter rangefinder, and it has less collector value for being a GS and not a GT. So booyah, I gambled and won, I think. Bloody good camera. It's lighter than my Nikon SLR, works better in lower light, and maybe I can get around using a tripod when I'm out and about. Supposedly, when shots blur with this camera they blur more smoothly and evenly. I gotta take some pictures today and find out.