Roundup: upcoming events in Spring 2019

We'd like to introduce a new section of the newsletter – designed to be a guide to upcoming JETAA UK events right across the country, coordinated by active Chapters in London, the Midlands, the North West and Scotland. Some individual chapter updates and news is also included.

London

Following the AGM, Darcy Perkins is Treasurer with the Committee otherwise unchanged:

Chair: Carly Scothern
Vice-Chair: Ryan Keeble / Paul Wilson

Please contact Carly at londonchair@jetaa.org.uk for more information on how to get involved, or come to an event. 

Upcoming Events (more info to follow):

Dinner at Eat Tokyo, Soho
Date: Thursday 25 April 

Picnic on Primrose Hill --> Bang Bang Oriental hall in Colindale
Date: Sunday 12 May
Rough times: 12:30 – 14:30 Primrose Hill – exact picnic spot TBC; 14:30 – 16:30 Bang Bang Oriental Hall (Colindale)
Blurb:
Join us for a picnic on Primrose Hill! Located on an elevation in North London, this park offers great views of the city. It is an open event where we can socialise on a (hopefully) sunny Sunday and play games and activities. Feel free to bring family members, friends and lots of snacks!

After a few hours relaxing in the park, we will move on to Bang Bang for some food. This is a large oriental hall in Colindale (just a few stops further north on the Northern Line). The food hall offers food from all over Asia, bubble tea vendors, and a bar with draft beer! (There is also a large Chinese supermarket next door if you need to pick up any home supplies!)

Kanpai Sake brewery
Date: Saturday 8 June

Stars and Stripes event
Date: Thursday 5 July

Midlands

Committee:

Chair: Rob Gorton
Treasurer: Sarah Parsons

Please midlandschair@jetaa.org.uk to learn more about JETAA Midlands, including pre-departure orientations. More details will be announced.

More events, linking in with the Japan-UK Season of Culture 2019-2020, are being planned from October onwards. 

North West

Following the AGM, Committee positions are as follows:

Chair: Corrina Ellis
Vice Chair and Comms: Caroline Oakley
Treasurer and Events: Joanne Moorhead

Please contact northwest@jetaa.org.uk for more information on how to get involved in this very active chapter. 

Upcoming Events:

Japanese Afternoon Tea
Date:  Saturday 18 May
Venue: Unity Centre, Chester
Cost: £15 per person (includes kimono demonstration, kimono taiken, Afternoon Tea with Japanese-style sandwiches, cakes, and tea)
More info: https://www.jetaa.org.uk/news/jetaa-north-west-kimono-afternoon-tea-in-chester/
RSVP: nwevents@jetaa.org.uk by April 30th

Pre-Departure Meals
8 June, Liverpool – Etsu Japanese Restaurant
22 June, Manchester – Yuzu Japanese Restaurant
Link to last year’s pre-departure events: https://www.jetaa.org.uk/news/jet-aa-north-west-pre-departure-events/
RSVP: northwest@jetaa.org.uk by May 31st

Scotland

Following the AGM, Committee positions are as below, with a new Chair this year:

Chair: James Gamgee
Vice-chair: Caitlin Valentine
Treasurer: Jess Brown

Chair's message:

It was great to meet JETAA and consular staff at the Japanese Film festival to watch A tale of Samurai Cooking: A true love story' 「武士の献立」. The event was hosted at Edinburgh University and it was a nice surprise to be offered a range of sake to taste afterwards.

The Glasgow Social at Nippon Kitchen and SuperCube Karaoke was a good giggle too. It was also fun to see a presentation by ex-JETs Sheona Macaulay and Lauren Bishop at Stirling University on Hokkaido. They spoke with energy and warmth about their time there and it all made me feel nostalgic for my own adventures on JET. I particularly liked the way they spoke about what they found hard as well as the many things they enjoyed. Once again, sake tasting was on the menu courtesy of the Japanese consulate in Edinburgh and it was nice to catch up with some students who are interested in the JET Programme after the presentation.

Over the next three months we have monthly Edinburgh social’s at Akva and in June we also have the JLPT Bootcamp and Leavers BBQ. To volunteer for the bootcamp please contact scotlandtreasurer@jetaa.org.uk   or for the BBQ please contact ScotlandChair@jetaa.org.uk. You can see a full list of our planned activities for the year here.

Upcoming Events: 

Monthly socials at Akva, Edinburgh
Date: 20:30, Friday 3 May; Friday 7 June; Friday 5 July
Venue: Akva, 129 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9QG
RSVP & more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2085872768122275/

JLPT Bootcamp
Date: 7-9 June
Location: Gorton House, Edinburgh (transport provided)
Volunteers wanted!
More info: http://nihongoscotland.com/index.php/jlpt-bootcamp-language-retreat/

Leavers BBQ
Date: 13:00, Saturday 29 June 
Location: Bruntsfield Links, Park opposite Best Western Plus Bruntsfield Hotel, Edinburgh
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2466473876714036/