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typed while bored at work...
May. 12th, 2011 08:01 pmWhile my workload this year is far greater than last year, I'm enjoying this school sou much more. They actually include me in stuff, like "escape practice" (fire drills) and school trips. They made a name tag for me and had a laptop waiting for me on my first day. And everyone talks to me, and lets me talk to them in my pigeon Japanese. I feel like a real part of the staff here.
Last week we went to Nikko. It was soooo beautiful! There was a big temple with a tall pagoda and many many lanterns. And the temple was painted in bright colors, which is unusual for temples in Japan.
And at lunch time we went to this dining room, where all the kids pulled out their lunches they'd brought from home, and said their “Itadakimasu!” ... Then after they started eating, we teachers went into a separate, closed room (with tatami floors and sliding doors~) and got served fancy bentos and hot soup. So delicious! Teachers are spoiled. ;P
Tuesday was PTA meetings, so no classes. PTA meetings are one thing I'm actually not included in... but neither are many of the non-homeroom teachers. So I spent all day Tuesday sitting at my desk. ... I am now four plus weeks ahead in lesson plans, for all four grades. Now I'm struggling to find other things to do. ... Like write journal entries to post later, and research names suitable for unicorns.
Also on Tuesday (it was a very strange day), I learned my new company really doesn't want to direct deposit my monthly pay unless I have an account with the JP Post bank, which I don't have. (Actually, I've still been using my Ibaraki-based bank, so have had to use the ATM at 7-11, so get charged 105円 every time I need some money.) So to pay me on Tuesday, they just gave me my salary in cash. .o_o I can't say it's the first time I've held an envelope with $2000 in it, but it was the first time I actually got to keep said envelope.
Next week my company contact person is going to go with me to the post office to open a JP Post bank account. I think while I'm there, since she'll be with me, I'll inquire about how to do bank transfers (right now, to get money into my U.S. bank account (to pay bills, like student loans) I get money orders, but the U.S. post offices keep claiming they don't have enough cash on hand to cash them, so if I try to send much more than $500, it's a problem) and/or see about getting a debit/credit card (so I can buy stuff online without sending a money order home first).
(The whole money issue is becoming a huge pain in the ass! For example, I have the money (in cash, in an envelope .^^; ) to pay off unicorn right now, but have no good way of getting that money into my U.S. bank, short of getting a bunch of small increment money orders. But since each money order is 2000円, they start to add up. I got a Japanese paypal account, but then found out they only do credit card payments. .-_- There's no way to hook Japanese paypal to my Japanese bank account. Such a pain! So if I can do bank transfers, things will be slightly easier, though I'll still have to leave work to go to the post office to do it. Luckily, there's a post office with a JP Post bank branch right next to the school, and they don't seem to mind me running out for a bit if I have no classes.)
So, yesterday, on my way to work, I realized that I'd forgotten to pack a lunch. I was so distraught, thinking I'd have to starve all day. Then, while I was moping at my desk, I heard the call of "Bento!"
Aha! I'd forgotten that every day they put in a bento order. Saved! They're 400円, which is more than the school lunches from last year, so of course I won't get them every day, but it's nice that if I forget to bring something, like yesterday, I have a plan B-ento.
And it was delicious.
Anyway. While I may sound happy – mostly about work stuffs – I've actually been pretty grumpy lately. I know it's hormonal, but that doesn't really help any. The other day I had a moment where I swore I could physically feel my mood drop. Not fun.
But I'll get over it.
Last week we went to Nikko. It was soooo beautiful! There was a big temple with a tall pagoda and many many lanterns. And the temple was painted in bright colors, which is unusual for temples in Japan.
And at lunch time we went to this dining room, where all the kids pulled out their lunches they'd brought from home, and said their “Itadakimasu!” ... Then after they started eating, we teachers went into a separate, closed room (with tatami floors and sliding doors~) and got served fancy bentos and hot soup. So delicious! Teachers are spoiled. ;P
Tuesday was PTA meetings, so no classes. PTA meetings are one thing I'm actually not included in... but neither are many of the non-homeroom teachers. So I spent all day Tuesday sitting at my desk. ... I am now four plus weeks ahead in lesson plans, for all four grades. Now I'm struggling to find other things to do. ... Like write journal entries to post later, and research names suitable for unicorns.
Also on Tuesday (it was a very strange day), I learned my new company really doesn't want to direct deposit my monthly pay unless I have an account with the JP Post bank, which I don't have. (Actually, I've still been using my Ibaraki-based bank, so have had to use the ATM at 7-11, so get charged 105円 every time I need some money.) So to pay me on Tuesday, they just gave me my salary in cash. .o_o I can't say it's the first time I've held an envelope with $2000 in it, but it was the first time I actually got to keep said envelope.
Next week my company contact person is going to go with me to the post office to open a JP Post bank account. I think while I'm there, since she'll be with me, I'll inquire about how to do bank transfers (right now, to get money into my U.S. bank account (to pay bills, like student loans) I get money orders, but the U.S. post offices keep claiming they don't have enough cash on hand to cash them, so if I try to send much more than $500, it's a problem) and/or see about getting a debit/credit card (so I can buy stuff online without sending a money order home first).
(The whole money issue is becoming a huge pain in the ass! For example, I have the money (in cash, in an envelope .^^; ) to pay off unicorn right now, but have no good way of getting that money into my U.S. bank, short of getting a bunch of small increment money orders. But since each money order is 2000円, they start to add up. I got a Japanese paypal account, but then found out they only do credit card payments. .-_- There's no way to hook Japanese paypal to my Japanese bank account. Such a pain! So if I can do bank transfers, things will be slightly easier, though I'll still have to leave work to go to the post office to do it. Luckily, there's a post office with a JP Post bank branch right next to the school, and they don't seem to mind me running out for a bit if I have no classes.)
So, yesterday, on my way to work, I realized that I'd forgotten to pack a lunch. I was so distraught, thinking I'd have to starve all day. Then, while I was moping at my desk, I heard the call of "Bento!"
Aha! I'd forgotten that every day they put in a bento order. Saved! They're 400円, which is more than the school lunches from last year, so of course I won't get them every day, but it's nice that if I forget to bring something, like yesterday, I have a plan B-ento.
And it was delicious.
Anyway. While I may sound happy – mostly about work stuffs – I've actually been pretty grumpy lately. I know it's hormonal, but that doesn't really help any. The other day I had a moment where I swore I could physically feel my mood drop. Not fun.
But I'll get over it.
