First Week on the Job
I`ve been in Japan for a little over a week now, but in a lot of ways it feels more like a month.
Most of you out there are probably thinking "oh man, I wish I was in Japan...I`m so jealous!" But really, you shouldn`t be. This isn`t a vacation and I don`t get to just spend oodles of time and money doing anything I want whenever I want or eating awesome food all the time. Actually most of the time the deciding factor for food, transport, or anything else we want to do is "how much is it?", because we have to live on our savings until September 20, when I get my first real check.
Japan is pretty awesome when you have some time to enjoy it, but my week has had very little of that. Because the sun is very bright at 5 or so AM, we wake up insanely early. I take a shower, grab some breakfast, and bike to work for 30 min. By the time I get there I need another shower, but alas, there is not one to be found. The morning is usually spent in one of the 5 classes at the preschool I work at, singing/playing games for 30 min chunks. I also help serve lunch and clean up afterwards, then pat all the kids to sleep. From around 1 until 3, all the kids are asleep so I sit in the office and drink ice coffee and try to be productive. 3 PM is snack time, so I help serve the food again and clean up again when it`s over. I clock out at 4 and bike home -- usually get back around 4:30. It`s not a hard job, just a time consuming one and a bit confusing since the teachers want me to speak Japanese to them but I`m only allowed to speak in English if kids are around. The teachers are nice but a bit obtuse and remote...they don`t like having to tell you what you should do, especially if they have to do it in English.
Most nights this week have been eating some sandwiches, spaghetti, or something else cheap for dinner, taking another shower, and finding a random way to be entertained (our temporary apartment has no internet or TV) for an hour or so before I`m so tired I can barely stay awake.
The weekends have been pretty busy between church, shopping, and spending time trying to meet some new Japanese friends.
So, all that to say that while I really do love being here it is by no means a cake walk and most days, it`s actually pretty tough work. I would recommend having a nice vacation in Japan over working here unless you are really serious about it.
Most of you out there are probably thinking "oh man, I wish I was in Japan...I`m so jealous!" But really, you shouldn`t be. This isn`t a vacation and I don`t get to just spend oodles of time and money doing anything I want whenever I want or eating awesome food all the time. Actually most of the time the deciding factor for food, transport, or anything else we want to do is "how much is it?", because we have to live on our savings until September 20, when I get my first real check.
Japan is pretty awesome when you have some time to enjoy it, but my week has had very little of that. Because the sun is very bright at 5 or so AM, we wake up insanely early. I take a shower, grab some breakfast, and bike to work for 30 min. By the time I get there I need another shower, but alas, there is not one to be found. The morning is usually spent in one of the 5 classes at the preschool I work at, singing/playing games for 30 min chunks. I also help serve lunch and clean up afterwards, then pat all the kids to sleep. From around 1 until 3, all the kids are asleep so I sit in the office and drink ice coffee and try to be productive. 3 PM is snack time, so I help serve the food again and clean up again when it`s over. I clock out at 4 and bike home -- usually get back around 4:30. It`s not a hard job, just a time consuming one and a bit confusing since the teachers want me to speak Japanese to them but I`m only allowed to speak in English if kids are around. The teachers are nice but a bit obtuse and remote...they don`t like having to tell you what you should do, especially if they have to do it in English.
Most nights this week have been eating some sandwiches, spaghetti, or something else cheap for dinner, taking another shower, and finding a random way to be entertained (our temporary apartment has no internet or TV) for an hour or so before I`m so tired I can barely stay awake.
The weekends have been pretty busy between church, shopping, and spending time trying to meet some new Japanese friends.
So, all that to say that while I really do love being here it is by no means a cake walk and most days, it`s actually pretty tough work. I would recommend having a nice vacation in Japan over working here unless you are really serious about it.