All change! Also stuff.
Woo, so things are happening in my life.
One. I am changing jobs as of April. I'll be going into a totally different company, one that specialises in eikawai or conversation classes but still has opportunities to do what I am doing now. Basically it's the same money as now, for less hours. Seems silly right? Oh, and actal overtime if I work outside of my scheduled hours. Overtime. I can actually get paid for doing more work. I plan on working extra over the summer and making use of the nice airconditioned office! The only downside is that with my reduced working hours, I need to get my own health insurance. I can up my hours with overtime and such, but that isn't guaranteed, to get me up to the "you're now on the company policy" level. So I'm wondering what to do about that. Because at the moment I'm on a company policy.
The new job has a few downsides, less vacation time - no summer vacation- but that isn't such a bummer. I usually end up staying at home and running the A/C for far too long because it's too damed hot and humid to do stuff. And I will actually get to use my 10 vacation days in a year instead of having them "assigned" to the summer vacation. Also, the schedules are usually set the day before at 5pm. Which means I will probably not be able to make advanced plans so much anymore beyond my scheduled days off (hopefully Thurs and Fri). I'm sure there's more downsides, but for now I'm excited to be trying something new.
Anyway, going back a few weeks...
I ran the school marathon (3km) with my students. I was super happy with myself since I ran it twice. I'd been doing 20minutes of jogging at home on my little treadmill, and knowing that 3km usually takes me up to 18minutes, I didn't really think too much about doing it the 2nd time after I'd had a good 45 minute break.
But.
Turns out.
I busted my knee.
So some part of all that jogging led to my muscles overstressing my knee and pulling it out of alignment. I went to see the doctor and he told me as much after a bunch of X-rays on both my knees. He then scared the crap out of me by injecting something (some kind of lubricant is most likely after my post-treatment research) into my knee cavity. I got given a tube support bandage and a prescription to go get over a dozen of the medicated cooling pads. So that was me. Limping around and walking up and down the stairs like a little old lady for a week or so. It's better now, but too much walking can make it start to ache. So I'm still taking it slow for another week or so.
We've also had Valentine's Day! Which is Japan is an excuse to have some fun times melting chocolate.
The biscuits were originally for Fluffypants, but I made so many that after putting his little box together I had enough for all the teachers at one of my schools! The marshmallows were for the taiko teachers, classmates and the other members of Yamato. Me and my friend Laura made two kinds, one with just the sides done, and the other with white chocolate on the top and bottom too. They're supposed to look like the taiko drums...
Speaking of taiko. Laura and I ordered our tickets for Yamato's Spring show in April. The one right before they disappear off on tour around Europe. And me being me, I wanted to do something for Fluffypants. But I've already given him two drawings and (after Valentine's) food. So, I figured I'd make a good luck charm for him. Kind of like the ones you buy at the temples. Well I finished it the other week while letting my knee recover! Complete with a personal "wish" inside. I did have to sew up the top though rather than just having it be tied by the ribbon.
Also, it was Pancake Day yesterday! And I totally forgot what with my calender not having it on there! No wonder I had a craving for pancakes yesterday! So I made some today. Mmmmmm honey misshapen pancakes.
One. I am changing jobs as of April. I'll be going into a totally different company, one that specialises in eikawai or conversation classes but still has opportunities to do what I am doing now. Basically it's the same money as now, for less hours. Seems silly right? Oh, and actal overtime if I work outside of my scheduled hours. Overtime. I can actually get paid for doing more work. I plan on working extra over the summer and making use of the nice airconditioned office! The only downside is that with my reduced working hours, I need to get my own health insurance. I can up my hours with overtime and such, but that isn't guaranteed, to get me up to the "you're now on the company policy" level. So I'm wondering what to do about that. Because at the moment I'm on a company policy.
The new job has a few downsides, less vacation time - no summer vacation- but that isn't such a bummer. I usually end up staying at home and running the A/C for far too long because it's too damed hot and humid to do stuff. And I will actually get to use my 10 vacation days in a year instead of having them "assigned" to the summer vacation. Also, the schedules are usually set the day before at 5pm. Which means I will probably not be able to make advanced plans so much anymore beyond my scheduled days off (hopefully Thurs and Fri). I'm sure there's more downsides, but for now I'm excited to be trying something new.
Anyway, going back a few weeks...
I ran the school marathon (3km) with my students. I was super happy with myself since I ran it twice. I'd been doing 20minutes of jogging at home on my little treadmill, and knowing that 3km usually takes me up to 18minutes, I didn't really think too much about doing it the 2nd time after I'd had a good 45 minute break.
But.
Turns out.
I busted my knee.
So some part of all that jogging led to my muscles overstressing my knee and pulling it out of alignment. I went to see the doctor and he told me as much after a bunch of X-rays on both my knees. He then scared the crap out of me by injecting something (some kind of lubricant is most likely after my post-treatment research) into my knee cavity. I got given a tube support bandage and a prescription to go get over a dozen of the medicated cooling pads. So that was me. Limping around and walking up and down the stairs like a little old lady for a week or so. It's better now, but too much walking can make it start to ache. So I'm still taking it slow for another week or so.
We've also had Valentine's Day! Which is Japan is an excuse to have some fun times melting chocolate.
The biscuits were originally for Fluffypants, but I made so many that after putting his little box together I had enough for all the teachers at one of my schools! The marshmallows were for the taiko teachers, classmates and the other members of Yamato. Me and my friend Laura made two kinds, one with just the sides done, and the other with white chocolate on the top and bottom too. They're supposed to look like the taiko drums...
Speaking of taiko. Laura and I ordered our tickets for Yamato's Spring show in April. The one right before they disappear off on tour around Europe. And me being me, I wanted to do something for Fluffypants. But I've already given him two drawings and (after Valentine's) food. So, I figured I'd make a good luck charm for him. Kind of like the ones you buy at the temples. Well I finished it the other week while letting my knee recover! Complete with a personal "wish" inside. I did have to sew up the top though rather than just having it be tied by the ribbon.
Also, it was Pancake Day yesterday! And I totally forgot what with my calender not having it on there! No wonder I had a craving for pancakes yesterday! So I made some today. Mmmmmm honey misshapen pancakes.