Music for the kiddies

Every month now I put up a handful of song recommendations on the English board in the English classroom at my work.  Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, One Direction, Carly Rae Jepson, and a few others are quite popular among my middle schoolers, but I really want to try to expose them to more music than just that.  I also want to try Kpop with them, ha ha, but that's probably an already hard-to-justify endeavor.

Anyways, I spend some of my down time at work browsing the UK's and US's top 40's charts and other music sites to keep up with what's popular and screen options for my recommendations.  There's a lot of music that becomes popular with the kiddies, but omg, some of that music is soooo inappropro for young teeny boppers.

Exam Days

my morning commute

Exam days usually mean that my classes are cancelled, and I'm left to "work" at my desk.  

Sometimes, I really appreciate these days because I read a book, study Japanese and Spanish, derp around on the Internet, and just relax.  I get to work on that one manga I started forever ago.  And I do a little creative writing in Google Docs too.  It's nice sometimes to have what is the equivalent of an extended study period like when I was a student stuck at school with nothing to do.

Sometimes, I really loathe these days because I get so bored and antsy just sitting around for the work day while everyone else is busy running around administering tests and then taking care of kids and making sure they get out of school and then organizing and grading those tests from earlier.  I finish any work I have pretty early and then die of boredom inside.  When the students leave, I stand near the exit and say goodbye to them.  I get up a dozen times to make tea or coffee, use the bathroom, and find a reason to walk somewhere nearby like to check out the printers or maybe chat with a teacher who also just "looks busy."

cake made by a student

Today, I'm feeling more of the former, and I went to work not so early.  I took my time washing my hair this morning and then buying myself lunch at the convenience store before taking the bus.  (There's usually no school lunch on exam days since the students have early dismissal, which ends RIGHT BEFORE LUNCH.)  And today, I've just been chillaxing and taking my time to do any tasks I have to do.

Exam days are pretty fun and relaxing for the Special Education crew too.  One of the younger female students hung out with two of the teacher aids in the cooking room and made cake for themselves and a few of the other teachers who were in the staff room.  So sweet!  Both the treat and the thought!  I was offered a piece, and it was yummy.

I'm thinking about what reviews to write up next.  I finished watching Jessica Jones a couple of weeks ago, and two nights ago, I watched all of season 1 of No Game No Life.  And I can't stop thinking about wither of those shows!!!  I almost want to re-watch No Game No Life since I binged it, and it was over too fast.  It's such a pretty anime and so brightly colored. 　うわぁぁ～

https://images6.alphacoders.com/512/512323.jpg

Japanese Work Clothes for School

こんにちは。よろしくお願いします!

Winter has come, and that means winter fashion!  Yay!!

So this post is about what people wear to work when work is a Japanese public school and when it's cold.  ALT and JTE #OOTD, if you will.

ALT= Assistant Language Teacher (so usually the foreign teacher who helps teach English)

JTE= Japanese Teacher of English (usually Japanese native teachers who teach English)

OOTD= Outfit Of The Day

This post is mainly to help those who are thinking about coming to Japan to work as an ALT, like through the JET program, Interac, direct hire by a Board of Education, etc.  But I guess it's interesting just to see what people wear, too, right?

As always...
DISCLAIMER: ESID (Every Situation Is Different!)  
I actually dislike this acronym because I feel like it states the obvious.  Of course, ESID applies to working in Japan or working anywhere really.  Everyone knows you should wear a suit and tie or whatever other professional clothing that customarily matches a workplace position, but, especially for those who are new graduates or new to the working world or new to Japan's working world, we need examples!!  We want a general idea!  Some work places provide a very clear-cut dress code or even uniform to make it easier for us newbies while others don't seem to specify a thing.  

So yeah, ESID, or whatever.  Just know that the following examples are what I choose to wear and what other individuals choose to wear at my junior high school.  I feel that I would categorize my school as somewhere in between those super formal schools where everyone wears suits and the more casual schools where everyone basically shows up in sportswear since it's the most comfortable (and makes sense to wear when you're a sports club supervisor before and after classes, so why change clothes, right?)

Okay!

ALT #OOTD

If you're interested in what an ALT might wear to work, please watch the video below.  It's me!

JTE #OOTD

If you're interested in seeing what everyday teachers, including JTEs, wear to work, please scroll through the following pictures.  Each picture is labeled to give you a little more information about the teacher, but faces, names, and other identifying information are not given to protect the privacy of each individual, of course.  They all are or were my coworkers, and they all so kindly allowed me to take their pictures anonymously to help me out in making this blog post.

Here they are!

Female, English

Female, Math

Male, Vice Principal