Influenza

So luckily I don't have the influenza....*knock on wood

But my buddy does and a lot of the students at the schools around the area do! I don't know what exactly "Influenza" is in Japan, but I think it's similar to the flu or fever...but anyway, all the teachers and the school nurse have been making a big deal out of this, as it is the flu season. And so there have been packets of information and pages upon pages dumped on my desk on how to prevent the sickness and to let people know right away if you feel any flu-like symptoms or don't feel right.

Well, I hope that I don't get the sickness...this week I have an orientation for the Chiba ALTs. It's the mid-year conference and my friend who is an ALT at the school by mine isn't able to go to the conference because he's sick...even if he gets better, the BOE won't let him go to the conference. So that's a bummer, but I guess to prevent others from getting sick.

Well, I'm going to do my best to stay healthy! Hopefully I will be alright. I will just get lots of sleep, eat right, and stay warm! It's tough to when the hot water doesn't work in the morning and you have to wash your face with the freezing cold water when it's not even over 50 degrees inside your house as well! That makes waking up just impossible.....!!!!!!

But I guess that's how it is in Japan...just have to get used to it!

Today, I also had a mini "interview" with the people from my BOE. Although I technically can just re-contract, the people at the BOE wanted to talk to me and just be sure that things were going alright with the schools and with class. Since they're not with me everyday, they don't know all the details about how everything is going or if I needed anything. So before making a final decision on whether I will stay another year, they wanted to just sit down and talk about those little things and help me understand that I could stay another year if I wanted, but at the same time they wanted to make sure that I had everything I needed and to be sure that everything was going smoothly. It lasted about 30 minutes and was a real casual talk between myself, my supervisor, and a couple people from the BOE. They're all really nice so I wasn't nervous and I was already planning on staying for another year. I know that I want to stay in Japan at least a few years since I made a big move and gave up a lot of things in America to be in Japan. I feel like it would be a waste to stay for only 1 year and then go back. I feel like to really experience Japan, you have to stay at least 2 years and even that's not enough. There are just so many things and places to see but soooo little time!!

Well, I hope to get all the stuff squared away soon and I should be re-signing my official contract soon. Later!