Thursday 13th September, 2012        1745

The only good thing to happen today has been the ability to take a shower this morning. Sonya called me to say the wages still weren’t in so I asked Kevin (as he was teaching) to see if he could find out anything. Nobody else knew anything about not being paid, but then by coincidence a teacher named Cinny (where she obtained that as an English name is beyond me) called to inform me that as Tina is now on maternity leave she is my new assistant. I asked her to make enquiries, which she did this afternoon, and she got back to me with the information the wages had been sent yesterday. We will see if they turn up tomorrow. Kevin arrived with 300y for me as part of the 500y he borrowed last month so at least I could go to town and buy smokes and meat without raiding my other account.

Two other things Cinny wanted to talk to me about were firstly that a teacher had found a small, wet and bedraggled puppy outside our accommodation and they wondered if it was mine. It wasn’t but I am sure the pot-bellied black pig has recently whelped. The second thing was to tell me that instead of my just having one class all next week I will start teaching the freshmen - also, as the classes were too big one or possibly two have been split so I could end up with 9 classes in total. Strictly speaking my contract states a maximum of eight but I am not concerned seeing as I lose one class soon.

The reason for the unexpected early start is because the military training has been delayed. My guess is that due to rising tensions over the disputed islands Japan have just bought the army do not want to send loads of personnel to every college and university and weaken their numbers at a sensitive time. All it means for me is that I should have an easy week or two later when the training does go ahead. I just wish they would hurry up and update my schedule online so I can see what my workload is, but I don’t think somehow I will get a free day mid-week this term!

Friday 14th      2100

Payday arrived and as a result I had to go to town. Actually I didn’t really, I could have left it until tomorrow as I am off there in the morning, but I wanted to get my cigars to leave room for food shopping tomorrow and also wanted to put 500y on K’s card for my internet shopping.

Before I left I checked the school website and my schedule is now there. Not 9 but 10 classes! Doesn’t sound a lot but in fact it is 25% more than I am contracted for. Maybe I will be paid extra - Cinny seems to think I will but if not I can’t complain because it is very much swings and roundabouts. I am assured however that no class is over thirty students which is good.

Yesterday I needed my jacket for the first time on the bike so today I took it again, except I had to take it off because it was so warm. I bought the smokes, this months medicine and a treat of pig trotter and liver for the brood, then Ke Bi Wang for my dinner. There were a few new faces there - presumably freshmen students - to clear tables and as always with new people they just had to keep stealing looks at the foreigner. If they stay there long enough they will see me often enough.

So, a busy week ahead for me, although Kevin has moaned that whilst he works every day yet again I have been given a free day (Thursdays this time). I did point out that on two days I am teaching six lessons and his overall workload is just 60% of mine but he still grumbled! I have been given no books for the new students, but unlike two years ago, it doesn’t bother me. For starters in the first classes we won’t use the books anyway and secondly, hopefully they will be the same ones I have in my cupboard from my first year - with all my notes written in them. That will save me work.

For now, two lessons in the morning and then relax for the rest of the weekend before the onslaught.