A Day in the Life
May 31st, 2006 by quaisiIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
I thought it would be interesting to do a day in the life before the baby comes and shatters my peaceful existence. I`ll do another comparative one in a couple of months.
Wednesday May 31st
I wake up at 7:30 and make myself some muesli with milk and sliced bananas on top. I`m out of the door by 7:50 and cycle to the train station. I have a month pass for the bicycle park there guarded by a troop of senior citizens.
The train leaves at 8:15 and as my station is the start of the line, I`m guaranteed a seat. It takes me about 30 minutes to my first transfer station then I take another train for around 15 minutes and change again for another 15 minute journey.
I teach at a kindergarten today and arrive about 9:30 and prepare the materials for the five consecutive 20 minute lessons. The rooms are often heated even though it`s 27 degrees outside so I wear an England football shirt and tracksuit bottoms to cope.
By 11:40 the lessons have finished, I`m exhausted and I`m free to go. I catch a train to the nearest large station (Kyobashi) where there are lots of things I can while away a couple of hours doing. I treat myself to a Wendy`s burger and relax in a Starbucks reading, writing or studying. God Bless America. I may also take a look at the MUJI shop.
At 3:00 I change into more formal clothes and take a short subway train to the evening school. I get there at 3:30 and prepare the lessons` materials. Today I have a Beginner class of six four to seven year olds, an Advanced class of seven eight to twelve year olds and an Intermediate class of five eight to eleven year olds. All classes last 50 minutes.
By 7:00 the classes have finished and I take the subway again on a 45 minute journey and change to an overground train for the final 20 minute leg. I get to the station about 8:20 and am home around 8:30.
Reiko prepares dinner for me whilst I shower. I eat the dinner and talk to Reiko. When I`ve finished I surf the internet, catch up on blogs I read and blog.
I finish around 10:30 and go upstairs to bed where I`ll watch some Western TV or read. I usually get to sleep around 11:00.
Looking at this I actually only work for about 4 and a half hours a day but leave home early and arrive back late. This may be agonizing when the baby is out if I never see it. I also spend about two to three hours a day on a train.
Posted in Life in Japan |
June 1st, 2006 at 5:12 am
Yeah, this can be quite a pain in the ass. Not getting to spend quality time with your daughter, that is. Keep in mind that babies sleep more than you or I, so if your family is anything like mine, the baby will be up early (maybe between 5-6am?), but the end of her day will be around 7-8pm. Naps in between notwithstanding. So you can expect her to be out when you get home.
But that’s when she is a bit older…
In the beginning you will be banished to THE LAND OF NO SLEEP because she won’t have any idea of “schedule.” The law of opposites prevails here, meaning she will sleep when you are awake and want to be awake and attended to when you need to sleep. If not being attended to, she will cry. Alot. And though young babies will sleep 14-18 hours a day, that doesn’t mean it’s all at one time. Up until about 5 months or so, she will sleep in 4-5 hour blocks. Fun.
But you might get lucky… Or you might be unlucky and have a baby with colic, who will cry and scream regardless of whether you are doing the right thing or not. Ours had a mild case, but it was still enough to grind my nerves to mere nubs.
Either way, you will be amazed, astonished and thoroughly captivated by her.
By the way, I hope you don’t mind if I nitpick about one small thing… Referring to your baby as “it” before you know the sex is okay, but now she’s a “she.” Just my 10 yen’s worth. ^-^
June 1st, 2006 at 9:51 pm
simon - an interesting insight. that’s a pretty tough schedule though mate. I’ve started at primary and jun high schools subcontracted through one of the big conversation schools. it might be worth considering if you want more time at home. I’m lucky enough to cycle to my three schools and I’m finished by 3.15 and usually home before 4. might be worth a look into? good luck. stu
June 1st, 2006 at 10:16 pm
This is a new job and so I`m in at the deep end and I think given a worse schedule than the teachers who have been there a long time and built up relationships with the Japanese staff.
The hours aren`t so bad. What is worse is the long train journeys. I can finish at 7:00 but not be home until 8:30.
Some teachers are leaving at the start of the summer holidays so I hope the schedule will be changed and I will be looked on more favourably.
And Sluggo,
It`s hard for me to personalize the baby at this time. I dont know if it`s because I may jinx the birth or not but it`s tricky. When the baby`s out I say “she” no worries
June 2nd, 2006 at 2:33 am
Ahh that’s cool… I wasn’t trying to pull some ‘right to life’ shiznit on you, just slinging opinion, that’s all…