It has really started to get cold around here. This morning we had a layer of frost on the ground for the first time this winter, and I guess that February is preparing some more of this kind of weather for us. We’re thankful for the electric blankets and heated floors downstairs.
My work is going very smoothly, and my classes have settled into a nice rhythm. February is the last full month of classes for this term, and March is about 75% full, with some extra time in there for administration, final projects and wrap ups. Kuniko and I usually take a trip in March between terms, but this year we decided to hold off. We’re traveling a bit in Japan later this month, and we’ve got at least three overseas trips coming later this year, so we should save our travel money for that.
Usually February and March are stressful months for me because it is during this time that I hear whether or not I will have a contract for the next year. I had anticipated this year would be even more stressful because of the employment law that goes into effect this April that compels companies to either hire their contract workers as full time permanent, or fire them and replace them with someone else. The way the law was designed was unintentionally cruel towards the very workers they are trying to protect, and some here in Japan are predicting a very messy “massacre” at the end of March.
Luckily, the whole thing is moot for me, and with my shiny new permanent contract in hand I have a whole lot less stress these days. The big suspense for me is whether my work will fundamentally change once we start the new term. There are no signs that it will, but I’m not getting too comfortable. Flexibility is the key, and maybe something new would be good to shake up my routine.
This weekend I am going to focus on setting up some new audio equipment in the living room so that it is sounding good and operating smoothly. We’ll celebrate the official start of spring on Saturday by silently eating big rolls of sushi while facing the lucky direction, and Sunday we’ll try to enjoy Kuniko’s only day off this week by exercising, watching some movies, and possible opening some bubbles. Should be nice!
