May to June...

Well, this is my last week of working from home.  Next week we go back to school.  But still not the same.  Students only stay until lunch and then go home.  So teachers kind of have the afternoons for prep stuff.  Have to bring our own lunch though.
Then the next week is more usual, students stay the full day.  And school lunch is provided.  But we all have wear face masks and no contact.   Meaning no handouts or even getting close to each other.  Such fun when we're trying to engage student interest in another language....
ALT's have the option of a plastic face shield during lessons so students can see how our mouths move.  But not required unless the school asks.
Summer is going to be a lot shorter.  No breaks in July and we work two weeks in August.  So only two weeks off for summer.  At least we get paid more, August is usually a very tight payday.
No speech contest for now, though they may have something later.
Getting warmer outside, which means my apartment is getting hot in the afternoon.
Everything else is kind of uncertain...but that's 2020's motto so far. 

Why?

Sheesh...work from home is super boring.  But for some reason the days go by faster when I'm "working" verses my days off.  When "working" I glance at my watch and realize that so much time has passed.  But on my days off I can stare at my watch going "it's only 11 am?"  The weather loves being weird too.  Monday was nice, sunny but not hot and a hint of a cool breeze.  Tuesday was cloudy but still warm.  Not much wind.  Today is mostly clear but steady gusts of wind.  Sigh....
Wondering if I can come home without a two week self quarantine.  So I can see family (and my doctor, got to love genetics.  Need medication for it. Figures) and not be stuck inside the whole time.
Earthquakes almost seem to be a weekly thing lately.  But not big ones.  Last one was around the 4.0-5.0 range but it seemed quieter than the two I'd felt before it.  Those were the same, roughly.  Rattled my closet doors.  Last one I could only tell because my curtains and hangers were swinging for several seconds.  Got an alert for one, otherwise no warnings.  I suspect that's because the alert comes to my USA phone and I don't always have it on-it tends to get glitchy if it's on for too long.
My sister keeps sending me videos of her adorable little kittens...wish I could have one but no luck.  She says Japan seems dangerous with all the quakes.  I don't quite agree given they had one that did more damage there than any I've felt here.
Got to see a cool local peony garden with two friends on saturday.  Not just peonies but that's the main draw.  Sad that they didn't do so well in profits this year but that's Coronavirus for you.  Just hope they can pull through.  It's a beautiful spot.
I saw a meme joking that someone is playing Jumanji.  Sometimes I wonder....

And Another Month Goes By...

Well, I am glad that I still have a job, despite working from home being extremely boring and lonely.  I think my vocal cords have gotten rusty, I have a bit of a hard time talking at first but it gets better after that.  Sadly don't get a lot of time to talk to people, especially face to face.  Lock downs are not fun.
Weather's warming up, which makes it easier to get out and walk, though more rain counters it a bit.  Humidity factor also dampens things, makes it feel hotter.  Only 75 degrees but feels closer to 90 when it's humid.  Rain helps there, takes the edge off.
Bugs are coming out, which is not cool when it's in my apartment in the dark and I can hear them creeping around.  Makes it a little hard to sleep.  Flies are annoying during the day but only when they get in my face.
Getting used to wearing the face mask, even though it still dries my eyes out.  Hopefully this will be under control soon...