Humid....

Had a small earthquake Thursday morning.  The usual kind that startles awake but doesn't break things.  Woke me up before 5, and my phone alert went off.  Then some kind of city alert was going off so there wasn't much chance of going back to sleep before my 5:30 alarm.  Sigh...Did make for fun conversation topics in the lessons and after school though.  Learned the word for earthquake in Japanese: jishin.  Got a long conversation with some students about it after school before the VP walked up and told the students they had 'good english'.  Given it took a bit for them to catch what I was asking and the VP came up right after the light bulb moment when we all got on the same page it was kind of funny.  Still cool when that happens.
Switching between schools is fun and yet crazy.  Have to make sure I have all my stuff at the end of each day as I'll need it the next.  Keeping track of which class is where in the lesson is tricky, with six or seven in each grade and they might be in the same chapter or on the same page but not the same section.  Sigh...got a notebook to write down each one just to help me keep track a bit better.
Had dinner with a fellow female ALT after work on Thursday as we got paid this week.  They were feeling a bit antisocial and trying to break out of it.  Spending three months stuck at home doesn't help...at least they have a pet.  I don't get that luxury.
My Japanese understanding is steadily improving but speaking and kanji are still slow.  Muzukashi....(hard in Japanese)
Humid and warm today, which means I'm sweating even though it's only mid 80's.  Did laundry this morning and even with the cold water I was hot. Figures.  Get rain every other day too, which only contributes to the uncomfortable factor.  Oh well.
I pray everyone is staying safe and following precautions as summer starts up.  Not that I get one.  With the shutdown we work through July and half of August.  So our summer is two weeks in August.  No speech contest so no practice sessions.  Sad but I understand.

Am I

Annoyed or amused?  Kind of hard to tell.  First I get to go back to work this week, which means I'm no longer stuck in my apartment most of the day.  But then the teachers are busy and I still have next to nothing to do.  The company who hired me asks me to check my temperature before I go into work(and not go if I have a fever).  And I've been trying to get a thermometer for the past month with no luck.  Ask for suggestions and everyone seems to respond like they think I haven't looked (or asked, which I did that too) or even know what it's called in Japanese(I have a dictionary for that...).  Had to order one online.
Which is another thing.  Ordered the conference ensign almost a month ago and am still waiting on a delivery date.  Thermometer was due this coming saturday, they delivered it yesterday.  Why do some delivery companies use my drop box and others make me ask for redelivery? Sigh...
Funny part about the thermometer, the instructions are all Japanese, and the reading is Celsius.  But the on/off switch is English...
Went to the school I started at today, and one of the teachers noticed I'd lost weight since last year.  They then asked me if I was okay...Guess losing weight might not be such a good thing right now...  Kind of funny though.
At the school I go to Monday through Wednesday, they don't really talk to me much, though it was getting better yesterday.  Work with three teachers there but only heard from one about lessons next week.  Still tried to plan stuff just in case.  Did get to do a quick self intro with the whole first grade, long one next week.  Also help clean the teachers room and main entrance after the students leave(have to sanitize everything it seems) for this week at least.  Tried to say goodbye to all the students as they left so they get used to me.
The school I go to Thursday and Friday almost everyone greeted me and several talked to me(VP even gave me a note that if I was having troubles I should talk to them).  Even though there were no real lessons, one teacher had me do a very short self intro to one of the 1st grade classes and help intro phonics(not fun trying to speak up wearing a face mask, kept slipping down and getting in my mouth).  Also got to farewell the students as they left.  Cleaning was more involved, helped a teacher clean a classroom-sweep the floor then sanitize the desks, chairs, and door knobs(well, not knobs, but I don't know if they'd be called a handle or something else.  they don't stick out).  Took most of an hour.  Laughed inside as there was a very annoying mosquito buzzing around the teachers room after that.  I tried to squash it but missed.  Flew in another teachers face as a third encouraged me to try and get it.  Of course I lost sight of it after that.  Don't know if anyone got it.
Trains are busy, but I can tell that less people are riding than usual.  The train in the morning had all the seats full, but it used to have plenty of people standing too.  The afternoon train had open seats, but some people were standing anyway.
Hot and humid in the sun, but a nice breeze in the shade.  Figures...