it's not life that matters but the journey...

Have I mentioned that its hot?  Its damn hot!  I drink at least four or five bottles of water a day, and have that limp french fry feeling again.   My fingers and feet are swollen, and my shoes are leaving blisters!  Only two more months of this heat to go!  And in August, it should get hotter.  the only consolation is that the "tsuyu" or "rainy season" is almost over.

I'm extremely frustrated right now with the owner of this school where I'm supposed to start working.  Actually I did start working on Saturday, but so far she's treating my whole employment as a "trial" - I'm scheduled to teach four classes on Saturdays, but the Monday class is still tentative (and its really not worth my commuting and  hour there and back for one 40 minute class).  I went out there yesterday (a Monday) to have some more explanation of the classes I will be teaching, and to shadow this Kindergarten class that she wants me to teach.  its fun to watch this australian girl teach these kids, but I am not sure I want to do it.  its kind of like babysitting, after all!  But anyway, when I asked Naoko, the owner, if I might get more classes, she just does this wincing thing that so many Japanese people do when they want to avoid a subject.  She cocks her head to one side, scrunches up her face, takes in a breath through her teeth, and says she is sorry, can I give her one more week to work out a schedule.  then she says that someone is quitting and she has to see if she can find someone to take his classes - I can't because they are all late at night and I told her I can't work until 10 - I won't get home until nearly midnight!  And then, she said that she is looking for a full time person - which means that ultimately I might not work there at all!  She seems to be really disorganized with her schedule, and unable to shuffle around all of the part time teachers (many of them work there just one day in addition to Full time jobs!!).  I'm not really sure why she contacted me, except that maybe she needed someone to fill in for the teachers when they take vacations.  I will keep going on Saturdays and see what happens.  I also got a call from my former Japanese teacher, Mrs. Ogawa, who said that she also found a school where I might work "on call."  Its better than nothing I guess!

one more frustrating thing - it looks like we won't be able to download movies for free anymore from Masahiko's friend's server.  He has had a problem with it, and decided not to operate it anymore.  I feel like I jinxed it by mentioning it the other day on here, but anyway, we will probably have to pay for satellite tv if we want to see movies!  maybe its a sign that I should read more?  or write more?