Current mood:

sleepy and coughy

This may be one of my last job related posts....
Last week was pretty stressful. Between my continued insane work hours (Tuesday-Thursday I had more than 10 classes each day), I also have the added stress of packing and cleaning (which I did very little of), plus I got sick.

And on top of that I have to keep E-mailing the new teacher. Yes, my boss hired someone. He basically hired the first guy who replied to his request for a picture (BTW – I had to write that E-mail). I noticed in his “no” pile he had a young American female who was teaching at an international preschool (oh, her family is Chinese so she couldn’t possibly know English) and a black guy who had training in teaching English. The guy he hired isn’t totally white (or at least I can’t tell, the picture isn’t clear), but whatever.

First I had to send the guy info on the job. Fine, I wrote that E-mail a while back to someone else so I copied it. Then he sent me two LONG LONG E-mails with crap tons of questions. OK…. It was the weekend and I was trying to plan and pack and not go crazy, but I answered all of his questions. Then, I had to write an E-mail to him each day last week, plus finish up some other info. Despite my being incredibly straightforward with him (I told him I was leaving because its too much work) he accepted the job. I didn’t tell him that my boss is insane, but I did tell him the number of classes, outside work, travel time, etc., His loss.

The main thing I have a problem with is that I had to keep E-mailing him every day, adding an extra 1-2 hours worth of work PER DAY to my already beyond packed schedule. Not that the questions weren’t all valid questions (ignoring the repeats – dude read what I am writing), but 80% of them are not things that the current teacher should have to answer. My BOSS should be answering these questions. Then, when I told the new teacher that I didn’t know something, he asked my boss on the phone (he wanted to talk to my boss on the phone…. Which meant more work for me because apparently I have to set up the time for them to call – am I now a teacher/planner/secretary?). My boss told him to ask me – DESPITE THE FACT THAT I DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE JAPANESE INSURANCE!

Not to mention this guy can't read or speak Japanese. Not that it will be a problem for some things, but I teach private lessons to little kids. My boss doesn't do anything during a lot if them. Imagine teaching little kids, all alone, 49-weeks a year, with no ability to speak a word of their language. I know the teacher before me didn't speak Japanese, but... it sure as hell makes this job (and living here) a lot easier. He hasn't even made an attempt to learn hiragana from what I understand and he applied for this job back in January.

So, I totaled up all of the stuff I have sent him – E-mails and attachments. 16 pages (Times New Roman font, size 12), and over 7500 words. That is seriously an essay. That’s longer than all (almost all?) of the essays I wrote as an undergraduate (I just noticed I am missing some papers I wrote – I must have lost them when my computer crashed). It’s longer than at least one of the chapters of my thesis (I have a few that are at the same length or slightly longer).

OK – I need to plan more for this week, do a little packing, wash some dishes, and stare lovingly at my Yoko signed pic. haha What? It's GORGEOUS!