Some Thoughts on Overtime

October 31, 2012
 
At work today, I received a most interesting e-mail in my notifications box. The e-mail stated that no one is allowed to do overtime today, everyone needs to say good-bye and go home at the city hall's exact closing time.

I find it interesting that while in the U.S. companies struggle with employees who don't show up to work, or who take too many holidays, Japan is facing the opposite problem. Lately I've been receiving notices from the office about “work-life balance.” People are doing so much over time, and not using their holidays to the point that City Hall is keeping track and averaging out the number of days taken per worker. In a given period, workers prefecture-wide are expected to take an average of 12 days off of work. When I look at the data it seems that workers in the prefecture's capital are averaging only slightly under this number. However for my city, we are currently averaging around 4 days.

I can't help but think that this is a condition the country has caused for itself (not saying that this is a bad thing. This is coming from the mouth of a workaholic, mind you). When children are all but required to stay at school until 5:30/6 o'clock at night to do club activities, it only makes sense that leaving work exactly on time as adults would be a little strange for them.

On the other hand we have to consider the irony that Japan is a country that prides itself on kirikae, in other words, making a quick change over between activities. I guess it's a different story when the change is from work to relaxation(?).

Lobster Fishing Part II, and Loquat Flavored Deserts

October 30th,

I didn't really get a whole lot of exploring done this past week due to a bunch of work coming up, but I did make it out for the last jumping lesson of the trainer who is leaving my barn, and also back out to Shirahama Floral Park for the lobster fishing over the weekend.

---The Barn---

This Saturday=me riding like crap. And of course I have to start riding like shit the weekend before the show. My first lesson was fine, and then my second lesson it was like no matter how I changed pace, or adjusted my turn at the corner I couldn't find the spot to the same damn fence. Anyway I was told that me and this other girl in my lesson are perfect examples...of what not to do. So that was great. Anyway I figured I couldn't end on a bad note, plus that one trainer was leaving and I wanted to join his lesson, so I hung out for an hour and chatted with people in the lounge while watching lessons and playing on my cellphone, and then joined the last lesson of the day, which, it turned out, was a double lesson (I can't believe I did four lessons in one day! That's probably my record so far). I got to ride a horse that I hadn't ridden before, and he was actually one of the really expensive ones so that was nice. I was riding a little better by this time, but it was still pretty half-assed compared to how I normally go around :/

Afterward I headed off to a Halloween party where I forewent the costume idea (since I was already an hour and a half late), as well as the drinking (since I was at the barn all day I hadn't eaten yet...). But it was really fun, and I met some new people who live nearby.

---More Lobster Adventures---

Sunday I met up with one of my ALT friends from when I lived in Asahi, and we went to Shirahama Floral Park. Since it was the last day, they served us lobster in our miso! It was a little cloudy outside and drizzled a little so they had the grill/eating area inside this time. I'm so glad the weather wasn't sunny though, because the inside of the building was really awesome! It was like a jungle inside with trees and flowers everywhere and there was even a pool with a water slide! I'm so confused why they don't do the upkeep on this place more! Outside of the building was a hot tub, a foot bath, gardens, another pool, and a patio area. 

Inside the Jungle (Thanks Tiff for the photo :) )

It's so unfortunate that they don't keep the pools cleaned up, because it would be such a great place to have a cook-out during the summer or fall. I can only think that maybe the resort across the street has such great facilities that no one bothers to come use the pool at the Floral Park? I can't say for sure though. Or maybe they just clean it up in the spring when most tourists come to see the flower gardens?

Before returning home, we decided we had to stop in at the Tomiura Biwa Club Roadside Station to get some Biwa flavored ice cream. Biwa, or loquat, is a specialty of the Minamiboso area, and if you haven't tried anything loquat flavored, you should definitely check it out. It kind of tastes like a slightly more sour orange, maybe? But it looks more like an orange colored peach. I got a loquat juice float with milk flavored soft-serve ice cream, and my friend ordered loquat soft-serve with fresh fruit on top. 

Loquat Float

Loquat Soft-Serve

The float was refreshing and I wanted more, but at about 500 yen per glass it wouldn't have been practical. My next goal is to check out their biwa curry!

I've also been in search of this one shrine in my area for a while now. I swear I can only find it whenever I'm not looking for it, or in a hurry to go somewhere. I tried to find it last weekend too, to no avail. Then during the week I was on my way somewhere after dark, and I was like, “My god! There it is! I must take note of what street I'm on!” Which I then did, however when I came back this past Sunday I couldn't find it again! How was I able to find it at night but not during the day?! In any case, this shrine isn't just any ordinary shrine. It is literally built out of the side of a mountain! I'm sure it must look spectacular from up there. Thus I will continue on my quest to locate this place.