ITS OVER!!!

SAD SAD SAD!!! It's all ending. 95% of the teachers in our area have decided to stop working since we haven't been paid for last months work. It doesnt seem like we will either. No teachers working, mean schools can't operate. By the end of this week all but 2 schools will close in our area. Those schools that will stay open will have no more than 1 teacher yikes! And so Mish's official last day at work was on Sunday, mine will be this coming Thursday. The majority of teachers will go back to their home country next week since many can't afford to hang around unemployed, and the japanese staff will probably also be returning to their hometowns far far away. Its soooo sad!!!!! And because of the sudden closures there hasnt been any chance to say goodbye to all the students. I feel sorry for the students as well. The teachers are losing about 2-3 grand in wages but some of the student are losing so much more than that since NOVA has a prepaid system for lessons. I talked to one student last week and she had 6k worth of lessons paid up front that she wont be taught or getting refunds for. Anyways goodbye parties are happening all this week. Makes me wanna cry!!!

Mish and i will still hang around in Japan though. I'm doing part time work elsewhere at the moment so surviving won't be a problem. It'll just be tight. I guess life will be back to being a university student budgeting and heaps of free time. I think it'll be a good break though but it'll be very lonely since the people we know here will significantly decrease. Not many people to hang out with.

Nova's situation is worstening day by day. We've been hearing about NOVA in the news/internet a lot recently and receiving unprofessional and uninformative faxes from the CEO as pay day on the 15th Oct slowly approaches. I was talking to some fellow workmates yesterday and we came to the conclusion that the future looks grim for NOVA. Now we're kind of just working voluntarily and morale at work is low at most branches. I'm only going to work for 2 reasons, the poor students who probably won't get their money back if NOVA closes and the poor Japanese staff that have to deal with the problems if we Toppatsu. Honestly, I don't think we'll get paid on the 15th, but if by some chance a miracle does happen, we might get paid on the 19th, but i highly doubt that...

A few days ago, the Australian government issued a warning to us to have a contingency plan. Jeremy and I are lucky we'll still be able to survive if NOVA doesn't pay come pay day but I feel sorry for new instructors some of which have only been in Japan a few weeks and instructors with families - they've probably got it the worst!!

So, if NOVA doesn't pay on the 15th Oct, should I go into work on the 16th? That's the big question on a lot of instructor's minds at the moment who are still working for NOVA. I'm still undecided and I think Jeremy is too...*sighs* ...nevertheless i think there'll be a huge strike nationwide. I'm anxious to know our fate. Fingers crossed we'd either get paid or NOVA declares bankruptcy so we we're entitled for unemployment from the government right away. Worst case scenario - NOVA just drags this on...in which case, if we quit, we won't be entitled for unemployment for a while....

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Ok enough about NOVA! I've been hanging out with Miki a lot lately. She's probably the closest friend I have here now. Last week we went to Tokyo to get our hair done together. We spent over 4 hours in the hair salon. I know it's shocking but at least u can say at least we kind of got our money's worth. I got my hair cut (more like a trim), coloured (a brownish colour with pink tones which some people can see and some people can't haha) and I got treatment too!!! The hairdresser curled my hair with a curling tong and I thought it kind of looked cool on me, so I was thinking of buying a Babyliss or a GDH straightener (coz u can curl ur hair with a straightener). I heard from June she bought a GDH and according to her 'it was a good investment' lol..Anyway ill think about it when I get back to Melb, I dunno if they sell it here...and if they did I wouldn't know where get it...perhaps i'd have to go to Tokyo.

Next week if we get paid, Jeremy and I will be going to Tokyo again and probably stay the night there. Even thought I went with Miki last week I didn't buy anything so next week I hope to update my wardrobe with some new winter pieces and dresses. The weather has kind of cooled down a bit especially at night. Since I took most of my clothes back to melb in June I'll have to buy a new batch of clothes from scratch again. I like shopping. Wait, let me rephrase that, I LOVE shopping, but...I'm so indecisive!!! I need someone to help me decide, someone I can trust, someone with the same taste as me...ahhh so difficult!! Well I know the look I want for this winter so shouldn't be too hard, hopefully.

Honeymoon stage: OVER!!

Yesterday was me and me best mate's last day working together. It's not gonna be the same without him. Actually my branch have lost 4 teachers in the last month or so. First it was Karl who transferred up North, then it was Neil and Helen who went back home and now it's Alain turn who's just gotten another job, since NOVA is so insecure at the moment. Good luck to em all! The Bell Mall group dynamic was so great too, now with all the new teachers it's a little strange. Actually theres new teachers everywhere up here now, (THE ORIGINAL GROUP IS GONE!!) but at my branch at the moment there are 3 girls and one old dude, making me the official number one STUD of BELL MALL!!! Unfortunately it wasn't through a student election or anything but more a natural flow of status since Alain's gone and me being the only guy under 55 years old. Also with him gone it also makes me the most experienced instructor there, with 1.5 years of experience which just means i'll be doing everything arghhh

With the original crew of when i started gone, everyday is beginning to feel like actual work. It use to be like hanging out with mates, piss farting around at the office. I actually use to look forward to going to work everyday, now i dread it like every other job i've had. My motivation to conduct good lessons have also gone down. I think it's a sign that my teaching time is Japan is up. Even the original students are slowly dissappearing as the weeks go by. SADNESS!!!

Anyways good news is AKIRA (my stalker) hasn't attempted to contact me anymore, PHEW!

Is this the beginning of the end?

Salary payments for NOVA teachers usually fall on the 15th of each month, so far this month NOVA has been late to pay all of their teachers. They apologised for the late payment and inititally promised payment on the 19th of September, the 19th comes and still many teachers weren't paid. A fax was then sent out by the CEO saying that salary payments will come on the 21st. The 21st comes and still no payment. Another fax is sent out that gurantees payment on the 25th... and you know what? today is the 25th and NOVA have no yet paid some of their teachers. Empty promises mate. Apparently they promised salary payment to be tomorrow. Somehow i don't think it'll happen. Japanese staff are suppose to be getting paid on the 27th . I don't think they'll be getting paid either. Looks like me and mish will be out of a job soon, which means we'll be coming back really soon if the situation gets worst... NooOOoOOOoOOOooooo

Pink Bunnie going DOWN!!!

wadup ya'll.... it's been a while since we posted. Sorry ya'll... we've been kind of busy with a few teacher going back home recently and their goodbye parties etc. Also i haven't been able to find any energy to fund brain power since mish keeps eating all MY FOOD!! i stock up supplies for when im hungry late at night and can't be bothered going to 7/11 only to find everything has been eaten when i go to look for it!! and then to find the wrappers in the bin sneakly hidden at the bottom of the bag. i'm having to start hiding my food when i buy em now, MISH BUY YOUR OWN FOOD!!!

Anyways all hell is starting to break loose in Japan. I don't know if you've heard but the Age posted an article in the paper about NOVA's situation at the moment. For the last 3 months or so NOVA hasn't been paying their Japanese staff on time as well as the rent owed to the landlords. Many teachers have been kicked out of their NOVA apartments and many have jump boat since this month they haven't paid for the month of August. If NOVA goes down we'll be making an earlier trip home than planned. Every NOVA staff is shit worried at the moment, except MISH!

Teachers called in sick last week on strike due to this and what's MISH's reply? "lets call in sick tomorrow too and go shopping in Tokyo!" i have friends struggling to stay alive with no money for food and rent and all mish is worried about is shopping. geez typical. Her other response to this situation, "I hope NOVA closes, so then we can move to Tokyo then i can go shopping everyday and not work", what kinda gay ass spoilt brat response is that eh? Mish, never a worry in the world as usual. I hope they hold out for everybody's sake - students, teachers and staff. I hope my friends dont get kicked out of their apartment too! Where will they go? i will have to shelter them like refugees!

More breaking news. I went to lunch with some female teacher friends last week. It was so nice to be eating with civilized unbarberic people!! They ate slowly, chewed with their mouths closed, didn't have rice hanging in random places on their face like THEIR FOREHEAD! They ate just enough, didn't go for seconds and didn't even look twice at the dessert bar at the buffet restaurant trying to get their money's worth. I didn't understand this behavior. i haven't been in such a presence for some time now. It felt strange.

Hairstyle

Bob's and various versions of it are so in fashion here in Japan...everyone seems to be wearing one around here...if only i suited short hair i would so go for the chop...!! i think it looks so cool and cute~ Actually should i get one since i have a problem with split ends? but it really emphasizes ur eyes and i don't think i want my eyes to be anymore emphasized...they are strange enough...but if i was to get one, it'd prolly b similar to the 2nd pic but with straight messy hair and fully volumized....

O sashi buri desu ne

Some pics from last month...enjoy! Recently I've Been preparing for my vtac application for DipEd next year (thanks ivy, tim and tom for helping)...and also been doing some research for Linda with her preparations for her big day!!! =) I might be going to tokyo next week with miki to get our hair done again and maybe pick up a few new clothes for autumn/winter....the weather is starting to cool down a little bit...but it's still quite humid...