The Butterfly That Stamped

Vent day. Oh. My. God. I’m getting so frustrated. I’m running a bit of a risk writing about this, but I’m getting freaking annoyed. SO, picture if you will:

There is a wonderful thing in Japanese work culture called the “enkai.” Translation: drinking party. Co-workers gather at a bar or an onsen after work hours for some bonding time. More formal parties start with maybe a speech, everyone shouting “kanpai,” clinking glasses with everyone in the immediate vicinity and then the atmosphere relaxes. The night is passed in copious drinks, eats and jolliness. 

I’ve attended an enkai at another teacher’s house where the atmosphere was very casual: we ate home-cooked and store-bought food, and ended the night singing karaoke (“Sk8r Boi,” thank you very much). 

General rules at an enkai include never pouring your own drink, starting the night sitting formally in a kneeling position then relaxing after the initial “kanpai,” and maintaining decorum. As you may have been reminded again and again by your company, you represent your company and your country so keep it clean! What happens at the enkai stays at the enkai…unless you’re a foreigner and you make an ass of yourself.

I was recently invited to an end-of-semester enkai by one of my schools. The team is meeting at the Hanamaki onsen for bathing and then drinks and food afterwards. I was very excited at the prospect of going…a little apprehensive because since I’m not part of the event pool, I had to pay twice as much as everyone else AND since onsens are naked zones and tattoos are still a bit taboo, my fellow teachers might learn something new about me. 

The big day is July 25^th. The problem: I want to go, but I may or may not have training that day. Now, my original schedule for the year says I’m supposed to have training on the 25^th. A little more than a week ago, I was told my training would be in Kitakami but on the 24^th instead. Joy! I went to the teachers the next day I was at that school and said I would be at the enkai, paid my fee and skipped home happy and giddy. 

That same night, the company scheduler called me and basically said “by the way, nope, you’re going to Morioka on the 25^th for training.” I was very confused, but couldn’t very well tell the person on the phone that I’d already made plans…well, in retrospect, I could have and maybe I should have. But my convoluted brain said “work before play.” 

Starting to get hot under the collar because I was being told different things, I sent a few emails in search of the truth…4 days later I’m still waiting for a reply from the company and from the teachers who invited me. I’m not in a happy place. I either need to be allowed to go on this enkai or I need to get my money back. I’m not in any position to be hemorrhaging yen, especially with summer break coming up, and time is running out! There is so little communication going on between me, the company and the school in question, which is one of my biggest pet peeves! I hate being held in suspense! 

But nothing soothes like the sight of something cute. So today, I took a little “guilt trip” and stopped by my local Homac’s pet shop to gawk at the puppies and kitties. 

Works like a charm. Just look at dose widdle nosies and dose big pwetty eyesies!