cleaning time at school

If you have a chance to visit a Japanese school, one of surprising things is probably "cleaning time". At most schools in Japan, students clean their classrooms, hallways, the ground, the garden and even toilets.
Why? Today I found an interest report in the newspaper.
Roles of cleaning time
1, Organizing the cleaning procedure, and cleaning effectively help to grow children's ability to plan and sense of achievement.
2, They show more interest in cleanliness condition, find proper cleanliness level, and learn how to tidy up.
3, They acquire the attitude to take care of things, and make effort not to generate waste.
4. People feel good in a clean place, so cleaning somewhere for someone raises their emotion to do
 something for someone even though no one knows who did it.
5,Cleaning up give them a feeling of accomplishment.
6. They learn communication skills, how to share the roles, and understand the responsibility through cleaning in a group.
7,Cleaning somewhere in a set period time gives them concentration, and makes them punctual.

What do you think of them? I hope all sentences make sense.

Thursday

Now I'm getting better. It's difficult for me to adjust to the change of temperature in this season. Yesterday I got a shot to stop my dizziness, According to my medical record, it's a "usual" thing. I get a shot at least twice a year, in spring and fall.

The other day I talked about 1030000 yen barrier with mothers. It was difficult to put together my mind even in Japanese, but anyway I'll talk again about it in English.
Do you know what 1030000yen barrier means? People who earn under 1030000yen per year become dependents and get tax deduction. So if house makers want to keep being dependents while they work part time job, they control their work. If they earn more than 1030000yen, they have to pay tax, and if they earn more than 1300000yen, they have to pay insurance fee. If they earn less than about 2000000 yen,  a strange thing occurs. The money people get is the same with the person who earns 1030000yen and the person who earns 2000000yen, because 2000000 yen earning person has to pay tax and insurance fee from her earnings.

So some people say 103000 yen barrier makes people stop to work more though they want to work more.
In Japan working harder (or earning harder) is considered as a virtue, so people who have time, except doing house chores and taking care of kids, tend to be considered as being lazy.

I think 1030000yen barrier protects house makers. Of course earning money harder is not bad. Actually I often think if I earned more. But if you are able to live as being a dependent (though the life may not be rich), thanks to the barrier you can do other things. Or I dare to say you should something to the society such as to help poor people, to enjoy kids, to be tender to senior people. I won't think that money talks everything.
Of course volunteering is one way. Actually I do some volunteer work at nursery schools. But what is volunteer? I often think about it. In my case I buy English books by myself, I pay for gas by my self, sometimes I buy costumes by myself. It's fun for me, but I won't recommend this way to others. I'll say again "I don't think money talks everything", but --- it's difficult.

Yes, it's difficult to put together my mind. Anyway I'll post my mumble.

Monday

A new week has started. How was your weekend? Unfortunately I was not so good, so most of time I was reading "Japanese books" in the bed. When a season changes, I often suffer dizziness.
Last night we had cheese fondu simply using the things in the fridge. It made us warm.

This morning I'm so-so, but probably I won't go to workout.
When I was in the bed, I noticed the places that I had to clean. It's funny, because when I'm busy I don't notice such things. In Japan December is Winter cleaning month. I want to do "winter cleaning"little by little, such as clean up the shelves, an air fan, etc. Cleaning the windows is Yuki's job, probably he will do on 29 December, before my mother comes to stay with us.

After I finish morning chores, I'll lie down for a while. Have a nice day. And let's enjoy this week.

After reading a book

I've just finished reading a book. The author is a Japanese woman who is a person of my own age. I like reading because sometimes books evoke my sympathy, and clear what I'm thinking.

The author said in the book;
Women are brought up from a baby to an adult without pressure of becoming a member of society or becoming independent. On the other hand men are brought up under the pressure which is that they have to be independent, and become a member of society.

I definitely agree with her. Is it a Japanese thinking way?

And I thought that;
women are brought up naturally with a picture of having a baby. It means women thinks naturally about their marriage and their future family. Of course women don't have to have a baby, so I add the word naturally.

So for men work is the most important thing and for women family is the most important thing.

Monday

A new week has started. How was your weekend?
I went to TOKYO to meet my daughters. Here is TOKYO station. After long reconstruction work, it showed up entirely. This building is one of historical buildings in Japan.

 

My two daughters and I had lunch at MARU building in front of the station. Then my elder daughter and I went to GINZA. First we visited a gallery where her teacher was holding her exhibition.

Then we dropped in Harrods tea room at Ginza Mitsukoshi department store.

After so long I had Harrods scorn  scone, though I have never eaten Harrods scorn  sconein the UK. These days we see various kinds of scorn scone. I don't know when scone showed up in Japan, anyway when I was a child, they didn't appear yet. Anyway in my image classical scone is Harrods scone. I was really satisfied with having it.



 

On Sunday I went to a cafe gallery in Utsunomiya. An American craft potter were holding his exhibition.  He made really sensitive potteries. I really enjoyed seeing them, though I couldn't afford to buy one.

 

Wedenesday

Since I updated this blog, one week has passed.
Today the news of the president election in the US goes on air successively in Japan. An interesting thing to me is that in the US the politic situation depends on the president. Though it's not a good thing, I'm afraid that I feel in Japan our politic situation must not be changed a lot by the Prime Minister. And another interesting thing is that Mr.Obama broke  racial barriers, and Romney tries to break the religion barriers. (I'm not familiar with Christian religion.)

Last weekend Yuki and I went to listen a classical concert. It was a full orchestra. I like to watch and listen to the drums, the timpani, and other percussion. Our seats were on the third floor, it cost 1000 yen each. It's not bad.

On the other hand in downtown, Jazz music festival was held in down town last week.  We dropped in the town.

Well, in the previous blog I showed Yuzu-kosyou. We are enjoying them. They suit to pot-food, hot soup, grilled meat, and grilled fish.

What foods are you enjoying in this season?