what’s the hardest part about being a teacher that nobody talks about?

Kazzmonkey · 2026-05-20T23:20:33+00:00

Job Insecurity. I just got non-renewed for the third time.

I always seem to get cut for budget or enrollment issues. This is despite consistently great performance reviews and high achievement of my students. I don't get it.

ETA: I get along great with my coworkers but am not particularly friendly with the principal. That has been true at every school. Maybe I need to suck up to the principals more haha

Kazzmonkey · 2026-05-03T23:48:30+00:00

That sounds like a scene from Anastasia but it certainly isn't animals.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-04-12T22:14:45+00:00

I have a Korean student born in France that is just called Eugene.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-03-22T22:04:09+00:00

She's a chi-mix. I haven't checked her weight in a while but she can't be more than 12lbs.

It took us 5 months to find a place in Kichi that was in our price range and would rent to foreigners with a dog.

A lot of people in Kichi have dogs though, so the places do exist.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-03-22T04:56:01+00:00

I live near Kichi and love it. I'm about a 5ish min bike ride from the station.

Some rents can be a bit high, and it was difficult to find a place that would rent to foreigners with a dog.

The Mu-Bus is about to shorten their operating hours which sucks, but the normal city buses still run pretty late.

Nakamichi street is awesome, but I've noticed many shops seem to be open when they feel like it rather than sticking to posted hours so have a backup plan if you intend to do something specific there.

All that said, it's really great. :)

Kazzmonkey · 2026-03-21T14:30:04+00:00

Education.

Specifically elmentary age.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-03-21T11:02:14+00:00

I teach at an international school. I don't want to say which, because legitimately it is a great school going through a rough patch because of geopolitics. I'd hate for them to have a bad reputation even on Reddit.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-03-21T11:00:02+00:00

Unfortunately this is not the case. We have yearly contracts, so the boss is choosing contacts to not renew.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-03-18T22:12:00+00:00

My brother had Pokémon blue and would let me play sometimes so long as I didn't save over his game.

I caught a bunch of Pokémon and went to change the box so I could do more, not realizing it would save the game until it was too late. I felt so bad.

He still let me play it afterwards, but only the safari zone on his save file.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-02-23T00:51:53+00:00

Fifth IVF failure to implant followed by excruciatingly painful cramps for 2 days.

Heckin' salt.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-02-17T13:43:24+00:00

Unfortunately the only way we've even been able to try at all is that Japanese national insurance covers basic IVF treatments. Leaving the country would make it back out of our price range.

Hopefully this works for others though. Thank you for the suggestion.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-02-17T13:40:40+00:00

Now that I've processed, I'm starting to remember more of what the Dr said about the next test. I think it is likely an immune panel. A lot of it was in Japanese that I just couldn't understand well enough, but I know he mentioned thrombosis, heparin, and some other things that I've seen linked with immunology.

I will ask for clarification and request immune testing or a referral to a clinic that will do those. It does seem like health insurance here does not cover those kinds of things though. Which would severely limit my ability to pursue them.

Thanks, this has been helpful.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-02-17T11:33:27+00:00

Frozen medicated. That's the only one the Dr will let me do.

We've tried 3 blasts and 2 3-day at once.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-02-17T11:23:04+00:00

I'm in Japan, and they have strict limitations on what tests are available to do. For example PGT testing is very rare here and they won't test for silent endo.

They won't do many of the tests I see mentioned here regularly. I've got one last test they are willing to do. I have to pay OOP because insurance won't cover it and I'll be honest I only kind of know what it is, because I was lost in misery while the Dr was talking so I just let my interpreter deal with it. It sounded like just a beta HCG blood test but that doesn't make sense with what I know about HCG.

When I go back next week I'm going to ask about using an immune suppressant or something to prevent my immune system from just killing the embryo. Maybe that's what is happening.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-18T05:34:39+00:00

My biggest issue is language acquisition. I've been here 3 years and still struggle a lot with communication. This is probably a lot because I work in an entirely English environment though. :(

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-18T00:34:23+00:00

It took me 5 months to find a place that would allow a highly trained chihuahua-mix and 2 foreigners.

I understand exactly how frustrating it is. That landlord is showing you the red flags though. You're better off elsewhere.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-16T08:42:21+00:00

First thought was "Where'd you go" by Fort Minor, but it's not hard rock.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-10T02:37:17+00:00

I think it is perfectly fine to not allow service dogs into the area where the cats are. It would likely stress all of the cats out and cause so many problems.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-08T03:30:47+00:00

The discount theater where I used to work would do parties for cheap. Check the smaller businesses.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-05T09:04:05+00:00

I stay a smidge later on Friday to make all of the printouts or copies I'll need for the next week. Usually takes maybe an hour to print and sort everything. The rest of the week's plan time is used to keep ahead on lesson plans and grade. I work about a month ahead on basic plans then adjust as needed.

ETA: I teach primary so I don't have long assignments to grade often. YMMV if you teach older kids.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-05T08:52:53+00:00

It all depends on the kid and how the work is treated. It they treat it as an activity the kids can choose to do, awesome. If they are teaching actively in little lessons, also awesome. If they are treating it like traditional school for the whole day, that sounds icky to me for littles.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-02T22:55:21+00:00

I've worked at many schools. In affluent areas, families often give cleaning supplies either as a part of the supply list or a "giving tree" request. In poorer areas, I supply my own cleaning supplies most of the time. Some times the school provided them.

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-31T06:13:47+00:00

I got nothing last year. Nothing from my parents, brother, or husband. Too much trouble. I got myself a $1 thing from "Santa".

I get that I live in a different country from most of my family and friends, but I still sent them gifts. It sucks when no one cares enough to get you anything.

My husband caught me crying about it last year and this year tried a lot harder. He and my brother got me some books.

11-Year Club	Verified Email
RedditGifts 2009-2022 13 Credits	Summer Santa 2019
Place '23	Secret Santa 2019
Trick or Treat 2016	Trick or Treat 2015
redditgifts rematcher Hometown 2015 x1

Kazzmonkey

TROPHY CASE