Through the Good, the Bad and the Awkward: I am an ALT

Today, there was confusion on the brink of chaos in the staff room. Someone had made a mistake, and this mistake meant that no teacher was going to receive his or her pre-ordered lunch box. The lunch box, or bento, is a pretty big deal in Japan. And today, high schools in Hyogo prefecture rewarded teachers, for dressing sharply and arriving extra early to administer tests for incoming junior high school students, by arranging the delivery of bentos. Except that my base school didn't receive their bentos, because the bento distributors mixed up the dates. Therefore, when lunch time came around, there wasn't any food. Someone managed to provide all teachers with instant ramen as a "starter course," but the grumbling and mumbling could be heard across the staff room. I'm sorry to say, but improvising is not a forte in Japanese culture. And when it comes to food (or lack thereof), I completely understand.

As for me, I am always exempt from the partaking of the communal bentos, since I am a vegetarian. I always bring my own lunch instead, and they even reimburse me for having to bring my own lunch.

Well, I didn't pack a lunch this morning, so I wanted to cycle over to the nearest supermarket to buy lunch. I had intended on going at around eleven, but I got caught up organizing my desk. It wasn't until 12:30 that I finished. I was preparing to go out as the teacher who sits next to me entered the staff room and asked about the lunch boxes. Another teacher explained the situation. Mr. Hungry didn't look pleased and asked if he was allowed to exit the school to get food. Of course, the answer was no, yet I was on my way out. All for one and one for all. Such is life in Japan. Except when you're a foreigner and a vegetarian. I wanted to wait a bit before heading out of the school, but I was already wearing my jacket and my backpack was on. I sheepishly said my "ittekimasu" or "I'll be back" and exited the staff room. Awkward, considering that the other teacher had just said that everyone had to endure and wait, but a girl's gotta eat...

I saw one of the office ladies at the supermarket as she was piling store made bentos into a shopping basket. The teachers did finally get their lunch, and though I made it to school before the bentos did, I waited until the other teachers started eating before I dug into my meal, just in case any grudges would be born...

Just another day in the staff room.

Here is the lunch box my friend Lorrie, another ALT, received at her school. This is what the teachers at my school had expected to receive...

Instead, they got supermarket bentos that resembled these. Still pretty, I think. But then again, I am no bento expert...