I'm sitting at my desk at high school. I've finished my 2 classes for the day, so I've basically got a few hours of sitting around before I go home. Yep, this is what it's like pretty much everyday. It has its good points and bad points. The good points are that 1) I have plenty of spare time at work to catch up on my studies, 2) I can take a walk or join in some other school activity (if there's anything on), 3) I can just sit here surfing the net. The bad points are that 1) it can get a little boring at times, and 2) I'm still used to being a busy teacher and having no spare time, so I feel a little guilty sometimes.

Seeing as I've got some spare time I thought I'd pick a topic and write about it.

Today's topic: SCHOOL LUNCHES

In Japan, just about every school has the kyushoku school lunch system. Students pay about 200 yen a day (about $2.50), and for that they are provided with a hot, nutritious meal. At all the schools I go to, except one, I join the students for lunch. The students take school lunch for granted, but in my opinion it's awesome.

It's really awesome. Why?

I can get up in the morning and not have to worry about what I'm going to have for lunch.

I can get a nice meal for a fraction of the cost of a restaurant meal.

I'm guaranteed at least one healthy, nutritious meal each day.

It's full service. Someone brings me my lunch, I eat it, someone takes it away.

Sweet.

Today's lunch was a bowl of rice, a bowl of miso soup with mushrooms and tofu, a plate with some fried chicken, pasta and salad, and a small carton of milk (it's always milk, every day milk). It was hot, tasty and I didn't have to cook it. Perfect.

Other lunches I have had are ramen noodles, curry, pork cutlets, udon noodles... all have been great. In fact, I haven't had a bad school lunch yet.

Mmmmm.