「産休に入りました」Finally started my "mini-vacation."

[kurikuribebi]

This morning starts off with a warm cup of honey-ginger tea, grapefruit and a couple of pages of Rich People Problems. Once the rice cooker beeps, I'll make Ryu's lunch box, do the dishes and bring in the laundry. Then it's off to the dentist, the hospital, and then back home for a meeting with a client for a few months of translation and editing

Comments

[majesticzaichik]

Hey 6 months maternity leave not too bad. I think the average in the US is like 6 weeks. Though I guess it's unpaid for most of it? I hope you have a great leave.

[kurikuribebi]

I think if I was in the west, 6 weeks would be just fine. When I was talking with my sister about all the things I needed to do here, she had no idea what I was talking about. For the things she did understand, it was "Oh, the hospital did all that for me." She didn't need to run around doing paperwork.

The registration from there to here is also easier and can all be done by post. Here, it all requires in-person visits to the offices.

[chochajin]

So good to hear back from you!
Yes, I can imagine there are a lot of things to do, so it's good you are on leave now. I hope you manage with your spendings, it won't be easy. As I'm always trying to avoid unnecessary spendings and keep book of everything, I know how hard it can be sometimes.

Fingers crossed all that extra work won't stress you out and I hope you and the baby are healthy!

Hope you tune in again soon! :)

[kurikuribebi]

Theres more to do after I give birth, and the timelines the offices expect are extremely unrealistic. It's going to be a lot of running around with a new born, which you'd think they'd want you to avoid, when the doctors tell you "Please dont go out for a month."

We typically don't spend a lot of money and tend to be picky about what we spend our money on. The issue is that when we decide what to spend it on, we don't hesitate. We really don't need to ride green car every time we want to go to Atami, for example.
Between COVID and being at home all the time dealing with baby sickness, we haven't spent so much this year, so I know that really, we're okay. But not working just puts the idea in mind that we need to not spend.

[chochajin]

Yeah, Japan isn't really doing well in that department. I really hope everything works out somehow and that you and the baby will stay healthy!

Totally understandable. I guess a lot of people spend less money than usually these days due to the circumstances and it doesn't seem like we'll get rid of that situation any time soon anyways. *sigh*

[kurikuribebi]

I don't think they'll ever do well in that department. Wasting time is part of the Japanese culture, lol. Efficiency is frowned upon unless the whole world is watching.

We're already dreading having to head all the way to Tokyo with a 4 week old in the dead of winter.

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[thesoundofduck]

Oooh, your skin does look lovely! :)

You are so organized. What a lucky baby to come into such a wonderful home. ♥ ♥ Sending you lots of love and good vibes!

When is your due date?

[kurikuribebi]

I'm due in January -- not much longer now! I'm sure the nervousness will kick in once I start my hospitalization, but for now, it's all stress! lol.

[haebin]

[kurikuribebi]

Yes and no. Because I wasn't at my company for a full year, they don't pay my maternity leave. This means the first three months are unpaid. After I give birth, I can apply through the government for assistance for the remaining 3 months, but there is no guarantee I'll get it. So fingers crossed!

[haebin]

[kurikuribebi]

The least they could do is wave some of the other financial responsibilities they give us for a time. Like, how do they expect me to be able to pay a $400.00 residence tax on time when my pay doesn't come in for another three months? >.>

They postpone our health and pension, at least.