It’s Between Day and I have nothing to do.
Golden Week isn’t a proper holiday in and of itself; it’s a set of four holidays which happen to all occur within the space of a week. Companies figure that at most, they’d get two days’ work out of their employees if they made them come in on the non-holiday days; they usually grant the whole week off and bask in the goodwill instead. Depending on what company you work for, that week of holiday may comprise your only vacation time in the year.
Today, specifically, is Between Day. By Japanese law, if there is ever a day flanked by holidays, it automatically becomes a holiday as well. This is because holidays are hard to sell in Japan, so this provides a promotional three for the price of two discount. As it happens, the only day to which that law applies is 4 May.
The problem I face is that I am too efficient at slacking off and procrastination. Usually, I can find a dozen more enjoyable things to do before I begin any actual work; this is as it should be. However, this week, my only task is to relax and unwind. As a result, my subconscious has been grinding all week thinking of stopgap measures for me to do, so I can put off doing things that I actually enjoy. The result: stress, boredom, and a horrible sense of irony.
Facetiousness aside, I think the real source of my current malaise is that I’m ready for the year to be over. I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing next year, but it won’t be teaching English. Between this job and the next, I should have some time to relax with my friends and family, and that will be great. Until then, I have 58 days in which I’m not accomplishing anything new. I’m sitting still, and that’s not a good feeling.
It’s time for me to find something new and exciting to do. With luck, it’ll be something unusual in the remaining time I have on vacation. If not, there’s always next weekend.
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