[jasonbvr]

Every now and then, you have to pay out a little bit to do your job. Here are some of the expenses of being an ALT.

Kyushoku (Lunch)-Probably one of the cheapest meals you will eat in Japan and most likely one of the worst from time to time. Price-4,000 yen a month

Enkai-Quarterly or so booze parties for the staff to get together and unwind. Why do they do this on nights when you have school the next day, I have no clue. Price-3,000 to 5,000 yen per enkai

Gifts-You go somewhere and they expect a souvenir (omiagei) or someone gets sick and they collect money. I personally don't buy omiagei. Kissing ass is not an admirable trait to me even if it is a cultural thing. Sick money-2,000 yen.

For the Kids-The students however, I have no quarrels bribing them. Foreign candy is always popular and an easy way to make your the other teachers jealous of the kids and dislike you. I also give out stickers for good work, but they love getting signatures just as much. Some even ask me to make a signature for their name. Price-however much you want to spend.