Ethics, drinking, and jobs

So, in no particular order, here are some interesting things that have happened recently in my life.

Unlike in America where there are restrictions on where you can drink alcohol, in Japan, it is quite common for people (old people) to pop open a beer while on the train. It happens a lot, and I am pretty used to it. I will even fess up to having done it a few times myself. However, today was a first. ... Several somewhat tough looking guys got on the train a few stops after me and sat down in the booth behind me. Soon after, I noticed a familiar smell, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. Aha! It was whiskey! As I was getting off the train, I walked by and saw essentially a whole bar full of alcohol set up on their window ledge! There were cups, ice, vodka, whiskey, and some other bottles! They even had shot glasses! It was only 11:30am, and I wasn't sure if I should be shocked, disgusted, indifferent, or just down right jealous.

Switching gears a little from people drinking, to something that makes me want to drink, my job has posed yet another moral/ethical dilemna my way in terms of the timing and way I tell my students that I am leaving, and essentially entails me indirectly misleading my students so that they will spend more money and renew their contracts, costing them thousands of dollars. This whole job from day 1 has been one ethical test after another. I will be so glad when I can put it all behind me.

On a more positive note, I have gotten a few more offers for initial phone interviews for next week from some of my top choice schools. This makes me feel encouraged. I'll keep y'all updated on how they turn out.