Having Work Cancelled in Japan

In this article, I'll talk about the two instances work has been cancelled for me, due to weather, in Japan.

The Weather in Japan

I have been in Japan for over three years now. Japan has earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, and sometimes heavy snow. I have seen my fair share, except the deadly tsunamis of course.

My First Rare Occurrence of Work Being Cancelled

At my second job in Japan, I had my first two, and only, instances of having work cancelled. It had been a very rainy day, which isn't unusual in Japan. I was told that a typhoon was coming. I wasn't surprised. At my first job a strong typhoon came. However, it came on a Monday, and during that time, Mondays were my day off.
On this particular day it was raining. I was told that a typhoon was coming, which I didn't put too much thought into. However, the head teachers told me that the trains may be highly delayed or cancelled for that day. I lived a ways from the school, so they thought I should go earlier. I was so ecstatic! I don't like work, like many others, so anytime I can go early is fine by me. I left at around three thirty that day.
I was waiting for the train. It was EXTREMELY delayed. I had walked to Yokohama station to look at the train schedule. If there's ever bad weather and you're hoping to look at the train schedule, your efforts will be futile. The train schedule said trains that were due to arrive like thirty minutes to an hour AGO. Everybody was looking frustrated. I saw a bunch of people just pushing themselves into the train.
I looked at Google maps to look up my normal train route. It was cancelled, yes CANCELLED! But there was an alternative route, it would take longer, and it would be more expensive, but I had no other choice. From Yokohama I had to go to Shinjuku, and then finally I could go home. I had waited and waited and waited. When I finally arrived home, it was only thirty minutes before the time I usually got home...sigh lol. Oh well, you can win them all.

My Second Occurrence of Work Being Cancelled

This was also at my second job. Again, I was told that a typhoon was coming, but I didn't pay it any mind, because the trains in Japan can be a little TOO dependable. I knew that the trains would be up and running in the morning, and that it would be business as usual.
Well, this time, that wasn't quite the case. I was told to keep an eye on the trains in the morning. When I woke up, the trains all seemed to be cancelled! I was yet again elated! I waited until I got a message from my manager. The message was addressed to the staff, and said that work would be CANCELLED! I was sooo excited! I had already planned out my day of leisure. I was going to actually eat breakfast and enjoy a matcha latte. First, I had to wait for the store to open, then I went grocery shopping. It was about ten minutes away from my house.
I cooked my breakfast, drank my matcha, and turned on some good ol Netflix. I, of course, got sleepy after eating. I was getting all ready to take a nap. Just then, I got a message. I didn't care of course, but it was from my manager...I thought, what is it now. The message read " The typhoon had ended, so please come in for the rest of the afternoon. The kids will be at home, but you can have a work day. We know the trains will still be running a little late, but please come when you can." Please come when you can? PLEASE COME WHEN YOU CAN!!?? I thought I was in a nightmare.
I pondered the possibility that what if I just simply ignored the message? Nobody will know. I can pretend like I didn't see it. But then about twenty minutes later, my friend texted "will do". I thought, d*mn, d*mn, D*MN!!!! But that's when everyone else's texts started rolling in, so I had to say that I received it.
I arrived at around two that day. I was the last to arrive. I asked my friends, what the h*ll. They said they had ALL thought about not replying. They all had planned their day, just I had, and they wanted to pretend like they didn't see the message. Welp, that's what happens when work is cancelled in Japan. It never really is.
Good luck on battling the weather, while also being expected to show up to work.