I'm the kind of person who just can't hide who I am. Eventually it all busts out without me making an effort, so long ago, I gave up on even bothering for most people. Back home I'm just a brat. Here in Japan I'm probably rude, too masculine, and whole mess of another issued bundled into one confusing package.
For example:
A teacher tells me that for the rest of the year I'll be assisting with the daily school cleaning. (Students clean the schools in Japan.) So he leads the students and me out to the bike parking area... which is next to a giant DIRT FIELD. Our job: to sweep the dirt away from the bikes. Proper response: "Of course! I'd be happy to help! I'd love to help make the school a better place." My response: "Are you serious? This is like vacuuming a beach."
The second year class in the junior high is about as responsive as a pile of bricks. One of the teachers comments that the third year students are better than the second years. Proper response: "Oh, I'm sure we can make the second years love learning!" OR "The third years are a bit more positive, aren't they?" My response: "...Yeah, the third years are a lot better. I don't like the second year class. And I hate the first years. They suck."
Someone asks about my experiences with students in Japan. Proper response: "Most of the time, it makes me feel honorable and fulfilled! Oh the students are so KAWAII and GENKI that I could just die!" My response: "They make me want to burn things."
I became friends with the younger teachers, and one of them is male. He walked by me in the copy room as I was talking to another young teacher. He seemed to busy too notice us. Or he was pretending we weren't there since having opposite sex friends is the end of the world over here. Proper response: "Ohayo gozaimasu "T-sensei"! How are you?" My response: I whacked him in the back with my coffee cup. When he turned around I pointed at another teacher.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! They'll be so happy when I go home for Christmas....
Thank you for making me laugh. I love this entry, it's really funny. I've always wondered what it might be like to teach and go to school in Japan. (I've never even visited Japan). Anyway, thank you for making me laugh, it was needed ^_^
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Mistifear · Community Member · Tue Mar 11, 2008 @ 07:25pm