Today was the big day for my English students – they had the listening exam, which makes up around half of their grade in my class. After marking the first few classes’ exams, it seems like it was an easy test. I’m glad, actually. I’d like them to have some confidence going into the next term.
After lunch the history teacher came by to hang out with me. He insists that 15 minutes conversation a day is improving his English. I agree that it’s improving, but I don’t point out to him that it’s closer to 45 minutes a day. Still, he’s a nice enough guy and he’s got some interesting insight into the male-dominant Japanese culture. This is information I can use in the future – so I’m listening carefully and taking notes.
Some of the interesting things he said today got my attention. He saw a woman at a conference he was attending the other day, who was half Japanese, half German. The history teacher referred to her as “half”. Later he referred to her as “not pure” Japanese. Some of these terms might be found offensive in the right situations, but I concentrated on figuring out where these ideas come from, and if there are negative connotations.
He said that people that are half Japanese have a harder time finding jobs in Japan. It’s assumed that since they were raised at least partly by someone who isn’t Japanese, they probably don’t know the culture or language as well as someone raised by Japanese parents. He described a Japanese philosophy about two rabbits. If you see two rabbits in the forest, you’ll only be able to catch one. If you try to catch both, you’ll end up with none. He tried to explain that it meant that you can only be good at one thing – people raised with two languages are really only good with one of them, and that language won’t be Japanese. So they are not desirable as teachers or employees. Interesting.
I gave him some tips on meeting girls, and I’ve discovered that I’m becoming a primary source of information in this particular arena for him. I’m working on overcoming his shyness. Once we get over that, look out ladies!
I managed to avoid getting recruited into the softball team, and got home at a decent hour. After doing some chores and cleaning up around the house I decided to go visit the yakitori – it’s been a while since I was there. Unfortunately, it was his night off, so I ended up eating okonomiyaki at the local restaurant. I discovered that it can be lonely eating okonomiyaki alone.
Back home I exchanged some e-mail with Kuniko, writing only in Japanese. It’s good practice for me, although it takes a really long time for me to respond. We’re coming up with plans for this weekend, which will be chock full of interesting situations.
