Today I went into work and had a relatively busy day – three classes. Two of my classes were listening to “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” which was OK for me the first few times, but I’m rapidly approaching the breaking point. The other teachers only listen to it a couple of times, I get it ten times. How do DJ’s do it?
During the morning break the principal called me into his office alone, which is really weird since he doesn’t speak English and I can understand about 20% of what he says in Japanese. The gist of it is that I’m working for the prefecture again tomorrow. I can’t tell anyone, even the vice-principal, who is normally in the loop on these things. He gave me a faxed document that said some strange things.
Tomorrow I’m going to Yashiro, which is pretty far away. There was no mention of what I will be doing, but I’m supposed to bring my bank book and my personal seal. That’s really weird – why would I bring those? It’s even more hush hush this time around, and I have no idea why. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.
After school Mr. Hayashi discovered 3000 yen in the ESS budget that we had to burn before the end of the month, so we went over to the 100 yen store and went nuts. We got lots of stuff that will be useful for the ESS club – colored paper, audio tapes, Christmas decorations, a Santa Suit (only $1!) and other things of dubious quality.
Afterwards we had an hour or so to kill so we went over to the coffee shop. Mr. Hayashi lately has been telling me all about how to date a Japanese woman. I think he’s convinced that I’m dating my Monday Japanese tutor, Tsuji-san. Maybe that’s because it’s the only woman that he knows I associate with outside of work. Anyway, he’s been giving me a lot of advice today, and some of the nuggets of wisdom are truly amazing.
For example, he says that most Japanese women are not used to hearing the words “I Love You”, and so if you say that, they will swoon. He says that if you take a girl out to dinner twelve times she will see that you are interested, and start having feelings for you. He said that Japanese women are really very tolerant and will let you get away with all kinds of things. He cited his own wife for example, and the fact that he frequently has drinks or dinner with single women without a problem. He says that if he does that more than three nights in a row, he gets in trouble though.
There’s lots more where that came from, but I didn’t want to encourage him by asking questions.
We went back to school and I got my gear together and went over for my Japanese lesson. I found myself speaking Japanese for a little longer this time, and then I read Tsuji-san “The Polar Express” so she could get an idea of how to pronounce the words. She’s going to read it to her students (high school students) later this week to get them ready for Christmas.
I’m definitely an inside shopper at Ito Yokado now. One of my favorite places to visit is the meat counter, where the two ladies that work there know me by sight. I walk up and they both say “hello” and “how are you” and “the pork is really good today”. I know a lot about roasted pork now.
Today I asked for about 100 grams, and she did a nice move where she weighed out 100 grams, printed the sticker, and then put another 100 grams or so in the container. I think she said that it was going on discount soon anyway. Thanks!
Now I’m off to bed – tomorrow is my secret mission!
