Kuniko and I were on garbage station duty again today. This is another rotating responsibility at the apartment complex were we live. Usually they skip the foreigners, but since Kuniko moved in we are now stuck with the duty like the rest of the people that live there (except for Jane). It’s not too difficult, just collect the public trash and put it out in the morning. An interesting rule is that you are supposed to clean up the trash area as soon as the truck leaves to take care of any spills or leftovers. Of course we both work, so we can’t do that. Most people here have a wife that stays home all day, so it usually isn’t a problem. Kuniko is a very rare exception.
I had a pretty easy day at school – only two classes and a session with Miyake sensei. The classes went pretty smoothly. In between I had time to study and also to clean up some of the junk that has collected around my desk over three years. I’m going to have to clean it up really well for the next person. It is covered with textbooks that I am going to have to gradually shuttle home.
Speaking of the next person, Miyake sensei and I talked for a long time about her. Miyake sensei is eager to talk with another person from America. She wondered aloud if she is a “typical” American. Apparently she sees me as a very unusual American. She says I am quiet and modest, which goes against what she sees Americans as. She says that Japanese people feel more comfortable with me than with most Americans. I don’t know about that, but it was an interesting insight from someone that is used to dealing with different cultures.
Today was hot, just like yesterday. Everyone was sweating in the classrooms, and in the staff room too. I saw an interesting situation develop in the afternoon – something I might have missed if I didn’t understand Japanese.
One of the teachers was talking to another teacher, and he motioned to the air conditioners sitting idle in the hot room. He asked in a lightly sarcastic tone, “What are those for?” Everyone around him laughed, and he smiled and then walked over and turned them on. This is a big deal – apparently we are not allowed to use the air conditioners until a certain date dictated by the board of education. The idea I guess is to cut energy costs. Usually that date is around the first of July, but that is about a week away.
Once the teacher turned it off, other teachers helped him close the windows in the area, and then we sat around and enjoyed the cool air.
It got interesting when one of the administration teachers came in and noticed. He asked the nearest teacher why it was running, and the teacher explained that he had nothing to do with it and it sure is kind of early for air conditioning isn’t it? He didn’t sell out the guy who turned them on, though. The admin teacher left them running, though. The weirdest thing is that my side of the staffroom was being air conditioned, but from the administration teacher side to the end of the staff room they were sweating in their chairs with the windows wide open – doggedly observing the board of education regulations. Over in my section it was like a party, everybody sitting around and eating snacks and talking.
Antoine told me that in his first year there he just walked over and turned the air conditioning on, and screw the rules. Nobody knew what to do, so they left it on. I think it is a yearly tradition for his school, now. Their aircon goes on when Antoine feels hot. I’m not sure, but that’s the way I remember his story.
This evening I’ve been doing lots of research into next steps, both in my job and my career. There are a lot of interesting trends out there. It looks more and more like to take the next step I will need some more education. It makes sense – I’ve been teaching without any kind of credentials and it is fair to expect a future employer to ask for something more than a deep interest in teaching.
One thing I really am interested in is something called “Computer Assisted Language Learning” (CALL). It is concerned with the idea that you can use computers/internet/technology to more effectively learn a language. I have really seen the advantage in my own study of Japanese. I carry every word I’ve ever memorized in my handheld computer, I practice writing Japanese characters with my Nintendo DS, and also by writing emails in Japanese to Kuniko and other people via my cellphone. I am always searching for new tricks and tips online, and now I can’t imagine learning a language with just a textbook and a CD.
Anyway, it is fun to do the research into what is going on out there. Whether I can leverage my interest in this field into a job that I love – well, that remains to be seen. I remember singing this same song years ago leaving the winery to jump into the computer industry.
Kuniko is getting home late tonight, and so I’m going to cook up some somen noodles to serve ice cold when she arrives. Tomorrow is Friday and we’re having taco night with Yasu and his mom, and then on Saturday depending on the weather we might head to Kyoto for a BBQ with a bunch of Kuniko’s old college friends. I’m hoping for sun!
