I dashed off to work today, running a little late because it was garbage day and I was a little under-organized in the trash department. I made it to the platform just as the train pulled up, but I didn’t have to run at any time. I see people running to the train every day, and I wonder how busy their lives must be that they can’t work in an extra minute or two for an easy stroll to the train station. I’m all about the easy strolling.
At work today I had only one class, during the sixth period, and it was a new lesson about time expressions. We’re learning about the differences between usually, sometimes, always, never, occasionally, etc. The students did a pretty good job with the new lesson, and as always I was surprised that I didn’t completely hash it up. I seem to make more mistakes when I’m on the 12th time teaching a lesson than when it’s my first time.
The staff had a little bit of a somber tone as people were talking about Yamada sensei’s husband passing away on the weekend. Some interesting cultural notes: they are a Christian family, so when I asked another teacher if I should hand over the traditional sum of cash for a funeral, they said that since they are Christian there is no money involved. Also, the staff at our school came in over the weekend and organized the memorial, the funeral, everything for her. I’m not sure if that is because she is alone or if it common in Japan.
I came back and self-imposed a media blackout, the final episode of Survivor was being broadcast, and I didn’t want to accidentally find out the winner. That’s happened before, and it’s a little anticlimactic.
Instead, while I downloaded the episode on my computer I watched TV in Japanese on Kuniko’s television set. I watched a horribly acted show for kids about some poor junior high school boy with a crush on an older girl in his school. The theme was interesting, just work hard and eventually she’ll notice you. The boy was so stricken with shyness that he couldn’t just walk over and say hello. That’s not just a Japanese thing, though – I remember being in junior high and being paralyzed every time some cute girl would walk by. It’s part of the junior high experience I guess.
Also it seems to me that in Japanese TV and movies there is a lot of things that go on in the character’s heads. There’s lots of footage of people looking up, staring off into the distance, and silently pondering their fate. Even the print ads for various products and institutions often have somebody staring off into space. Contrasted with American movies and TV, where the characters seem to act out their problems, talk with friends, and generally keep things out in the open.
Tomorrow I should have my episode of Survivor, and then I can come out from the blackout and see what’s up in the world. Until then, I’ll stick with Japanese TV.
