Today IS fun. Let's start with the obvious: my wife arrives today. I am ridiculously excited after not seeing her for almost a month since I've been here. Just about 4 more hours until I see her. Okay, enough about that or else that's all I will talk about.
Today I am sitting in my Elementary School office and writing this during work. Yesterday, the Vice Principal/Head Teacher (who, by the way, is in charge- not the principal) told me to bring my swimming suit so that I could swim with the kids. I was not completely excited about it, not that I don't like to swim, but getting in the water half-dressed with a bunch of kids that are scared of talking to me (and simultaneously thinking I have rockstar status) was not an event I was relishing.
However, I answered very enthusiastically and with a smile that I woule LOVE to swim. So I did. And for some reason there were only two little kids when I went. It was right before lunch so I think the rest of the kids had left. Again, the kids were hesitant to speak at first, but then started splashing me with water and ganged up on me. I have now earned my rockstar status with two kids.
Then, later, some Junior High Girl who is on break came to the Elementary School, and while I'm not completely certain of this, I think she came just to meet me and talk with me. I'm a hero. I've been hearing that if you need to build up your self-esteem, just move to Japan and teach English to kids... although I hear the real fun starts when all the kids are there... but more on that when it happens. Anyway, it was great meeting her.
Another encouraging thing was that I met a woman today that was from Ohira and now lives in San Francisco. She went to grad school for teaching English as a second language. It was proof that my students can learn!
Finally, my favorite even of the day, and the MOST encouraging was when I called my Vice Principal (again, the head honcho) a liar. That's right, I said it, a liar. Okay, so now you're thinking... oh no, what has Luke done... alienating his coworkers... sometimes maybe he shouldn't speak up so much like he always does...
...But don't freak out. I called him that as a joke (within a funny context)... it was a big risk, since I didn't know if the humor would transfer between languages, especially to someone of higher societal rank than myself. However, with big risk often comes a big payoff. Not only did he laugh for about a minute straight, but so did the rest of the office! Now, why is this such a big deal? I have said a couple small jokes that usually they don't understand, or if they do, they smile at, but one of the hardest things to learn when studying a language is humor. Because of the cultural differences and the lack of a real understanding of the way the language really works it often comes off poorly.
If you think about it, humor is difficult even when you are speaking in your own language. Today I feel like I have broken through a brick wall. Not only that, but later in the conversation, I made another joke and they erupted even longer!
Now I feel that I am getting a grasp for the language. Today is a good day.
Now I will leave you with a Japanese kid's joke that people don't think is funny when they grow up:
Futon ga futon da.
Translation: The futon flew.
Today I am sitting in my Elementary School office and writing this during work. Yesterday, the Vice Principal/Head Teacher (who, by the way, is in charge- not the principal) told me to bring my swimming suit so that I could swim with the kids. I was not completely excited about it, not that I don't like to swim, but getting in the water half-dressed with a bunch of kids that are scared of talking to me (and simultaneously thinking I have rockstar status) was not an event I was relishing.
However, I answered very enthusiastically and with a smile that I woule LOVE to swim. So I did. And for some reason there were only two little kids when I went. It was right before lunch so I think the rest of the kids had left. Again, the kids were hesitant to speak at first, but then started splashing me with water and ganged up on me. I have now earned my rockstar status with two kids.
Then, later, some Junior High Girl who is on break came to the Elementary School, and while I'm not completely certain of this, I think she came just to meet me and talk with me. I'm a hero. I've been hearing that if you need to build up your self-esteem, just move to Japan and teach English to kids... although I hear the real fun starts when all the kids are there... but more on that when it happens. Anyway, it was great meeting her.
Another encouraging thing was that I met a woman today that was from Ohira and now lives in San Francisco. She went to grad school for teaching English as a second language. It was proof that my students can learn!
Finally, my favorite even of the day, and the MOST encouraging was when I called my Vice Principal (again, the head honcho) a liar. That's right, I said it, a liar. Okay, so now you're thinking... oh no, what has Luke done... alienating his coworkers... sometimes maybe he shouldn't speak up so much like he always does...
...But don't freak out. I called him that as a joke (within a funny context)... it was a big risk, since I didn't know if the humor would transfer between languages, especially to someone of higher societal rank than myself. However, with big risk often comes a big payoff. Not only did he laugh for about a minute straight, but so did the rest of the office! Now, why is this such a big deal? I have said a couple small jokes that usually they don't understand, or if they do, they smile at, but one of the hardest things to learn when studying a language is humor. Because of the cultural differences and the lack of a real understanding of the way the language really works it often comes off poorly.
If you think about it, humor is difficult even when you are speaking in your own language. Today I feel like I have broken through a brick wall. Not only that, but later in the conversation, I made another joke and they erupted even longer!
Now I feel that I am getting a grasp for the language. Today is a good day.
Now I will leave you with a Japanese kid's joke that people don't think is funny when they grow up:
Futon ga futon da.
Translation: The futon flew.
10:02 PM |
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1 comments
Comments (1)
Sounds like you're making good progress, Luke. Are you still wearing your floaties when you get in the pool? Just kidding!!