JET shtuff
Feb. 19th, 2007 08:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flonnebonneA university professor calling for the end of the JET program in the Daily Yomiuri newspaper
Longer version of the same article (pdf)
Once I got over my seething rage (the Yomiuri version, which I read first, only has the inflammatory bits), I realized that this guy makes several good points. Everyone kind of knows that the system has plenty of problems. Food for thought.
So, I asked class 3-1 if they want to sing "Imagine" by John Lennon for their appreciation party thingy for the teachers, but it turns out they're already planning to sing Hare Hare Yukai, aka the ending theme of The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi. The student body president (who can't sing to save his life) is going to be Kyon. And, yes, they are going to do the dance.
How can "Imagine" possibly compete against "Hare Hare Yukai?" Gaijin smash FAIL.
Longer version of the same article (pdf)
Once I got over my seething rage (the Yomiuri version, which I read first, only has the inflammatory bits), I realized that this guy makes several good points. Everyone kind of knows that the system has plenty of problems. Food for thought.
So, I asked class 3-1 if they want to sing "Imagine" by John Lennon for their appreciation party thingy for the teachers, but it turns out they're already planning to sing Hare Hare Yukai, aka the ending theme of The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi. The student body president (who can't sing to save his life) is going to be Kyon. And, yes, they are going to do the dance.
How can "Imagine" possibly compete against "Hare Hare Yukai?" Gaijin smash FAIL.
Today at one of the local sushi restaurants, Suehiro:
Me: (just finished eating my chirashi sushi) Excuse me, what's that butter scallop thing on the menu? Is it fried?
Chef: No, it's not. But do you want a fried scallop?
Me: Oh no, that's okay, I'm full. Maybe next time.
(five minutes later)
Chef: Here's your enormous fried scallop!
Me: Eeeeeehhhh?!?
(I eat the scallop anyway, yum.)
Me: (trying to make conversation) Do you know what a california roll is?
Chef: Oh yes!
Me: It has avacado in it.
Chef: Ah, avacado, that's difficult.
Me: No no no, I don't want to eat it now!
(we talk some more about fruit and vegetables)
Waitress: Here are some apple slices!
Me: Waaaaaahhh?!?
Waitress: And some coffee!
Chef: Do you like coffee?
Me: Coffee's okay.
(Lots more conversation with the entire restaurant staff, involving lots of praise for my craptastic Japanese and my appearance and about the fact that, yes, Canada is cold and has four seasons.)
Proprietress: Here, have a very expensive kind of mochi from that dessert shop that's around here.
Little boy: Here, have some rice crackers to take home with you.
Me: Thaaaank yoooou!!!!
(Even more conversation, most of which I don't understand but I nod my head a lot.)
Me: I have to go now.
Waiter: To study Japanese, right?
Me: Sure.
(I accidentally leave without paying, walk half a block, have a panic attack, then run back to the restaurant only to find that no one even realized I hadn't paid.)
Staff: Come again!
Me: I will!
In conclusion, I am spoiled.
Me: (just finished eating my chirashi sushi) Excuse me, what's that butter scallop thing on the menu? Is it fried?
Chef: No, it's not. But do you want a fried scallop?
Me: Oh no, that's okay, I'm full. Maybe next time.
(five minutes later)
Chef: Here's your enormous fried scallop!
Me: Eeeeeehhhh?!?
(I eat the scallop anyway, yum.)
Me: (trying to make conversation) Do you know what a california roll is?
Chef: Oh yes!
Me: It has avacado in it.
Chef: Ah, avacado, that's difficult.
Me: No no no, I don't want to eat it now!
(we talk some more about fruit and vegetables)
Waitress: Here are some apple slices!
Me: Waaaaaahhh?!?
Waitress: And some coffee!
Chef: Do you like coffee?
Me: Coffee's okay.
(Lots more conversation with the entire restaurant staff, involving lots of praise for my craptastic Japanese and my appearance and about the fact that, yes, Canada is cold and has four seasons.)
Proprietress: Here, have a very expensive kind of mochi from that dessert shop that's around here.
Little boy: Here, have some rice crackers to take home with you.
Me: Thaaaank yoooou!!!!
(Even more conversation, most of which I don't understand but I nod my head a lot.)
Me: I have to go now.
Waiter: To study Japanese, right?
Me: Sure.
(I accidentally leave without paying, walk half a block, have a panic attack, then run back to the restaurant only to find that no one even realized I hadn't paid.)
Staff: Come again!
Me: I will!
In conclusion, I am spoiled.
