As most of you may know by this time, our days in Japan are numbered. In fact, we will be moving back to the U.S. before the summer is over. I was thinking back over my time here as an English teacher, and I wanted to make a list of some of the funniest things my Japanese/Chinese/Korean students have said to me....So here they go:
1. "So, how is California life? Oh, you aren't from California? Then, how is it living in New York?" Yes, that is right. Most students that I met would inevitably assume that I was from California because I have blond hair. When I told them that I was not from California then it was assumed I must be from New York...because these are the only two places that exist in America. I even had one student say he was disappointed that I wasn't a "real" American because I wasn't from either of these beloved states....haha.
2. "How many guns do you have?" Once when I was asked this question for the hundredth time, I got a little bit mean and told the student that in fact I was carrying a gun in my bag at that very moment. The sad thing is....he actually believed me. I had to physically show him the inside of my bag to ease any fears.
3. "Can you use chopsticks?" "Can you eat rice?" "Can you eat Japanese food?" No matter how many years I have lived here....it seems to boggle the average Japanese student's mind that...gasp...I can use chopsticks! Also, here comes another shocker...we have rice in America! Actually, I'm sure they know that rice exists in America if they really put their mind to it...but the logic escapes them in the beginning. Also, I'm not sure what kind of food you live on in if you are living in Japan, but I'm almost certain some of it must be Japanese.
4. "I hope my son doesn't marry a white person when they study in America, and it would be even worse if they were black!" Now, this one I must say is more of a favorite phrase of my lovely Korean students. I think that even if Japanese students think this...they wouldn't necessarily say it. However, I have been told many a time how terrible it would be if a non-Korean were to enter the family. Really this statement doesn't bother me all that much. Korea is predominately....wait for it....composed of ethnic Koreans...so I'm sure it would upset things quite a bit.
5. "Can you speak Japanese?" This is an absolutely reasonable question, but what I have loved about Japan is that they in NO WAY EXPECT YOU TO SPEAK JAPANESE!! How great is this!! I mean they understand it is a hard language and assume that foreigners haven't taken the time to learn it....could you imagine Americans saying this about English...hah! Now there are two sides to this coin...I know. But since I don't plan on staying here for too much longer, I have decided that this is a good thing.
6. "So you eat McDonald's everyday." This is always in statement rather than question form. I always had to gently break it to the student that....no...we do not eat McDonald's everyday. Instead we go to Taco Bell, Burger King, Arby's, etc...hahaha. Well, I'm sure people don't go every day....but admittedly we Americans (did you see what I did there if you are familiar with Japanese English)...do tend to eat a lot of fast food compared to people in Japan. I wouldn't say this statement is necessarily that unfair.
7. "Why do Americans love war?" I honestly have no idea how to go about this one. Do Americans love war? We have been in a war of some sort or the other for most of my life. Also, isn't history class mainly a string of wars with some social issues sprinkled in between. I always approach this one with the idea of making the world a safer place, blah, blah blah....but I'm not sure if I buy it myself.
8. "My son made a friend in the U.S., but I'm sad that the friend isn't a real American." The first time I heard this one....I was a bit confused. I kindly asked the student to clarify and found out that said friend was of Indian descent. Born and raised in America....but not American in Japanese eyes. Now, this issue runs very deep here in Japan. Even someone born in Japan to one Japanese parent and one foreign parent...may not be considered really Japanese. Yes, I have been told this many, many times. So, it doesn't surprise me that this poor Indian American is not considered a real American....but I always go through my little speech that one of the great things about the U.S. is that if you are born/naturalized there then you are a "real" American.
9. "Why are American women in porn so scary?" hahaha....this one made me laugh so hard. This poor guy explained how when he watched a U.S. porn he was quite terrified of the actress and didn't find her attractive. Too aggressive he said with all of the yelling....and...well you know. These conversations always just went to really wacky places...because...honestly...I have no explanation for this...cultural I guess? .... hahaha...maybe they are scary.
10. "When will you leave Japan?" Most students that I have met always assumed that I would leave. Not because I had mentioned it...but because they don't expect you to stay here for long. You are expected to go back from whence you came. I never knew how to answer this question because I wasn't really sure if I was leaving Japan...so this always ended up with me asking why they would assume that I would leave.
Now, as you read through all of these it may sound like people are a bit....hmmm...I don't know racist? However, if you inserted U.S. or American for Japan or Japanese....I think the questions aren't really all that different. Do we expect foreigners to go back to their own country? Probably. Do we assume that Japanese people eat sushi all of the time. Yes. Do we ask if a foreign person can speak English. Yes, and we assume that they should (which is beyond ignorant).
So, while I have faced a lot of interesting situations here...I believe that it was all for the better in the end...I have a much better idea of what it is like living as a minority. I honestly feel that no white American can say the same without having truly lived in such a situation for an extended period of time...no matter how many non-white friends you have....you are always looking at it from the viewpoint of the majority...so, overall I've been very thankful for my experiences over the past five years.
1. "So, how is California life? Oh, you aren't from California? Then, how is it living in New York?" Yes, that is right. Most students that I met would inevitably assume that I was from California because I have blond hair. When I told them that I was not from California then it was assumed I must be from New York...because these are the only two places that exist in America. I even had one student say he was disappointed that I wasn't a "real" American because I wasn't from either of these beloved states....haha.
2. "How many guns do you have?" Once when I was asked this question for the hundredth time, I got a little bit mean and told the student that in fact I was carrying a gun in my bag at that very moment. The sad thing is....he actually believed me. I had to physically show him the inside of my bag to ease any fears.
3. "Can you use chopsticks?" "Can you eat rice?" "Can you eat Japanese food?" No matter how many years I have lived here....it seems to boggle the average Japanese student's mind that...gasp...I can use chopsticks! Also, here comes another shocker...we have rice in America! Actually, I'm sure they know that rice exists in America if they really put their mind to it...but the logic escapes them in the beginning. Also, I'm not sure what kind of food you live on in if you are living in Japan, but I'm almost certain some of it must be Japanese.
4. "I hope my son doesn't marry a white person when they study in America, and it would be even worse if they were black!" Now, this one I must say is more of a favorite phrase of my lovely Korean students. I think that even if Japanese students think this...they wouldn't necessarily say it. However, I have been told many a time how terrible it would be if a non-Korean were to enter the family. Really this statement doesn't bother me all that much. Korea is predominately....wait for it....composed of ethnic Koreans...so I'm sure it would upset things quite a bit.
5. "Can you speak Japanese?" This is an absolutely reasonable question, but what I have loved about Japan is that they in NO WAY EXPECT YOU TO SPEAK JAPANESE!! How great is this!! I mean they understand it is a hard language and assume that foreigners haven't taken the time to learn it....could you imagine Americans saying this about English...hah! Now there are two sides to this coin...I know. But since I don't plan on staying here for too much longer, I have decided that this is a good thing.
6. "So you eat McDonald's everyday." This is always in statement rather than question form. I always had to gently break it to the student that....no...we do not eat McDonald's everyday. Instead we go to Taco Bell, Burger King, Arby's, etc...hahaha. Well, I'm sure people don't go every day....but admittedly we Americans (did you see what I did there if you are familiar with Japanese English)...do tend to eat a lot of fast food compared to people in Japan. I wouldn't say this statement is necessarily that unfair.
7. "Why do Americans love war?" I honestly have no idea how to go about this one. Do Americans love war? We have been in a war of some sort or the other for most of my life. Also, isn't history class mainly a string of wars with some social issues sprinkled in between. I always approach this one with the idea of making the world a safer place, blah, blah blah....but I'm not sure if I buy it myself.
8. "My son made a friend in the U.S., but I'm sad that the friend isn't a real American." The first time I heard this one....I was a bit confused. I kindly asked the student to clarify and found out that said friend was of Indian descent. Born and raised in America....but not American in Japanese eyes. Now, this issue runs very deep here in Japan. Even someone born in Japan to one Japanese parent and one foreign parent...may not be considered really Japanese. Yes, I have been told this many, many times. So, it doesn't surprise me that this poor Indian American is not considered a real American....but I always go through my little speech that one of the great things about the U.S. is that if you are born/naturalized there then you are a "real" American.
9. "Why are American women in porn so scary?" hahaha....this one made me laugh so hard. This poor guy explained how when he watched a U.S. porn he was quite terrified of the actress and didn't find her attractive. Too aggressive he said with all of the yelling....and...well you know. These conversations always just went to really wacky places...because...honestly...I have no explanation for this...cultural I guess? .... hahaha...maybe they are scary.
10. "When will you leave Japan?" Most students that I have met always assumed that I would leave. Not because I had mentioned it...but because they don't expect you to stay here for long. You are expected to go back from whence you came. I never knew how to answer this question because I wasn't really sure if I was leaving Japan...so this always ended up with me asking why they would assume that I would leave.
Now, as you read through all of these it may sound like people are a bit....hmmm...I don't know racist? However, if you inserted U.S. or American for Japan or Japanese....I think the questions aren't really all that different. Do we expect foreigners to go back to their own country? Probably. Do we assume that Japanese people eat sushi all of the time. Yes. Do we ask if a foreign person can speak English. Yes, and we assume that they should (which is beyond ignorant).
So, while I have faced a lot of interesting situations here...I believe that it was all for the better in the end...I have a much better idea of what it is like living as a minority. I honestly feel that no white American can say the same without having truly lived in such a situation for an extended period of time...no matter how many non-white friends you have....you are always looking at it from the viewpoint of the majority...so, overall I've been very thankful for my experiences over the past five years.
nice blog
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