Your looks are laughable

I know, I am posting twice in one day. Get over it.

Kocho: Good morning.

Staci: Good morning

1^st grader: Good morning

Staci: How are you?

1^st grader: I am fine thank you. Staci? Did you get a haircut?

Staci: Yes, I did.

1^st grader: O! Cho (so) sexy!

Kocho: You can’t say this to teachers. You can say- nice, pretty or beautiful.

We walk around the corner and my Kocho almost keels over with laughter.

Thank you Kocho Sensei, thank you.

**EDIT**

Here is a picture of me at my desk, because Melissa requested it.

I am not smiling or looking because I didn't want anyone to notice I was taking a picture of myself. Apparently, this is my "I am being sneaky" face. It might be a little obvious.

Halloween Story

I wish with all of my being that I was better at remembering taking pictures, but I am not. Sorry!

We had a school festival in October. I was asked to make an English booth so I made a full-fledged Halloween party with face painting, candy, games, and costumes.

My Kocho really wanted to be involved. So I told him he could pass out the candy to the kids. He wrote down what he was supposed to say in English and I over heard him practicing in his office several times, he was EXCITED.

I picked out the most conservative hat we had for him to wear, a black witches hat. He walked in and I handed it to him.

Kocho: I don’t like this hat.

Staci: Um… O no, he isn’t going to like anything I have. I guess you don’t have to wear one at all.

Kocho: No, I want to.

He began to look through the other costume options I had and selected the most incredible costume I have ever seen….

He chose a pair of lady bug wings, a purple sparkly witches hat, and a skeleton mask. He then proceeds to put all of these items on over his track suit.

He kept his costume on the entire party and passed out every piece of candy.

He then walked around the school giving out stickers.

I was impressed.

Natto

Rice, natto (fermented soy beans) with mustard. Nikujaga which is made with meat, potatoes, onions and other vegetables stewed in a sweetened soy sauce and some type of salad.



I have a love/hate relationship with natto. Ok... a like-ish/hate relationship.It is pretty good slathered in mustard and soy sauce, but isn't just about anything? My biggest issue with natto is the smell. It smells like dirty, stinky feet. Also, the texture- it is super sticky and stringy and kids talk with their mouths open, not a great school lunch food. The total meal was pretty good though so I will give this 3/5 turkey legs. Go NATTO!

Kocho Week

I have decided to dedicate this week on our blog to my Kocho Sensei because he is amazing.

I will try to add a new story about him everyday.

First of all, a Kocho Sensei is the principal of a school. In Japan this is a VERY respected position. They have to take many tests and work for many years as a teacher to get this job. Also, when they are the Kocho whatever they say at school goes, everyone must bow to the Kocho (literally). This usually means that the person in this position is very serious.

O and I am not using code by calling him Kocho Sensei, he is referred to by his title never his name.

My first memory of my Kocho was around my 3rd week of school. I needed to ask permission for something so I stepped up to the office door and peeked inside to see if he was there and I saw him at his desk..

In his clear rain suit (over his business suit), floppy straw sun hat, white driving gloves, and black toe socks (no shoes) casually typing on his computer.

I decided to come back another time.

People Lie

Teacher 1: Do you like Angelina Jolie?

Staci: Yes, she is very pretty. Don’t you think so?

Teacher 2: Yes! She is very pretty!

Teacher 1: Staci, you are prettier than Angelina Jolie.

Staci and Teacher 2: *LAUGHTER*

See! I told you, they are big (actually twig-like) liars.

That's Not My Name

I would like to write this post using a parody of a great song by the Ting Tings...

They call me Wade, they call me sensei, they call me gaijin, they call me “Hey!”
That's not my name, That's not my name, That's not my name, That's not my...name!

Wade is the previous AET, "sensei" means teacher, "gaijin" is a derogatory term for foreigners and "Hey"
is just a common substitution for "Hello"

Embarrassing Moment # 500,301

Last night I picked up my friend Heather for a small get together we were attending.

I honked a couple of times and she did not come out.

It was raining and cold and if you haven’t figured it out already… I am super lazy.

I just didn’t want to get out of the car and walk all the way around the building to knock on the door so I just knocked on her back window.

A man opened the curtain…

Brett? (Heather’s husband) Why is he in his underwear…? O no. That is not Brett. I just knocked on some poor unsuspecting Japanese man’s window.

Suddenly, the man opens the door and says “Brett san?” I say “Yes….” Looking at the ground. He says, “Next door” and points to the next window Apparently I forgot how to count to 3. “Thank you, I’m sorry”

I then ran around the building and knocked on the CORRECT door where Heather was waiting for me.