The 6th years at my Thursday school are trying to make picture books. This mostly consists of them copying down Japanese phrases and then showing them to me determinedly, as if they could will me to know Japanese and translate the stories for them. But some actually try to translate on their own. One group was doing The Monkey And the Crab. At one point the monkey slips in cow poop. I’m just wondering exactly what dictionary they’re using that’s translating “cow poop” into “shit” and “goddamned dung.”

Today I was walking up and down the aisles of one of my second year junior high classes, with nothing to do, when one of the girls beckoned me over. She asked me (in Japanese, no less, she didn’t even try English) how big my nose is and got out a ruler.

Well, at least I can always console myself with not being this dude.

Eric, the ALT.