Roy Huggins Says Stuff

I just sorted frantically through the stuff on the ledge in my closet. I threw aside two active credit cards like expired coupons. I didn’t find what I wanted, though: an old, used bus transfer.

I was just struck for a few minutes that I’m living in a world where a thing I used throw en masse into the trash, TriMet bus transfers, are of value to me. And a bottle of Black Butte Porter is worth its weight in platinum.¹

1. Not gold, of course. Its always worth its weight in gold! [↩]

These kids love photos.

Seriously. I wandered around school the other day looking to take a few pictures. I thought, “I hope some of the kids are up for some posed group shots.” Truth was, I couldn’t take a candid shot if I tried (and I did try.) As soon as the camera came out it was all poses, smiles and little V’s. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. The happy energy that erupts when the students see a camera is infectious.

Here’s an example. I was up on the second floor looking out a window at sannenses (third-year students [9th graders]) practicing juggling for the upcoming festival. I had my camera out hoping to catch some neat moves in the act. But before I could take the first pic, I was discovered by this group of kids who immediately commenced The Pose:

Later I wandered up to see what the ichinenses (first-year students [7th graders]) were up to. Some of the boys were hanging around taping pieces of newspaper together. I asked what they were doing and they said they were making a display. I asked what kind and they seemed to start deliberating in Japanese. One of them turned to me and said “Star Wars.” I repeated his words back to be sure but then another boy started waving his hands like “no, no, no.” So I decided to skip ahead and asked if I could take a picture. They were totally up for it, and this is what we got.

Notice how the dude who’s second from the right is looking off to the side? That’s because some of the kids from his class (sankumi [class 3]) saw that there’s a camera out and are currently rushing to join the fun. Like so…

Huh. Maybe we didn’t get everybody?

And there they are — everybody on the floor, at least. This isn’t all of sankumi but it’s a lot of them.

This next week is my last at Hiragishi Junior High until January 16th of next year. I’ve actually been pretty down about leaving. I really like the teachers I work with. I really like my students. Everyone seems to like me. I can walk to work. It’s a wonderful, welcoming place to be and a great place to work. I hope the other schools I work at are similar. Maybe they will be. Maybe I’ll have to be sad like this a couple more times as I leave one great place after another.

At least I’m reasonably sure that I’ll get to finish out the school year after I come back. And next month I go to elementary schools. Little kids!!

Hello, peeps!

I know many of you have been waiting for me to break Internet silence and commence with the stories about Japan. Well, I got started two weeks ago and then my server crashed. I have yet to be able to restore the ability to post to the blog that Electra and I have together, but this blog is up! So even if I don’t have the time to write a lot of stories, I can start posting pictures and showing my Sapporo pride.

It’s pretty late at night for me. But tomorrow is Friday and that means I won’t be in front of this computer again, healthy enough to manipulate words, for a couple days. So here’s a few pics that I really like to whet your appetite. More to come this weekend!

My friend Mike at karaoke and at the pride parade. I’m collecting pics from my new friends here to create a Cast of Characters for y’all.

The awesome kids of ichinense (”first year” [7th grade]) sankumi (”class #3″)

Advanced Japanese coffee technology!

Cats!

(This one’s name is Kuma, which means “bear”)

Night life!

We’re having a good time. I’m finally hitting the culture-shock/homesick wall as is at least one other JET here in Sapporo. But that’s good. It’s mean I can get it over with now.

I have to leave my base school after next week and won’t be back until next January. It makes me sad because I’ve developed relationships with the teachers and students there and really love it. I do get to start visiting elementary schools next month, though. Japanese kids are cuuuute!

Here are two proverbs that have been coming up in my life recently. Why not test yourself and see if you can guess what culture each proverb comes from.

• The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
• The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.

Okay, the answers are pretty obvious. The first proverb is American (I believe, or at least Western) and the second is Japanese. Elsewhere in Asia they also say “The quacking duck gets shot.”

One thing Electra pointed out is that if you try to strip away the value statements, all these proverbs can say the same thing: “When you take distinctive action, you will attract attention.” I.e. if you make a noise that others are not making or if you position yourself away from other people then you will be noticed. The actual proverbs are then based on cultural ideas of what it means to attract attention.

The Americans are quick to think that one’s needs can’t be met by others unless one makes them known. So we say “Speak up! Let us know what you need!” And also “If you don’t speak up, we can’t be held responsible when you don’t get what you need.” The East Asian cultures are quick to realize that calling attention to yourself or doing something that is out of the routine is likely to attract corrective action. So they say “If you blend in and avoid making waves then you’ll live peacefully.” They also say “If you do make waves then it’s your fault when we punish you.”

Have you ever wondered what happens if you stick your hand in the path a running ceiling fan? I know I often have. It’s one of the morbid fascinations I’ve secretly harbored and have never had any interest in testing.

The answer: nothing much. Maybe a few bruises. *phew*

Things That Make English Hard to Learn #1:

“Didn’t Really” vs. “Really Didn’t”

Switch the word order to increase emphasis. Bug or feature?

When small birds, like brownbirds, hop around on the ground, they are so very cute.

Larger birds, like ravens, are not.

I realized today that I haven’t listened to Poe in something like 3 years. That was a severe oversight. I really like Poe and am happily listening to Hello right now.

It occurred to me before that she must have a history of abusive boyfriends — or at least one really bad one. But now, 3 years later, I can realize it in that counselor-y¹ way.

A lot of things sound different than they did 3 years ago, in fact.

1. I find myself wanting to hand the lyrics from Trigger Happy Jack (”You can’t talk to a psycho like a normal human being”) to some of my clients [↩]

I just got an email from MoveOn, like I do.

The gist of the message is a request for members to support a bill currently sitting in front of Congress that would make it a federal crime to price gouge for gasoline. The punishment would be up to 10 years in prison. Hmm…

I know gas is expensive. I know it effects all Americans heavily when gas costs a lot. I know that oil interests are utilizing the current political climate to price gouge. But come on. Make that specific thing a federal crime with significant prison time? That’s going too far and is certainly a slippery slope issue.

I like MoveOn. But sometimes it isn’t the best idea to support something just because it’s a chance to stick it to the Republicans.

Personally, I like to think systemically about this one. Maybe if gas does top $4 then that’s one more price point in the direction of convincing even the most grossly consumerist, SUV-driving Americans that maybe it’d be a good idea to work towards more sustainable energy practices.

Some interesting facts about Sapporo, Japan:

1. It’s cold. Cold is not hot, unlike the rest of Japan.
2. It has an extensive and useful system of mass transit.
3. They make beer there!
4. The City of Sapporo is 60% forest.
5. My wife will be stationed there next year with the JET program.
6. I will be, too!
7. Yay!!!!

Yay!!!!