Pervert kids

[snarp]

Today it was kind of warm in the classroom, so I pushed my sleeves up, allowing Zuzu, Princess, and Cookie to discover my arm hair.

Zuzu said, “That’s a lot of hair!”

“Yup. So what’s this letter?”

“S! S is for snake!” (One of the reasons I love Zuzu - even when she acts up, she keeps participating in class.) “Why do you have so much hair on your arms?”

“Princess, what’s this letter?” Princess, who does not have Zuzu’s multitasking abilities, was too busy trying to pinch my hair to respond.

Zuzu demanded, “Are you actually a man? Are you a man who changed into a woman?”

Cookie said helpfully, “That’s called a “New Half.”"

On the theory that denying outrageous accusations made by children has never in history done any good, I said, “Yes.” I wish I could figure out whether “New Half” is derogatory, so I know whether or not to yell at the kids for using it.

In Bonze, Jerkface, and Ken’ichi’s class we were playing a game where I gave each of the kids a color of Jenga block, and they had to try and collect all their color by completing a complex feat involving marbles. Bonze is named for his haircut, his extreme stoicism, and his voice, which sounds unnervingly like that of an unpleasant priest of my reluctant acquaintance. He had the red blocks, and was using them to make a line of torii. I found this adorable. (Bonze doesn’t like being found adorable.) (And I’m aware that multiple torii are for Shinto shrines and not Buddhist temples, yes.)

(Originally published at SarahPin.com. You can comment here or there.)

Comments

[snarp]

No problem! I haven't traveled enough to have any sense of what the various parts of Niigata - what's Sanpoku like? (I assume that it is cold. That is a given.)

The other day Zuzu accused me of masculinity yet again, though this time more vengefully, because I gave her extra homework.

And holy crap, I have read some of your webcomic...

[lacrimawanders.livejournal.com]

Fallen's not my webcomic, just my icon source. ; )

Sanpoku is not all that cold - it's got some pretty deep snows in the mountains, but is mostly gorgeous beaches (with no waves) in the summer. Excellent for swimming and barbecue parties.

Traveling in Niigata is pretty great. There are a lot of different places to go, and the ALT culture is pretty friendly. Bonus.

[snarp]

Can you suggest anywhere? I haven't really done much traveling since I got here - I've only even gone into Niigata twice, and both times I had errands that took up the whole day. I am lame.

I have encountered two other English speakers living around here online, and none IRL. There are a couple of other English schools within walking distance, so I assume other gaijin do exist, but...

[lacrimawanders.livejournal.com]

Whoa, no way! You haven't done any exploring at all? Go into the city, the circus is in town. Go visit the shrine at Yahiko (name of the station is also Yahiko, not JR but hyperdia/jorudan will still turn it up fine), or out to Nagaoka. Up in Murakami there are some castle ruins, hiking, a salmon "museum", and a library with a planetarium.

If you want to meet a real, live non-Japanese, I would totally be up for hanging out. : D

[snarp]

I've walked around the area where I live, but that's about it - I am prone to getting in ruts and just coming home and reading! It's a character flaw.

Sure! I'm going home for Golden Week, but definitely when I get back - it is very boring here.

(It's probably incredibly sad that the item on your list that intrigues me the most is the salmon museum. I'm now sitting here imagining exhibits on the great deeds of important historical salmon like General Pinkishson and the Dowager Empress Deliciousiana. Please do not crush my beautiful dream and tell me it's not like that!)

[lacrimawanders.livejournal.com]

If it's not like that, it should be!! Salmon are pretty great - maybe the most delicious of all fish.

Random question that may lead to questions that have actual connections to previous conversation - are you interested in kimono at all?

[snarp]

In the sense of looking at them, yes - I lived near Nagoya before, and I had a bad habit of wasting hours poking around the used kimono places there... In the sense of making/wearing them, not so much, for I lack both the necessary sewing and motor skills. And you?