Casually strolling down a dark and dreary street. Not a soul around. The trees are drooping sadly as their leaves are being stripped by the wind. The sun lazily rests on the horizon as it slowly slumps out of view. You are just minding your own business as you make your way to your car. You get the sneaking suspicion someone is behind you, quietly following. You spin around like Jackie Chan off a spring board straight into action! No one is there…. You start to walk a little faster thinking, “I will feel safer in my car.” You get the creepy feeling again, so you glance over your shoulder, nothing but trees rolling back and forth. You pick up the pace. You hear foot steps echoing and a panting that is bearing down on you. You spin around with Ninja Turtle preparedness… Only to find you are still alone! You start to think back, what did Wayne Gretzky teach me to do in these situations? You get a tap on the shoulder and you spin around shaking at the knees to see twilight staring back at you. You jet! You make it to your car and fumble around for your keys as you try prying your door open. Success! You get in to your car and slam the door shut behind you. Then you hear an eerie voice from the back seat, “Hey did you remember my cheesecake?”

No, I am not writing a thriller book about the cheesecake bandit. I know, I ruined your anticipation with such an enticing intro. Instead, I was imagining what kids at Japanese schools feel like when the 英語の先生 (English Teacher) spots them outside of class and says, “Hi.” I figure it might be a little scary. Maybe not super scary, but it most likely catches them off guard.  That and they are trying to remember when I taught them how to say “Hello” in English. To top it off, Japanese students are pretty shy in general, especially in more rural areas like Izumo. Being the only 外人 (foreigner) in my area, I say hi to all the students no matter where I am in town. Doesn’t matter whether I am happy, depressed, or down right sick. I pull out a smile and greet. Now most kids at school won’t be quiet. Getting them to STOP saying “hi” is the problem. But as soon as you leave the school grounds, they switch to shy mode around the foreigner. On my way to and from school I greet a number of children. Probably around 100 or so. I’ll be lucky if about 10 of them say “hi.” Most of them stare in wide eye wonderment like they have never seen me before. The rest of them pull a “I was looking in your direction, but now… umm…, WOW, this persimmon tree is amazing! Look at how orange that persimmon is! I really would like a persimmon right now. Mmmm, tasty cakes….” For those of you wondering what a persimmon is, it’s Picture Time!

Anyway, getting to know the kids and teachers in Japan has been interesting to say the least. They have taught me quite a bit, although they probably don’t realize it. Just hope the adventure keeps on introducing me to these quirky little culture differences.