I learn something new everyday.

Today I learned why my school has been without Internet for almost three months.

The secret was let out when one of the math teachers started shouting at the principal during this morning’s teachers’ meeting (there’s one every morning at 8:20, which means I have to hotfoot it to get there on time - just so I can sit at my desk pretending to understand what’s being said). I don’t know if you’ve ever heard the sounds Japanese men emit when they’re angry, but in case you haven’t, just know they’re a lot like two dogs growling in defense of the brand new tennis ball at the end of the drive. The two varying dialogues are almost indistinguishable. The principal was literally barking at the math teacher. And the math teacher was yapping right back. I seriously thought they were going to throw knuckles. (Wouldn’t that have thrown a stick in the cog of Japanese “togetherness”?)

Oh, and here’s why Math Teacher got angry in the first place: The school’s principal had intentionally axed the Internet connection because Math Teacher had been using it to place bets on horses. I can understand why he felt wrongfully punished - it’s not like he was downloading porn or anything, right? I mean, c’mon, he’s a grown man, and there’s so much downtime in his 13-hour school day (spend doing jack), how else should he pass the time?




2 Comments for this Entry

japanese brenda
So is the betting back on?
BTW, I understand the futility that is the morning meetings. I usually try to picture the teachers naked. I either retch or laugh.
Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 06:44 PM

nolan
Yeah, hopefully I can throw down on those races too because I just spent 2600 yen on a stalk of broccoli and a bag of rice. What's up with that?
Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 11:01 PM