I have a series of projects on deck at the moment and instead of actually tackling them, I'm just going to blog about them. Seem a little off track, well that's just who I am and that's what my freezing cold fingers feel like doing right now. Dammit, they're cold. Like dry little twigs, like little ivory hashi, clack and click on my keypad. Why don't I just turn on the heat? The remote's too far away, that's why and oh god my little bohemian sofa is so comfortable right now. My body wants to sink into the futon and melt into the blanket and disappear for a few hours until the icy blue morning peeks through my curtains and it's time to climb into my car and make my way to the school. Freezing light, freezing fingers, freezing screen as I save another worksheet. This time, it's Christmas. Return of the Christmas worksheet and fill-in-the-blanks. At least it's a fun lesson for the kids: they need a mental break and I'm more than happy to oblige with one of the most popular and currently most commercial holidays out there. You try explaining to a class of foreign children the appeal of Christmas. No seriously, not just foreign students: the idea of Christmas is foreign to them. What do Ameicans eat at Christmas? Well, frankly, what don't we eat? My simple answer: see note regarding "Thanksgiving." What do Japanese kids eat? KFC. No lie, KFFingC! There are sales and campaigns and pre-orders starting in November for the southern recipe bypass! But they do have the most beautiful Kurisumasu keeki, too. Pictures will follow. Eventually. Maybe. What the heck happened to my shutter bug? What do Americans do at Christmas? Shit, it depends on the region, now doesn't it? In Marta-lish: We drink hot cocoa, we watch movies, we sing songs, we do snowball fights, we make cookies. Well, it's the truth isn't it? And the cherry on top: explaining presents. That's right, in Japan, Christmas apparently is not a big gift-giving deal. I know, you just spat out your Turkey Hill eggnog. (And my parents are choking on their bourbon-laced nog.) But it's the truth: apparently in Japan, "Christmas is for lovers." Sort of a pre-quel to Valentine's Day and White Day (Mandatory Boys Giving Gifts to Girls Because Otherwise Why Would They, They're Too Shy, The Poor Dears Day). But the teachers were explaining to me, Christmas is apparently a time to spend with the one you love.
Yay.
Anyway they, have to wrap their heads around the orgasmapalooza of shopping that is the Christmas Season in America. I think the best equivalent out there is the Golden Week frenzy (mostly because I haven't experienced Valentine's or White Day yet, so I have no comparison). And that should round out the lesson. And of course, I can't help but shamelessly rack up the minutes with coloring. Coloring! Oh come on, who doesn't get nostalgic with a black and white image before them and a colored pencil in their trembling grasp? The possibilities are endless...until you get to the line.
Such a cliche. But this is Japan. Color inside the lines.
I miss coloring outside of the lines. Oh, America, how you embrace your charming rogues and roguettes...and it almost always ends up a mess. Nobody seems to have gotten down the formula to balance. Enough anarchy to color outside of the lines, with just enough order and regimen. I feel like Russell Brand is off to a good start.
Well anyway, back to my origins: projects. They are aplenty including a papier mache deer bust I'm working on. The thing's covered in the papier, sans mache. Paper, no paste. Flesh, no skin. It's coming along. I'll have some time this week to develop an end product, but we'll see.
On top of that, FK wants me to draw a picture for the Graduation Words of Encouragement that the teachers will all write a message on. This is supposed to be printed and handed out to the students and god knows whom else. And naturally, I'm worrying and agonizing way too much over this. I thought I had a good concept and while chatting at my desk last week, he spied my sketch and very discreetly and not-so-straightforwardly suggested "Yeah, no. Do a landscape. Like the last guy. Color inside the lines, kiddo."
I should teach him that word. "Kiddo." He's always looking for ways to expand upon his English. "Kiddo" seems pretty functional, right?
So I'll come up with a soothing and familiar school landscape for him and teach him "Kiddo."
Game plan. OK. Fight-o! Go!
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