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How common is this?(can't describe in one sentence)

 
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migo



Joined: 04 Jul 2004
Posts: 201
PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 10:34 am    Post subject: How common is this?(can't describe in one sentence) Reply with quote
http://outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher.html

I've been reading through this for the past two hours, some of it's cracking me up, but as I am considering teaching in Japan, did this guy just have some incredibly bad luck, or could I look forward to some of this?
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kdynamic



Joined: 05 Nov 2005
Posts: 562
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I think his experiences are pretty common. He just has an especially amusing writing style.
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PAULH



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:43 am    Post subject: Re: How common is this?(can't describe in one sentence) Reply with quote
migo wrote:
http://outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher.html

I've been reading through this for the past two hours, some of it's cracking me up, but as I am considering teaching in Japan, did this guy just have some incredibly bad luck, or could I look forward to some of this?


Just had a flick through half a dozen of the stories. My quick impression.

1. Yes it could happen, but he seems to be embellishing for the home audience. "Gee ma, look at the strange and quaint orientals I have to deal with every day in Japan with their strange customs" Something in the "It could only happen with those darn exotic foreigners" department.

2. He has the literary pretensions of "Dave Barry does Japan".


Take what he says with a huge grain of salt and tongue firmly placed in cheek.

WTF is Miss Forehead?
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migo



Joined: 04 Jul 2004
Posts: 201
PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I haven't come across him referring to a Miss Forehead yet, but I'm assuming that's the teacher who accidentally headbutted him.
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 2:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I sampled about 10 of his "articles" just to get a fair number before responding.

He either has a sex fetish, or a perversion festish. In any article, he is either talking about sexual innuendos or some sort of dirty situation.

Did anyone else ever see him write positive things, especially without mentioning these two items?

Grain of salt, indeed! For someone trying to critique his life in Japan, he has a narrow-track mind.
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PAULH



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 3:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
migo wrote:
I haven't come across him referring to a Miss Forehead yet, but I'm assuming that's the teacher who accidentally headbutted him.



Or gave him a "kancho" (two index fingers strategically aimed at the rectal region by grade schoolers). This is about the level of discourse as Glenski pointed out.

Toilet humor, most of it.
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Sweetsee



Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 3:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The guy is obviously taking the piss and while there were a couple chuckles on the whole it falls flat.
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gaijinalways



Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:02 am    Post subject: for real Reply with quote
It's true but humourous. I don't know where these kids get the idea to poke you in the balls, even the girls do it sometimes, though they seem to grow out of it quicker.

But he also puts a humourous spin on Japanese customs in a junior high school , and he does have a few more serious articles including one on the death of a student (or a sibling) and how it is handled at the school.

You know how it is, if you don't like it, don't read it, but don't discount it as not true. Teaching at universiites, I wouldn't put anything past my students!
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senshisteph



Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Nagoya, Japan
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Glenski wrote:
Did anyone else ever see him write positive things, especially without mentioning these two items?


Yeah - read 'Moeko's Owl' - its quite sweet.
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mrjohndub



Joined: 19 Sep 2005
Posts: 198
Location: Saitama, Japan
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
...And he gives plenty of props to his coworkers.
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