Japanese Disclaimer:

日本人は本当に住みませんでした。私の最初ブログから、このブログまでは英語だけを書いていました。しかし、もしかしたら、僕の「毎日話」日本語で読んでいたいなら新しい日本語ブログを書くかもしれません。

Ok..

Yesterday was quite an interesting day to say the least. It was a day where I shed the track suit in exchange for a black suit and tie….

This day came about because at one of schools I teach at the main English curriculum teacherdecided that because she’d had to attend an event somewhere it would be best that I didn’t come in for that day. So instead I went in to the Board of Education to “work”.

The suit and tie was more of a formality then a requirement. I could have done with something less I suppose, but then probably less would have been thought of me. Regardless, the morning that I had to go in– I had completely forgot what time I was suppose to arrive. Often schools start at 8am so I guessed it to be around 8 or 9am. Erroring on the side of caution, I arrived fully suited at 8:15 to my post where every single desk and chair was vacant. “Bad Move” I thought as a cold rush ran through me. I walked in a full circle out of the building and back to my car to contemplate… Certainly I was too early, but probably not early enough to run and grab a bite at Micky D’s. I decided the best idea would be to wait it out with my ipod until 8:29am then try and stroll in again.

Around 8:29 I headed back to the sound of a bell ringing off inside the building. It was the type you hear as the last school bell rings proclaiming.. “you’re late.”

damn

The building I’m in, by the way, is the culmination of all the city hall put into one. What they did was literally convert a shopping mall into a city hall. Walking in, you’re hit with the sounds of people buzzing around, typing, chatting, and clinking away their coffee cups against hard US Govt. metal desks that they broght from the old City Hall. This place is “brand new” by the way, but no one thought to order new(ish) (even late 20th century) desks. No why waste desks made in the 40’s and 50’s? They’re bullet proof!

Ok ok… now.. The feeling I got was that I was in the middle of Mutsu’s brain. The epicenter of all things.. er.. Mutsu. All day, everyone worked like the end was near. Women ran across the nicely carpeted floor in high heels. While Old men walked around in their pressed suits like Czars of some righteous kingdom. Often I tried to keep to myself, but the sociologist in me kept me more occupied just watching how these people interacted with each other in a business environment.

It was incredible, but at the same time exhaustingly boring. Afterall, my task for the day was simply to study. What, exactly, wasn’t as important as just looking like I was doing it. The whole environment didn’t quite fit the “studying atmosphere” however…but it was a good lesson and I got a kick out the whole thing.

If I think of more stuff I’ll write about it later.

~J out

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