With even being an ALT like any job sometimes
it can be a little frustrating.Ý For instance when you ask a student
outside of class, "How are you?" a phrase they have practiced everyday
for at least 3 yrs and they look back at you with a puzzled look
while saying "Wa kana nai" ("I don't know" or "I don't understand")
or "How are you?"Ý Or during class you give them a very, very simple
assignment like name some animals ie., dog, cat and they reply "Muzukashii"
("That's difficult").Ý This reply is given all the time to all kinds
of pretty mind blowing simple tasks.Ý So the teacher asks me to give
the students words to play for pictionary.Ý You know the game where
you are given a word and the person has to draw it for his/her team
to guess what it is.Ý Now enter the Revengful ALT who has had enough
of their silly whimpers...so I gave them something to really cry...er..say
"Muzukashii" about by giving them words like "sorry", "please" and
"really"....and when they looked at me with worry on their faces
and that word "difficult" on their lips I just laughed and laughed
and said..."For once you are right!!"Ý They got by okay...no fits
of rage or keyings of my car.Ý ÝÝÝ Now the next event in my
revenge.Ý First it must be shared that in Japan the idea of the simple
game called in Japanese "janken" is a wonderful phenomenon.Ý The
game Westerners call "paper, rock, and scissors" is as much of a
way of life here than that silly exported cartoon Pokemon.Ý It solves
every minor dispute and in this case if there is extra food from
the school lunch and several peopleÝ want it, it serves as a hand
of blind justice dividing the spoils to the winners.Ý I was hungry
and at the surprise of everyone, teachers included, I joined in on
the game then won 9 straight times to get that extra jello.Ý Don't
mess with the revengful ALT...he could take the food right from your
mouth.Ý