Role Reversal

One of the new teachers at Taiwa Chuu went to grad school in the US. In fact, she just returned to Japan last month. She is still readjusting to driving on the left side of the road. Her English is impeccable (it would have to be after 10 years of immersion). She said that if I need any help with anything to ask her (practically everyone I've ever met in Japan has said this to me). But I joked that if she needs any help to ask me. After all, on some level I've been here longer than she has. After her welcome party, she gave me a ride back to where I parked my car--a parking garage near a subway station where you don't have to pay for parking. So I'm teaching her secrets and tricks already. She joked that I'm her 'sempai'. Sempai is a Japanese concept of anyone who is senior to you, either ahead of you in school or at the same company longer than you, and you look to this person for guidance.

And more bang for your buck. Another role reversal tale from this evening:

At the fancy restaurant they put out both chopsticks as well as knives and forks. During the second course I'm happily eating with my chopsticks when I notice that my neighbors to the right and left are both using the Western utensils. At some point, from my left I get the inevitable "Hashi wa jozu" [You're skilled with chopsticks]. And I was able to shoot right back, "naifu to foku wa jozu" [You're skilled with a knife and fork].