Melon Pan

After school, I help students prepare for an upcoming English competition. We've been meeting for about a month already, so I've gotten to know these students pretty well, and they've gotten really comfortable speaking around me. So sometimes they say some really strange or funny things. Here's just a few:

Mi: Want to see my boyfriend?
Lauren: *somewhat confused and surprised, as she is really shy and quiet* Okay?
Mi: *pulls out her tennis racket* This is my boyfriend! He is very kind. We are always together.

Or this conversation, which was all English, and somehow went on for 5 minutes. Note that these are all really sweet, 2nd year girls. And both K and A are on the kendo team.
Mi: What would be a better pet, a lion or a gorilla?
A: A lion!
Ma: Me too! He could eat people!
A: Like K!
K: No!
A: K tastes delicious!
Ma: Oh really?
A: Yes! Her meat is delicious! I ate her last summer.
K: No no no!
Ma: How about you, A?
A: My meat is not so delicious. K's meat is delicious. Let's eat K.
K: No no no! Don't eat me!

Some kids in my classes often forget that I can understand most of what they're saying.
*While waiting for class to begin, in Japanese*
Snotty 1st year: This sucks. I hate English.
Mr. C: That's too bad.
S1Y: I don't wanna do this.
Mr. C: You know Lauren can understand you right?
S1Y: Eh?! Well, she's ok, then. She's a teacher after all, so...

There's also the same group of 3rd years that come clean the teachers' room everyday, so they get to know me a little bit, too, since I help. For the first few weeks or so, I always got the same question (from everyone, though this kid had more chances to ask since I saw him so often). It became something of a game.

Ka (in Japanese): Are you married?
Lauren: (in English): Can't say, it's a secret. :)
Ka: Secret?! Always the same answer! Always 'secret, secret, secret'!
Another student (in Japanese): Well you always ask the same question, stupid!"

Sorry for the delay between posts! I'll try to be better.

I have a couple things to talk bout, the first of which is earthquakes!

There have actually been about three or four since I've moved into my apartment, but the first few felt just like a large truck had driven by. Or like when I had classes in the JKHB while it was still under construction.

But yesterday, we had one that was undeniably an earthquake. It lasted about 30 seconds, which feels quite long when you're in a shaking building. This is the one that I felt. It was a 6.1 at the epicenter, which is actually pretty big. I don't know how strong it was where I was, but nothing fell over or anything like that. I did brace myself against the wall, but that was probably more out of nerves than anything else.

The next thing to mention is packages! I've gotten two (THANK YOU), and both have had macaroni in them. ^_^ The cheese in Japan is not good cheese, and there is no prepackaged mac'n'cheese at all. Even the Doritos which say they are Nacho Cheese Flavored are a lie. They taste really, really bad. Any cheese worth getting is from the import store.

And speaking of food, corn does not belong on pizza. I don't know why, but it is impossible to get a corn-less pizza. It's the strangest thing. Broccoli is also a popular topping. Pizza in general is just not good here. I wish I could make my own, but alas I have no oven. I got an ad for a pizza place kind of near the station that I still have to investigate, and it might actually be good, but we shall see.

Also, Mexican food isn't nearly as difficult to find as I thought it would be. Lots of snack bars have some kind of taco or fajita (or not good nachos with crappy cheese).

But the pizza always kills me.