I recently came across a website called "Overheard in New York" (it's not appropriate for all audiences, so I won't put a link to it here). Every day, New Yorkers post snippets of conversations they've overheard on subways, in bagel shops, at Broadway shows, in Central Park, ...:) and, of course, at many other not-as-New York-y places. It seems that the best comedy is often in your own backyard, and that's why we present to you...OVERHEARD IN MITO!
Sometimes our friends and teachers have a flair for the poetic (in English)...
"Mark-sensei...when you lit that pumpkin...it was beautiful." After what was apparently a very touching Halloween presentation.
"Kelly-sensei...your chopstick work is excellent." So that's why he was watching me so carefully during lunch time.
"I have no time to love somebody." Our friend Shingeru, explaining his current single status. One of the more ironic moments in Japanese...
Scene: a teacher and a secretary discuss a meeting handout as they stand right next to my desk, assuming I can't understand (hence the irony)
"Oh, don't bother giving a handout to Kelly. She can never understand anything anyways. Poor thing."
Kids say the darndest things, part deux...
in Japanese:
"How do you say 'bye-bye' in English? How about 'rocketo'? How about 'cakey'?"Yes, these are all "Japanese" words too. Correct answers are: "bye-bye," "rocket" and "cake."
in English:
"My name is Yuri. I like peach. I want to be a flower shop. Thank you." Just another day of giving speeches in a 6th grade class.
"I'm fine happy!" One of my favorite third-grade students who can't get the hang of choosing just one response to "how are you?"
"Mark sensei! Make yourself!" One of his favorite fourth grade classes, introducing their lunchtime end-of-the-year party. He thinks they were going for "make yourself at home."
"Teddy bear, teddy bear, shoyu [soy sauce] ramen, teddy bear, teddy bear, miso ramen..."A first-grade improvisation of the "Teddy Bear" jump rope chant that I taught them. To Japanese kids' ears, "show your shoes" sounds like "shoyu"--why not make it about ramen instead of shoes?
"See you neck tie [next time]!!!" Mark's students, realizing that they now know enough English to make clever jokes.
There you have it. The Big Apple's got nothing on M-town. Visit us sometime...you never know what you might overhear.
3 comments:
once again laughed out loud until my tummy hurt...please post these all the time. :) i want to be a flower shop too...
From what I remember, you want to be a bread shop too...:)
ahh yes. a combo bread flower shop. but not bread flour, there's a difference. speaking of such things, i made bread the other night for the first time in a few weeks and it was delectable. in case you were wondering..
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