Yeah. Whatever.

As you know, I work in an English puppy mill, I mean conversation school with all the englishy goodness that the name would imply. However, to become a japanese staff member at said school english is not a requirement. Strange you might think but no, we're in Japan and the customers are all japanese (with a sprinkling of chinese and korean to keep things lively) so maybe it's not such a big deal. Perhaps. But the thing is that a big part of the service the staff provides is to give the students counselling on how they are doing and what they could be doing to better improve their english progress. Which of course involves some communication with us, the teachers. You would think.

Picture if you will a cute, little japanese woman in her early 20s. She likes her hair, and her sparkly belt and I think she's quite fond of her shoes. The bulk of her day is spent standing behind the counter with one knee slightly bent, one arm raised slightly with the hand dangling limply while the other hand continuously adjusts and readjusts the same three or four strands of hair artfully left out from her loosly tied side pony tail. Yes, side pony tail. This is a girl who looks startled and then deeply confused when you say to her "hello, how are you?" The same thing you say to her everyday. Now picture trying to explain to her the specific problems and possible solutions for them of your students and imagine her staring back at you with knee slightly bent, hands dangling and a slightly disinterested, slightly bewildered look. I think I'm a reasonably patient person. I like my students, and I like my job and I love Japan. And I usually like the staff. But I think I may have to stab her in the eye with my pen.

Next installment: why I hate the other idiot staff woman with her overly ear piercing enthusiasm, high pitched whine and tiny, tiny brain.

Not that I'm bitter. Oh no.