Bar Code

Last week I got a phone call from Sakurai, she wanted to make sure that I made time today for two appointments, I would have to leave school early and everything. I told Katsumoto right after I got off the phone that I was to meet these two very important gentlemen today. Katsumoto took no time in planting the dangerous seeds of humor for the meetings. In his limited English ability, he said “Bar Code.” At first I didn’t know what he meant, but with a few hand signals and other known vocabulary, I discovered that ‘Bar Code’ means the same thing as ‘Comb Over’ in English. His hand signals even included gusts of wind to lift the ‘bar code’ or ‘come over’ into a sail. It’s universal a language.

Today, I met the Superintendent of Nishinomiya schools and the Mayor of Nishinomiya. I am not into the pomp and circumstance. I much rather sit with people from my own station in life. I rather heckle from the back than sit on the dais with the main presenters. My entire life, I have been more comfortable sitting in the back of the classroom. Even as a teacher, the back of the classroom is very comfortable for me. My voice carries. If I have something to say, I can say it from anywhere. Even when I was a student, the teacher always could hear me in the back of the room.

Just before the meeting, Katsumoto added fertilizer to the meeting I was about to attend. He told others that I was going to meet ‘Bar Code’ with the appropriate hand signals. He asked me to, “Convey my best wishes to Yamada,” as if he were a personal friend. Then he quickly backpedaled and waved his hand no saying, “Please No.” He said that he didn’t know him.

I played coy and assured him that, “I would convey the warmest regards from Katsumoto Sensei at Kawaragi.” I was hoping that he would take me seriously, but he already communicates too well to take me seriously.

Throughout the meeting, I couldn’t take my eyes off of the long hairs as they migrated from the left side to the right side of Yamada’s large head. I didn’t laugh, like Katsumoto nervously thought I would before I left this afternoon, but I may not have had the greatest eye contact.

I really am enjoying working with the Japanese. The school staff at Kawaragi is excellent. They have a great rapport with each other and with the students. I don’t understand the philosophy of Japanese education and discipline yet. I probably never will, but I do understand the people who work at Kawaragi. They are excellent people. I work with some teachers better than others, but I respect them all. They do wonders with the rules they work under and the support that they have.

Last week, also, as Katsumoto and I spoke, he said that the Japanese ‘envy’ Americans and our freedom. I am not speaking about political freedom, but freedom of time to work on our own projects and pursue our own goals. I think that most Japanese are locked into their work by their social expectations. They don’t have the time to do as many Americans have.