What the.....

So okay, I am in English class today, teaching the 7th graders. I had to read this extremely sad story about Hiroshima after the Americans dropped the A-bomb on it. It was such a horrific story, made even worse to me because I was the only American in the room and had to read it to a bunch of Japanese students. Mentally, I kept thinking, my goodness why am i being forced to read this story...here??? of all places? I thought the reverse of this would be for the Japanese to give tours of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor to American Tourists...it was just strange and kind of wrong. I felt ashamed for what happened even though I was not even born when the original decision had been made. So all of these things are going thru my head...when all of the sudden I look at one of the boys in the back of the room...He has suddenly stood up and proceeded to take his pants off....I am so confused...I mean I really really wanted to laugh at the situation. But since everyone else found it normal and completely ignored it (Japanese Teacher included) I just continued on with the lesson....I admit I did not avert my eyes...I was just really intrigued by the fact that a kid would stand up in the middle of class...not bothering to leave and use a changing room or a bathroom stall...and take off his pants and put on gym shorts. What the???? Then he took out a needle and thread and proceeded to sew his pants during my lesson.

At this point in time, I really could not help but laugh...I mean the Hiroshima story was sad and made me feel very ashamed...but this kid with the pants...now that was just ridiculous. And the teacher never even batted an eye.

I am learning that this is standard Japanese procedure for classes. Sometimes the kids will sleep in class, sometimes they will read comic books, sometimes they will talk to their friends and ignore the teacher....All of this I have gotten used to...but taking off your pants so you can sew them in the middle of class...well...I am not sure if I will ever get used to all the Japanese ecentricities!!!