Japanese Etiquette & Tradition, 1/4/10, Period 5

[shiroi_tiger]

When the students filed into the classroom today, they would find the setup to be... sparse, at best. Algren had taken the time to push the desks to the side of the room, and to set out cushions to sit on. There was a mat at the door for students to leave their shoes on, and slippers nearby for them to wear instead. No, this wasn't the way that classrooms were set up in Japan. But Algren found it comfortable, and he could get away with doing this while teaching this particular course, and so the students were going to just have to suck it up.

Algren, who was clad in a traditional Japanese hakama today as opposed to his typical and very dated brown suit, was already seated, cross-legged, on the cushion farthest from the door.

"Hajimemashite," he said, speaking up as the last of the students settled in. "Algren desu. Doozo yoroshiku. Make yourselves comfortable. It's the first lesson of the year, so I'm going to actually take it easy on you, just this once."

How kind!

"Today, we'll be introducing ourselves. Hopefully the novelty of doing so hasn't been worn thin after a weekend of it. After all, you've still got another week of 'hello, my name is,' left to go. In front of you, you'll find your syllabus as well as a handout with the words I just said to you written on it, and a translation underneath. Introduce yourselves the way I just did, and then, please, share in English your grade, something random about yourself, and why you're taking this course."

Yes, 'paperwork error' is a completely acceptable answer. 'I enjoyed or missed out on laughing at you in Sex Thru The Ages' will probably result in detention.

"Miss Yamanaka, I would like to speak with you after class, if you don't mind. The rest of you? Introductions. Go."

[OCD coming up! And go!]

Comments

Re: Introductions 1/4/10

[iamnotallgirl]

"Hajimasheetay, Jack desu. Doozo yoro--yor--uh. Yoroshikoo? God that was horrible. Uh. I'm a senior, I only exist four days a month, and I'm here because my sister signed up for this class because she thought it'd be all cultural or something. She's the one who'll be here most of the time." Probably she wouldn't have butchered the Japanese as badly, because Jill was annoyingly perfectionist like that. Had Jack confused Nathan enough yet?

Re: Introductions 1/4/10

[shiroi_tiger]

He was perhaps slightly confused, yes. But if a year on Fandom Island had taught Nathan anything, it was that if it didn't seem to make sense in the least, it probably never would.

He was fine with that.

"Good to meet you, Jack. I assume I'll be making your sister's acquaintance next week, then?" Algren wasn't going to bother checking his roster quite yet to see whose name was missing today. He'd probably figure it out soon enough.

Re: Introductions 1/4/10

[iamnotallgirl]

"Should be," Jack agreed. "She's due back tomorrowish." Might be a good idea to tell the teacher who she was so he didn't mark her absent. "Her name is Jill. McTeague." Yes. Jack and Jill.

Re: Introductions 1/4/10

[shiroi_tiger]

"Thank you, Jack," Algren replied, taking a moment to write a note that Miss McTeague wasn't absent. Probably. Her brother who existed for four days a month was here, instead. "I look forward to seeing what you and your sister both have to contribute, this semester."

Fandom.