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

[findingelena.livejournal.com]

Elena straightened her back. Somehow, Wutaian was easier with good posture.

"Hajimemashite, Elena desu. Doozo yoroshiku."

She had the careful, formal pronunciation of someone who had learned the language privately, from books, and had less experience speaking it conversationally.

"I'm a senior. I'm from a world called Gaia, and a country of ours, Wutai, has some striking similarities to both Japan and another country, which I believe is called China. I've been studying Wutai culture and language lately, so I thought this class might help, for comparative purposes."

All of which sounded far more proper than 'I'm hoping to impress the boss.'

Re: Introductions 1/4/10

[shiroi_tiger]

"Welcome to the class, Elena." Algren smiled, remembering the conversation that they'd had in the Girls With Guns club, some time back. "Now you've got my own curiosity piqued. I've heard of a few other worlds with a similar culture, now. Do you suppose that it's a parallel that many planets possess?"

The specifics of different cultures and the vast diversity of mankind through time and space never ceased to fascinate him.

Re: Introductions 1/4/10

[findingelena.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure," she said, frowning at that. "It's a strange coincidence, to have such things pop up completely independently. Maybe there are similar archetypes that keep playing themselves out? Maybe it says something about the human condition."

None of which explained the language being the same, but that was just going to be a mystery for the ages.

Re: Introductions 1/4/10

[shiroi_tiger]

They both spoke English, as well. Algren wondered momentarily what exactly they would call English on a world that had no England, but decided that he'd do better off not to dwell on it too much. It was another Fandom-related headache that he probably didn't need.

"It certainly poses a few interesting possibilities," he decided. "I might have to strike up more conversation with you as the semester passes, to see how the Japan that I know compares with this 'Wutai' of yours."

Re: Introductions 1/4/10

[findingelena.livejournal.com]

"I'd like that," she smiled. "I've only been there a few times myself, but I ... know people who grew up there, if there are details I'm fuzzy on. I could ask them."

She wasn't blushing. Okay, maybe a little.

Re: Introductions 1/4/10

[shiroi_tiger]

"Please do," Algren replied, and if he caught the blush, he certainly wasn't going to just up and mention it.

Being secretly amused at his students was far more satisfying, after all.

"In the meantime, welcome aboard."