A List for You, Japan...

For "International Understanding day" at Arajuku Elementary School, I fielded some questions from the first graders, ages 6 and 7. Here is a list their questions. They all begin with, "John-Sensei,...":

"How old are you?"

"Where are you from?"

"Do you know how old I am?"

"What do you like?"

"Why are you in Japan?"

"Do you have a lover?"

"Why are your eyes green?"

"Do you have school in America?"

"Do you come from America every day by bicycle or by car?"

"What is your favorite insect?"

"Do you like poop--ha ha ha ha!"

"Did you eat insects when you were small?"

"Do you know how old my mother is?"

"Do you like dung beetles?"

"Did you know my father likes soccer?"

"Do they have orange juice in America?"

"Between a black dung beetle and a gray dung beetle, who do you think would win in a fight?"

"Do you know how old my sister is?"

"Why were you born in America?"

"Why can you speak English?"

"Would you ever eat a black dung beetle?"

"What food do you like?"

"What's your blood type?"

"...how about a gray dung beetle?"

"How many friends do you have?"

"Did you know I can play soccer?"

"Did you know my favorite beetle is the gray dung beetle...?"

(In reply, I offered a joke which, originally, I thought was pretty funny.)

Me: "Yes, I like Beatles, too. But, I'd have to say my most favorite is Paul. HA HA HA!"

Silence.

Then, the teacher: "Well, thank you for coming, Mr. John. We sure did learn a lot about America from you today.")

End of "International Understanding Day."