Got a 16yo Japanese student

[Kiwi Phil]

Today, a Japanese 16yo school girl joined our household for 2-3 weeks.
A small group have come to Haydens school.
Apart from my wife, there has never been another female in this house.
Well, I think my good wife must come across as pretty capable in interviews (runs a business, a home, plays golf, volunteers for Uniform shop and library, and never ever gets flustered) because we have the shiy-est, quiet-est one in the group. Her profile told us that, and now she is here, well they wern't wrong!!
She is a lovely kid, but hull, communications are going to be fun.
She writes and reads english perfectly, but she hasn't a clue what we say, and when we write, it has to be perfect english, otherwise she is all-at-sea.....probably force us to improve our lingo!!
Got on to a translating web site and that is a great help, but real slow.
She is travelling on the school bus with Hayden, and we have got it across to her she is to stick with him at all costs, and he is NOT to leave her behind under any circumstances!!
While at school she will be with her own group so that will be good for her.
Anyway, Mother is giving her ritual 'good night chat' to both of them up in their rooms (use to be stories year ago) so will keep you posted as to progress.
Cheers
Phillip

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

What do you mean stories?

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

I was going to ask you if it's The Donger but now I see it's a girl.
She probably taught by American and your Aussie accent threw her in a loop.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

Back in the days before computers and the internet, my brother had a PenPal from Japan. Her penmanship and grammar were amazing. She put my brother to shame in that regard. The Japanese take their schooling very seriously (as it should be), and it's easy to see that when they know our 'book' language better than we do.

 

[Philip_G]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

She probably taught by American and your Aussie accent threw her in a loop.

my guess too, I might even have a hard time understanding you..

 

[oddjob]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

my guess too, I might even have a hard time understanding you..

I had a Japanese GF back in the early 80's. Their english writing skills are superior to most Americans, but they never if rarely get a chance to speak to english speaking people to develope and/or interpet conversation. When she and I needed to be specific we would pass each other notes and smile alot. Lots of times we just nodded at one another. Shouldnt have let her get away.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

, I think my good wife must come across as pretty capable in interviews (runs a business, a home, plays golf, volunteers for Uniform shop and library, and never ever gets flustered)
Cheers
Phillip

Playing golf is looked at as a virtue ??

 

[Philip_G]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

I had a Japanese GF back in the early 80's. Their english writing skills are superior to most Americans, but they never if rarely get a chance to speak to english speaking people to develope and/or interpet conversation. When she and I needed to be specific we would pass each other notes and smile alot. Lots of times we just nodded at one another. Shouldnt have let her get away.

Seems like they're big on importing americans and presumably canadians, aussies, brits etc to teach english in japan, but I'd imagine an aussie accent (or kiwi) would throw them for a loop.

Guy used to have a HILARIOUS blog about teaching english in japan, I'll see if I can find it.

edit:
here it is, it's pretty entertaining, and a little disturbing.
http://outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher1.html

 

[bassman284]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

Playing golf is looked at as a virtue ??

He lives in Australia, roscoe, not Wisconsin. I've seen cheesers at golf and it definitely was not a virtue.

 

[Lakemeadan]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

I knew a 20 yr old Japanese exchange student, very shy, writes well but didn't speak much. Now I can't get her to shut up after 30 years of marraige. Her nap on the boat is a relief to me.

 

[OldePharte]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

We got a reverse-placement of a Japanese foreign exchange student through AFS a number of years ago.

He was a sincere pleasure to host. Although he had studied the English language throughout his schooling, we did have issues. The English to Japanese phrase book was thick! It took me quite awhile to help him pick the correct use of the word "but" on a home work assignment. I had no clue that there were so many meanings.

On a side note, we were also hosting a scout from a German Scout troop at the same time. I don't think my dad (RIP) would have ever forgiven me if he was still around.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

he lives in australia, roscoe, not wisconsin. I've seen cheesers at golf and it definitely was not a virtue.

lol

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

He lives in Australia, roscoe, not Wisconsin. I've seen cheesers at golf and it definitely was not a virtue.

What's Cheesers from Stoughton (WI) got to do with golf?? or........are all Wi people called cheesers??

Thajeffski......use to be proper bed-time stories... Aesops Fabels or something similar...now its a nice quiet discussion

Philip_G.....don't laugh mate. At LZ English back in VN, I got 2 days in a Pl of yanks from Sth Carolina, TN, GA.....they lived in some sort of mountain area.....and I don't think they could even understand each other. The Occifer use to stand there like a stunned mullet....he didn't know WTF was going on!!

oddjob....funny you say that.....she smiles a lot and gives just a 'small', 'once only' nod.

This morning was interesting. Wife had her in the kitchen at 6am, and between them, she got a good breakfast, and her lunch is exactly what she likes. Wife says it went really well.

She really is a lovely kid.....nothing like my bloke....who had the law laid down to him again today......'don't loose her or leave her behind'.

Guess what food she doesn't like...."fish".

Cheers
Phillip

 

[Philip_G]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

Philip_G.....don't laugh mate. At LZ English back in VN, I got 2 days in a Pl of yanks from Sth Carolina, TN, GA.....they lived in some sort of mountain area.....and I don't think they could even understand each other. The Occifer use to stand there like a stunned mullet....he didn't know WTF was going on!!


Cheers
Phillip

I would have a hard time understanding them most likely.

PS you spell your name wrong

 

[Link]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

I was going to ask you if it's The Donger but now I see it's a girl.
She probably taught by American and your Aussie accent threw her in a loop.

Me was thinking the same

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

When our son moved out to college with him being the only child we endured a hard empty nest syndrome . I asked the wife if I could try to locate using the internet a nice young but at least 18 pretty indian girl to come and live with us while she went to school................................the wife said hell no!

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

I would have a hard time understanding them most likely.

PS you spell your name wrong

No I don't.
Having same 1st names is not all we have in common.
(If your middle name starts with D then someone's definitely impersonating me)

I don't get 'The Donger' thing. (I think we may have different meanings for this word)

Cheers
Phillip

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

Hi Phil,

We have hosted 4 Japanese girls in years gone by, same thing as Hayden, all exchange students with our kids schools. Our daughter has also stayed with them in Japan. It certainly is a good experience for Hayden, he will soon learn how studious the Japanese students are.

Great experience for the whole family, enjoy.

Remember years ago before posts where banned, they were 'poofed'. The donger comment is the same sort of thing. Language culture sure can throw a curve ball every now and then.

BTW, got the e-mail update.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

Sorry Phil. In the movie Sixteen Candles, a movie about a 16yr old high school girl. Her family hosted an exchange student name Long Duc Dong, her grandfather called him Donger. Most of us that grew up in the 80's have seen the movie. It's a classic.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Got a 16yo Japanese student

When our son moved out to college with him being the only child we endured a hard empty nest syndrome . I asked the wife if I could try to locate using the internet a nice young but at least 18 pretty indian girl to come and live with us while she went to school................................the wife said hell no!

Empty nest syndrome??

Glad I won't be getting that any time soon. my oldest(24) made me a grandparent last year(he has twin boys), number two just graduated Highschool and is going off to college at Kent state, and I have a 15 year old daughter and the youngest boy is 4(they just keep popping out of orifices and for the life of me I can't figure out how they get in there)

Kiwi, I hope she lets her guard down enough to have a conversation. I worked at a research facility some time ago and many of the techs there were asian. I took some of them to the old farm I grew up on to see some animals. One of the girls from China said she saw a turkey at a zoo once so I thought they would enjoy getting to touch one. I think it scared the bejeezus out of them when it started chasing one of them around.