Geeky Gaijin

The miscellaneous musings of a K-popper/ace/English teacher/feminist. Idol trainee in another life. Language enthusiast and aspiring traveler in this one.

[basicgaijin]

紅葉来たねー

場所は千秋公園、秋田県。

Autumn colors at Senshu Park in Akita Prefecture.

[basicgaijin]

Sakura season in northern Akita Prefecture.

秋田県の花見。

[basicgaijin]

The Paper Balloon Festival in Semboku, Akita, Japan.

2019.02.10

[basicgaijin]

My favorite conversation with a student this week went something like this:

S: "Sensei, do you like chicken??"

Me: "Like, the food?"

S: "NO! Real chicken!" *squawks and flaps his arms*

Me: "Well... baby chickens? They're really cute!"

S: "Cute?? Yeah, baby?? Okay, okay--!"

Me: "But big ones... Yeah, I really don't like them..."

S: *gives me the most shocked and disappointed expression*

......

"NO LIKE CHICKEN."

[basicgaijin]

I passed an older gentleman walking his dog today, but when I gave a little bow and said "Good afternoon!" he just stared at me and muttered "Nani..." which in this scenario can be roughly translated as "a gaijin dafuq."

[basicgaijin]

Grading JHS #1

I'm grading (more like just responding) to questions that students got to ask me on their last homework assignment. They had to use the phrase "how many_____ do you have?" These are just a few that stuck with me.

"How many tuna cans do you have?"

"How many white fish do you have?"

"How many BTS グッズ (goods) do you want?"

"boyfriend"

[basicgaijin]

The Sea of Japan view from Katagami, Akita Prefecture.

[jarjarbieber]

[jarjarbieber]

artist waneella

[bbeeel]

Coolest person alive

[thedaysofnekomachi]

cherry blossoms in Tokyo / 東京の桜

[jardinaquatique]

What does Yuzuru Hanyu’s Pooh know that we don’t?

[seobiiiiieluv]

cr: yahoo

[captainsnoop-deactivated2020041]

so i just learned something fun, evidently Japanese Undertale fans argued for ages over whether Sans would refer to himself as “ore” or “boku” in an official translation. 

for those that don’t know, the japanese language has several words for referring to yourself. watashi, watakushi, ore, boku, et cetera. “ore” and “boku” are primarily used by men, with “ore” being considered “manly, but slightly arrogant” and “boku” being “childish, but more polite” 

anyway japanese fans argued about what sans would refer to himself as. then the official translation comes out. what word does sans refer to himself as?

“oira”

“oira” is a word that is almost exclusively used by “country bumpkins.” kinda like how a person from the american south is definitely going to say “y’all” at least three times in any given conversation. “oira” is like if there were a personal pronoun version of the word “y’all” in English 

and japanese fans were PISSED because it made Sans seem like a hick, and didn’t calm down until they learned that Toby picked the word himself 

and that’s really funny

source

[captainsnoop-deactivated2020041]

oh i forgot the best part 

the controversy was dubbed “The Oira Shock” by Japanese fans

also, Papyrus refers to himself as “ore-sama,” because of course he does 

[basicgaijin]

The vanity in my dorm effectively acts as a shrine to my favorite kpop idols. It's a happy place. ❤️

[allyuzurustuff]

The road from Sochi’14 to Pyeongchang’18 has certainly not been easy.

Yet he never looked back, amongst the medals and applause, amongst the tears and injuries.

He never looked back, regardless of whether he is that young boy with that hardened and unresigned expression, or that young king that conquered the ice.

If you look into his eyes, beneath a champion’s fiery passion, you could see the clear, pure heart of the boy who never gave up.

You are still you.

[staff]

Words can’t express our devastation, fury, and sorrow. Our hearts break thinking of the lives that will go unlived, and the families left behind.

If you’re suffering from fear or anxiety, or know someone who is, call the NAMI helpline at 1-800-950-6264 or text NAMI to 741741. Trained counselors are available 24/7 to help you process what you’re feeling, free and confidentially.

Where do we go from here?

This won’t be the last mass shooting in America. Until Congress puts aside the politics of gun control and honestly faces the human toll of their inaction, guns will continue to ravage our communities.

If you’ll be 18 by November 6, 2018, please register to vote. Help your friends register. Help your neighbors register. On election day, organize carpools to polling places. Trade shifts with people who can’t get time off, or babysit their kids. A single vote for gun control is more powerful than all the thoughts and prayers in Washington.

Tens of thousands of people will be killed by guns before we can wrest control of Congress from the gun lobby. Many hundreds will be students sheltering in classrooms. But change is possible.

TurboVote.org will help you register online or by mail. Go now. We don’t have time to wait.

See how much the gun lobby has given to your representative, or spent on their behalf.