And so I bring you yet another...
Jan. 22nd, 2004 01:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
akujunkan...WTF Moment, courtesy of Japan.
About ten minutes ago, one of the school's English teachers came rushing over to me, flustered and blushing. She wanted help with a grammar point. I answered her questions, and yet she lingered by my desk. She disappeared, then returned almost immediately, blushing an even deeper red, and announced that she had another question. After about five minutes of torturous giggling, she conveyed (without ever actually directly asking) to me that she wanted to know the English words for people who dress like the opposite gender.
Enter Yours Truly, Gender Studies Major. I explained that people who dress like the opposite gender without having an operation are transgendered, while people who surgically alter their sex are transsexual. I explained that these were acceptable words for such people, although insulting terms do exist. She thanked me with much giggling and assurances that "I need to know this only for class," and disappeared.
Five minutes of peaceful (cough) reflection on my FS application ensued before I heard more giggling, coming this time from the teachers seated in the two blocks north of me. They were surrounding a group of giggling third years. It's easier to block ambient conversation noise in a second language than it is in a first, but one does learn to identify the warning signs, all the same. For instance, one's name being frequently repeated by a group of giggling teachers surrounding a group of giggling third years.
Thus alerted, I began listening more attentively. The group seemed to be repeating three words with alarming frequency: my name, "English" and オカメ, which is a rather vulgar term for trans/sexuals/gendered people.
Finally, the students approached my desk, watched eagerly by the teachers. They spent a few (uncharacteristic, for boys) minutes blushing and giggling before rather haltingly asking, "Do you know Japanese オカメ?" I pronounced and wrote the word "transgender" for them, minus the explanations, and sent them on their merry way. Guess who showed up at my desk a few minutes later...
It makes one wonder what the heck they're learning in class. That will be all.
About ten minutes ago, one of the school's English teachers came rushing over to me, flustered and blushing. She wanted help with a grammar point. I answered her questions, and yet she lingered by my desk. She disappeared, then returned almost immediately, blushing an even deeper red, and announced that she had another question. After about five minutes of torturous giggling, she conveyed (without ever actually directly asking) to me that she wanted to know the English words for people who dress like the opposite gender.
Enter Yours Truly, Gender Studies Major. I explained that people who dress like the opposite gender without having an operation are transgendered, while people who surgically alter their sex are transsexual. I explained that these were acceptable words for such people, although insulting terms do exist. She thanked me with much giggling and assurances that "I need to know this only for class," and disappeared.
Five minutes of peaceful (cough) reflection on my FS application ensued before I heard more giggling, coming this time from the teachers seated in the two blocks north of me. They were surrounding a group of giggling third years. It's easier to block ambient conversation noise in a second language than it is in a first, but one does learn to identify the warning signs, all the same. For instance, one's name being frequently repeated by a group of giggling teachers surrounding a group of giggling third years.
Thus alerted, I began listening more attentively. The group seemed to be repeating three words with alarming frequency: my name, "English" and オカメ, which is a rather vulgar term for trans/sexuals/gendered people.
Finally, the students approached my desk, watched eagerly by the teachers. They spent a few (uncharacteristic, for boys) minutes blushing and giggling before rather haltingly asking, "Do you know Japanese オカメ?" I pronounced and wrote the word "transgender" for them, minus the explanations, and sent them on their merry way. Guess who showed up at my desk a few minutes later...
It makes one wonder what the heck they're learning in class. That will be all.