I got into trouble with my Japanese professor for submitting a script with unacceptable content, mostly the product of my partner's misguided notions of injecting fun and humour into what would otherwise be a routine exercise. As it turned out, of course, sensei was not at all amused. AT ALL. When she told us that she was 'very upset' when she read our piece, years of academic conditioning kicked in and I felt like I often did in primary school, where the teachers were demi-gods to be appeased and criticism From Above meant utter shame and humiliation.
In my mitigation, I did warn my partner that his personal sense of humour might not be the best approach to take for a piece of graded work, and it could have been much worse if I hadn't deleted some wildly inappropriate passages, but I shouldn't even have let his ideas prevail in the first place, damn it. Just because someone thinks I'm a boring person with no sense of humour doesn't mean that he's an astute observer of human behaviour, and that I should discount my personal opinions about the matter and submit to his supposedly superior point of view. When it comes to being a model Asian student and pleasing Asian teachers, at least, I would like to think that I have some valid notions. All those years of toil under Singapore's education system ought to have counted for something. Why the hell should I throw all that acquired wisdom (actually, just plain common sense) away just because some idiot thought that it would be funny to ignore Japanese social conventions?
Because I'm also an idiot, that's why.
I was so disturbed by this incident that I had to watch another episode of Ouran High School Host Club. And it's midterm season again, so I foresee more Ouran indulgence.
[edit] After sorting things out with sensei and some rambling around the campus with my camera, I feel much better. I've reassured myself that my 真面目な学生(serious student) image is still intact.
Now for a lightning trip to the supermarket for some badly-needed groceries. Being off meal plan, it's a constant effort to stave off malnutrition. I've been told that I've lost weight. If that's so, I really haven't noticed. Way too busy dealing with the daily struggle for survival.
words were spilled on Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Comments:
In my experience, it's usually safer to lean towards the prudent side. At most the other party would say "ah, don't fret it, it's nothing really" or "you needn't have done that, all I wanted was..." but underneath all that, most people are flattered to be taken seriously.
p.s. did I tell you my UK address this year?
p.s. did I tell you my UK address this year?
# posted by 
: 7:02 PM
: 7:02 PM
i was under the impression that eating also constitutes survival.
also i confess to substance abuse. the dean's address was so annoying i had five shots on other people's money and ended up getting one of said other people drunk too. although, to be fair, i did warn him that a long island iced tea was a four-shot drink.
... it got pretty weird. we just sat there and sulked.
ouran is quite inspiring stuff, really. which episode are you up to?
also i confess to substance abuse. the dean's address was so annoying i had five shots on other people's money and ended up getting one of said other people drunk too. although, to be fair, i did warn him that a long island iced tea was a four-shot drink.
... it got pretty weird. we just sat there and sulked.
ouran is quite inspiring stuff, really. which episode are you up to?
# posted by : 3:12 AM
: 3:12 AM
lz: not yet. could you email it to ambienteflux@gmail.com along with the necessary Tube directions? thanks!
jy: sulking sounds just abt right considering the content of the dean's address. i sympathise.
substance abuse here getting from bad to worse. i seem to be unable to even concentrate without it. experimenting with dark chocolate now, figured i ought to vary the poison.
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jy: sulking sounds just abt right considering the content of the dean's address. i sympathise.
substance abuse here getting from bad to worse. i seem to be unable to even concentrate without it. experimenting with dark chocolate now, figured i ought to vary the poison.
