The enkai
On Friday night I attended the great Japanese workplace tradition of the enkai…or drinking party. This one was for the occasion of welcoming the new English teachers to our school, and saying a farewell to the one sensei who was transferred to another school in April. Normally I don’t really like enkais, as they are expensive, often awkward, and the amount of beer that is poured for me gets me drunk in about 20 minutes!!! However, as this one was just for English teachers (and so no painfully incoherent broken English/Japanese conversations), and as I actually like most of the teachers (with the exception of the man; codename; ‘weasel’), I was happy to go along! The downside was that it was 6000 yen (about 30 quid) for all the food and drink, and so my weekly ‘budget’ was completely down the pan! I was one of the first to arrive, and so happily was able to pick where I wanted to sit. I settled myself next to Kodama-sensei, Takashita-sensei, and then Fujita-sensei joined our end of the table when she arrived. ‘Weasel’ was one of the last to arrive, and so had to sit at the other end of the table, where he spent most of the evening being anti-social, and drinking himself stupid…but I’ll get to that!
The food and drink started to arrive, and after the obligatory speeches and the kampai (cheers!), we began the 3 hours of overeating, and definitely overdrinking! I was determined to get my money’s worth…but soon realised that our restaurant only served fish and seafood…which I like…but not enough to wolf it down like I would with…say…yakiniku! But I tried a bit of everything; sashimi, a giant fish (still with its eye gazing up at me!) sat in a dish of oil, a bit of crab, eel, a mixed plate of tempura (which was really yummy, especially the pumpkin), and other random bits of fish, rice and pickles! Of course I needed something to wash it all down with, and so was forced to drink vast amounts of Asahi beer! Oh well, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! I had a tiny amount of sake as well, but quickly realised that I was going to be face-down in my oily fish if I didn’t slow down…so I just stuck to the beer!
Everyone seemed to be enjoying the party, and I had some really nice conversations with Takashita-sensei (about why I think some Japanese men are hot!), and with Fujita-sensei (as we spoke in hushed voices about our mutual dislike of ‘weasel’). I had avoided ‘weasel’ all night, as he was sat far way from me, and I made sure that I was always part of a conversation with someone! However, there was suddenly a pause in my conversations, and I found myself without a chat-pal……..it was then that he pounced!!! “Lauren-sensei…please”…he said, pointing to the empty floor-cushion next to him. I unhappily shuffled across the tatami to sit next to him, as he poured me some more beer, and asked me “enjoy?”….God, the level of this guy’s English always astounds me! Anyway, we started a conversation which began in a very safe and tame area and ended in politics!!! We talked about his application to study in England this summer (where at one point he suggested he could call me on my mobile, and we could meet up in England….Aaaaaarrrgggh!...I chuckled and said that wouldn’t be possible cos you can’t e-mail my English ye olde mobile phone…we use sms texting…and as he doesn’t have an English phone…well…what a shame…no meeting in Blighty for us!! Boo hoo!) I also told him about my opinion of my new teachers, and emphasised how much I respected Shiraishi-sensei, and loved his way of teaching and commitment to English and the students. This wasn’t meant as an outright dig at ‘weasel’, and if I had not been drinking I probably would not have said any of this, but at that time a naughty side of me really wanted ‘weasel’ to know how much I enjoyed my new teaching partners! Bad Lauren! He also asked me if I would stay in Japan for a 3rd year…steady on boyo, I’ve only just recontracted for a second! Obviously I have thought about this question, and I pretty much know that I will not stay for a 3rd year, but I was still surprised to be asked this question at the end of my first year, by a guy who I thought would be glad to see the back of me and my western non-passive ways! At times our conversation made me laugh, as whenever he forgot an English word, he just pointed at his nose and stuttered ‘drunk!’ It was also highly amusing, when I took a sip of my beer, put it down on the table, and then he picked it up and drank the rest!!!! I really don’t think he realised what he had done…but afterwards when I asked the other teachers for a new glass because ‘weasel ‘ had stolen mine (yes, I get a bit dramatic when I’m drunk!), they were horrified at his mistake! I knew it was time to try and end my conversation with him, when he began talking about politics, the world, and the enemies of Japan! He talked very flippantly about the China / Japan textbook row, and basically announced his dislike for Chinese and Korean people (he even talked about one of my teachers at another school, and likened him to a Chinese person, and claimed that he probably likes China but not Japan, as he does not look like a typical Japanese person…what the heck!!!). He then began to talk about America being the enemy of the world, and therefore Japan. England likes America, so England is an enemy too. Everyone else in the world has nuclear weapons apart from Japan. Japan has apologised for the war and the past, but shouldn’t have to anymore, especially after they haven’t done that much wrong! England has been aggressive to the rest of Europe, but they don’t have to keep apologising!! WHAT!!!!! Seriously, did this guy suddenly forget where I am from…or was he just trying to rile me! I was not about to start an argument with him, so I excused myself and went to the bathroom to cool off for 2 minutes. When I returned to the room, I returned to my original seat, and resumed nice, light, interesting, non-offensive conversations with my other colleagues! It turns out that they all hate ‘weasel’ too, and apparently he causes problems and quarrels at any enkai he attends. He is just simply a socially-inept racist trouble-maker, who is bad at English, and has no accurate knowledge of world history and politics!
At around 9pm, we left the restaurant, and they all went to the Cruise Hotel for more drinks. I however, decided to go and join Kat & co in Gotcha instead, and so excused myself from the ‘second’ party in favour of nice fun conversation and sticky toffee pudding! I honestly did have a nice evening, and aside from my rambling, stupid, ignorant conversation with ‘weasel’ (where at times I thought he fancied me, and at other times I thought he hated me…and anyone else not Japanese!), I really enjoyed talking to the other English teachers! They are a really nice bunch, and I think I have persuaded them to have a karaoke night-out in June!! Whoohoo!
The food and drink started to arrive, and after the obligatory speeches and the kampai (cheers!), we began the 3 hours of overeating, and definitely overdrinking! I was determined to get my money’s worth…but soon realised that our restaurant only served fish and seafood…which I like…but not enough to wolf it down like I would with…say…yakiniku! But I tried a bit of everything; sashimi, a giant fish (still with its eye gazing up at me!) sat in a dish of oil, a bit of crab, eel, a mixed plate of tempura (which was really yummy, especially the pumpkin), and other random bits of fish, rice and pickles! Of course I needed something to wash it all down with, and so was forced to drink vast amounts of Asahi beer! Oh well, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! I had a tiny amount of sake as well, but quickly realised that I was going to be face-down in my oily fish if I didn’t slow down…so I just stuck to the beer!
Everyone seemed to be enjoying the party, and I had some really nice conversations with Takashita-sensei (about why I think some Japanese men are hot!), and with Fujita-sensei (as we spoke in hushed voices about our mutual dislike of ‘weasel’). I had avoided ‘weasel’ all night, as he was sat far way from me, and I made sure that I was always part of a conversation with someone! However, there was suddenly a pause in my conversations, and I found myself without a chat-pal……..it was then that he pounced!!! “Lauren-sensei…please”…he said, pointing to the empty floor-cushion next to him. I unhappily shuffled across the tatami to sit next to him, as he poured me some more beer, and asked me “enjoy?”….God, the level of this guy’s English always astounds me! Anyway, we started a conversation which began in a very safe and tame area and ended in politics!!! We talked about his application to study in England this summer (where at one point he suggested he could call me on my mobile, and we could meet up in England….Aaaaaarrrgggh!...I chuckled and said that wouldn’t be possible cos you can’t e-mail my English ye olde mobile phone…we use sms texting…and as he doesn’t have an English phone…well…what a shame…no meeting in Blighty for us!! Boo hoo!) I also told him about my opinion of my new teachers, and emphasised how much I respected Shiraishi-sensei, and loved his way of teaching and commitment to English and the students. This wasn’t meant as an outright dig at ‘weasel’, and if I had not been drinking I probably would not have said any of this, but at that time a naughty side of me really wanted ‘weasel’ to know how much I enjoyed my new teaching partners! Bad Lauren! He also asked me if I would stay in Japan for a 3rd year…steady on boyo, I’ve only just recontracted for a second! Obviously I have thought about this question, and I pretty much know that I will not stay for a 3rd year, but I was still surprised to be asked this question at the end of my first year, by a guy who I thought would be glad to see the back of me and my western non-passive ways! At times our conversation made me laugh, as whenever he forgot an English word, he just pointed at his nose and stuttered ‘drunk!’ It was also highly amusing, when I took a sip of my beer, put it down on the table, and then he picked it up and drank the rest!!!! I really don’t think he realised what he had done…but afterwards when I asked the other teachers for a new glass because ‘weasel ‘ had stolen mine (yes, I get a bit dramatic when I’m drunk!), they were horrified at his mistake! I knew it was time to try and end my conversation with him, when he began talking about politics, the world, and the enemies of Japan! He talked very flippantly about the China / Japan textbook row, and basically announced his dislike for Chinese and Korean people (he even talked about one of my teachers at another school, and likened him to a Chinese person, and claimed that he probably likes China but not Japan, as he does not look like a typical Japanese person…what the heck!!!). He then began to talk about America being the enemy of the world, and therefore Japan. England likes America, so England is an enemy too. Everyone else in the world has nuclear weapons apart from Japan. Japan has apologised for the war and the past, but shouldn’t have to anymore, especially after they haven’t done that much wrong! England has been aggressive to the rest of Europe, but they don’t have to keep apologising!! WHAT!!!!! Seriously, did this guy suddenly forget where I am from…or was he just trying to rile me! I was not about to start an argument with him, so I excused myself and went to the bathroom to cool off for 2 minutes. When I returned to the room, I returned to my original seat, and resumed nice, light, interesting, non-offensive conversations with my other colleagues! It turns out that they all hate ‘weasel’ too, and apparently he causes problems and quarrels at any enkai he attends. He is just simply a socially-inept racist trouble-maker, who is bad at English, and has no accurate knowledge of world history and politics!
At around 9pm, we left the restaurant, and they all went to the Cruise Hotel for more drinks. I however, decided to go and join Kat & co in Gotcha instead, and so excused myself from the ‘second’ party in favour of nice fun conversation and sticky toffee pudding! I honestly did have a nice evening, and aside from my rambling, stupid, ignorant conversation with ‘weasel’ (where at times I thought he fancied me, and at other times I thought he hated me…and anyone else not Japanese!), I really enjoyed talking to the other English teachers! They are a really nice bunch, and I think I have persuaded them to have a karaoke night-out in June!! Whoohoo!
posted by Lauren @ 9:05 am
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