Death, Dying, and English in between.

[kaitou]

Well, yesterday I finally got the chance to really meet the new English teacher, Saitou-sensei. (Ah, if only Saitou from Kenshin, but alas no.) I think I really surprised her by knowing Japanese. She and my old JTE, Wasaki-sensei were talking and called me in.

Me: Excuse me.
Saitou: Oh! She knows what to say when coming into a room. (This was directed at Wasaki-sensei in the tone of voice like a pet just pulled off a cute trick.)
Wasaki: Oh yes, Ann-sensei speaks fluent Japanese. We usually speak in Japanese to each other.
Me: Oh no, I'm still learning. (smile)

Then later she came up to me and told me how much she liked America, because she goes to Arizona quite often.

Saitou: Do you know Dr. ______?
Me: No.
Saitou: She wrote the book On Death and Dying. It was a best seller.
Me: I've heard of the book.
Saitou: Yes. She is sick now, dying. It is very sad.

I bet she just loves the third year's textbook. It has two long stories, one about two children that die in the bombing of Hiroshima, and one about a leaf that has to come to terms with death in the fall.

This is going to be a very interesting year.