This choice: "Daniel... Danielle..." The cause of the argument. • Go Back...Chapter #6"Daniel... Danielle..." The cause of th... by: Mr. George   "I'm Miss Kibishii." Her hand comes out, and in a greeting you don't recognise, it explores your chest. A snarl again flashes her teeth, and she flips through the paperwork. You recognise your own handwriting, and your name at the top. The sight of the form brings back memories of painful headaches, and frustration. The damned thing was half in English (Badly translated at that), and the rest in Japanese.
She stabs a crimson nailed finger at one particular point on the first page, a tick box just beneath your name, address and other details.
女性 
男性 
You shrug, at her, hoping to show your ignorance, rather than your growing apathy and disinterest. As she starts to speak garbled English, her grip on English becoming worse the angrier she becomes. You repeat your shrug, and shake your head.
Suddenly it falls into place, and you work out the problem.
"Daniel is a male name. Er... errr... Women take Danielle, or Daniela."
You tower over this intimidating woman. But her shoulders slump, and she waves you inside. Behind you, the car leaves the long driveway behind, it's wheels crunching the fresh snow that's already wiping away any trace of it's passing.
As you step inside, you are greeted by a phalanx of students, lined up against each wall. There are four adults, teachers? at the end of the lines, holding the girls in place.
Distantly you recall that not all the exchanges were with families, some were with schools... specifically boarding schools. It looks like you've landed in one of those. As you look around, you try to spare a smile to anyone whose eye you catch. The place looks like it belongs in the Victorian era.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564...
It's a world (certainly half-the-world) away from your own experience in America.
As you stand there, certain other things sink in. The age of the place, the chill of the stone, even with the large stone fireplace roaring in one wall. It doesn't look like it's changed to fit the modern age at all. No central heating, Hell, you aren't even sure about phones, though it must have electricity. But the thing that's on your mind, and shrieking for attention. The issue demanding addressing. It looks like a girls school, and you aren't a girl.
You had heard that Japanese society was more regimented, less accommodating to the individual, and that was clear on the each girl's face. Her hair done in the same style, a blank look on everyone's face, and every girl in... what has to be the school uniform. You nod and smile to some, but they aren't happy to be singled out for attention. You have to admit that you already find some of them very distracting, despite the dullness of their uniforms.
"Hello." you announce, as loudly as you dare without wishing to sound like you're shouting. You see a few scattering of smiles and understanding looks. However, over half haven't even understood a simple greeting in English. This is a level of immersion you hadn't expected to face.
"今日は Konnichi wa."
You try to pronounce it as best you can. Most of the rest seem to understand. However, you still have a few blank looks, and you have to wonder how badly you mangled the language.
Miss Kibishii's hand lands on your shoulder, and you obediently fall silent. She gives a short speech, where the only words you pick out are the Japanised version of your name, Danieru Jon-son-san.
At the end, the girls snap to attention before slinking away.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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