The principal came up behind me while I was reading an e-mail from my friend on my work computer. For a split second, I though 'busted!!' But then he said "Oh, you're reading English! Wow!"
"Uh, yeah," was the only response that I could think of.
"That's great!" he said as he walked away. Most people would really have to worry about what they look at on their work computers. Their boss might get mad if they're reading e-mails during work hours. Not me... my co-workers even say things like "You can read all of that? It makes my eyes hurt just looking at it." I usually think the same about Japanese when I look at the newspaper. Though I have been trying to read the newspaper recently. I often have to remind my co-workers that me reading Japanese is much more impressive than me reading English. It makes me feel a little guilty for being able to get away with reading e-mail or un-work-related websites at work, but according to my contract, I'm allowed an hour break everyday so that's my e-mail/blogging time.
I also take advantage of the fact that most of the people around me can't speak or understand English well, so I find myself saying things that I might not say in front of English speakers. Mostly it's a relief to be able to say whatever I want with out anyone paying me much mind, but I'm afraid that someday I'll slip and say something at an inappropriate time. It takes some effort to keep my mouth shut around English speakers sometimes, or when I go home for a visit. On the other hand, there are still a lot of things that I can't say in Japanese, so I usually refrain from adding my two cents to most conversations in groups of Japanese speakers. Finding myself in an atmosphere where I don't have as many chances to express myself as I would in the US, I think I'm starting to depend on expressing myself through writing more. Getting started writing is sometimes hard, but once I have a topic, my thoughts just start pouring out of my fingers.
"Uh, yeah," was the only response that I could think of.
"That's great!" he said as he walked away. Most people would really have to worry about what they look at on their work computers. Their boss might get mad if they're reading e-mails during work hours. Not me... my co-workers even say things like "You can read all of that? It makes my eyes hurt just looking at it." I usually think the same about Japanese when I look at the newspaper. Though I have been trying to read the newspaper recently. I often have to remind my co-workers that me reading Japanese is much more impressive than me reading English. It makes me feel a little guilty for being able to get away with reading e-mail or un-work-related websites at work, but according to my contract, I'm allowed an hour break everyday so that's my e-mail/blogging time.
I also take advantage of the fact that most of the people around me can't speak or understand English well, so I find myself saying things that I might not say in front of English speakers. Mostly it's a relief to be able to say whatever I want with out anyone paying me much mind, but I'm afraid that someday I'll slip and say something at an inappropriate time. It takes some effort to keep my mouth shut around English speakers sometimes, or when I go home for a visit. On the other hand, there are still a lot of things that I can't say in Japanese, so I usually refrain from adding my two cents to most conversations in groups of Japanese speakers. Finding myself in an atmosphere where I don't have as many chances to express myself as I would in the US, I think I'm starting to depend on expressing myself through writing more. Getting started writing is sometimes hard, but once I have a topic, my thoughts just start pouring out of my fingers.
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