I saw something amazing today. It made me respect the power of fear. In the teacher's room I was talking to another teacher about the crazy group that cleans the English room with me everyday. After just hearing who was in the group, he said "最悪" (saiaku ---> the worst) and said that he would like to come and see. I told him that he'd be welcome to come. At the beginning of cleaning time I mentioned to the students that that teacher might come to watch, and they started cleaning frantically. I have never seen them move so fast. The kids who usually do one thing and then go lean against the wall talking were even helping. We managed to finish about 2 minutes early. Though by the end, the kids thought I had lied to them about the teacher coming. I asked the kids why it mattered if the teacher came and watched, and they replied that that teacher was scary. I was a bit surprised. I had always thought that he was an interesting teacher, and I assumed the kids would like him too. Apparently not. Apparently he's very strict during class, and the girls are especially afraid of him.

Let me paint a picture of the teacher for you. He's about one year older than me, but about a inch shorter. He's always got a tan from running outside on the weekends. He almost always has a smile on his face and throws everyone peace signs in the hallway. What is so scary about that? I guess as a teacher, and an adult, he shows a different face to the kids. Anyway, from all of that, I learned that the prospect of someone scary coming to check if they are cleaning or not, made the kids actually clean. I wish I could use that tactic everyday, but sadly after crying wolf a couple of times, they wouldn't believe me. Too bad. I could really get used to finishing early.