The maigo incident (how to endear yourself to your supervisors by being completely incompetent)
8th aug, 2006
It is my great embarrassment to regale the tale of my first attempt to find my way home from the Board of Education alone. My predecessor had been previously escorting me about the town, but on this occasion had other engagements. Regardless, I'd assured everyone I would be fine to make my way back to the apartment – after all, it was a straight line leading directly back to my apartment complex.
After concluding my business I set out in high spirits, merrily peddling along. In fact, I was even feeling adventurous enough to try my hand at seeking out the nearby shopping centre in order to buy a gift for my predecessor. But being a cautious young lass, I thought it prudent to first find my way to familiar territory.
After 10 minutes of high-spirited riding, marvelling at my new-found independence, I found myself at a junction of madly rising highways. This did not look even slightly familiar. I was forced to accept that on my first try, I had gone in the absolute opposite direction to my apartment. After an about-face (and knowing by tomorrow, everyone would know I'd had to double back on the same street. Gaijin-law-of-Kumiyama), I was back at the BOE, but now with only an hour of time of play with. With all confidence in my navigational skills shattered, I parked my bicycle, hung my head in shame and re-entered the office.
My supervisor was appropriately surprised to see me again so soon. We quickly overcame the language barrier to establish that I was lost. Not a particularly dignified admission for a grown woman on her first day as a government employee. My supervisor, however, was delighted that of all people, I had approached him for assistance. This little incident has (unsurprisingly) contributed to my 'adopted' reputation, as the office staff thought it absolutely adorable that they now had a maigo to look after. In true Japanese style, I was given far more assistance than I deserved – my supervisor borrowed one of the BOE trucks to drive me and my bicycle home, taking the route past my school, and very clearly demonstrating the correct landmarks and turns to aid my memory ('Eto... Police box! Left! Left! Left!. Eto... NTT Ground! Right!Right!Right!') My limited Japanese for this conversation involved mostly apologies and gratitude, which my supervisor found cuter still – he's taken quite a shine to me, looking upon me with some kind of fatherly affection. I will never, ever blame any of my co-workers for referring to me as Amy-chan.
It is my great embarrassment to regale the tale of my first attempt to find my way home from the Board of Education alone. My predecessor had been previously escorting me about the town, but on this occasion had other engagements. Regardless, I'd assured everyone I would be fine to make my way back to the apartment – after all, it was a straight line leading directly back to my apartment complex.
After concluding my business I set out in high spirits, merrily peddling along. In fact, I was even feeling adventurous enough to try my hand at seeking out the nearby shopping centre in order to buy a gift for my predecessor. But being a cautious young lass, I thought it prudent to first find my way to familiar territory.
After 10 minutes of high-spirited riding, marvelling at my new-found independence, I found myself at a junction of madly rising highways. This did not look even slightly familiar. I was forced to accept that on my first try, I had gone in the absolute opposite direction to my apartment. After an about-face (and knowing by tomorrow, everyone would know I'd had to double back on the same street. Gaijin-law-of-Kumiyama), I was back at the BOE, but now with only an hour of time of play with. With all confidence in my navigational skills shattered, I parked my bicycle, hung my head in shame and re-entered the office.
My supervisor was appropriately surprised to see me again so soon. We quickly overcame the language barrier to establish that I was lost. Not a particularly dignified admission for a grown woman on her first day as a government employee. My supervisor, however, was delighted that of all people, I had approached him for assistance. This little incident has (unsurprisingly) contributed to my 'adopted' reputation, as the office staff thought it absolutely adorable that they now had a maigo to look after. In true Japanese style, I was given far more assistance than I deserved – my supervisor borrowed one of the BOE trucks to drive me and my bicycle home, taking the route past my school, and very clearly demonstrating the correct landmarks and turns to aid my memory ('Eto... Police box! Left! Left! Left!. Eto... NTT Ground! Right!Right!Right!') My limited Japanese for this conversation involved mostly apologies and gratitude, which my supervisor found cuter still – he's taken quite a shine to me, looking upon me with some kind of fatherly affection. I will never, ever blame any of my co-workers for referring to me as Amy-chan.
or Emi-chan!!!! XP
Posted by angelic_vampire | 4:22 PM