A Lesson in Listening.

I've had this story since October, but I keep forgetting to blog about it.

For those who don't know, I teach English to Japanese children. In addition to our regular classes, we plan trips and various parties throughout the year. Naturally, we throw a Halloween party for each of our classes during the month of October. Even though Halloween isn't a huge hit in Japan, the children (and their parents) seem to love our parties. We put up decorations, play games, give out candy, and of course, we dress up.

Days before this year's first party I asked one of my co-workers, Yuka, what she was going to be for Halloween. I wasn't sure how to respond when she told me she was going to be a cigarette. I asked a second time, thinking I had misunderstood, but she confirmed her costume was indeed a cigarette. I had a hard time imagining Yuka dressed up as a giant cigarette, playing Halloween games with six year-olds, while their parents recorded every moment. But, she was a vetran Give Us teacher, so I let it go. A couple days later I was chatting with another co-worker, Andrew, about everyone's costumes. Apparently, he hadn't heard about Yuka's risque costume. When I told him, he couldn't believe it. He asked me if I misunderstood and I replied, "How can you misunderstand the word, cigarette?" He said he would talk to Yuka about her costume and left for class. An hour later, while I was getting my students to settle down, Andrew popped his head into my class room to say, "It's a secret." All of a sudden, everything clicked. Yuka wasn't going to be a cigarette, her costume was a secret!!! Lesson learned: listen more carefully.