The Crazies (cont.)

On friday, at about three o'clock, Fujii-sensei and Okada-sensei approach me, asking if I know how to play Monopoly. It tell them yes, but they won't believe how long it takes, so we play against my better judgement (I needed to leave for a party at five). Two hours later, I am fully aware of how only an American could come up with such a complicated game of finance and deception and think that it is an easy game. All the little rules that I just knew, such as how to get out of jail, and what Free Parking was were something that I just thought everyone innately knew. It never occured to me that I would have to explain so many small details. After two hours, they ask me how long the game takes. I told them I've had them last up until six hours. Their eyes dart about nervously, and I tell them that we can stop and play it again another time. Relieved, they start putting it away with the sort of expression that tells me that they never want to play that game again. I wonder what Americans find fun about the game, and why I like it so much.

I found that I really like these two.

Fujii, who I often call Fuji-san (Mount Fuji) on accident, is awesome. Most of what I know about him is told to me by Bill, but when I confronted him with the information, he confirmed it. It is important to note, that while I did not state it before, my initial impression of Fujii was that he was a dumb jock that choose to teach English because he did not know what else to do with his life. It seems, however, that I was wrong.

Fujii lives thirty minutes away in a town called Rokusei, where he happily informs me, there is a McDonald's. In his house is a billiard's table. I accuse him of being a pool shark, to which his responose is to always "come over, and we'll play for money." How I know this is because of a digression in conversation where in which Bill confesses he is not a lady killer, but instead a "madame killer" (because his student's mothers are always hitting on him). "You know, Fujii used to be a lady killer," is how the conversation really started.

Fujii, before he became a sensei, used to be a suit with long hair and girls hanging off his arms like decorations. He was inundated with gifts from girls at every turn, most of which were very expensive (giving gifts to the ones you wish to date seems to be very common practice here). His suaveness was further enhanced by his job, a bartender at a classy joint. The idea is sort of a non-sequitar for me. After all, the Fujii I know wears the same shirt nearly every day, and carries a box of teaching supplies around. Lady killer is not even on the list of adjectives I have for him. I remind myself that Bill has been to America, and knows the humour of a good lie. But then again, Fujii corraborated, so I have no legs left to stand on. Perhaps he really is one.

In any case, Fujii of the now is a friendly man who likes to laugh, and usually responds to everything by saying narhodou (indeed, or certainly) twice. Sometimes, when he is confused, or is agreeing with you, he makes four sounds that resonate in the back of his throat like a happy gorrilla. "Hm, hm, hm, hm". Consequently, I think he looks a little monkey-like. At first, i thought his intelligence reflected that of a monkey, I must confess, but I later found that he understands more than one initially thinks. I think it was simply a case of lack of practice. I have to remember that first impressions are never right.