What do you want to be?

I was assigned the enviable task of spell-checking the desired jobs of my eleven year old students at one school. In some cases I checked to see if there was a better English word than had been provided by a direct translation.

The students had been asked, in preparation of a "what do you want to be?" lesson, to give their dream job titles to the full-time English teacher. After reviewing the list, one job, listed by several students, stood out because it spoke volumes about both the apathy of Japanese youth and the general reality that there are few "ways out" except for those who are exceptionally smart, athletic, or physically attractive. At 11 years old, these students dreamed of being a 'convenience store clerk.'

This is the same part of Japan where relatively young people (late 20s/early 30s) consider working part-time in the retail and food industries as a 'good living' and one that they could see themselves continuing with for a few years. Absolutely no mention of climbing the ladder or going full-time so as to gain a greater measure of financial independence.

A friend once said to me that the bright and talented are given this as encouragement: "if you work hard enough then maybe you can get out of here." Preconceived notions about this country went out the window a fair time ago.

It's unsettling being a guest on a sinking ship. At least my port of call is well short of the final destination.

Song of the moment:

Suede - Obsessions

'Can't Get Enough' came up on shuffle, went through a Suede rediscovery, and now 'Obsessions' is only regular repeat.