Homogeny and the Island.

So, we have gotten a new South African JET on the programme. He arrived in Japan two days ago and in Kobe yesterday. Today he is touring with me at my school. I guess cause im from SA too.

My primary concerns were laid to rest by the smart comments of an SA friend of mine up in Niigata. See, I was worried that people would give him flak about his accent (English is his 2nd Language - he is a Sepedi man) . Now, im more concerned about the blatant racism he may encounter.

I did a tour around the school with him- largely amoung the ichi-nen seis. It was great-people were shaking his hand and laughing and asking questions. He's a shy guy. Not boistrous and outgoing. Very reserved and controlled yet always smiling.

Then we walked up past the san-nenseis. He was shaking some of the guys and girls hands as he walked past as like an introduction. He reached down to this one girl who was looking up with WIDE eyes- not in that good way. At which point she screams "IYA IYA!" and recoils in abject horror. The look of honest terror abated the feelings of me wanting to punch her in the head.

She was petrified of this stranger because he was a black man. I've been here for 3 years and 3 months- and that just blew my fucking mind. Admitedly im teaching in what is considered "countryside" and to be honest- the same thing could EXCEPTIONALLY easily happen in South Africa. But, I guess i'd expect it to given the history. How can a country that claims to be first world have people on that level.

Sad man. Just sad.