Neighborfood

So, I posted this anecdote on facebook awhile back, but I never shared it here:

"I love those special moments in life we have all have from time to time: the ones in which we start to chuckle... and it turns into a giggle... and then we laugh... and then everyone else around us laughs, and at that point we're screwed; it's just a full-fledged attack with no hope for return. I had one such moment today in my favorite third-grade class. It went like this:

Towards the end of the period, a few students went up to the front of the class to write their translation answers on the board, as usual. After they finished, they returned to their seats, and I got ready to correct their responses. Nothing new here. I quickly noticed, however, that the first sentence, which should read, "I often see students shopping at the convenience store in my neighborhood," in fact read, "I often see students shopping at the convenience store in my neighborfood." Neighborfood. It's not that funny. Except that in this particular moment there was nothing funnier to me in all of Japan, in the entire world even. Neighborfood. I lost it, I tell you. My kids were laughing more at me than at the sentence, as tears streamed down my face, and I had to assume a temporary squatting position to attempt to regain my composure (which, of course, failed). My JTE eventually had to erase the word from the board entirely, but at that point it was no use. I'd lost a screw and I'd never get it back. I managed to finish up the class, but just barely. I still had a big grin on my face when I came back to the staffroom... What a great way to end the week.

To the student who wrote "neighborfood": I love you. With all my heart. Thank you."

~~~

That's the neighborfood story. I have two extensions to add: First, I have since read essays containing the similarly modified word "childfood." Haha. Second, since that day, the students in that particular homeroom grin wildly and say "neighborfood!" every time they see me. :-) (Of course, I start thinking about the original neighborfood incident and start cracking up all over again.) Like today, in class, I was trying to make an announcement for the upcoming charity show, and one of my FAVORITIST boys ("I am: Japanese Boy!!") grins at me from the second row and says, quietly at first, "neighborfood." Then louder, "Neighborfood!" Then of course, the whole class breaks into "Neighborfood!! Neighborfood!!" Hahaha oh man I love these kids SO much; honestly, the fact that we have gotten to the point of intercultural/interlinguistic joking just makes my heart sing. Anyway. Class continues, and they write their sentences on the board again. Lo and behold, this week's translations also include a neighborhood reference. Only this time around, the student blessed with writing that particular sentence decides to be clever, and she writes "neighborfood" with the F in bright pink!! So I play the whole thing up, saying, "Hmm, something's wrong here... What is it..? Can anyone tell me?" And the kids play along, "guessing" mistakes that aren't really mistakes. Then BAM I shout "OHMYGOSH you wrote neighborfood!!!" and fling my textbook aside in feigned shock. The kids went WILD!! They were laughing and hooting and hollering and clapping their hands like there was no tomorrow!! I felt like a regular Robin Williams at a stand-up event. <3

Have I mentioned I'm on the same sports day team ("Red Team!!") with these awesome kiddos?!?!? Yes. It's true. My life really is that amazing. Jealous yet?