Call the Paparazzi

Being the new ALT at a rural elementary school is kind of like being a celebrity. As I walk past classrooms I always hear whispers (and sometimes shouts) of "Look, it's Emma sensei!!" and facing peeking out to get a look at me. The more daring kids will actually come out of the classrooms and stop me to say "Hello".

Yesterday I happened to be walking down the hall as a group of third graders came in from recess. Immediately after seeing me they all began screaming "EMMA SENSEI!" and charging towards me at full speed. I then surrounded by a sea of adorable children all trying to ask me questions at once.

"ARE YOU BRITISH?!"
"No, I'm American."
"DOYOU LIKE HARRY POTTER?!"
"Yes!"
"ARE YOU BRITISH?!"
"No!"
"DO YOU LIKE SNAKES?!"
"WHAT FOOD DO YOU LIKE?"
"WHAT COLOR DO YOU LIKE?"
"ARE YOU BRITISH?!"
"WOW, YOU HAVE PRETTY NAILS!" (Twenty kids begin fighting over who gets to pet my finger nails)
"ARE YOU BRITISH?!"
"NO, Why do you keep asking me that?!"

It was pretty funny, and apparently I look British for some reason since like 5 kids asked me if I was. The downside here was the kids were being quite loud so I got a couple dirty looks from some teachers. I tried to quiet them down but there is no stopping third graders.

I also got my first celebrity stalker moment. After my fourth grade class a girl came up to me and asked "Where do you live?" After hesitating to answer she gets the biggest grin and goes "You live by Irohas!". So at least one kid knows where I live now. Though it is a small town to its not like that would be kept a secret too long anyways. That is one of the hard parts of being a foreigner here - you stand out. When you live in a place where you are one of only two foreign people in the entire town everyone is going to know who you are when they see you out and about, even if you don't know them.

Though on the plus side being a foreigner makes you interesting and different enough that the students actually want to interact with you so it makes it a lot easier to get them to practice English. :)