Teacher: Christmas is coming soon. Robert will now sing "Joy to the World."
Rob: "JEREMIAH WAS A BULLFROG!"

Yesterday, I took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, level three. It was from 9:45 to around 3:00, although the test itself only took about three hours. (Lots of break time between sections, I guess.) I am not too confident about how I did. However, at level three it only takes 60% to get a "pass."

The test took place in Fukuoka, which is on the northern end of Kyushu. It was a four-hour train ride, one way. We went a day early, and stopped at Daizaifu, which is a shrine where students traditionally go to pray for divine assistance on examinations. I got back here at around midnight last night. Thank goodness that today was an office day.

Oh. Mah. Gawd.

Normally, it's Laura who sends out e-mail about stuff like this, but when I found this online, I just had to say something. The headline from the fora at the Straight Dope says, "Tacky Asian Stereotypes for Kids -- New, From Lifeway!"
LifeWay : VBS 2004 - Rickshaw Rally
This is a "Vacation Bible School" program for Southern Baptist churches. The theme is supposed to be a Japanese setting. Things included:

� A theme song that has a chorus that goes: "Wax on, wax off, get your rickshaw ready . . . to the far out, Far East...."

� Name tags in the shape of Chinese (!) take out boxes.

� The entire VBS package is enclosed in an oversized tin again shaped like a box from a Chinese restaurant.

� One of the suggestions made on the website is to use oversized decorations, such as big "chop stix," perhaps made from old crutches wrapped in brown paper and marked with Chinese characters. (Most chopsticks I've seen are plain wood or have cartoon characters...)

� Another suggestion is to use an authentic gong to signal class changes. (?) One response to this one is that one church group will just go with a metal garbage can lid.

I'm...speechless.

Some of the reactions from REAL Asian Americans can be found on the site Reconsidering Rickshaw Rally.

Later,
Rob