What is Evolution?

“We began as a mineral.
We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten our former states, except in early spring when we slightly recall being green again.
That’s how a young person turns towards a teacher.
That’s how a baby leans toward the breast, without knowing the secret of its desire, yet turning instinctively.
Humankind is being led along an evolving course, through the migration of intelligences, and though we seem to be sleeping, there is an inner wakefulness that directs the dream, and that will eventually startle us back to the truth of who we are.”
— The Story of Evolution
Rumi, 13th Century

3.14.2010

Souji

Now I know I'm not the neatest and tidiest person in the world. I never have been. On a regs there's countless articles of clothing scattered on my bedroom floor. However, there is one thing that I am not, and that is NASTY. I don't like maggots, roaches, flies, rats anything that signifies uncleanliness. That includes bad smells and unsightly stains etc etc.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't think that my shit don't stink and my apartment is not spik and span. I've been known let dishes pile up in the sink during a busy week. No one's perfect. But I am aware of garbage day and I ensure that if I have an excess of garbage the night before it is packed up and disposed of the next morning. I just cannot risk the chance of coming home and finding an uninvited guest lurking around.

The thing about me and keeping tidy though is that I have a mild case of *ADHOCD (pun kinda intended). Which basically means I need things to be perfectly aligned and in their place but I keep switching randomly from one thing to the next until I have a room fully of dishevelled crap scattered everywhere. SO I get frustrated give up and move on to something else....or take a nap. LOL.

Seriously speaking though, this blog is actually about my (fairly) new school and it's "cleaning policies". Now in the Japanese school system there's something called "souji jikan" or "cleaning time". I.E. for atleast 15 minutes out of each day everyone in the school stops what they're doing and then pretend to clean the entire school.

I say pretend because, well the truth is, they don't actually clean shit. Sure they "sweep" and the put out the garbage but aside from that the school is still filthy when they're done and by the end of the week gunk, dust and all sorts of unhygienic things have built up all over the place. I mean don't get me started on the toilets!

That being said, when I came to Japan and learnt of this new phenomena I decided I would not be participating. Now before you go accusing me of being lazy/selfish/ uncooperative. Let me tell you something: I clean up after myself! I wash my utensils/ my mugs/my containers and I clean my drawers and my desk. I take care of MY work space. There is nothing in my contract that states that I am expected to clean the school. I mean in Jamaica there was the ancillary staff who were HIRED and PAID to clean the school, I didn't have to.

As a result of that I, as the student, would arrive every morning to a clean learning/working environment. I think a system like this is healthy and promotes learning. Cleaning in the middle of the day and coming to work to see a garbage half full every morning represents the opposite to me.

But when in Rome right? So from time to time I might help the students in the teachers room to carry out their menial chores while engaging in conversation with them. I mean it's the least I can do right? meh.

Anyhoo, let's fast-forward to the present shall we? Good.

For the past week, the students have been on holiday (while I, big head bud, have to come to school every day and do nothing). Which basically means no class bells and no cleaning time.
Would you like to guess what else this means??? Well hood you believe that in an office of 8 adults (myself included) there has been garbage piled up in here since last week Tuesday?? YES!

Well, the first two days I was exiled to the office, so I didn't know what exactly was taking place here. And when I returned there wasn't that much garbage to speak of. But now, a week later there is a weeks worth of coffee piled up and all the garbage bins are full to the brim!

I wonder if them expecting me to clean????? BOABDL!!! If so then they doesn't know Nady! I have been scarred by the ever present reality of slavery and the subjugation of one race at the hands of another seemingly "more superior" race so I shall not be cleaning up after anyone that isn't my blood relative or a loved one!!! NO siree...not happening!

So I guess we going to sit down here and wait until the kids return and the souji bell rings again.

I feel sorry for them tomorrow. They have their work cut out for them!!!

iNi

for the life of me cannot figure out why they won't just hire a company to give this cursed school a proper cleaning! For fucks sake!!!

NadYa Dee

*Attention Defecit Hyperactive Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

2 comments:

  1. I agree Nadya, the "cleaning time" always irked me because after it was over the place still looked dirty. And why do it in the middle of the day? I hated going to a classroom 1st period to a messy chalkboard!

    ReplyDelete

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Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."