Pushing Dirt

Funny how I used to make such a fuss over the fact that Japanese students clean their own schools.

Then I moved to Japan and started teaching and cleaning with them. I was first shocked to find out they are only given about 10-15 minutes to clean, then I found out, which should have been obvious from the hallways, they don't usually clean.

Usually they just push dirt for 10 casual minutes while they chat away with friends. The point is, like most every activity in Japan, to bond with your group. It doesn't matter that the sink behind me is filthy or that the dust encrusting the doorways is thick and ancient. What matters is the time spent bonding with the group.

The fact that American schools are actually cleaner than Japanese schools really fascinates most of my students. Many think that American homes and schools must all be filthy - because we don't take our shoes off and exchange them for indoor ones.