True Story 1.02
Japanese girl’s rude awakening
in an American kindergarten
The setting for this story
A Japanese family in which both parents spoke English fluently relocated to an American city. The family’s five-year-old daughter, Chitose, was placed in a kindergarten where Laila was the teacher.
A story of misaligned minds3
Both Laila and Chitose’s parents were optimistic that her partial fluency in English would smooth her adaptation. Their hopes were largely realized; Chitose quickly developed a friendship with a boy named Gregory. Then one day, the class activity was musical chairs.
Side by side, Chitose and Gregory joined in marching to the music around the circle of chairs. When the music first stopped, Chitose was beside a chair – where she stood, waiting for Gregory to take the seat. He did, and they both beamed proudly.
Laila came over and explained to Chitose that she had lost and would have to observe the rest of this round from the sidelines. The shock and disbelief in Chitose’s eyes astounded Laila.
Laila’s question
Why did Chitose step aside to allow Gregory to be seated, then look proud about doing so?
Critique of story 1.02
When Laila explained to Chitose that she had lost, the shock in the little girl’s eyes seemed to be saying, “You mean I lose because I’m polite?! Are you saying the point of musical chairs is to be rude?!”
The answer to both questions is “yes.” (OK, maybe “rude” isn’t exactly the right word.)
Musical chairs is one of the ways American youngsters are encouraged to become determined competitors, to seize opportunities – and maybe the next child’s opportunities, too. It prepares our children to fit comfortably into our individual-oriented, I’ll-do-it-my-way culture.
Japanese children are trained to avoid putting their personal desires ahead of their group’s shared interests, and never to prioritize their own advantage above that of their friends. Their upbringing prepares them to fit comfortably into Japan’s group-oriented, you-gotta-have-wa culture. (Wa is a Japanese word for harmony.)
Understandably, Laila brought her American values into this classroom and Chitose brought her Japanese values. Their misalignment of minds surfaced during the musical chairs activity.
For thought
Imagine that Chitose had come to the U.S. with near-native fluency in English. Do you think her command of English would have conditioned her to grab the open seat when the music stopped?
Related stories
Story 10.09 relates a similar case in which a teacher and several young pupils bring different expectations into a classroom; in their case, however, the misalignment concerns the use of classroom space.
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Endnotes:
3 Kristof.
All full citations are available at misalignedminds.info/References.