Skype: Aldous Huxley's wet dream.

Otsu kara sama deshita.

This phrase. I adore this Japanese phrase. My first exposure to it was when I learned how to exit my office at the end of a work day. ALTs leave the school considerably earlier than the Japanese teachers (in most cases). We were advised to do the polite thing as we leave and say, "Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu." Which means, "Damn, I'm being so frekkin' rude right now, sorry guys, I'm leaving before you." To which they respond, "Otsu kara sama deshita." Which I thought meant, "Hey, no biggie, you worked hard today." Everyday, almost every teacher has this exchange.

(We also use, "Shitsurei shimasu" when we enter offices or rooms where other people are working. Students use it constantly. I have heard it used in the copy room when one teacher leaves before the others' copying is finished. How polite is that?!)

I am learning that there is a lot more to "Otsu kara sama deshita" than I first thought. A few months ago I arrived at a toll booth at an expressway exit. When I arrived at the booth, the older man with white gloves bowed and said it. I have recently been very busy with paperwork and preparations for Gotsu High School's 3-day English Camp Extravaganza!! And when I got up from my desk during lunch, three sympathetic ladies smiled warmly and said it. Yesterday, I left the school for a little while and when I returned after a very short drive, the pretty young woman from the office who on occasion randomly makes me tea said, "Otsu kara sama deshita."

I am no language scholar. I'd actually like to speak with Muldoon about it, our resident linguist. But more and more I enjoy the Japanese phrases that translate a thousand different ways. I have only noticed the phrases that are used out of habitual courtesy, repeated ceremoniously in day-to-day conversation.
For example, "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu". This be all end all phrase was taught to me at the pre-pre orientation in New York City in June 2006. At the time, I was told it meant, "Please treat me kindly." Since then I have learned that it also means, "May our friendship continue to be a happy one", "Thanks for doing this favor for me man, you rock!" and "I am so beneath you in so many ways that asking you to be my friend is completely out of the question but I will humbly do so anyway".

Apparently "Otsu..." has a similar versatility. But it primarily means, "You must be so tired from all your hard work" or "Wow, look at what you did! You're a goddamn Champion!"
I think this is why I love this phrase. No matter if I am leaving hours before the other teachers, no matter how many blog posts were written that day, out of courtesy my co-workers tell me I worked hard. Gotta love undeserved validation.

In other news, I have brought the magic of modern communication into my apartment and into my parents' hearts. Skype, and the little camera at the top of my computer, allowed me to have a video chat with Mom and Dad. For free. Thousands of miles away. My father said, "This is incredible. It's straight out of 'A Brave New World'."

When he said that, it struck me just how easily I become accustomed to new technology when I can just download something, click and have it work. The rate at which technology is improving, especially in terms of personal communication, should be a little more awe inspiring to me. I can't imagine how indifferent a younger person (who does not know the world withOUT the internet or tiny cellular phones) is to this rapid progress.

At the same time, I've noticed that my willingness to talk to people in person is waning, and yet I jump at the chance to "chat" or "text" or "blog" or "skype". It is so nice to be able to edit my end of the conversation whenever I need to, and have time to think about the next joke or the timing of my next bit of sarcasm (granted, barely readable in text).
Are we increasing our opportunities to communicate while at the same time losing our interpersonal skills? Or is that just MY occasional anti-social problem?

Or could it be that I'm in Japan?
I have yet to see two high schoolers walk down the street in conversation. They all have their heads down and fingers blurring on their phone keypads.
When I ask them what they are doing they say,
"talking with my friends".