I lived in Japan for a year. Most of my experiences were exhausting in ways I’d rather not get into, but this one still makes me laugh.
I was on the train in Osaka, minding my own business, when I noticed a group of school kids a few seats down. They were whispering, glancing at me, then whispering again. They kept passing a folded piece of paper between them as if they were planning something top secret.
I watched this go on for two stops.
Finally, one of the kids was pushed forward by the others. He walked over to me slowly, like he was approaching a wild animal that might bite. He stopped right in front of me, bowed politely, and held out the folded paper with both hands.
I opened it.
Inside was a handwritten note in careful English: “Hello. We think you are a very cool person. We are practicing our English. We hope this note is correct. Please give us a score.”
At the bottom, they had drawn a literal grading box, out of ten.
I looked up. Seven pairs of eyes were staring at me as if their entire semester depended on my response.
I pulled out a pen, wrote “10/10” in the box, and added a note: “Perfect English. Well done.”
The boy carried it back to the group. They read it together… and absolutely lost their minds. High-fives, jumping, and one kid even pumped his fist in the air.
Their teacher, who had been pretending not to watch from the end of the car, was biting her lip, trying hard not to smile.
I rode the rest of the journey grinning to myself.
That’s the Japan I always remember.
I haven't done a book giveaway in awhile. Hard cover Wheel of Time book up for grabs, LIKE and REPOST to enter. Winner will be selected on the January 14th!
Check out the cover of @PatrickRothfuss's The Narrow Road Between Desires, an expanded standalone story set in the Kingkiller Chronicle universe -- publishing November 14th with @dawbooks
https://t.co/GjKD9LaI9L
@kemar74 I think everyone would agree that you should make some ROTE art!! I think it'll be fantastic bc Hobb dosent get enough attention imo! Love the Kvothe piece btw.
@Kerstin_Wolf @spencerfleury Hmm. If you want to maximise support for CP whilst minimising publisher support, perhaps the audiobook? Or the Ebook? I know authors get a lot more financial support from Ebooks as opposed to physical? I may be wrong though! That way you get the content, CP gets his support!