Sunday night, I ran off to school to pick up some materials before giving some lessons I do on the side. I ran into Si Sensei on my way into the building. He apologized to me profusely, got in his car, and drove off into the darkness. I scuttled inside somewhat perplexed. A couple of teachers were sitting around in the staff room, not uncommon for a Sunday night. I grabbed my worksheets and headed out.
The other day a friend sent me an article about some scientists who are trying to send a photon back in time(Thanks, J). The scientists are working with an idea that photons can become entangled and effect each other through time. Well, you can read it for yourself, but it got me to thinking about that 'chance' meeting with Si Sensei.
Si Sensei quit his job. He wasn't in school last week, and he's left in the middle of the second term, so the other teachers, including me, are scrambling to cover his classes and take on his other responsibilities. But I want to get back to that encounter, how different his perspective must have been from mine.
In fact, I didn't really need to go there to the school, but when I did get there, Si Sensei almost seemed to be _waiting_ for me. He looked so fragile, almost ghost-like. He apologized with no explanation five or six times, and departed.
The next morning, people were asking _me_ questions about Si Sensei's departure. Apparently, it was quite sudden, and somehow, being there last night, I seemed to know more than anyone.
What was it that made Sensei think I knew what was going on? What drew me to school at that particular time? Do we get entangled in each other, and what does time have to do with it?
I'll miss Si Sensei. He put a lot of burden on me in these past months, but it was not hard to see he wanted to be free of burden himself. There was a particular goodness about him that made me want him to get his dream.
Enjoy yourself out there, Sensei, today, tomorrow, and yesterday.
I tell of my day-to-day experiences in a funky Japanese town from my American viewpoint. This blog could also be called 'Bizarro World', 'Notes From Kyushu, a Smaller Island', or 'Teaching English in Japan: Smash Your Ego in 10 Easy Lessons."
Monday, November 20, 2006
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2 comments:
This is a really good post Jetblossom! Its very thought provoking and of course concentrates on that most elusive thought of time and its directions...
I always wondered on parallel universes and how with each decision we make, the alternate decision also gets made and the other us continues in that life.. a butterfly effect so to speak. i wish we could oneday find out whats really going on!! but half the fun is not knowing!
I would imagine that he was apologizing for all the work you now have to do because he left. Do you know why he left? Must have been a hard decision. Hope he is OK.
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