Cultural Humility

This is an enormously small example of a lesson in cultural humility, but I think it's worth mentioning.

Here in Japan, kids settle small disputes with constant games of janken.  Though the windup and pre-throw words are different, it's rock-paper-scissors.  It's used even more commonly than in the United States, popping up whenever there are teams to be decided, tasks to be doled out, or sacrificial English lesson volunteer lambs to be offered.

A few times I've tried to teach the game in English, with the English words and rhthym.  My students usually think this is hilarious--a few have learned it before, but always as "Rock, scissors, paper, 1, 2, 3!" for some reason.

So here's the thing.  I always assumed that rock-scissors-paper was an American game, transferred over to Japan during the occupation.  Why did I assume this?  I'm not too sure--somehow it just seemed very American, but then of course it would, as I grew up there.   I even told my students several times that it was an American game adapted to Japan.  They were dubious, but most accepted it because I'm a teacher.

Rock-paper-scissors was invented in China, and popular in Japan in the 18th century.  You know, before my arrogant homeland was even a country.

Teachers, do your homework before you say something's true just because you assume it.  Students, your teachers are sometimes huge arrogant puffballs, don't take what they say at face value.