15-year olds

Oops. I think I let the cat out of the bag. 15-year old student (regarding subject of how Japanese school kids have to clean their own schools) - "you mean kids EVERYWHERE don't have to clean their schools?"

What if, by giving her this information, I'll be starting a nation wide student-cleaning strike. eek. I'll be deported, ne?

On why she thought it was important - "you need to clean when you are a mother, so this teaches you."

And in her school, apparantly, not ALL the kids 'pretend' to clean. Blimey!

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Picture the scene: a high school boy - maybe 15 or 17-years old. Very smart military looking dark school uniform. Perfectly ironed shirt. Shoes shined so hard it hurts your eyes to look at them. And, hanging from his belt, a 10 centimetre high cuddly Mickey Mouse toy.

Only. In. Japan.