"Just go to Gooniizu. I love Gooniizu."
March 15, 2008 5:32 PM Subscribe
English As A Second Language: "In which our heroine helps a Japanese friend find where the Goonies lived. Sort of." A recent essay from Emily's World, a biweekly column written by Emily Maloney, at The Smart Set.
I had actually forgotten the plot to the Goonies and had to read the wiki link, it's been so damn long. The Japanese friend must've been literally a kid when she saw the movie, I'm surprised she's still so attached to it.
And I wish there were more links to short stories and lighted-hearted essays on mefi.
posted by tksh at 6:39 PM on March 15, 2008
And I wish there were more links to short stories and lighted-hearted essays on mefi.
posted by tksh at 6:39 PM on March 15, 2008
Cool essay; seconding the MOAR PLZ.
And less frothing-at-the-mouth-type slinging match-type MetaFilter posts about the differences between Obama/ Clinton, or Atheist/ Religious, or Left/ Right - or any other dichotomy-addicted set, really. Those "arguments" get old really fast.
posted by WalterMitty at 6:50 PM on March 15, 2008
And less frothing-at-the-mouth-type slinging match-type MetaFilter posts about the differences between Obama/ Clinton, or Atheist/ Religious, or Left/ Right - or any other dichotomy-addicted set, really. Those "arguments" get old really fast.
posted by WalterMitty at 6:50 PM on March 15, 2008
tksh and WalterMitty, if you like essays like this and are looking for more, check out the rest of The Smart Set site (especially the First Person section), it's full of little gems like this. Also check out The Morning News' Personal Essays section.
posted by amyms at 6:57 PM on March 15, 2008
posted by amyms at 6:57 PM on March 15, 2008
I will stick in my favorite ESL story. And you may learn a Japanese word you already know.
Long ago (Xist, 40 years) a Japanese ESL student made dinner for a group of grad students at a nameless university in Lawrence KS. I think it was sukiyaki--anyway, it was a big pot full of all kinds of stuff.
At one point, she picked out a piece of cauliflower. She said, "I do not know what you call this in English. In Japanese, it is called karifawa."
It got a bigger laugh than the most carefully crafted punch line.
posted by hexatron at 7:01 PM on March 15, 2008 [3 favorites]
Long ago (Xist, 40 years) a Japanese ESL student made dinner for a group of grad students at a nameless university in Lawrence KS. I think it was sukiyaki--anyway, it was a big pot full of all kinds of stuff.
At one point, she picked out a piece of cauliflower. She said, "I do not know what you call this in English. In Japanese, it is called karifawa."
It got a bigger laugh than the most carefully crafted punch line.
posted by hexatron at 7:01 PM on March 15, 2008 [3 favorites]
Awesome post. Thanks.
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:32 PM on March 15, 2008
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:32 PM on March 15, 2008
Nthing the awesomeness, amyms. This is wonderful. Thanks.
posted by swerve at 7:44 PM on March 15, 2008
posted by swerve at 7:44 PM on March 15, 2008
That was really nice. Thanks for posting it.
posted by Monster_Zero at 8:12 PM on March 15, 2008
posted by Monster_Zero at 8:12 PM on March 15, 2008
I guess I'm the person who has to step in and say, "meh."?
Really, this story was: "I teach ESL! Japanese people have strange attachments to our culture and pronounce things differently in italics! This girl is quirky and strange but despite all of these differences we are united by the Goonies! Through pop culture we unite and have this sense of cameraderie! As friends beyond language and culture barriers, we drive into the setting sun!"
It's just another story which depicts barriers that are overcome to create some sort of feel-good conclusion, to achieve some sort of exceptional harmony. But really, all these stories do are emphasize and reinforce this sense of separation, dichotomy. Call it reverse exoticism: although she was different, we transcended beyond cultures and connected at a certain level.
Maybe I'm overthinking a plate of beans, but remember this O'Reilly post? Same deal: This person -- she's just like me! We connect!
posted by suedehead at 10:18 PM on March 15, 2008 [1 favorite]
Really, this story was: "I teach ESL! Japanese people have strange attachments to our culture and pronounce things differently in italics! This girl is quirky and strange but despite all of these differences we are united by the Goonies! Through pop culture we unite and have this sense of cameraderie! As friends beyond language and culture barriers, we drive into the setting sun!"
It's just another story which depicts barriers that are overcome to create some sort of feel-good conclusion, to achieve some sort of exceptional harmony. But really, all these stories do are emphasize and reinforce this sense of separation, dichotomy. Call it reverse exoticism: although she was different, we transcended beyond cultures and connected at a certain level.
Maybe I'm overthinking a plate of beans, but remember this O'Reilly post? Same deal: This person -- she's just like me! We connect!
posted by suedehead at 10:18 PM on March 15, 2008 [1 favorite]
I guess I'm the person who has to step in and say, "meh."?
No, you're the person chose to step in and say "meh". Own your high school coolness.
posted by srboisvert at 2:21 AM on March 16, 2008
No, you're the person chose to step in and say "meh". Own your high school coolness.
posted by srboisvert at 2:21 AM on March 16, 2008
I wasn't too thrilled by the Goonies column, but, then again, I have family in Astoria and it is less the magical land of Lewis and Clark, The Goonies, Kindergarten Kop and Short Circuit to me than it is the mundane place where everybody sports a buzz cut...
Nevertheless, Emily Maloney is my new secret crush and if she ever needs column materials, I would absolutely escort her and her bikeboard on a Sunday zoobomb run.
posted by Skwirl at 3:56 AM on March 16, 2008
Nevertheless, Emily Maloney is my new secret crush and if she ever needs column materials, I would absolutely escort her and her bikeboard on a Sunday zoobomb run.
posted by Skwirl at 3:56 AM on March 16, 2008
Really, this story was: "I teach ESL! Japanese people have strange attachments to our culture and pronounce things differently in italics! This girl is quirky and strange but despite all of these differences we are united by the Goonies! Through pop culture we unite and have this sense of cameraderie! As friends beyond language and culture barriers, we drive into the setting sun!"
Quite honestly, I found the title, spoofing, as it does, Japanese pronunciation, somewhat offensive, and short stories by ESL teachers rarely turn out well.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:05 AM on March 16, 2008
Quite honestly, I found the title, spoofing, as it does, Japanese pronunciation, somewhat offensive, and short stories by ESL teachers rarely turn out well.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:05 AM on March 16, 2008
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posted by amyms at 5:34 PM on March 15, 2008