Suko Knows Her History

[Studlover (imported)]

It was the first day of school and a new student, the daughter of a

Japanese businessman, entered the fourth grade. The teacher greeted

the class and said, "Let's begin by reviewing some American history.

Who said 'Give me Liberty, or give me death?'"

She saw only a sea of blank faces, except

for that of Suko, who had her hand up.

"Patrick Henry, 1775," said the girl.

"Very good! Now," said the teacher, "who said

'Government of the people, by the people, for the people

shall not perish from the earth'?" Again, no response

except from Suko, "Abraham Lincoln, 1863."

The teacher snapped at the class, "Class, you should be ashamed. Suko, who is new to our country, knows more about its history than you do." As she turned to write something on the blackboard, she heard a loud whisper, "Damned Japanese." "Who said that?" she demanded. Suko put her hand up. "Lee Iacocca, 1982," she said.

At that point, feeling completely disgusted by Suko's

classroom superiority, a student in the back sighed,

"I'm gonna throw up." The teacher glares and asks,

"All right! Now, who said that?" Again, Suko

raises her hand and says, "George Bush to

Japanese Prime Minister, 1991."

Now furious, another student yells,

"Oh yeah? Suck this!" Suko jumps out of her chair

waving her hand and shouts to the teacher,

"Bill Clinton, to Monica Lewinsky, 1997."

[JesusA (imported)]

In fact, in 1991 a new verb entered the Japanese language: “to Bush“ (Busshu suru), meaning to vomit in public. It came after an important state dinner at which George H.W. Bush vomited in the Prime Minister’s lap. The word is still in use.

[Paolo]

Does that mean that I can give them 5 new verbs then?

[Dave (imported)]

aside from my very old joke about learning three new words in turkish, (they were coffee, towel, and bath)

I just learned three new words in Japanese

(will you kill me if I insist on doing it again?

ready, here they are:

Japanese cherry tree

and I'm so ashamed I just can''t go on!!!

Busshu suru !

You say, I have to remember that for the trivia contests.

Perhaps I can win a beer at the bar!!!

Dave