ボビー！ボビ-！ボビーオログン! From the very 1st day working at a Shogakko, my children would always call me Bobby. Day after day after day I would hear “Bobby!” When I enter a classroom or walk down the hallway. For my first two weeks I was confused. “Why are these kids calling me Bobby?” “Are they having trouble pronouncing my name?” Nope, that wasn’t it. I asked one of my teachers using my bad Japanese. The teacher told me that it may be Bobby Ologun that they’re referring to. I did some online research. I found out the Bobby Ologun is a wide-eyed, Nigerian-born TV celebrity who also does mixed martial arts. I had never hear of him before, but as soon as I looked up the picture, I instantly recognized him. I mean, how many Nigerian, Japanese celebrities are on TV? My guess is not too many.
The reason I bring this up is because I went to Saturday Interac training and met a guy named Caven. We talked for a bit and he asked me if any of my kids call me Bobby. I thought I was the only one, but no. I’m pretty sure many male ALTs with any kind of African roots (Nigeran, Sudanese, African-American, etc.) must encounter the same thing. I guess in the kids eyes, I must look like Bobby Ologun. But I truly don’t think so.
Here is my photo:
Here is Bobby Ologun’s photo:
Here we are, side by side:
Do you see a resemblance? With the exception of being tall (we’re almost the same height and weight) and having darker skin (our skin complexions are different, too), I don’t.
I’m starting to become accustomed to this whole being called Bobby thing everyday, but it’s no problem. If being Bobby makes teaching easier, or makes the kids focus, or keeps the kids engaged….Bobby Ologun it is.
See you tomorrow, everybody
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