The 2-Belo <the2belo@msd.biPOKPOKglobe.ne.jp> wrote in message news:<3f8f5209$0$2949$df066bcf@news.sexzilla.net>...
> There have been at least two occasions -- after I've told someone I am a
> computer system/network engineer -- where they would respond, "Oh. So, then, you
> teach at night?"

I used to get that a few times:

"I'm working for Matsushita in R&D"
"Teaching English to the staff?"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

> Feh.
> 
> I understand that people such as myself, in jobs not related to language or
> international blah blah, are a small minority. But it kind of grates on me that
> some people seem to actively refuse to explore life in this country in any other
> fashion.

In the last 3 months I've thrice had obaaaachans come up to me and say
"Amerika-jin desuka?". Still, it could be worse, they could call me
English - I let them off with Igirisu-jin, but I use Sukottorando-jin
or Eikoko-jin when I reply.

BTW, I've never had anyone approach me for the "free English lesson"
thing (although I thought that was what my BYJW was after after our
first date!), barring some primary-school kids on the
"interview-a-gaigin" school trip thingie at Kankuu.

Ken