that time my package was addressed to Ms Foreigner

I have been slowly but surely packing up my worldly possessions as I prepare to make the move back to Canada. I stumbled across this little number and had a chuckle.

Oof. Stripped of my individuality. Just a random foreign, parachute dropped into this strange land by accident. At least they didn't koku-block me, right? That lil 国 kanji was the only thing standing between the kuroneko yamato delivery company and these fists. I woulda come at them with everything I have. Which is a lot. I have the power of God AND anime on my side. AAAAAAAAHHHHH!

A little background for those who don't know: Japan is very big on black and white thinking. Good, bad. Woman, Man. Inside (中), Outside (外). Japan, Everywhere Else.

The word 'gaikokujin' 外国人 means outside (gai) country (koku) person (jin). Similarly, the classes I teach in Japan aren't called English. They're called 'gaikokugo' (foreign language- contrasts with 'kokugo', which is Japanese language class). Gaikokujin is the proper and polite term for a foreigner. It's not the word that anyone actually uses.

Some people have major butthurt about the phrase 'gaijin'. Admittedly, I've gotten pretty heated about it in certain past situations. For the most part, I think it's a word that foreigners in Japan use as a self-identifier. By removing the kanji 国, the word gaijin suggests that you are an 'outside person': someone who doesn't belong and can't integrate. Honestly, this is kinda true. Japanese society is just so insular and ethnically homogenous, foreigners stick out like celebrities in the crowd.

I proudly call myself a gaijin. And I'm cool with Japanese people I know referring to me as such. Even if a random Japanese person does it, that's chill as long as I'm not picking up on any unsavory xenophobic subtext. Which means 90% of the time when I'm out and about and hear the term 'gaijin' thrown out, it isn't a big deal (usually I'll just be browsing the dollar store racks and some cute lil kid will see me, back it up reallllll fast to their mom, and say 'mama, gaijin!').

In formal situations, though? It's kind of a dick move to omit the 'koku'. For example, when a principal introduces the new ALT to students at an assembly, they would definitely say 'gaikokujin'. It's generally understood that in such contexts, using 'gaijin' would be very rude.

OK! With that semantics lesson out of the way, I proceed to my main point. I was lowkey VERY shook when I checked my mailbox one day and found this delivery slip.

I'm gonna be real here. Sometimes foreign names on packages are daunting. Especially if they are hand-written on the original label. The JP post delivery people have strict schedules. If the recipient isn't home, they have to write the recipient's and sender's names on the slip. I've received slips previously where the sender line is written as 'gaikoku' (foreign country), instead of trying to decipher my mom's handwriting. And that's perfectly fine. But omitting my name? A big no-no.

First of all, I gave my parents (the only people who send me things) stickers with my name and address printed on them. Messy handwriting, not an issue.

But Natalie, your name is really long! You have two middle names!

Yes. Which is why I only ever put my first and last name when I order packages to be delivered.

But still, it's a foreign name and the person might have just been too busy or uncomfortable with the English letters!

Ok. So what I'm saying is, if the package had a handwritten label, with my full name, written in English, and the Yamato courrier had to write the attempted delivery slip by hand, I can see how discomfort with writing English and the need to promptly move on to the next delivery could end in a slip with 'gaikokujin' written in the addressee line. It would still be rude, for sure, but I guess kinda understandable in the situation.

But those factors aren't at play here. Which brings me to

1) The notice was printed, easily legible. They just had to input the characters and go.

2) I always, always, always, input my name for deliveries. . . in katakana.

My name was literally on the package in Japanese. The delivery person deliberately chose to write 'foreigner' instead of my name.

But hey, at least they used the proper term, 'foreign country person'. If they'd used gaijin, I would have thrown hands. That shit would be like a major bitch move. Just 'outside person'. Outsider. Unwelcome.

So while I was pissy about this at first, I considered that the person at least hadn't koku-blocked me. They left the koku, and thus left me with my dignity.

I have no idea why they decided not to write out my actual name. But since they used the formal term, I can't say with complete certainty that they had malicious intent.

I also realized that if someone else had shown me this delivery slip, I would have just laughed at how surreal and weird it is, and maybe not analyzed it any further. That's why I choose to remember it as just a whacky situation, not a full-blown microaggression.

And so, armed with that knowledge and a photo of the slip, I busted this story out (super summarized, no whining, no arguing semantics, basically just 'hey can i show you something weird and funny') at my next enkai when I was chatting with the younger teachers.

I was met with a chorus of semi-offended semi-amused 'yabai!!!'s. Bijin sensei was actually kinda outraged. But then I assured them that I thought it's funny and they were all like ok well as long as you're cool with it, we can roast you and the delivery driver because LOL WTF IS THIS SHIT WHO WROTE THAT OH MY GOD　笑　ふふふふふふ

Anyway,

yikes