School bullying and racism, and how it ended
Permit me to share with you a reflection—an old woman’s monologue, if you like. Long time ago, I was a student at an international school in London. It was a salad bowl of languages and cultures, an environment that left an indelible mark on my younger self. Among my classmates was someone who often reached out to those struggling with English. Notably, all these students were Japanese. I recall thinking to myself at the time, "What a considerate and generous person he must be." Then came a moment of discord that has lingered in my memory. Perhaps due to my own faltering grasp of English, I misinterpreted his words, believing him to be speaking ill of others. Hurt and indignant, I cut ties abruptly. The following day, as I descended the staircase from the first floor to the ground floor, I overheard a conversation—one that has stayed with me ever since. “You should stay us! If you stay with Japanese, your eyes will be slanted!” This phras