Kawaii

I have a dog named Kawaii. The name suits her to a tee although most people have no idea what her name means.

Long story short? I'll try.

Ten years ago (So much for short), I lived in Japan (1999-2000) and taught English. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and learned much of the language.

While there, I heard MANY of my students, especially young girls, use the word kawaii to describe ANYTHING that was adorable and childlike. Overused? Sure, but it is a fun word that has stuck with me. It feels like a bouncy little spring in your mouth when you say it.

Fast forward to late 2008. Back in Canada, I had been volunteering with a local Humane Society for a couple years in the hope of discovering the right type of dog for me and had come to see how much I enjoyed greyhounds. I made some friends with a greyhound rescue group here in Ontario, Canada too.

A good friend with the rescue group told me that a greyhound X (aka a lurcher) was being surrendered by a Humane Society after being there for 7 months waiting to be adopted, and she would be fostering it until she could find it a good home.

The day the lurcher arrived at her home, my friend emailed me immediately, telling me that I HAD to come meet her foster ASAP!

It was love at first sight(hound)! She was/is a petite, fawn-coloured female greyhound mix with gorgeous Cleopatra eyes.

She was nervous of her new surroundings and it was evident to everyone that she really needed some TLC, patience and someone who understood how to work with a young, energetic, untrained 'shelter' dog. My time at the Humane Society would prove to serve me well!

I had a book of baby names but none of them seemed to suit her, so I started going through Japanese names I knew. None of my former students' names suited her or they were too hard for friends and relatives to pronounce...then I remembered the word. Kawaii.

It sounds like Hawaii but with a K. That's easy. Kawaii! It is a musical word, delicate and playful, very much like the pretty but uncertain dog that had arrived at her foster home. Kawaii(chan)!

As soon as I had sorted out my housing issues (I was supposed to be waiting until I had moved into my new home to get a dog b/c current landlords didn't want one around), she came home with me.

Since then (8 months ago), she has blossomed into an affectionate, impish and yes, 'cute' girl. I can't believe that she was overlooked by so many people at the shelter for so long, but I am grateful that she ended up with me.

People who meet her on the street when we walk, gush "Ohhhhh, she's sooo cute" & she flirtatiously bats her big, brown eyes at them. Little do they know, that they are actually calling her by name.

Kawaii-chan, my little rescue/stray, my little lurcher, is ichiban KAWAII! She has wiggled and squirmed her way into my heart & the hearts of many others along the way!

Thanks for this chance to share a bit about her!

Kawaii's mom, Lisa in Ontario, Canada