"Land of the Little People"
Before some of my students met me for the first time, they were told I was like William Wallace - 7 feet tall and could shoot lightning bolts from his arse. So when I walked in on Friday, all 9 girls (aged 6-9) together let out one big whispered (and unrehearsed), "wowwwww."
But to them, and well, most adults here, I might as well be 7 feet tall. This country was not made for the American build. I've counted 6 times I've hit my head on the top of door frames since arriving. 6 times in 4 days. I'm starting to get used to limboing whenever I enter or exit a room. Besides the head pounding, it has been frustrating attempting to sit at a counter at a restaurant or bar, where the stool is bolted to the floor and too close to the counter. At least my groin muscles are getting some much-needed stretching.
On a recommendation from my school's coordinator, I went to a sushi place for lunch yesterday. Walking up to the place, I was encouraged by the English writing on the outer wall. It said something to the effect that the restaurant was a happy place to eat fresh fish. "Great, maybe there's an English menu there." Of course there was not, but I wasn't too discouraged - having eaten sushi countless times, I know the Japanese names for many types of fish. So I was able to successfully order without too much difficulty.
However, the fact that I used (very broken) Japanese to order convinced the waitstaff and sushi chefs that I'm fluent in Japanese. So when time came to ask for the check, everyone was really confused that I didn't understand a word that was said to me. The process of asking for the bill took about five minutes and three people. But everyone was very friendly and willing to accommodate.
3rd post, 4th day, and I repeat, "This is gonna be interesting."
A couple more pictures of where I am. While I don't live in the middle of the rice fields, they aren't that far away...
But to them, and well, most adults here, I might as well be 7 feet tall. This country was not made for the American build. I've counted 6 times I've hit my head on the top of door frames since arriving. 6 times in 4 days. I'm starting to get used to limboing whenever I enter or exit a room. Besides the head pounding, it has been frustrating attempting to sit at a counter at a restaurant or bar, where the stool is bolted to the floor and too close to the counter. At least my groin muscles are getting some much-needed stretching.
On a recommendation from my school's coordinator, I went to a sushi place for lunch yesterday. Walking up to the place, I was encouraged by the English writing on the outer wall. It said something to the effect that the restaurant was a happy place to eat fresh fish. "Great, maybe there's an English menu there." Of course there was not, but I wasn't too discouraged - having eaten sushi countless times, I know the Japanese names for many types of fish. So I was able to successfully order without too much difficulty.
However, the fact that I used (very broken) Japanese to order convinced the waitstaff and sushi chefs that I'm fluent in Japanese. So when time came to ask for the check, everyone was really confused that I didn't understand a word that was said to me. The process of asking for the bill took about five minutes and three people. But everyone was very friendly and willing to accommodate.
3rd post, 4th day, and I repeat, "This is gonna be interesting."
A couple more pictures of where I am. While I don't live in the middle of the rice fields, they aren't that far away...
posted by David at 11:54 AM
1 Comments:
Oooh ko, Cap'n Eyerman! You're gonna love Nippon! I miss that place... and it's probably one of the safest countries to live in. Also, you DON'T have to worry about pickpockets! (As I struggle to keep this friend's computer from changing itself back into Czech...) Don't worry too much about the language - you'll probably jump through your kanas and get to Pre-Intm pretty quickly. Now, kanji and higher lvls of speaking, well... we'll see! In any case, Omedetou and gambatte!
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