Aloha
Hawaii is a popular vacationing spot for Japanese people. But there is a bunch that is humorous when it comes to traveling to those islands.
These are actual conversations I have had.
Me: "Have you ever been to America?"
Adult student: "No."
Me: "Where have you been?"
Student: "I've been to Korea, Canada, and Hawaii."
or...
Me: "Do you plan on visiting America one day?"
Different student: "I don't know, maybe."
Me: "Do you have any travel plans for this summer?"
Student: "Yes, I'm going to Hawaii."
hmm...
Yet another student of mine is traveling to Hawaii this Thursday. I asked her how long she will be there for. She replied, "6 days, 4 nights."
Her English is advanced, so I am confident she knows her basic numbers. After my double-take, I asked her to explain that.
She leaves Japan Thursday afternoon and arrives in Hawaii Thursday morning (local, of course). She and her husband will be in Hawaii on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. They leave Monday afternoon and arrive back in Japan Tuesday night. So she will be gone for 6 days, but will only sleep in Hawaii for 4 nights.
These are actual conversations I have had.
Me: "Have you ever been to America?"
Adult student: "No."
Me: "Where have you been?"
Student: "I've been to Korea, Canada, and Hawaii."
or...
Me: "Do you plan on visiting America one day?"
Different student: "I don't know, maybe."
Me: "Do you have any travel plans for this summer?"
Student: "Yes, I'm going to Hawaii."
hmm...
Yet another student of mine is traveling to Hawaii this Thursday. I asked her how long she will be there for. She replied, "6 days, 4 nights."
Her English is advanced, so I am confident she knows her basic numbers. After my double-take, I asked her to explain that.
She leaves Japan Thursday afternoon and arrives in Hawaii Thursday morning (local, of course). She and her husband will be in Hawaii on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. They leave Monday afternoon and arrive back in Japan Tuesday night. So she will be gone for 6 days, but will only sleep in Hawaii for 4 nights.
posted by David at 9:31 PM
2 Comments:
First, thanks for the blog - it's nice to check now and again for a cool story. Second, I've lived in Hawaii, and well... Hawaii is Hawaii. America is America. Hawaii doesn't feel so involved in mainland jazz, and is glad for it. Quite frankly, a lot of Hawaii doesn't like America, and haoles (whites) are not infrequently looked down on. This is due to a historical relationship not as bloody, but not unlike American ancestors and Native Americans. It definitely has it's bits of Americana, primarily on Oahu and near Honolulu, but for the most part, the feel there is decisively different from what I know and hear of the other 49. Swing down if you can and check it out! And let me know if you do so I can hook you up with some people!
Yes, there are TONS of Japanese visitors here in Hawaii. I can see why they classify it differently from the rest of America. Besides the obvious cultural differences and the unique 'feel', Hawaii is the only state that has no racial majority. There are about equal numbers of whites and Asians. So that in itself must make it feel very different to a Japanese, or any Asian, visitor - not as many white people everywhere :)
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