Crude westerner
April 14th, 2008, baked by ChewyBack for another post!
So the thing I noticed about Japanese is that if you wanna have some conversation, you’re gonna have to start it.
Because even though just about any Japanese person you speak to will be polite and very friendly (Tokyoites a bit less I’ve noticed) you’re gonna have to initiate the conversation. For example the class today. The first class of this semester nobody really knows each other (not just me as a foreigner) and when I entered the classroom everybody was sitting quietly (reading a book, or making some notes) and about as widely spaced as possibly from each-other. Even amongst the Japanese themselves they kinda keep to themselves. No being the crude westerner that I am (and desperately seeking as much human contact as possible ^^) I initiated a conversation with a (genuine, mind you) question. The funny thing is that after that the ball gets rolling and a lot of people will join in and it suddenly gets a lot more “gezellig” (nigiyaka, there is a word aside of dutch for it).
So keep it in mind when you go to Japan ^^
mata ne,
Chewy
April 14th, 2008 at 17:42 pm
Yay I loooove your blogs
April 15th, 2008 at 10:12 am
^^ glad to hear it.
I love making them too, makes me feel connected to home ^^
April 16th, 2008 at 10:59 am
So you do miss your Dutchy Chinesey homey a little bittee?
So which club did you choose to join from the wide variety displayed in your previous blog?
I suddenly feel (very strongly..) like joining a table tennis club..
April 16th, 2008 at 13:03 pm
Hehe I’m loving Japan but of course I also miss the people back home.
I went to the Chado club today, Traditional Tea ceremony. That was really an great experience I think we might have a winner ^^
April 16th, 2008 at 15:39 pm
Whoa… a Traditional Tea Ceremony Club! Why is Japan so ultimate
Respect for going all on your own btw. I would be all scared and a little lonely (well at least at the beginning) I think..
Or have you made some nice Japanese friends already?
April 16th, 2008 at 15:41 pm
I dunno, it just is ^^
well I’ve made friends also and working on meeting as many people as possible but of course there are times where you feel a little bit out of place and lonely. But that’s even more reason to seek as much social contact as possible ^^