Japan is an
extremely friendly and courteous country. The people can be very shy if they do
not understand much English, but even then, they really like foreigners.
The
best example, and the strangest by far, that I have experienced is when our
little fleet of Americans went to lunch while shopping in Akakusa before going
to the sumo matches. Stephanie, Jennifer, Meredith, and I decided to go to a
small bar for lunch where you buy tickets for food, sit at a table and the
waiters will bring the food for the corresponding tickets. While enjoying our
food an elderly Japanese gentleman approached us and asked us if we spoke
English. We told him we were Americans and despite knowing little to no English
he kept talking to us and we were smiling and answering as best we could and
used our limited knowledge of Japanese to talk back to him. Somehow this turned
into the little old man buying us all shots and toasting together. Then he
introduced his Korean friend who knew a little English as well, before leaving
to resume his dinner with his wife. The whole experience was less than 10
minutes long but it was so funny and awkward that it was just amazing!
Some
of the other girls thought that the experience was a little alarming; despite
thinking it was adorable as well. I truly didn’t feel uncomfortable though,
because I can completely picture my grandfather, and maybe even my father as
well, doing this to a group of friendly strangers. So cheers to the elder
generations and the gifts they give us.
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