Scaring the Natives (Part II).
Nov. 2nd, 2009 03:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sechan19On my first full day in Kanazawa I decided that I fancied doria for lunch, and with the unending downpour of rain I didn't want to hunt for it. So I made for a nearby shopping center and looked for their restaurant road. In a shop delightfully located on the eighth floor and boasting a gorgeous view of the surrounding autumn colors, I sat myself down by the window and waited for the waiter.
He arrived quickly, if furtively, with a glass of ice water, and an apologetic smile. "This menu's only in Japanese," he murmured (perhaps to himself).
"Oh, that's quite alright," I told him.
"My goodness, you speak Japanese!" he exclaimed. "Oh, I'm so sorry. That was terribly rude of me!"
I assured him that it was quite alright. It was a safe enough assumption to make, after all. Although it was an assumption and therefore dangerous. (As I discovered myself quite recently.) I appreciated his apology, though. It was sweet of him.
He took very good care of me throughout the meal, and when I was finished and went to pay we had another brief exchange.
I asked if it was alright to pay with a 10,000 yen note (the equivalent of about $100... well, not right now, but you get the idea).
"Of course, it's fine," he said. "Boy, you sure surprised me earlier. Your Japanese is so good!"
"Not at all," I declined. But then, mindful of Tomono-sensei's previous shock, I tacked on a brief "but thank you very much for saying so."
Playing against type sure is turning out to be a lot of fun.
Full accounts of my travels in Kanazawa to follow. Stay tuned...
He arrived quickly, if furtively, with a glass of ice water, and an apologetic smile. "This menu's only in Japanese," he murmured (perhaps to himself).
"Oh, that's quite alright," I told him.
"My goodness, you speak Japanese!" he exclaimed. "Oh, I'm so sorry. That was terribly rude of me!"
I assured him that it was quite alright. It was a safe enough assumption to make, after all. Although it was an assumption and therefore dangerous. (As I discovered myself quite recently.) I appreciated his apology, though. It was sweet of him.
He took very good care of me throughout the meal, and when I was finished and went to pay we had another brief exchange.
I asked if it was alright to pay with a 10,000 yen note (the equivalent of about $100... well, not right now, but you get the idea).
"Of course, it's fine," he said. "Boy, you sure surprised me earlier. Your Japanese is so good!"
"Not at all," I declined. But then, mindful of Tomono-sensei's previous shock, I tacked on a brief "but thank you very much for saying so."
Playing against type sure is turning out to be a lot of fun.
Full accounts of my travels in Kanazawa to follow. Stay tuned...
no subject
Date: 2009-11-03 12:23 am (UTC)You need a cape or something. Or maybe a theme song. You could carry around some little speakers and have it play as you wander through the streets of Japan. And a catchphrase. Definitely need a catchphrase.
-B