And now let's follow that up with some observations from real life...
Number one only applies when you're not drunk or doing a team-building activity. Today I watched 30 fifteen-year-old boys jump rope together while holding hands.
Also, while people don't actually touch that often, the concept of personal space is really different here. I've often felt like I want to take a step back when I'm just having a conversation with someone. They also often sit really close to me or lean in really close when we're talking. (Although maybe it's just my personal comfort zone, since I have a pretty big bubble.)
Oh yes, when the Japanese get drunk they get crazy. O.o I learned this at my first 飲み放題. Oddly enough, if you ever see a character drunk in pop culture they're pretty much always being skeezy. And yeah, the handholding thing I think usually just applies to romantic relationships; other relationships seem to be more relaxed.
YES I HAVE NOTICED THIS. When talking with kids, I've wanted to lean back from conversations before, but then at other times I've been given tons of space.
I think also they tend to be more direct when the context calls for it - aka, the gaijin has no idea what's going on. Also, there are things I've learned that I probably never would've picked up from pop culture alone simply because it's so pervasive and fundamental - like the fastidiousness, or the wrapping ideology, etc.
Also: I have a kame-sennin phone strap and all the kids think it's hilarious.
Also: have you noticed that everything seems to take forever? Going to the bank, eating dinner, having a conversation... it's like there are plenty of pauses for you to sit back and think about what you're going to say or what the other person has just said. I find it kind of difficult to figure out when a conversation is over, because often when the other person goes quiet they're going to say something in a minute or two.
Hahaha I thought it was just me! Yeah, it does feel like everything is slowed down, though I don't do much official interaction (like the bank). I find that I don't have a lot of time to myself, mostly because I leave for school at 6:45 and usually get back at around 6:30 or 7, and usually still have to do some offline lesson planning at that point. But the time between classes doesn't seem long enough to me!
Comments 10
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Number one only applies when you're not drunk or doing a team-building activity. Today I watched 30 fifteen-year-old boys jump rope together while holding hands.
Also, while people don't actually touch that often, the concept of personal space is really different here. I've often felt like I want to take a step back when I'm just having a conversation with someone. They also often sit really close to me or lean in really close when we're talking. (Although maybe it's just my personal comfort zone, since I have a pretty big bubble.)
Reply
YES I HAVE NOTICED THIS. When talking with kids, I've wanted to lean back from conversations before, but then at other times I've been given tons of space.
I think also they tend to be more direct when the context calls for it - aka, the gaijin has no idea what's going on. Also, there are things I've learned that I probably never would've picked up from pop culture alone simply because it's so pervasive and fundamental - like the fastidiousness, or the wrapping ideology, etc.
Reply
Also: I have a kame-sennin phone strap and all the kids think it's hilarious.
Also: have you noticed that everything seems to take forever? Going to the bank, eating dinner, having a conversation... it's like there are plenty of pauses for you to sit back and think about what you're going to say or what the other person has just said. I find it kind of difficult to figure out when a conversation is over, because often when the other person goes quiet they're going to say something in a minute or two.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment