I've been living outside Japan for the last 15 years, 5 in Australia, 10 in New Zealand. As a Japanese living in those countries, I've had some funny, strange, and nasty experiences... Even when I come back to Japan, people look at me funny and they don't approach me, sometimes I get spoken in English!!
One funny thing I have just about everyday is when I have conversations at shops, or anywhere, after about 30 mins of conversation, they say "you speak good English!" and they suddenly slow down their speed of speach, not realising we've been speaking in a normal speed for the last half an hour!!
One funny thing I have just about everyday is when I have conversations at shops, or anywhere, after about 30 mins of conversation, they say "you speak good English!" and they suddenly slow down their speed of speach, not realising we've been speaking in a normal speed for the last half an hour!!
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コメント(16)
I have known Japanese people that lived abroad for a long time like you and found it very difficult to return to live in Japan. I am the opposite now :) When I go back to the states to visit my family I feel like a foreigner.
I was in a super market in the US shopping and I wanted to buy a small gym bag. I placed it in the chart. I also wanted some chap sticks. They are very small and kept falling through the holes in my shopping cart so I put them in the Gym bag. ( Mistake!!) I guess the manager saw me do that and thought I was trying to steel the chap sticks etc.. Instead of asking me if I needed some help he just called the police! They arrived with the lights flashing and entered the store. They approached me with their guns out and were very rude. I got a little upset because they were really over doing it. But they were strictly business and very serious. I almost got shot over 5 chap sticks. My brother was in another lane and was very shocked to see that I was in a really bad situation and making it worse by pissing the cops off with my attitude. I just couldn`t believe that the manager didn`t just ask me about the Chapsticks himself. Welcome to America. I couldn`t wait to return to Japan. That reminded me of all the stupidness that I didn`t miss about the states.
I was in a super market in the US shopping and I wanted to buy a small gym bag. I placed it in the chart. I also wanted some chap sticks. They are very small and kept falling through the holes in my shopping cart so I put them in the Gym bag. ( Mistake!!) I guess the manager saw me do that and thought I was trying to steel the chap sticks etc.. Instead of asking me if I needed some help he just called the police! They arrived with the lights flashing and entered the store. They approached me with their guns out and were very rude. I got a little upset because they were really over doing it. But they were strictly business and very serious. I almost got shot over 5 chap sticks. My brother was in another lane and was very shocked to see that I was in a really bad situation and making it worse by pissing the cops off with my attitude. I just couldn`t believe that the manager didn`t just ask me about the Chapsticks himself. Welcome to America. I couldn`t wait to return to Japan. That reminded me of all the stupidness that I didn`t miss about the states.
TokyoOG,
Yeah, that's pretty bad. I feel sorry for what happened to you. Definitely a good (?) example of over-reaction. I mean, to think that you're trying to shoplift by "hiding" chopsticks into a gym bag is silly enough. Calling the police for that is just beyond my comprehension.
I seriously hope that's not everyday occurrence here in the U.S. Should I be careful the next time I hit Albertson's? :)
Yeah, that's pretty bad. I feel sorry for what happened to you. Definitely a good (?) example of over-reaction. I mean, to think that you're trying to shoplift by "hiding" chopsticks into a gym bag is silly enough. Calling the police for that is just beyond my comprehension.
I seriously hope that's not everyday occurrence here in the U.S. Should I be careful the next time I hit Albertson's? :)
TokyoOG> what state where you in? I've never ever heard of someone getting a gun pointed at them over chapstick. In Nebraska a person cannot be stopped until they are leaving through the doors of the store. I'm surprised the police were called cuz most major retail and grocery stores have their own security. I know cuz i worked in retail for a long time and got to help chase after countless shoplifters.. police pulling their guns on you... that is just unimaginable to me...
If what you said, really happened, the store manager is a dumbass..
You probably could have sued the guy if you really wanted to.
Because it isn't shop lifting until you actually LEAVE the store... So as long as your in the store... They can't really do anything to you.. Nor can the police.
Hell, I grab drinks from the shelf and pop them open as i go shopping.. It's not like they can do anything to me.. As long as i pay for it.. I did nothing illegal..
You probably could have sued the guy if you really wanted to.
Because it isn't shop lifting until you actually LEAVE the store... So as long as your in the store... They can't really do anything to you.. Nor can the police.
Hell, I grab drinks from the shelf and pop them open as i go shopping.. It's not like they can do anything to me.. As long as i pay for it.. I did nothing illegal..
I was in Oklahoma and I know it was totally ridiculous for the manager to call the police before asking me if I needed some help. The Chapstick fell out the basket twice before I put them in the gym bag. I was still shopping and of course I was going to pay at the counter. Even if the teller was dumb enough to miss the chapstick in the bag (which was impossible) I would have told them about it. Unfortunately I am afraid it all happened because I am Black. I hate to use the race card but it was pretty obvious. And I have lived out side the US for so long that it didnt dawn on me until it was happening. At which time I got a little upset, which didnt help my situation. My brother told me to shut up and appologized to the cops. I was fuming but decided to just shut up because I could see that it was no use. The Cops told me that they have come across robbers that were stupid enough to try something like that. And that they (the stores and the police in the area) have a policy that the store personel not get involved in suspected shop lifting cases like this. I guess they had some bad experiences in the past. I felt sorry for the stores staff in a way and the police for needing to react like that due to the level of senseless crimes committed by ignorant people. I didnt know who was more to blame. I hated the fact that they felt the need to over react like that. I am not from Oklahoma, I am from New Jersey, I was just visiting my parents. After that I just felt sorry for all the people that have to live in fear like that. Worse part was my Japanese wife and our children witnessed the entire ordeal. Great impression for them about the USA. After that I just wanted to get back to Japan asap. Its not perfect in Japan either but at least you dont risk dying over chapsticks in a supermarket.
Alright heres a crazy story.
Back in 2005, I went to study abroad in Japan. I had only taken 1 semester of Japanese, so I really wasn't ready. Anyway, I had been there about a week, maybe 2, I can't remember, anyway I was on my way to orientation. The first day of school, and I didn't know my way around or anything. So I was nervous, and got lost, and it sucked, but thats not the story. I was on the train, changing the song I was listening to, when suddenly the train jerked and I lost my balance. I tried to grab the handle, but I missed and got a hand full of advertisement. I fell and landed on some people, in Tokyo, but thats not the worst part. As I was falling, I hit this kid, no, he was a baby! I felt terrible, but I couldn't even apologize, I could barely speak any Japanese. The lady was furious and the kid was crying, but luckily there was a guy who could speak English. So she wanted me to go to the station office at Ginza, so I went, but I couldn't talk to anyone. So she filed a police report, and they sent a cop who could speak English, but I was only somewhat relieved. The cop told me the mom wanted the kid to go to the hospital! so I was scared. I was hoping the kid wasn't injured, I didn't want to be responsible for injuring a little kid. Then the cops asked me to go the station! they told I wasn't in trouble, but thats still scary. I went to the station and just sat around talking to this cop, waiting for the mother to call. So we finally found out, the kid was ok, THANK GOD! They wanted me to pay the medical fee, which equaled roughly $2 (Japanese health care = awesome). The cop bought me some tea and some ramen, then contacted the university, and I have a great, yet incredibly embarrassing story.
But I got to ride in a Japanese police car! I bet no one else has done that, HA!!
Back in 2005, I went to study abroad in Japan. I had only taken 1 semester of Japanese, so I really wasn't ready. Anyway, I had been there about a week, maybe 2, I can't remember, anyway I was on my way to orientation. The first day of school, and I didn't know my way around or anything. So I was nervous, and got lost, and it sucked, but thats not the story. I was on the train, changing the song I was listening to, when suddenly the train jerked and I lost my balance. I tried to grab the handle, but I missed and got a hand full of advertisement. I fell and landed on some people, in Tokyo, but thats not the worst part. As I was falling, I hit this kid, no, he was a baby! I felt terrible, but I couldn't even apologize, I could barely speak any Japanese. The lady was furious and the kid was crying, but luckily there was a guy who could speak English. So she wanted me to go to the station office at Ginza, so I went, but I couldn't talk to anyone. So she filed a police report, and they sent a cop who could speak English, but I was only somewhat relieved. The cop told me the mom wanted the kid to go to the hospital! so I was scared. I was hoping the kid wasn't injured, I didn't want to be responsible for injuring a little kid. Then the cops asked me to go the station! they told I wasn't in trouble, but thats still scary. I went to the station and just sat around talking to this cop, waiting for the mother to call. So we finally found out, the kid was ok, THANK GOD! They wanted me to pay the medical fee, which equaled roughly $2 (Japanese health care = awesome). The cop bought me some tea and some ramen, then contacted the university, and I have a great, yet incredibly embarrassing story.
But I got to ride in a Japanese police car! I bet no one else has done that, HA!!
Wavebird san, your experimental story was interesting for me to finish reading...
Actually, unbelieveable real life experience. It was like a drama or movie.
But after all, you were ok, so I'm releived too.
In a foreign country, we can never expect something unusual happening to us.
When I visited Australia with my student, she had her glaases stolen and we had to go to a police station to get a report document, so later she could claim for a travel insurance company.
There were some people in the station too who were in troubles.
Actually, unbelieveable real life experience. It was like a drama or movie.
But after all, you were ok, so I'm releived too.
In a foreign country, we can never expect something unusual happening to us.
When I visited Australia with my student, she had her glaases stolen and we had to go to a police station to get a report document, so later she could claim for a travel insurance company.
There were some people in the station too who were in troubles.
I have had some wierd comments, where people ask where I am from, I reply england to get the response "Oh, in America?" (...er, no..) also the response "Oh! I love Mr Bean! I want to be just like him!" (...hmm..!)
I used to work in a postal factory in japan. there was me, and the rest of the staff were japanese. they were always fascinated by my blonde hair, and how it got lighter during the summer. one day my female boss took hold of my arm & proclaimed "she has blonde hair on her arm too! kawaii~" and went on to stroke my arm. very wierd experience....!!
I used to work in a postal factory in japan. there was me, and the rest of the staff were japanese. they were always fascinated by my blonde hair, and how it got lighter during the summer. one day my female boss took hold of my arm & proclaimed "she has blonde hair on her arm too! kawaii~" and went on to stroke my arm. very wierd experience....!!
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